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SCORPIONS – Taken By Force
Scorpions – Taken By Force [Remastered] (2002, Hip-O Records)
Originally Release: 1977, RCA Records
1. “Steamrock Fever” … 3:38
2. “We’ll Burn the Sky” … 6:27
3. “I’ve Got to Be Free” … 4:01
4. “The Riot of Your Time” … 4:10
5. “The Sails of Charon” … 4:23
6. “Your Light” … 4:31
7. “He’s a Woman, She’s a Man” … 3:15
8. “Born to Touch Your Feelings” … 7:41
BONUS TRACKS
9. “Suspender Love” … 3:21
10. “Polar Nights (live)” … 6:57
Band:
Klaus Meine – Lead Vocals
Ulrich Roth – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Rudolf Schenker – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Francis Buchholz – Bass, Backing Vocals
Herman Rarebell – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Produced by: Dieter Dierks
I’ve always been hesitant to try some of the earlier Scorpions albums because I’ve always been told they are somewhat psychedelic, and that’s just no my style. I finally took the chance on this album though because I’ve heard it’s a sign of things to come and is a blue print for the signature sound they would develop fully on albums like Lovedrive, Blackout and Love at First Sting.
Well, it’s true, you can definitely hear where the band was heading in the next decade. In fact, I don’t think any of these songs would sound that much out of place on any of the aforementioned albums. There’s a touch of weird to the album like on “Steamrock Fever” with the kids chanting in the background and on “Born to Touch Your Feelings” with the girls talking near the end, but then again, despite the fact that this band is easily in my Top 10 of all-time, there’s always been something weird about them.
Nonetheless, I have to say this is an essential Scorpions album and like many of their releases, the songs will quickly stick in your head with “The Sails of Charon” easily ranking up there as one of the band’s greatest songs.
The bonus tracks are pretty good. “Suspender Love” I’m assuming was a B-side/unreleased song from the Taken By Force sessions and the live version of “Polar Nights” is from the live album Tokyo Tapes (the studio version can be found on 1976’s Virgin Killer).
Highlights: “We’ll Burn the Sky”, “I’ve Got to Be Free”, “The Sails of Charon”, “Your Light”, “He’s a Woman, She’s a Man”, “Born to Touch Your Feelings”
Metal Excess 