Rock Solid: Absolutely Live

Description

Rock Solid: Absolutely Live is the second live album by the American rock combo DeGarmo & Key Band, released on Power Discs in 1988. Also released in the UK on Myrrh Records, a division of Word. The album was produced by DeGarmo & Key.

Just as ‘No Turning Back/Live‘ served as a concert time capsule of the four years of touring that followed DeGarmo & Key’s 1978 debut, ‘This Time Thru‘, ‘Rock Solid’ summarizes the last five albums worth of recording and touring in this band’s celebrated ten year career. As such it chronicles highlights of recent tour antics and serves up a “greatest hits” package all in one fell swoop. The ‘Absolutely Live’ refers to the fact that every note played is as it was, no overdubs. The general energy, musical intensity, and hearty, full-throttle rock ‘n’ roll blues that dominates side one will not surprise or disappoint D&K’s long time fans. And no amount of muscle will make the medley of airplay singles («Let The Whole World Sing», «Alleluia, Christ Is Coming», and «Destined to Win») taste any better than the white bread pop they are. Thankfully they are not the whole story.

Outstanding are tracks from ‘D&K‘ and ‘Street Light‘ which dominate the disc: «Soldier of Fortune», «Holy Hustle», the title track, and «Don’t Stop the Music». «When the Son Begins to Reign» and a reworking of the fabulous «Addey» show the soft underside better than any adult contemporary pop number. D&K’s strong suit has always been Dana Key’s throaty vocals and bluesy machismo guitar heroics, and Eddie DeGarmo’s gutsy synth breaks and organ fills. Backed by Greg Morrow’s powerful sticks (“No Animal, it’s beat drums, not eat drums”), and Tommy Cathey’s cool, melodic efficiency on bass and auxiliary guitars, D&K is always at its best when they dig down to bedrock, and tap into their roots (real rock ‘n’ roll, blues, R ‘n’ B and soul) without trying to gloss over all that true grit.

While ‘Rock Solid’ is similarly titled and functions as an audio companion to the Live Concert Video, with much of the material in common, there are distinct and profound differences. [Brian Q. Newcomb, CCM, October 1988]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/rock-solid-absolutely-live/715579420)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Casual Christian (Chorus)”
A2. “Rock Solid”
A3. “Ready Or Not”
A4. “Soldier Of Fortune”
A5. “Six, Six, Six”
A6. “Don’t Stop The Music”

Side Two
B1. “Holy Hustle”
B2. “When The Son Begins To Reign”
B3. “Are You Ready”
B4. “Addey”
B5. “Let The Whole World Sing”
B6. “Alleluia, Christ Is Coming”
B7. “Destined To Win”
B8. “Rock Solid (Reprise)”

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Power Discs.

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