I found this LP at the used section of my my neighborhood record shop. Just by looking at the young street urchins on the cover, I thought "OK, I'll bet this sounds like early Aerosmith" and took the record to the listening station to confirm my thought. As it turned out, I wasn't far off the mark: it's blues-based hard rock played with lots of swagger. It might even qualify as proto-punk, thanks to the energetic performances and irreverent attitude, as in the opener "Rule In The Book" with its tremendous fuzz guitar and nice hammond organ. "Lil' Bit" is bluesier with lots of harmonica, but still keeps the energy level high. "Rude Attitude" is reminiscent of The New York Dolls, at least concerning the vocals. This is followed by a fuzzed-out cover of The Animals' "It's My Life", which was also the label's choice for a lead single. It certainly doesn't show much confidence in the band, making them record a cover and choose that one to represent the LP. A mistake, in my opinion. Their own compositions may not have been spectacularly original or memorable, but at least 3 or 4 of them are catchy enough to warrant a single release. Side One closes with "I Apologize", a bona fide R&B ballad with soulful vocals and groovy Hammond. Side Two opens with a heavy blues reminiscent of Free, called "Suffer". "Back To 'Bama" is a rowdy rocker with lots of boogie woogie piano, "Man, I'm A Fool" is forgettable electric blues, and "Turnpike" is countrified boogie. These last three tracks were rather underwhelming, but Stepson kept the best for last, and so they go out with a blast: "Burnin' Hurt" is a glam metal dynamite powered by a monster fuzz riff and passionate singing. Unfortunately, despite the quality of the musicianship and some really good songs, the LP didn't sell. Lack of promotion and lack of touring were probably the main reasons. By itself, the fact that a really good rock'n'roll LP got lost in the mid 70's isn't surprising - especially in California which at the time was in thrall to the more laid-back sounds of The Eagles and Doobie Brothers. What surprises me is that a bunch of talented guys like these just decided to give up after their first album failed to make them famous. I searched for info on them: before Stepson, some of them were in obscure but critically acclaimed psychedelic bands like Touch and Blue Mountain Eagle. As Stepson, they played for a while in legendary Sunset Strip clubs in LA, and just disbanded soon after the LP came out. Afterwards, they all seem to vanish - with the exception of guitarist Joey Newman making a couple of Christian LP's for a tiny specialty label. It is a pity, because this album could have been the springboard for a great rock'n'roll career, instead of just providing inspiration for another "Hidden Treasure" column in music magazines. My copy is part of a limited 500-piece vinyl edition from 2002, while there's also been a more recent CD reissue, also under the radar. For the time being, it's safe to say that this remains a "cult" record known only to a select few. Listen to the youtube extract below, and you'll be one, too.
**** for Rule In The Book, Lil' Bit, Rude Attitude, Suffer, Burnin' Hurt
*** for It's My Life, I Apologize, Back To 'Bama, Turnpike
** for Man I'm A Fool
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