Detective (2022 vinyl reissue)

Detective

ORG Music, 2022

http://www.detective-theband.com

REVIEW BY: Tom Haugen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 11/05/2022

Detective were an American/English rock band who existed during the back half of the '70s. They didn't exactly make a global impact, but Jimmy Page liked them enough to put out this debut album in 1977 on his Swan Song Label. Kiss were also fans, and brought them on tour and even recorded one of their songs, though it was never released.

This reissue falls on the 45th anniversary of this self-titled release and is limited to 2000 copies. It also features new liner notes, silver wax and is remastered from the original analog tapes. my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

“Recognition” starts the album with Michael Des Barres' commanding, powerful pipes, as soulful backing vocals enter some funk-friendly sounds. “Got Enough Love” follows, and is a much louder affair, where thundering drums from Jon Hyde and bouts of sax make quite an impression.

Further on, “Grim Reaper” brings to mind both Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd with its thick, retro-rock presence and Michael Monarch's swirling guitar, but the setting quickly shifts into the acoustic guitar balladry of “Nightingale,” which is quite poetic.

Side B leads with the best track, the rugged and rhythmic “Detective Man,” where the rhythm section of Hyde and Bobby Pickett (bass) is in fine form, while the powerful and graceful “Ain't None Of Your Business” sounds right at home in the '70s hard rock scene.

The band dives headfirst into funk with the frisky and grooving “Wild Hot Summer Nights,” and “One More Heartache” exits the listen with undeniable Led Zeppelin similarities, though few are going to find fault with that.

Detective released one more studio album following this one, It Takes One To Know One, and a live record before fizzling out. A third studio record was started, and included a song by the then unknown singer-songwriter John Cougar, but whatever came of those sessions is still unreleased.

Seeing as how bands “similar” to Led Zeppelin aren't in short supply these days, it wouldn't surprise me if Detective finds an entirely new fan base with this reissue.

Rating: B

User Rating: Not Yet Rated


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