From the Twin Cities, Minnesota, Cain was the culmination of many local bands membership pressed into one, while producing vitrolic guitar based rock with a ton of attitude, they judged their run to success with appalling timing!
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Cain
ALBUM: A Pound Of Flesh
LABEL: ASI Records
SERIAL: ASI 204
YEAR: 1975
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Jiggs Lee – vocals, piano * Lloyd Forsberg – guitars * Dave Elmeer – bass, acoustic guitar, keyboards * Kevin DeRemer – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Queen Of The Night * 02 Katy * 03 South Side Queen * 04 Badside * 05 Born Of The Wind * 06 Heed The Call * 07 If The Right Don’t Get You The Left Will * 08 All My Life
Background
They sure don’t make records like this anymore, and that’s a damn shame. The era in which albums like Cain and their contemporaries were released was so much more creative than the current 21st century we live in, and the dross we are forced to listen to. One has to wonder why all these gems from the past are getting re-released? Easy answer. There are no goodies on offer from current day artists that are fulfilling. When was the last great rock album? I doubt you can find one this side of 1999 to be honest.
Whereas Cain were producing vitrolic guitar based rock with a ton of attitude, they judged their run to success with appalling timing! From the Twin Cities, Minnesota, Cain was the culmination of many local bands membership pressed into one. They go back as far as 1969 would you believe. The trio of Lee, Forsberg and Elmeer were the mainstays, while DeRemer was added to the line-up just prior to the release of the 1975 debut.
Musically, the band conjured up mixed of images of Grand Funk, Deep Purple, and vocally Queen and Styx. An amazing amalgam, and for those privy to seeing these guys live, well all I can say is lucky you! With frontman Jiggs Lee, Cain had the ultimate focal point, while Forsberg was an undoubted master of guitar – played the fuzz and wah-wah way!
The Songs
A great representation of 70’s hard rock is found at the doorstep of ‘Queen Of The Night’, complete with tight drums and superb vocal melodies that would impress even the members of Starcastle! Next up is the restrained rock of ‘Katy’, this one is ‘owned’ by Jiggs Lee – his performance out front on this one is tops. Cain give us a burst of good time rock with ‘South Side Queen’, like a mix of Bad Company and Doobie Brothers.
Meanwhile, ‘Badside’ slides into the slinky blues territory occupied by the flanger inclined Robin Trower. Picking up the pace is the funky hard rock of ‘Born Of The Wind’, the vocal harmonies are straight out of the backstreets of funkytown (aka ghetto), whereas ‘Heed The Call’ has some Ozz tendencies, especially those guitar rhythms which are familiar to all who have heard their ‘No Prisoners’ album.
In comparison to the rest of the album, ‘If The Right Don’t Get You The Left Will’ is a touch subdued but still with that classic 70’s vibe. Lee could sing the tail off the donkey, such is his vocal command. David Coverd.. who? Forget it! The band head into Montrose territory with ‘All My Life’.. there can be no better recommendation than that!
In Summary
Regarding the album cover, which has drawn many comments over the years. It seems that ASI management in their wisdom, trudged over the road to a local butcher and commandeered (literally) a pound of flesh (I think it was sausages, Eric, you might correct me here!). The photo was taken at ASI’s recording studios!
Anyway, moving on. Cain released one more album; 1977’s ‘Stinger’, which apparently is just as good as this, so should be well worth the hunt. This album received a CD re-release in 2003 by Texan label Monster Records, purveyors of great 70s guitar hard rock. I’m sure there is a story to be told with Cain, they would say ‘If only disco wasn’t around, we might have stood a chance’.
Video
Entire Album (Select Tracks)
