Greg Lake is the debut studio album by English rock singer and guitarist Greg Lake, released in the United Kingdom on 25 September 1981 by Chrysalis Records.[1]
| Greg Lake | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 25 September 1981 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 43:13 | |||
| Label | Chrysalis | |||
| Producer |
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| Greg Lake chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Greg Lake | ||||
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Background
editIn contrast to the progressive rock of King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, the groups which Lake had been member of, this album is characterized by a guitar-driven straightforward hard rock sound. The change in musical style is explained by his desire to perform as a guitarist rather than playing bass.[2]
To record the album, Lake teamed up with a string of prominent musicians, including Gary Moore, Clarence Clemons, and Toto members Steve Lukather, David Hungate and Jeff Porcaro. Moore played a major role including writing the song, "Nuclear Attack". In 1993, when the album was finally released on CD (in Japan), it was re-titled Greg Lake & Gary Moore.
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
Marc Loren's retrospective review on AllMusic described Greg Lake as a "powerful and enjoyable album" which contains "well written songs and some sizzling guitar work by Gary Moore", and praised Lake's production skills.[2] Paul Stump, in his 1997 History of Progressive Rock, called the album "characterless" and straightforward to the point of being dull.[3]
Greg Lake charted in the United Kingdom and the United States, reaching the same number 62 spot in both countries.[4][5] Several songs were released as singles in different territories. "Let Me Love You Once Before You Go", a cover of the 1977 song written by Steve Dorff and Molly Ann Leikin for Dusty Springfield, was issued in the United States and peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] "Nuclear Attack" was a minor radio hit and reached number 34 on the Mainstream Rock chart.[7]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Nuclear Attack" | Gary Moore | 4:32 |
| 2. | "Love You Too Much" | Bob Dylan, Helena Springs, Greg Lake | 3:56 |
| 3. | "It Hurts" | Lake | 4:30 |
| 4. | "Black and Blue" | Lake | 3:59 |
| 5. | "Retribution Drive" | Lake, Tony Benyon, Tommy Eyre | 5:05 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Long Goodbye" | Eyre, Lake, Benyon | 4:00 |
| 7. | "The Lie" | Lake, Eyre, Benyon | 4:47 |
| 8. | "Someone" | Eyre, Lake, Benyon | 4:12 |
| 9. | "Let Me Love You Once Before You Go" | Steve Dorff, Molly Ann Leikin | 4:21 |
| 10. | "For Those Who Dare" | Lake, Benyon | 3:51 |
| Total length: | 43:13 | ||
Personnel
edit- Greg Lake – vocals, rhythm guitar, production
- Gary Moore – lead guitar
- Tristram Margetts – bass
- Tommy Eyre – keyboards
- Ted McKenna – drums
Additional musicians
edit- Steve Lukather – guitars
- Dean Parks – guitars
- Snuffy Walden – guitars
- David Hungate – bass
- Bill Cuomo – keyboards
- Greg Mathieson – keyboards
- Clarence Clemons – saxophone
- Willie Cochrane – pipe
- David Milner – pipe
- Michael Giles – drums
- Jode Leigh – drums
- Jeff Porcaro – drums
Technical personnel
edit- Alex Grobb – producer (on "It Hurts")
- Haydn Bendall – engineer
- Brian Robson – engineer
- Ian Short – engineer
- Paul Dobbe – engineer
- Harold Blumberg – engineer
- John Timperley – engineer
- Nigel Walker – engineer
- Tony Benyon – cover concept
- John Pasche – art direction
Charts
edit| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] | 97 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[4] | 62 |
| US Billboard 200[5] | 62 |
References
edit- ^ "Welcome Back My Friend?". Melody Maker. London: IPC Media. September 1981. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ a b c Loren, Marc. Greg Lake: Greg Lake > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- ^ Stump, Paul (1997). The Music's All that Matters: A History of Progressive Rock. Quartet Books Limited. p. 258. ISBN 0-7043-8036-6.
- ^ a b "Greg Lake | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- ^ a b "Greg Lake Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- ^ "Greg Lake Chart History (Billboard Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
- ^ "Greg Lak Chart History (Billboard Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 172. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.