Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 08/07/2007
One Way... Or Another (1971) was the second and final studio outing to feature the incipient incarnation of supergroup
Cactus, comprised of
Vanilla Fudge rhythm section
Carmine Appice (drums) and
Tim Bogert (bass), as well as former
Amboy Dukes lead vocalist
Rusty Day (vocals/mouth harp), and
Jim McCarty (guitar) from
Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels and the
Buddy Miles Express. Even as their debut was ostensibly rawer, they retained the same amp'ed-up
electric blues reminiscent of early
Grand Funk Railroad and
Foghat. The more polished outcome heard on their sophomore effort is undoubtedly the direct result of assistance from recording engineer extraordinaire
Eddie Kramer and their upgraded digs at the recently completed
Electric Lady Studios, which they inhabited shortly after the passing of the facilities' owner,
Jimi Hendrix. Immediately, the proceedings are thrust into high gear with a languorous and seething interpretation of
Little Richard's
"Long Tall Sally." While not the extended barnburner it became in concert, it gets things off to a rousing start. The lightweight up-tempo
"Rockout, Whatever You Feel Like" could easily be mistaken for
Jo Jo Gunne, especially in
Day's vocal asides, strongly recalling
Jay Ferguson and company.
"Rock 'N' Roll Children" is a heavier number with
McCarty unleashing rounds of impressive and impellent fretwork churning atop the simmering backbeat.
Cactus do what they do best, returning to their
boogie rock roots on the suitably named
"Big Mama Boogie -- Parts 1 & 2." McCarty's pumping acoustic opening is perfectly augmented by some organic mouth harp courtesy of
Day before launching into an explosive assault of pure, unadulterated proto-
metal. The cover of
Chuck Willis'
"Feel So Bad" is given a sizable shakedown, yet doesn't quite seem to live up to its potential. The opposite can be said of the understated
"Song for Aries." Although clocking in at just under three minutes, the instrumental is a showcase for
McCarty's immorally underrated lead guitar. The long-player concludes with two full-blown centerpieces, revealing
Cactus' strength as a formidable powerhouse combo on the autobiographically-inspired rave-up
"Hometown Bust." Fittingly, this lineup and album come to an end on a high note with the title track
"One Way...Or Another." The number is quite possibly the finest original to have been worked up by the band. The cut blazes from tip-to-tail and if the primary riff seems familiar, that may be because it was lifted almost verbatim from
Jeff Beck's
Beck-Ola-era tune
"Rice Pudding." However in
Cactus' care, it stomps with a bit more crunch and no-nonsense attitude.
~Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
;)
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