Nils Lofgren - Nils Lofgren

Springsteen sideman’s long out-of-print solo debut

Long before he joined The Boss’ E Street Band (as a replacement for axe maestro Steve Van Zandt), this precociously talented multi-instrumentalist from the Windy City already had a musical CV as long as his guitar-playing arm. As a teenager Lofgren played on Neil Young’s 1970 LP After The Gold Rush, and then a year later appeared on Crazy Horse’s Reprise debut Loose, before fronting his own combo, Grin, who0 cut four albums in the early ’70s.

Lofgren’s own solo career goes right back to 1975, when A&M released this tremendous self-titled debut album, hailed by Rolling Stone journo John Landau as one of that year’s top rock releases. Thirty-two years on, this new reissue offers a fresh opportunity for reevaluation. Given that Lofgren’s voice is a somewhat fragile instrument – a curious mixture of Neil Young and Keith Richards – the album’s real strengths are its consistency, adroit musicianship and the high quality of the selfpenned material.

Highlights include Back It Up, which boasts an addictive hook, and Keith Don’t Go, where Lofgren implores Keith Richards to stay with the Stones (at the time it was rumoured he was quitting the band). The absence of sleevenotes is the only disappointing feature of this commendable reissue.

Hip-O Select | B 000973202

Reviewed by Charles Waring
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