Full title - Where The Groupies Killed The Blues. German reissue of cult metal classic originally released on Vertigo in 1972. Repertoire.
CD Reviews
Where the band showed how to blues
paul komarov | Russia | 07/07/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This CD was the first record of LF I happened to hear. The music represented is classical progressive rock of the 70's with all those keyboards, violins and stuff. The groups to be compared are King Crimson, Uriah Heep, Atomic Rooster. The song HOBO is more than a bit like Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" though the rest of the musical content is highly professional and unique. Such songs as "Where the Grouppies Killed the Blues", "Mother" and "Burnig Ships" can without any doubt be called progressive-rock classics. Marvellous singing of John Lawton (later the member of Uriah Heep), Zappa-styled solos of the guitarist Peter Hesslein, strange bass sounds and crazy rythms of drums made me the fan of the band. So, you may need some time to understand this record but if you do -- you won't regret."
Sophisticated Hard Prog
ProEvil | MA | 12/21/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a dark, complex album that takes a couple of listens to grow on you. This band had great talent and style. Originally released on the legendary Vertigo label. John Lawton's voice is fantastic and seems to be an unspoken influence on both Bruce Dickenson and King Diamond. This is only one small part of the band's appeal, however. There is some truly sophisticated playing and arranging here that makes each listen a fascinating pleasure."
An album that completely amazes, delights, and shocks me
B. E Jackson | Pennsylvania | 04/16/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"WHOA!!!!! Talk about being caught off-guard *completely*
After hearing Lucifer's Friends explosive hard rock debut, I went into Where the Groupies Killed the Blues expecting more of the same... I couldn't POSSIBLY be more wrong, haha.
The music featured on this album is 100% drastically different from their first album. This is most certainly NOT hard rock blues. This is some highly sophisticated, amazingly diverse, psychedelic trip through the mind.
Is that STILL John Lawton doing the singing? Why does he sound so much different compared to his singing voice from the first album? It doesn't even sound like the same guy. He almost resembles Todd Rundgren now.
I know one thing- I've been caught off-guard before, and I've been downright shocked from time to time- but trying to put together the right words to convince you how beautifully screwed up this album is would be nearly impossible. I simply cannot find the words.
Do you like King Crimson's Lizard or Islands albums? Remember all those weird instrumental passages on those two albums? The majority of music from Where the Groupies Killed the Blues would fit in perfectly with King Crimson's early 70's experimental period.
As a matter of fact, "Summerdream" sounds like it would fit in perfectly on In the Wake of Poseidon, one of King Crimson's lesser known albums (well, lesser known compared to In the Court, I mean).
"Summerdream" seriously reminds me of ghost ships lost in the middle of an ocean, or a cruise vacation gone horribly wrong. Are those violins? Whatever they are, they are played in a twisted and highly unusual way that instantly give me goosebumps. It just feels so WRONG but so right at the same time, which is the same impression I get from any early 70's King Crimson album.
That's not all! "Mother" contains some of the creepiest vocals I've ever heard, along with instrumental sections that feel highly advanced compared to your ordinary rock band.
So um... not to sound sarcastic or anything, but why in the HECK would people remember the debut album by Lucifer's Friend and not THIS brilliant display of chaotic, trippy nightmare music? An album like this only comes along once in a blue moon, and it should most certainly be remembered today. I don't get it. I don't get why an album like this had to slip through the cracks. Absolutely unfair.
Let's see, besides King Crimson, if you like the eerie mellotrons of the Moody Blues, the sophisticated and beautiful songwriting of Procol Harum, the oddness and diversity of a band like Blue Oyster Cult, the atmospheric beauty of Pink Floyd, you will probably dig this album. I know *I* love it, and so should you!"
A trip to the dark side
Aron D. Rush | Cross Timbers, Mo usa | 04/05/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Lucifer's Friend are an intense pleasure! It's a shame their cds are out of print in the US. This, their 2nd album is a little more jazzy than their first, and I was probably thinking more of this one when I made the reference to Spirit in my review of their first album. There is also a flavor of HP Lovecraft in the mix, as well as Autosalvage (Peter Hesslein's almost garage/punk rythm playing). Hesslein's lead, in contrast, is complex and sophisticated. This album should certainly be listened to several times before judging it. There is alot to absorb that casual listening won't bring out. There is a dark atmosphere here, but this is, in my opinion, alot more than just occult laced rock. This is some very talented people making music, and they weren't content to remake their 1st album over and over as some fans would've liked. The 1st one is priceless, I'll grant you that, but this one (and the next few) has it's own place. The playing is as good as any one and the vocals are as good as it gets. Listen to Mother and then dig out Judas Priest's 1st two albums (their best 2 in my book)and listen to the vocals on the slower numbers. This is a fantastic disc, and if you shop around, you can find this at a more reasonable price. If you want heavy metal, lucifer's Friend isn't it. They rock hard when they want to, but calling them heavy metal isn't accurate (and even less so in the case of Black Widow). Lucifer's Friend is a melting pot of musical styles and influences that they churn out into their own sound. Their discs only get better with time, as you hear something new with each listen. Truley great music always has something new to offer, no matter how many times you've heard it. I don't think Hobo sounds a bit like Zeppelin. It's kind of popish jazz similar to what LF would do on future records. This album stands by itself, and I hope those who want something a little different find this disc. It's worth the time."
LUCIFER'S FRIEND
John Fiocchi | Woodstown, New Jersey, USA | 07/27/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Lucifer's Friend were a group of classical trained musicians that hired an english vocalist to front the band. John Lawton was perfect for the band as he is so diverse. 'Where The Groupies Killed The Blues" for me personally is my favorite because it has musical characteristics of the early King Crimson. Many years ago I heard a radio broadcast of this band from 1971. They performed most of their first album and Rose On The Vine, Prince Of Darkness and the title track from WTGKTB.Keep in mind that the version of Prince Of Darkness on this disc has been shortened. Burning Ships is sort of corny however the song titles that I mentioned above are worth the purchase alone. If you enjoy the playing on this, you will most certainly enjoy The Pink Mice. Stick with the first two titles however unless you enjoy the sounds of commercial rock."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1