Digitally remastered edition of this 1977 debut album from the Hard Rock band led by vocalist Michael Des Barres and former Yes keyboardist Tony Kaye. Detective were championed and signed to Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label by Jimmy Page, who intended to produce the record. As it turned out, Jimmy's lifestyle, together with scheduling issues, focused his attentions on other matters, resulting in an album recorded twice and costing in the region of a million dollars. But such was the power of the performance rumors quickly circulated that John Bonham himself had played on the album. It was also suggested that Page had produced the record but under the unlikely pseudonym of Jimmy Robinson. It was easy to see why; the album is a 24 karat master-class in the power and passion of explosive Hard Rock, featuring mountainous riffs and one of the great vocal performances of all time. Simply put, it doesn't get much better than this.
M**R
A STUNNING RE-RELEASE FOR A CULT ROCK RECORD.
I once bought a previous CD release of this album and was rather underwhelmed by the sound quality and most definitely by the packaging. This new edition, however, ticks all the boxes.This time around the sound quality is awesome, with tracks like 'Recognition', 'Got Enough Love' and the ballad 'Nightingale' positively gleaming with restored clarity which really captures the power of Detective. Personally speaking, I also liked the typical period funkiness of 'Wild Hot Summer Nights', which makes for a nice change in style. Best of all is the closing number, 'One More Heartache'; sure, Jon Hyde's wall-shaking drum pattern is fiendishly close to John Bonham's on Led Zepp's 'When The Levee Breaks' but, well, it's still a wonderful piece of work and it rounds off the album in show-stopping style.In terms of the packaging, once again this reissue comes up trumps. The booklet contains an extensive essay on the history of Detective, featuring comments from singer Michael Des Barres, which maps out the band's links to Led Zeppelin and their label Swan Song - it also makes clear once and for all the long-rumoured involvement Jimmy Page may or may not have had in producing the record.Thanks to the ties Detective had with Led Zeppelin, the band's self-titled debut has long been a cult record amongst Zeppelin fans and hard rock enthusiasts generally. Now, thanks to the Rock Candy label, this laudable album has at last received the diligent treatment it deserves. Play it loud - your neighbours will love it!
A**R
Detective Men rock hard and heavy
How does a blues/hard rock band with a drummer that plays like the late, great John Bonham and a singer with a great gravelly Rod Stewart like voice sound? If it sounds good to you, then you should really enjoy the music of Detective. One of just a handful of bands signed to Swan Song, whilst it's true Detective do at times sound like the mighty Led Zeppelin, they did very much have their own sound and identity. Whether it's on great power riff rockers like Got Enough Love, Detective Man and One More Heartache or the funky r&b tinged Recognition this album delivers in spades.
N**M
Straight rock.
Good old fashioned straight rock music .
K**R
Detective
Had it on vinyl, so already knew that it was a great album
A**N
Five Stars
Great!
A**R
Detective needed.
Brilliant cd had album years ago, how this band didnt become huge is still a mystery to me, if you are a fan of 70s rock buy it.
M**N
Four Stars
Classic Rock
D**Y
Three Stars
Okay but the song writing wasn't the best. Not my cup of tea.
Trustpilot
2 months ago
3 weeks ago
