Most people familiar with the Hounds’ material would prefer the energy of the first LP ‘Unleashed’. But melodic rockers and AORsters I’m guessing would prefer this second offering.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Hounds
ALBUM: Puttin’ On The Dog
LABEL: Columbia
SERIAL: JC 36098
YEAR: 1979
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: John Hunter – vocals, keyboards * Don Griffin, Glen Rupp – guitars * Joe Cuttone – bass * Michael Neff – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Do Wah Diddy Diddy * 02 Angel Of Fire * 03 Under My Thumb * 04 Gotta Find A Way To Meet You * 05 The Moth And The Fire * 06 Workin’ On My Cool * 07 Horses * 08 Spiders * 09 Who’ll Be The Next In Line * 10 Along The Lane
WEBLINKS: NA
Hounds Background
As part of a clean-up exercise to complete the discography of some artists here at Glory Daze, we start with Chicago’s Hounds. Already written about is their debut ‘Unleashed’. We finish off their story with the second and final album ‘Puttin’ On The Dog’.
A five year run signed to CBS, Hounds went through every rock genre known to man during the late 70’s. Power pop, new wave, punk, hard rock, blues. All bundled up in their Chicago down-town mish-mash.
It’s true that lead-man John Hunter was an American version of Mick Jagger, and the band had a Rolling Stones vibe about them. Though there is less of that influence this time around. The Hounds sound positively pomp rock compared to ‘Unleashed’.
The Songs
Certainly among the songs presented here, they revamp the Stones cover ‘Under My Thumb’. Though to my way of listening, it isn’t nearly as good as Canadians Streetheart. They presented their version on their ‘Under Heaven Over Hell’ LP the same year.
Elsewhere the band deliver a version of the rock n roll chestnut ‘Doo Wah Diddy Diddy’, and a Kinks cover ‘Who’ll Be The Next in Line’.
With those three out of the way, the Hounds revert back to originals. Starting with ‘Angel Of Fire’, an aptly named fiery tune. This one is so 70’s, it’s got everything really!
‘Gotta Find A Way To Meet You’ is a groovy tune, like a workingman’s version of The Cars. ‘The Moth And The Fire’ includes a plaintive piano line, some quirky parts, similar to Blue Oyster Cult in places.
‘Working On My Cool’ not only has a great title, but some pumping pomp rock passages too. You’d be surprised, I definitely was! As for ‘Horses’, think Russia at their weird and wackiest, and that’s definitely a compliment.
‘Spider’ comes at you from the theatrical side, with nods to bands like Mother Goose, Split Enz and Cinema Face. The final track ‘Along The Lane’ is mid-paced and generally doesn’t get beyond the lift-off point.
In Summary
Most people familiar with the Hounds’ material would prefer the energy of the first LP ‘Unleashed’. But melodic rockers and AORsters I’m guessing would prefer this second offering.
The two albums are like chalk and cheese, but are both worthy of investigation. As mentioned elsewhere on Glory Daze, only lead-man John Hunter went onto anything significant into the 80’s. John released ‘Famous At Night’ in 1984, including an updated version of the song ‘Horses’.
Hounds on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
