Dave's 500 Bus Albums No 13 - Scorpions "Lonesome Crow"(1972)

Back in the late 70s, the esteemed Peter Malcolm introduced me to the musical genre of Heavy Metal. Back then what we called Heavy Metal is now called Heavy Rock, and Metal now means something far more extreme. However back in the late 1960s "Heavy Metal" was a term used to describe the band "Iron Butterfly", who I would classify as "Psychedelic". Things change.

Anyway. Scorpions. Generally thought of as a Heavy Metal band from about 1975 onwards, this was their very first album, and it really isn't Heavy Metal. Also, although one track from it (the ballad "In Search of the Peace of Mind") was still being played in 1978 (you can find it on the live album "Tokyo Tapes"), Scorpions appeared to have quietly shelved this abortive start to their Metal career by the time they reached true "Metal" popularity. In fan circles the album was treated as a departure for Scorpions and a kind of awkward addition to the discography. In fact during the late 70s I seem to recall it was only available on import, and only die-hard Scorpions fans ever had a copy.

Although of course it isn't a departure from anything. Far from it. Not only for the obvious reason that it's their first album (and they therefore don't have a recognisable style to depart from), but also because it is plainly part of the respected German music scene of the time. From the late 60s on into the 70s (and before Western music broke through the Iron Curtain and contaminated it) there was a fantastically innovative home-grown German music scene. In part a reaction to "shlager" pop music and in part influenced by German avant-garde electronic musicians (and a healthy dose of psychedelia), a uniquely German rock sound appeared, under the general epithet of "Krautrock".

Krautrock is difficult to define, but easy to spot. Guitars are very prominent, rhythms show tribal influences, and the sound is hypnotic, repetetive, almost monotonous. But somehow it sounds recognisably "German". "Lonesome Crow" is Krautrock. Just listen to the 13-minute long title track. Haunting teutonic guitar, storming psychedelic riffs, wailing tribal vocals. If you like bands like Amon Duul, or Can, you'll like this. In fact it shares influences with the German band "Virus", whose 1973 album "Remember" started off this whole 500 Albums thing.

By the second album, "Fly to the Rainbow", the Scorpions sound (although still undeniably German) is veering towards tighter, melodic, self-contained songs. It's safe to say that if you liked your Metal Heavy in the 70s you would probably find "Lonesome Crow" an uncomfortable listen. But conversely if you weren't a Heavy Metal fan you might be pleasantly surprised. We can be certain though that if Scorpions had continued in this musical style, they probably wouldn't still be around today. Very much an album of it's time, but a fine example of the genre nonetheless.