Crowbar Albums (5)
What The Critics Say
Heavy Duty was the second studio album for Canadian rock and roll revivalist band Crowbar. Originally released in 1972 on the heels of the gold live album, Larger Than Life (And Live'r Than You've Ever Been), Heavy Duty was a big disappointment to fans. The band's debut album, Bad Manors and their live performances on a cross Canada tour had won legions of fans for the band and many were anxiously waiting for the band's next album. On this album, the band moved away from their high energy blues styled songs and tried their hand unsuccessfully at psychedelic music in the style of the Grateful Dead. and Allman Brother type southern rock on a couple of songs, which also did not work. The songs on this album did not appeal to the fans looking for more good time boogie blues, The Band styled rock and roll songs as in Crowbar's previous album and live show. Although there were a couple of such songs on the album, they were too few and the whole package was too diverse for fans to appreciate. Heavy Duty was the band's last album for Daffodil Records with a move to Epic for the next album but this was the beginning of the end for Crowbar and after one more album the band split up. This release by Unidisc is a straight reissue of the album as a budget price and contains no bonus tracks. ~ Keith Pettipas, All Music Guide
'Live at the Whisky A Go-Go'
Release Date 1/22/1997
Tracks 6
Label Unidisc
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Larger Than Life (and Live'r Than You've Ever Been!)'
Release Date 1/1/1971
Tracks 14
Label Unidisc
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Larger Than Life (And Live'r Than You've Ever Been), the second album by Crowbar, was originally released on the now defunct Canadian independent label Daffodil Records in 1971 as a two record set and achieved gold record status upon its original release. Repackaged on a single CD by the Unidisc label, this recording represents the best performances by Crowbar taken from a live radio broadcast of a concert held at Massey Hall in Toronto on 23rd September, 1971. This high energy performance by Kelly (Captain Canada) Jay and company features the band in top form with renditions of some of the band's best known songs from their debut album Bad Manors, some rock and roll and blues cover songs and a rousing ending with the band's biggest hit "Oh What a Feeling." Along with Crowbar, this recording features support performances by members of Lighthouse, Dr. Music, Everyday People and King Biscuit Boy. One of the best live albums to come out of Canada in the early 70's, Larger Than Life (And Live'r Than You've Ever Been) is a testament to the popularity and prowess of one of Canada's top blues rock bands and an essential addition any rock fans music library despite the recording flaws in the recording.Unfortunately this reissue by Unidisc does not contain any extra tracks or additional liner notes but the sound quality is considerably improved over the original vinyl format. ~ Keith Pettipas, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
A piping hot slice of Americana served up by a band of Canadians -- it's a situation that any fan of the Band could appreciate. Jozef Chirowski's speedy honky-tonk piano in "House of Blue Lights" and his boogie-woogie "Murder in the First Degree" give the proceedings an air of saloon wildness, and the off-kilter production on the lead vocals and harmonies throughout the album only adds to the effect. There are some nicely wry moments too, as when the cuckold's tale of "Too True Mama" boasts that "I got a private eye on you, and I got a private eye on the private eye!" For all its loving invocation of American genres, Crowbar also indulges in some unexpected experiments. The gravelly "In the Dancing Hold" is interrupted by a faux-AM broadcast of pleading soul music, while the erstwhile religious content of "Prince of Peace" sits among a swirled montage of urban ambient noise, booming bass drums, and repeated crowd choruses invoking the return of the Prince of Peace. But for sheer devilish frenzy, it's hard to beat "Oh What a Feeling." With its funked-up R&B guitar and whooshing chorus, it is just about a perfect musical evocation of a head rush. ~ Paul Collins, All Music Guide
