One of the 70s rockers who transitioned into the video age successfully, Eddie Money recorded some of the best blue-collar rock-n-roll of the era. While the hit singles stretched across the 1980s, Money’s best work remains his self-titled debut from 1977 and you can find it in the bargain bin at almost any record store. Anchored by a couple of hit singles, the rest of the album provides plenty of great songs to discover.
“Baby Hold On” and “Two Tickets To Paradise” will live forever on classic rock playlists and, like the hit singles that would follow, they are classic Eddie Money – reliable hooks with a hint of soul. “You Really Got A Hold On Me” captures the youthful yearning of rock-n-roll while “Wanna Be A Rock-n-Roll Star” serves as a swinging mission statement for Money who cashed out a career as a New York City police officer and gambled on music. It paid off.
Guitarist Jimmy Lyon played a pivotal role in most of Eddie Money’s best recordings and he has on fire throughout the debut. “Got To Get Another Girl” and “Gamblin’ Man” are six-string workouts that give these album tracks plenty of muscle. Toss in a few sax solos and the steady drums of Gary Mallaber and you have an album that sounds closer to the Steve Miller Band (who Mallabler played with) than the late-80s Eddie Money sound. It’s reliable, honest rock-n-roll. This is a must-add to any vinyl collection.