DINNER AT THE RITZ

• The Hap-Ki-Do Kid City Boy, 1976

It didn't take City Boy long to create their first masterpiece and most importantly their first and only progressive rock album.

Dinner At The Ritz is a huge step up from the debut album, released that same year. Not only are there no weak/weaker songs but the album can actually be seen as a minor conceptual masterpiece. I was really not a fan of the funk and reggae explorations on the debut so the absence of these styles is a complete bliss to my ears. The overall sound of the record makes me think of Supertramp around the Even in the Quietest Moments...-era, released a year after Dinner At The Ritz. The record is smooth, subtile and featuring that magical sound that can only be found on a '70s studio album.

There is really no reason to talk about the individual tracks because I can never listen to just one of these great compositions without hearing the rest of the album. These songs just don't sound as great when taken out of their context, I'm sure that you know exactly what I mean and can probably mention a few other records that has that same distinction. The only composition-wise thing worth mentioning is the fact that tracks get longer as we progress though the album. The last two tracks are 7+ compositions that might take some time to get into, but trust me when I say that they're totally worth the effort!

Dinner At The Ritz is one of those classic '70s records that most fans of rock music should consider having in their collection, prog or otherwise. The final rating can't be anything less than an excellent addition to any prog rock music collection and it wouldn't surprise me if many of you would rate it even higher!

***** star songs: Dinner At The Ritz (6:41) State Secrets - A Thriller (7:33)

**** star songs: Momma's Boy (3:43) Walk On The Water (3:42) Narcissus (5:26) Goodbye Blue Monday (5:01) The Violin (7:20)

Send comments to Rune2000 (BETA) | Report this review (#437282) | Review Permalink
Posted Thursday, April 21, 2011

Dinner at the ritz is one of the best art rock albums ever.. After a good debut album city boy manages to write a set of songs sounding tighter and more focused than before. this would be their most complete progressive album ever. The band is featuring some heavy guitars but still manages to h ... (read more)

Report this review (#642891) | Posted by sagichim | Tuesday, February 28, 2012 | Review Permanlink

Maybe not real prog music, but very good pop music which I appreciate very much. It is a pitty their music is so hard to find in stores. They deserve more public attention. All their CD's are good, but this one is their best in my opinion. Good vocals, fine musicianship. No ordinary couplet - r ... (read more)

Report this review (#179330) | Posted by Sander | Sunday, August 10, 2008 | Review Permanlink

My first City Boy album and still the best. This shot my into the City Boy arena and i never got back out!! Try listening to "The Violin" on some good headphones, its unbelieveable! The can never be labeled as pop with a song like "State Secrets" which was absolutly astonishing!!! Need i ... (read more)

Report this review (#100933) | Posted by | Wednesday, November 29, 2006 | Review Permanlink

Great album. The band's style is somewhat like Supertramp, but much much better. For one thing, the vocals are much stronger and less wimpy. Mike Slamer belts out some heavy guitar, though you wouldn't call this heavy metal. Good mix of vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums. Too bad this grou ... (read more)

Report this review (#59721) | Posted by | Thursday, December 08, 2005 | Review Permanlink

I just love those UK bands....in the art rock branch (10 cc,Charlie)prog pop rock rolled into one delicious music... ahem....i almost called it cabaret. But these guys are really "up" there with the genius of 10 cc....wonderfull themes,interessting ....even funny and bizarre lyrics. With 2 lead v ... (read more)

Report this review (#29732) | Posted by Tonny Larz | Wednesday, April 21, 2004 | Review Permanlink

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