| Roscoe's Gang | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1988 | |||
| Studio | Column One, Springfield, Missouri | |||
| Genre | Rock, country rock | |||
| Label | Enigma | |||
| Producer | Lou Whitney, Eric Ambel | |||
| Eric Ambel chronology | ||||
| ||||
Roscoe's Gang is the debut album by the American musician Eric Ambel, released in 1988. [1] [2] Its title is a reference to the band Ambel would use for casual New York City bar gigs. [3] He supported the album with a North American tour. [3]
The album was recorded at Column One in Springfield, Missouri, with members of the Morells, and coproduced by the band's bass player, Lou Whitney. [4] [5] [6] The cover of Neil Young's "Vampire Blues" was recorded in one take. [7] "Total Destruction to Your Mind" is a cover of the Swamp Dogg song. [8] "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" was written by Bob Dylan. [9] "Loose Talk" is a version of the song made famous by Buck and Bonnie Owens. [10] "Don't Wanna Be Your Friend" and "I Waited for You" were written by Ambel's Del-Lords bandmate Scott Kempner. [7] "Next to the Last Waltz" was cowritten by Peter Holsapple. [11] "Power Lounger Theme" is an instrumental. [10] Syd Straw and Skid Roper contributed to the recording sessions. [12]
Newsday said that Roscoe's Gang is "what a solo album should be: an off-hand, unaffected, underproduced busman's holiday." [7] The Chicago Tribune opined that "Ambel's true talents still seem to lie in rock 'n' roll territory, the best songs here being some strutting, full-power rockers." [14] The New York Times praised the "cheerfully rowdy material". [22] The Calgary Herald labeled the music "raunchy rock and gritty country-rock". [23] The Morning Call concluded that Ambel "does [rock] better than Jason & the Scorchers or the Georgia Satellites". [24]
The Ottawa Citizen noted that unlike Ambel's work with the Del-Lords and the Blackhearts, the music is "less contrived and exudes pure intentions." [19] The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that "this is wonderfully raw, passionate music that never loses its sense of humor." [20] The Boston Globe admired the "inspired primitivism" and "loose and unencumbered" performances. [25] The SouthtownStar likened the music to "the Rolling Stones meet the dB's". [21] Playboy noted that "Ambel's guitar expertise ranges from country to hard rock to pop metal". [26]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" | |
| 2. | "Total Destruction to Your Mind" | |
| 3. | "The Girl That I Ain't Got" | |
| 4. | "Forever Came Today" | |
| 5. | "30 Days in the Workhouse" | |
| 6. | "Power Lounger Theme" | |
| 7. | "Don't Wanna Be Your Friend" | |
| 8. | "I Waited for You" | |
| 9. | "Next to the Last Waltz" | |
| 10. | "Loose Talk" | |
| 11. | "You Must Have Me Confused" | |
| 12. | "Vampire Blues" | |
| 13. | "Power Lounger Theme Part 2" (Guitar) |
