Nazareth Album: “Expect No Mercy”

I must say it is. I found myself revisiting the 'alternative version' or the original album as intended by the band over and over. It's a much more interesting and less commercial beast, something which made me think of how many gems like this were stopped from being released by record companies' silly lack of vision. It's unbelievable that superior versions of songs like Kentucky Fried Blues, Shot Me Down, New York Broken Toy, Revenge Is Sweet and Gone Dead Train were shelved. Not to mention the five absolute classic Nazareth tracks which were left off the released album - things like Life Of A Dog, Greens and Desolation Road were criminally omitted.

I must also say that I agree when another reviewer mentioned about the released version being a bit flat when compared to the alternative one, it definitely is. The latter sounds fresh and punchy whereas the previous doesn't. Not sure what went wrong, but it's like the alternative version is the released album judging by the way they sound side by side, so I guess it's quite important to have both versions at last.

Anyway, I don't really mean to criticize the original release of Expect No Mercy in any way, it's a great album nonetheless with the title track and All The Great Horses being amazing additions, but I believe if the band had their way back then, we would've been hit in a whole different fashion - and it would've been better.

Nazareth's "Except No Mercy", is a rock n' roll masterpiece. 9 records into their career, this band from Scotland, could be a good country-rock band as well. This album just brings out the best of the band. Here you get 2 different versions of the album, the one the suits wanted and the one the boys did first, both great sides! You get the classic riffer title track, SMOKIN"! "Shot Me Down", "Revenge Is Sweet", the blessed popper "Place In Your Heart", the two country covers, "Gone Dead Train" and "Busted", the blues of "Kentucky Fried Blues" and New York Broken Toy". The alternative version of the album, the one the big wigs turned down, is just as good. Different arrangements on the 5 songs they kept, "Greens", about that little green pill, the bruising "Life Of A Dog", the slinky slide guitar rocker "Desolation Road", they also gave us the ballad "Moonlight Eyes". A top notch Nazareth release!

Nazareth in 1977:

Dan McCafferty vocals

Manny Charlton guitar

Pete Agnew bass

and the late Darrell Sweet drums

Love these guys. Kentucky fried blues, Gone dead train,killer songs. There is alot more to these guys than the classic Hair of the dog!! Recommended! Remastering is top notch also!

another nazareth cd to my collection this to is a classic not only does this have the reguler 10 songs but includes 10 additional song as altenate versions but greens was a single which is included and a good song about money and good lyrics to boot. buy this now and show your stereo no mercy

Back when Nazareth was putting out 2 albums a year, you could only expect so much. This was a good album, though.

The entire first side is great, the fast paced title track, the powerful chugging blues of "Gone Dead Train"

(although it almost sounds like "donkey train")

The trance like "shot me down" show casing Dan's more melodic vocal side,and the faster paced "revenge is sweet" and "gimmie what's mine" are all solid tracks.

Side two is weaker, although for pure guitar and vocal raunch "kentucky fried blues" is unmatched in the Nazareth catalogue. "place in your heart" was another attempt to generate a pop friendly radio tune, it is kinda silly and kinda good.

The bonus tracks are interesting from a "historical view" but sound pretty rough, like they were demos and rushed.

All in all, like many Nazareth efforts, if you grew up with this record as a teenager, it will have a special place in your heart!