BABE RUTH

By the time Babe Ruth´s third, self titled, album was out, the band was in the middle of a big identidy crisis, or so it seems. After all the experimentalism displayed on Amar Caballero, Babe Ruth simply seemed lost. Each track points a different way and the whole CD sounds directionless.

Tracks like Dancer, Jack O´Lanter and Sad But Rich are hard rockers of some respect, but the last two sound a bit forced and the former, a bit too long. Torquoise is a beautiful acoustic number. Highlight are The Dutchess Of New Orleans and the cover of Curtis Mayfield´s People Darker Than Blue, both with excellent arrnagements and great performances, specially Janita Haan´s vocals. On the other hand Private Number is the kind of bubblegum glam rock of the time, utterly unsuited for the band style. Even the new arrangement for Ennio Morricone´s A Fistuful Os Dollars (echoes of their greatest song The Mexican?) does not work.

With all that it is no surprise that some decisions had to be made for the next release. By then Alan Chacklock was out and Bernie Mardsen took over guitar duties. That would revive, briefly, the band in the very good (but underrated) Stealin´Home..

Babe Ruth is a transitional record, with some good tracks and some that does not work. They still could play good, but this is surely not one of their best, to say the least. Try First Base or Stealín´Home before hearing this one. 2 stars.