''Newborn'' is the eighth studio album by

James Gang James Gang is an American rock band formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1966. The band went through a variety of line-up changes until they recorded their first album as a power trio consisting of Joe Walsh (guitars, lead vocals), Tom Kriss (bass), and ...

, released in 1975, and the only released on

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...

. Guitarist

Tommy Bolin Thomas Richard Bolin (August 1, 1951 – December 4, 1976) was an American guitarist and songwriter who played with Zephyr (from 1969 to 1971), The James Gang (from 1973 to 1974), and Deep Purple (from 1975 to 1976), in addition to maintaining a ...

and singer

Roy Kenner Roy Douglas Kenner (born January 14, 1948 in Toronto) is a Canadian singer and songwriter, most notable as the lead vocalist of Mandala (Canadian band), Mandala in the late 1960s and as the lead vocalist of the James Gang during 1972–1974. Hist ...

left the band, and were replaced by guitarist Richard Shack and vocalist Bubba Keith. This album is notable for being perhaps the most boogie-based James Gang release and for featuring a cover of the

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

classic " Heartbreak Hotel". Both ''Newborn'' and its follow-up ''Jesse Come Home'' have been reissued on one CD by Wounded Bird Records. The album cover artwork features a reproduction of

Salvador Dalí Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech, Marquess of Dalí of Púbol (; ; ; 11 May 190423 January 1989) was a Spanish Surrealism, surrealist artist renowned for his technical skill, precise draftsmanship, and the striking and bizarr ...

's " Geopoliticus Child Watching the Birth of the New Man"

Critical reception

Writing for

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, critic

Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...

wrote of the album "The record was another collection of mediocre songs—a problem that plagued the band ever since the departure of Joe Walsh in 1971."

Track listing

All songs by Bubba Keith and Richard Shack, except where noted. ;Side One # "Merry-Go-Round" – 3:05 #* Bubba Keith - lead vocals, guitar #* Richard Shack - guitars, backing vocals, guitar solo #* Dale Peters - bass, backing vocals #* Jim Fox - drums #* David Briggs - organ # "Gonna Get By" (Bubba Keith, Mark Smith) – 3:59 #* Bubba Keith - lead vocals, acoustic guitar #* Richard Shack - electric guitar, backing vocals #* Dale Peters - bass, backing vocals #* Jim Fox - drums #* David Briggs - piano, organ # "Earthshaker" (Keith) – 3:48 #* Bubba Keith - lead vocals, guitar #* Richard Shack - guitars, guitar solo #* Dale Peters - bass #* Jim Fox - drums #* Tom Dowd - cacophony #* Ken Hamann - synth-A # "All I Have" – 2:17 #* Bubba Keith - lead vocals #* Richard Shack - guitar #* Dale Peters - bass # "Watch It" (Keith) – 3:32 #* Bubba Keith - lead vocals, guitar #* Richard Shack - guitars, guitar solo #* Dale Peters - bass, cowbell #* Jim Fox - drums ;Side Two #

"Driftin' Dreamer" – 3:31 #* Bubba Keith - lead vocals, acoustic guitar #* Richard Shack - electric guitar, backing vocals #* Dale Peters - bass, backing vocals, tambourine #* Jim Fox - drums, organ # "Shoulda' Seen Your Face" – 3:46 #* Bubba Keith - lead vocals, guitar #* Richard Shack - guitars, guitar solo #* Dale Peters - bass, triangle #* Jim Fox - drums # "Come With Me" – 2:30 #* Bubba Keith - lead vocals #* Richard Shack - guitar #* Donny Brooks - harmonica #* George Ricci - cello #* Arif Mardin - cello and harmonica arrangements # " Heartbreak Hotel" (

Mae Boren Axton Mae Boren Axton (September 14, 1914 – April 9, 1997) was known in the music industry as the "Queen Mother of Nashville." She co-wrote the Elvis Presley hit single "Heartbreak Hotel" with Tommy Durden. She worked with Mel Tillis, Reba McEntire, ...

Tommy Durden Thomas Russell Durden (December 15, 1919 – October 17, 1999) was an American steel guitarist and songwriter, who is most notable for co-writing Elvis Presley's breakthrough hit, "Heartbreak Hotel". Biography He was born in Morgan County, Geo ...

) – 2:15 #* Bubba Keith - lead vocals, guitar #* Richard Shack - guitars, guitar solo #* Dale Peters - bass #* Jim Fox - drums, piano # "Red Satin Lover" – 2:17 #* Bubba Keith - lead vocals, guitar #* Richard Shack - guitars, guitar solo #* Dale Peters - bass, backing vocals, tambourine #* Jim Fox - drums # "Cold Wind" – 2:34 #* Bubba Keith - lead vocals, acoustic guitar #* Richard Shack - electric guitar, guitar solo #* Dale Peters - bass #* Jim Fox - drums #* Al Perkins - steel guitar #* Tom Dowd - piano

Personnel

* Bubba Keith – lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars * Richard Shack – electric guitars, backing vocals * Dale Peters – bass, backing vocals, percussion * Jim Fox – drums, organ, piano * Al Perkins – steel guitar * David Briggs – organ, piano * Kenneth Hamann – synthesizer *

Don Brooks Don Frank Brooks (8 March 1947, in Dallas, Texas – 25 October 2000, in Manhattan, New York) was an American blues harmonica performing artist. Career Brooks was a full-time harmonica player with Waylon Jennings and was a prolific session musici ...

– harmonica * George Ricci – cello

Sales chart performance

Album -

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

(United States)

References

{{Authority control James Gang albums 1975 albums Atlantic Records albums