John Cale - Guts - Island Records - ILPS 9459

This is a great little compilation of 3 deleted records. Very straight ahead rock and roll. Maybe even more so than VU (at times).

Most of the titles appear on previous albums, granted. But A) these are some of Cale's best; B) no AAAAAAAAAAAAAlive performance by Cale is comparable to another; C) with Eno, Manzanera, C. Spedding, A. Mackay, and, yes, Phil Collins among other musicians performing here, I would hate to miss it.Violent, extravagant, one of the best.

and also "Fear is a best man's friend" with plenty of good musicians behind John Cale. Buy it or Die !

A collection of some of the nastiest songs ever recorded. At its foundation, this is 45 minutes of rhythmical countryish rock, performed by respectable musicians like Phil Collins, Geoff Muldaur, Chris Spedding and Phil Manzanera.But projected over the top of that is the violent, perverted filth of John Cale, twisting every sweet harmony and country nuance into something truly unsettling. Brilliant!From the infamous opening lyric, through an eight minute ode to homicide, to Cale screaming "Fear is a man's best friend!" repeatedly while playing his guitar like a deranged chimp, this is a savage business. But a hugely enjoyable business too. The lyrics are smart, endlessly quotable, and often hilarious. Highy recommended.The album cover is my all-time favorite too.

By the time Cale ended up recording for Island, the label had already established itself as a leader in avant garde rock and pop (thanks to such U.K. signings as Roxy Music, King Crimson, The Strawbs, Traffic, Nick Drake and John Martyn). Cale seemed to fit right in and the label wasted no time in setting the ex-Velvet Undergrounder with top-notch players like Roxy Music's Phil Manzanera (who turns in remarkable guitar pyrotechnics on this album) and Phil Collins (long before he turned into an Adult Contemporary mainstay). Guts is Cale's brightest Island release; its power growing stronger through the decades thanks to hard-edged performances filled with anger, thought, hooks and imagination. Yes, this is thinking-person's rock and roll. No, it won't alienate fans of either Roxy Music or the Velvets. Superb!

Just to make a point, this is not an album of new material. It is a collection of songs from the "Fear," "Slow Dazzle" and "Helen of Troy" albums (plus "Mary Lou"). It has some terrific things on it, including the title track and "Leaving It Up to You" with its reference to Sharon Tate, and an anguished version of "Heartbreak Hotel" which makes one realize the meaning of the words, if they're taken seriously. But if you like the hard-rocking Cale, the three original albums are all good ones.

This CD is very hard to explain. This, in my opinion, is by far some of the hardest rocking music ever recorded. From the title track "Guts" to "Pablo Picasso", John Cale elicits your emotions and emplores you to listen. I had the wonderful experience to see John perform this CD live in the late 70's as he was touring the bar circuit in Texas. It was just as unbelievable, live. Hard driving lyrics and mega sound mark this CD. I recommend this to any Rock and Roll enthusiast.

Mr Angry and Sleazy John Cale with a very commercial set of tracks on this Island classic. Great racks include the chugging along "Gun" with wild solos and "Fear is a best man's friend" which starts very sane and composed and ends in utter chaos. Great fun, I remember seeing this set live, good value.