On Record
April Wine · 1972
36 min · 10 tracks · hard rock
A blend of hard rock riffs and melodic hooks that captures the raw energy of early '70s Canadian music.
Top tracks — play these first
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You Could Have Been a Lady — This track stands out with its catchy chorus and compelling narrative about lost potential, showcasing the band's knack for blending lyrical depth with accessible melodies.
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Believe in Me — The song features a lush arrangement and emotive vocals that highlight the band's ability to create powerful ballads, marking an important stylistic facet of their sound.
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Bad Side of the Moon — With its darker themes and driving guitar riffs, this track exemplifies the hard rock edge that would become synonymous with April Wine's identity.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid songwriting and energetic performances but lacks the depth for lasting impact.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track, 'Farkus', that sets a fast tempo, which is maintained through the first half before slowing down in the latter tracks.
- Several tracks feature prominent guitar riffs and harmonized vocals, particularly in 'You Could Have Been a Lady' and 'Bad Side of the Moon'.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- earworm melodies for sing-alongs
- short bursts of catchy energy
- feel-good vibe for gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy, sprawling albums
- seek intense, fast-paced tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- On Record marks April Wine's debut album, released in 1972 as they were beginning to establish their presence in the Canadian rock scene. The band had recently formed in 1969, and this album set the stage for their subsequent commercial success and artistic development throughout the decade.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Farkus 1:52
- 2 You Could Have Been a Lady 3:40
- 3 Believe in Me 4:01
- 4 Work All Day 3:08
- 5 Drop Your Guns 3:39
- 6 Bad Side of the Moon 3:36
- 7 Refuge 5:08
- 8 Flow River Flow 3:24
- 9 Carry On 2:33
- 10 Didn't You 4:57
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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