Rocks
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- Artist: Aerosmith
- Rating:
- Release Date: 1976 05
- Total Time: 34:31
- Genre: Rock
Review
Few albums have been so appropriately named as Aerosmith's 1976 classic Rocks. Despite hard drug use escalating among bandmembers, Aerosmith produced a superb follow-up to their masterwork Toys in the Attic, nearly topping it in the process. Many Aero fans will point to Toys as the band's quintessential album (it contained two radio/concert standards after all, "Walk This Way" and "Sweet Emotion"), but out of all their albums, Rocks did the best job of capturing Aerosmith at their most raw and rocking. Like its predecessor, a pair of songs have become their most renowned -- the menacing, hard rock, cowboy-stomper "Back in the Saddle," as well as the downright viscous funk groove of "Last Child." Again, even the lesser-known tracks prove essential to the makeup of the album, such as the stimulated "Rats in the Cellar" (a response of sorts to "Toys in the Attic"), the Stonesy "Combination," and the forgotten riff-rocker "Get the Lead Out." Also included is the apocalyptic "Nobody's Fault," the up-and-coming rock star tale of "Lick and a Promise," and the album-closing ballad "Home Tonight." With Rocks, Aerosmith appeared to be indestructible. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi| Rockrospect (2004 Album by Kalista) | |
| Rocks (2011 Album by Slim Harpo) |
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Rocks (album)
| Rocks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Aerosmith | ||||
| Released | May 1976[1] | |||
| Recorded | February - March 1976 at The Wherehouse, and The Record Plant[2] | |||
| Genre | Hard rock, blues rock, heavy metal[1] | |||
| Length | 34:31[1] | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Aerosmith and Jack Douglas[2] | |||
| Aerosmith chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Rocks | ||||
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Rocks is the fourth album by American rock band Aerosmith, released May 3, 1976. Allmusic described Rocks as having "captured Aerosmith at their most raw and rocking".[1] Rocks was ranked #176 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. It has greatly influenced many people in the hard rock and heavy metal community, including Guns N' Roses and Metallica.[4][5] The album was a commercial success, charting three singles on the Billboard Hot 100, two of which reached the Top 40 ("Back in the Saddle" and "Last Child"). The album was one of the first albums to ship platinum when it was released. The album has since gone quadruple platinum.[6]
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Contents
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Song information
"Back in the Saddle"
The song features Joe Perry playing a six-string bass,[2] and was released as a single on March 22, 1977.[3] The song was covered by former Skid Row-vocalist Sebastian Bach on his 2007 album Angel Down, as a duet with Guns N' Roses-singer Axl Rose.
"Last Child"
A blues and funk -fused tune, which was partly written by lead singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Brad Whitford. The lyrics contain many double-entendre lyrics from Tyler. The song wasn't a hit, but remains a favorite among many Aerosmith fans.[7] It is said that Brad Whitford created the riff after listening to The Meters, and that the band wrote the rest in the studio. Live, Whitford plays lead guitar on the song. The song was also included in the music rhythm game Guitar Hero II. The song was released as a single on May 27, 1976[3] and features Paul Prestopino playing a banjo.[2]
"Rats in the Cellar"
Written as Tom Hamilton describes it, "taking this thing The Yardbirds created, and making it balls to the wall", it was also conceived as a counterpart to Toys in the Attic. It was also inspired by the death of the group's drug dealer.
"Combination"
This song features Joe Perry on co-lead vocals with Steven Tyler.
"Sick as a Dog"
"Sick as a Dog" is the only song on Rocks that features Tom Hamilton playing a guitar instead of an electric bass and features both Joe Perry (during the main part of the song) and Steven Tyler (during the ending guitar solo) on electric bass.[2] According to an interview with Tom Hamilton, during the recording, Joe Perry handed over the bass to Steven Tyler at a pause near the end of the song, so that Joe Perry could switch over to lead guitar. [8]
"Nobody's Fault"
With "Back in the Saddle", one of the heaviest songs on the album (as "Round and Round" had been on Toys in the Attic), "Nobody's Fault" is one of former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash's favorite Aerosmith songs, as well as that of Metallica leader James Hetfield.[9] Thrash metal band Testament covered this song on their 1988 album, The New Order, as well as L.A. Guns contributing a cover of the song for their 2004 covers album Rips the Covers Off. Mötley Crüe vocalist Vince Neil covered this song on his 2010 solo album Tattoos & Tequila.
This song is an important contribution to the band's catalogue by Brad Whitford, who cites it as his favorite Aerosmith song.[10] Joey Kramer has also cited "Nobody's Fault" as his favorite Aerosmith song (along with "Lord of the Thighs).[11] It has also been said that the song is about earthquakes.[10]
"Lick and a Promise"
"Lick and a Promise" is a hard rocking song about "going out there and putting on a great show."[12] The Stone Temple Pilots were joined onstage in 1996 by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, performing the song along with "Sweet Emotion".
"Home Tonight"
This song features Joe Perry on a lap steel guitar and has Joey Kramer, Tom Hamilton and Jack Douglas performing background vocals.[3]
Influence
- Slash says that "Rocks" was the album that inspired him to learn guitar.[12]
- Rocks was one of Kurt Cobain's favorite albums, as he listed in his Journals.[13]
- In 2003, the album was ranked number 176 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[14]
- Mötley Crüe songwriter and bassist Nikki Sixx refers to it frequently in his book The Heroin Diaries.
- Metallica leader James Hetfield has identified "Rocks", as well as Aerosmith, to have been important influences in his music, stating that Aerosmith was the reason why he wanted to learn guitar.
Media appearances
- The song "Last Child" is a playable song in the video game Guitar Hero II.
- Also released as a 4-channel quadraphonic mix.
- "Back in the Saddle", "Nobody's Fault", "Rats in the Cellar" and "Combination" are playable songs on Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. "Back in the Saddle" is the only playable song from Guitar Hero: Aerosmith that appears in Guitar Hero: Smash Hits.
- Professional wrestler Chris Benoit used "Back in the Saddle" as his entrance theme in Extreme Championship Wrestling from 1994 to 1995.
- "Back in the Saddle" was featured in the movies Shanghai Noon, Red and The Fighter.
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |  [1] |
| Blender | [15] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[16] |
| Rolling Stone | (mixed)[17] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [18] |
Greg Prato of Allmusic said that the best songs on Rocks were "Back in the Saddle" and "Last Child", he compared the Joe Perry composition, "Combination", to a Rolling Stones song, he also said the album was more "raw" than Toys in the Attic, and thinks overall Rocks is better than its predecessor.[1] Ben Mitchell of Blender magazine, said that the group members drug-use actually helped Rocks and he also called the album "raw."[15] Robert Christgau said that with Rocks, Aerosmith was doing a good job imitating Led Zeppelin and after Rocks the band began to lose steam.[16]
Track listing
| Side one | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Back in the Saddle" | Steven Tyler, Joe Perry | 4:40 | |||||||
| 2. | "Last Child" | Tyler, Brad Whitford | 3:24 | |||||||
| 3. | "Rats in the Cellar" | Tyler, Perry | 4:07 | |||||||
| 4. | "Combination" | Perry | 3:39 | |||||||
| Side two | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Sick as a Dog" | Tyler, Tom Hamilton | 4:12 | |||||||
| 2. | "Nobody's Fault" | Tyler, Whitford | 4:25 | |||||||
| 3. | "Get the Lead Out" | Tyler, Perry | 3:43 | |||||||
| 4. | "Lick and a Promise" | Tyler, Perry | 3:05 | |||||||
| 5. | "Home Tonight" | Tyler | 3:18 | |||||||
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Total length:
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34:31 | |||||||||
Personnel
Per sleeve notes[2]
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Charts
- Album
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (RPM Top Albums)[19] | 14 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[20] | 46 |
| US Billboard 200[21] | 3 |
- Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | "Home Tonight" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 71 |
| "Last Child" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 21 | |
| 1977 | "Back in the Saddle" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 38 |
Certifications
| Organization | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| RIAA - USA | Gold[22] | May 21, 1976 |
| Platinum[22] | July 9, 1976 | |
| 2× Platinum[22] | October 19, 1984 | |
| 3× Platinum[22] | December 21, 1988 | |
| 4× Platinum[22] | February 26, 2001 | |
| CIA – Canada | Gold | Sep 01, 1976 |
| Platinum | Nov 01, 1976 |
References
- ^ a b c d e f Greg Prato. "Rocks - Aerosmith : Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/rocks-r171. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Rocks (Vinyl sleeve). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 1976. back cover.
- ^ a b c d e Aerosmith's Greatest Hits (CD insert). Aerosmith. U.S.A.: Columbia Records. 1980, 1993. CK 57367.
- ^ "The Immortals - The Greatest Artists of All Time: 57) Aerosmith". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7235473/57_aerosmith. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ "Blabbermouth.net". Roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=7772. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ "Aerosmith - Music Videos". AeroForceOne. http://www.aeroforceone.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/1294993. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ [1], Tom Hamilton being asked by fan how Sick as a Dog was recorded.
- ^ "Rock This Way || Cool Aerosmith Info". Rockthisway.de. 2009-12-21. http://www.rockthisway.de/cool_info.htm. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ a b "Aerosmith - Brad Whitford". AeroForceOne. http://www.aeroforceone.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/1015841. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ "Aerosmith - Joey Kramer". AeroForceOne. http://www.aeroforceone.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/1015844. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ a b "Music". Aerosmith. http://www.aerosmith.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/400034. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ [2]
- ^ "176) Rocks". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6599184/176_rocks. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Ben (September 14, 2004). "Review : Aerosmith - Rocks". Blender. United States: Alpha Media Group. http://www.blender.com/guide/back-catalogue/52495/rocks.html.[dead link]
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Aerosmith - Consumer Guide Reviews" (Php). Robert Christgau. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Aerosmith. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
- ^ Milward, John (July 29, 1976). "Rocks". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/rocks-19760729. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ^ Kot, Greg. "Aerosmith - Album Guide". Rolling Stone. United States: Jann S. Wenner. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/aerosmith/albumguide. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
- ^ http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4153a&type=2&interval=20&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Aerosmith - Rocks". swedishcharts.com. http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Aerosmith&titel=Rocks&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/aerosmith-p3508/charts-awards/billboard-albums
- ^ a b c d e "Gold and Platinum Database Search". http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Rocks&artist=Aerosmith&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
External links
Rocks at MusicBrainz
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AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Albums
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