Ariel "Rock 'n Roll Scars" 1975

Rock'n'Roll Scars is different from the Ariel debut album. The basic musical direction was different, the above-average quality of the band had not changed. You can read again and again that the band arrived in hard rock with it. I wouldn't say hard, it's a mix of pub rock, glam and art rock. With this, too, Ariel delivers above average for my taste, so I would also call their second album a Hidden Gem of rock music and warmly recommend it to every fan of classic rock…

…The band's second album was a bit of a bumpy affair. The debut album A Strange Fantastic Dream was musically convincing, but commercially it did not go as hoped. John Mills, Nigel Macara and Tim Gaze left Ariel and Mike Rudd went to work on a concept album. The concept album was rejected by the record company because, in their opinion, it would not have had a chance on the market. There was an invitation from the label to London, where the band was promised performances and recordings in the Abbey Road Studios. As far as I know, the performances didn't work out, but the band practically had to go straight from the airport to the studio, where they were given spare time to record their own material.
To this end, Ariel formed up around Bill Putt (bass) and Mike Rudd (lead vocals, guitars, harmonica) with drummer John Lee and the two guitarists Harvey James and Glyn Mason. Rudd had little material available for the realization of the album, as he had previously concentrated entirely on his Jallabad concept. In addition to six newer songs, he went back to old material and rearranged songs from the spectrum (I'll Be Gone, Launching Place, We are Indelible, What the World Needs) and Murtceeps phase (Some Good Advice).
The whole bickering had an impact on the music, the band was perceived as more concrete and more rock. Sometimes they have been called a heavy band, which is an exaggeration. Basically, the art rock factor was reduced in favor of a certain pub rock to glam rock atmosphere.
Keep On Dancing With Me suggests this - a boogie-heavy groove in the ZZ Top style, refined with vocal harmonies in the style of 10CC and Steely Dan. I'll Be Going / I'll Be Gone develops from a rustic harmonica country blues to a relaxed rock number in the style of early McCartney and his wings. Rock & Roll Scars grooves casually and rocks moderately in the style of Steely Dan.
Real Meanie is a song that cannot deny its proximity to glam rock or pub rock, I would also assume a pub rock note for Men in Gray Raincoats. Then the band picked up, for example with Launching Place Part II and the brilliant tracks We Are Idelible, the quirky What The World Needs and the cool pub rocker Red Hot Mamma. Some Good Advice and the somewhat heavier rocking I Am The Laughing Man round off the package. - https://www.rezensator.de

trax:
01. Keep On Dancing (With Me) 02. (I'll Be Going) I'll Be Gone 03. Rock & Roll Scars 04. Real Meanie 05. Men In Grey Raincoats 06. Launching Place Part II 07. We Are Indelible 08. What The World Needs (Is A New Pair of Sox) 09. Red Hot Momma 10. Some Good Advice 11. I Am The Laughing Man 12. Yeah Tonight 13. I Am The Laughing Man (alternate version)
…served by Gaius…