Reviewed by Tom Mott / LISTENING POST DISCOVERY
Released: 1981 Grey-Star Grey-Star Genre: Duck Lip Nod Rock Rating: 4 out of 5 Highlights: Don't Go And Leave Me Guaranteed To Please As one of the two lead vocalists of Black Oak Arkansas, Ruby Starr commanded the stage like a carny's wet dream. A high compliment. Ruby Starr is a raw, gritty, firecracker. You hear the strut in her voice. She's in the venn diagram between Tina Turner and Stevie Nicks, grabbing the baton from Joplin[1] and running with it. Pipes that will shatter that mirror you won at the carnival with the Boston logo on it, and a vibrato like a Sawzall. Toured with Edgar Winter and Blackfoot. The Ruby Star Band performed as the opening act for Kansas, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and April Wine. She died too young from cancer. Criminally unknown. In the early 80s, she joined up with a band called Lucy Grey and they became Ruby Starr. The drummer's name is Mud Slide. What's his backstory? I bet he shit his pants. Track 1 features their male vocalist. He's a high-yuh reach-ing e-nun-cee-ay-tohrrrr, earning his degree from DVI (DeYoung Vocal Institute) with some extra Freddits under his belt. Dammit, this song is catchy. Track 2 is a cover of Piece of My Heart. Joplin comparisons are inevitable. Ruby doesn't rework the song, but how strong is she? DING-DING-DING the little lady rung the bell and just won a giant Pink Panther plushy. The band gives it some nice muscle and harmonies too. Track 3 is gritty, fun, sing-along rock'n'roll. Joan Jett, Suzy Quatro, ... Ruby Starr! Okay ... I LIKE THESE GUYS! This band is a great rock band! Side 2 (Track 6): Bring on the moody Planet P synths. Did you know Ruby Starr posed for Cream magazine in cutoffs, holding a whip? More hair on the top of her head than there is whipped cream on that Herb Alpert album cover. This is the track where I realized I was making duck lips while I type. Track 7: Q: Dad, what's a guitar with two necks called? A: An asshole machine! except these guys prove that joke wrong! They're ripping it up. Give 'em three necks, give 'em three necks more. Track 8: This obligatory power ballad is not embarrassing. Track 9: The male scrodeler gets to close things out. He's legit, but we're all here for Ruby. ********** 1. Janis, not Scott.
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