Biography
Nazareth are a Scottish hard rock band formed in 1968, that had several hits in the United Kingdom, as well as in several other West European countries in the early 1970s, and established an international audience with their 1975 album Hair of the Dog, which featured their hits “Hair of the Dog” and a cover of the ballad “Love Hurts”. The band continues to record and tour. Nazareth formed in December 1968 in Dunfermline, Scotland, from the remaining members of semi-professional local group The Shadettes (formed in 1961) by vocalist Dan McCafferty, guitarist Manny Charlton (ex Mark V and The Red Hawks), bassist Pete Agnew, and drummer Darrell Sweet. They were inspired by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Nazareth took their name from Nazareth, Pennsylvania, which is cited in the first line of The Band’s classic song “The Weight” (“I pulled into Nazareth / Was feelin’ about half past dead…”). Nazareth’s cover version of “Java Blues” by The Band’s bassist/singer Rick Danko and Emmett Grogan is on their 1981 live album Snaz. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazareth
Album & Cover
Close Enough for Rock ‘n’ Roll is the seventh studio album by the Scottish hard rock band Nazareth, released in 1976. The lead track, Telegram, is the definitive story of 1970’s touring rock bands and describes the band’s experience of hangovers, travel by aeroplane and limousine, customs, FM radio, girls, breakfast, press reception, soundcheck and finally the show over an insistent guitar riff that bursts into a short version of the Byrds hit before returning to the riff and the story. It includes the album title in the lyrics – this references a saying among guitar players: it doesn’t matter if your guitar is fully in tune, as long as it’s “close enough for rock ‘n’ roll”. Telegram (Parts 1-3 only) was Nazareth’s concert opener for many years, including the 1981 shows recorded for the Snaz album and is one of their finest achievements. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Enough_for_Rock_%27n%27_Roll
Cover Location:
Who Did What: Photography – A. Powell/S. Thorgerson. Typography – R. Evans
Label: A&M SP-4562(US), Mountain TOPS109UK)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell
Tracklist
| Side One Telegram (Part 1) On Our Way Telegram (Part 2) So You Want To Be A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star Telegram (Part 3) Sound Check Telegram (Part 4) Here We Are Again Vicki Homesick Again Vancouver Shakedown |
Side Two Born Under The Wrong Sign Loretta Carry Out Feelings Lift The Lid You’re The Violin |
Credits
Bass Guitar, Piano – Pete Agnew
Drums, Percussion – Darrell Sweet
Electric Guitar – Manny Charlton
Engineer – John Punter, Nick Blagona
Producer – Manny Charlton
Vocals – Dan McCafferty
