Hard Rock Forums

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Review Aerosmith - Get Your Wings (1974)

Magic

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Messages
3,967
Location
USA
#1
Album: Get Your Wings
Artist: Aerosmith
Country of Origin: USA
Genre: Hard Rock / Blues Rock / Rock
Released: March 1, 1974
Label: Columbia
Purchase: Here or the 1993 remaster Here


R-1078271-1190444029_jpeg.jpg


10200598075_9134741f3a_o.png

01. Same Old Song and Dance
02. Lord of the Thighs
03. Spaced
04. Woman of the World
05. S.O.S. (Too Bad)
06. Train Kept a Rollin’
07. Seasons of Wither
08. Pandora´s Box


Personnel:

•Steven Tyler - Lead Vocals, Harmonica, Percussion
•Joe Perry - Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar, Backing Vocals
•Brad Whitford - Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
•Tom Hamilton - Bass
•Joey Kramer - Drums, Percussion

With:

•Steve Hunter – guitar on "Same Old Song and Dance" and "Train Kept A Rollin" (not credited)
•Dick Wagner – guitar on "Same Old Song and Dance" and "Train Kept A Rollin" (not credited)
•Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone on "Same Old Song and Dance" and "Pandora's Box"
•Randy Brecker – trumpet on "Same Old Song and Dance"
•Stan Bronstein – baritone saxophone on "Same Old Song and Dance" and "Pandora's Box"
•Jon Pearson – trombone on "Same Old Song and Dance"
•Ray Colcord – keyboards on "Spaced"


Get Your Wings is the second release from Aerosmith, and the first album to use the Wings Logo (another item that gave Aerosmith originality) and the logo is the inspiration for the album title . This album is where Aerosmith actually dropped all the previous influences from The Yardbirds and The Rolling Stones and developed the sound that is truly unique to Aerosmith, the only exception found on this album, is the cover song “Train Kept a Rollin”, which was previously recorded by The Yardbirds but isn’t an original to the Yardbirds. What began to distinguish this album and band from the other blues-rock artists was how Aerosmith began experimenting with different sounds and different instruments, creating darker and more distorted sounds. This album was another mile stone for Aerosmith, too, being the first album that Jack Douglas produced. Douglas was able to refine the band’s sound in the studio, helping to capture the grit and grime which moved Aerosmith from blues-rock to hard rock.

Get Your Wings is the first gutsy album by Aerosmith, going from blues-rock to hard rock and everything in between. Steven Tyler’s vocals took on the high pitched, over-the-top quality that has made him one of the most recognized vocalists in rock n’ roll. The rhythm section by Kramer and Hamilton is more refined on this album, an early start to one of the best rhythm sections in rock n’ roll. The guitar riffs are outstanding on this album along with some great slide work, too. This album is very radio friendly as well with the hits “Same Old Song and Dance”, “Lord of the Thighs”, “Train Kept a Rollin’”, and “Season’s of Wither”.

The album opens with “Same Old Song and Dance”, one of the best hits to come from the band. The Brecker brother’s horn section on this song is nothing short of fantastic. The guitar riffs on this song are kick butt and mix well with Tyler’s energetic vocals. Next up is “Lord of the Thighs”, a song which brings out Tyler’s true addiction, sex and sleeze. Lord of the Thighs is very strong in the percussion department and has a funky groove that proves Tyler is the Lord. “Spaced” is a spacey rock track, that has a trippy verse and some great guitar work. “Woman of the World” is a folk inspired bluesy song, with an orchestra-like guitar sound and a gritty beat. “SOS (too bad)” is nothing more than a super hard rockin’ song with some bold vocals and lyrics. “Train Kept a Rollin” is the best cover version of this song ever made, IMO. Wagner and Hunter come into play in the guitar solo on this song which sends the song over the edge and add in the sound effects created by Douglas, adding audience noise, makes you think the song is live. Next to last, is “Season’s of Wither”, an underrated track, with a dark sound which puts me in mind of some of Led Zeppelin’s work. This song has some of Tyler’s best vocals and a slow pace that makes the song very beautiful. To finalize the album is “Pandora’s Box” which opens up the hard rock sound one last time. This song is drummer Joey Kramer’s first song he wrote, a job well done indeed.

Overall, Get Your Wings is an Aerosmith Classic where the band put together a fantastic blend of rock n’ roll, hard rock, and blues-rock. They definitely showed us fans they had more to offer than what we heard on the debut where they were called a Rolling Stones “clone”, they could make and deliver a dose of gritty rock.

full album playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0D7F2032FC1A2933

My Rating is 5/5
 

Speed King

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Messages
2,130
Age
58
Location
Rockford, IL
#2
Very nice review Miss Magic! Get Your Wings is a great album from the classic period of Aerosmith's career. I would put it up against any of the great rock albums from the mid seventies. The string of albums that Aerosmith produced from the first album to Rocks are the best they ever did, in my humble opinion.
 
Last edited: