AKA: Energized

Foghat 1974 Album

Foghat

The first of 2 albums the group recorded in '74, and I have to say, the title is appropriate. No ballads or artsy excursions, just one loud rocker piled on top of another, and so on. The calling cards are fast, boogie butt-kickers like "Honey Hush" (which lifts liberally from the standard "Train Kept A Rollin") and "Wild Cherry", but there are some subtle variations here and there. Bassist Tony Stevens wrote and performed the lead vocal on "Fly By Night", which was a bit of a surprise in that it veered toward the power pop side of the spectrum. The sing-along "Step Outside" was the single, which the band drags on a bit too much for my taste. They also cover Buddy Holly's "That'll Be the Day", which is not very memorable. Indeed, that last statement is the key...but it would be remedied soon enough.