Roscoe's Gang
Roscoe's Gang is the debut album by the American musician Eric Ambel, released in 1988. Its title is a reference to the band Ambel would use for casual New York City bar gigs. He supported the album with a North American tour.
Production
The album was recorded at Column One in Springfield, Missouri, with members of the Morells, and coproduced by the band's bass player, Lou Whitney. The cover of Neil Young's "Vampire Blues" was recorded in one take. "Total Destruction to Your Mind" is a cover of the Swamp Dogg song. "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" was written by Bob Dylan. "Loose Talk" is a version of the song made famous by Buck and Bonnie Owens. "Don't Wanna Be Your Friend" and "I Waited for You" were written by Ambel's Del-Lords bandmate Scott Kempner. "Next to the Last Waltz" was cowritten by Peter Holsapple. "Power Lounger Theme" is an instrumental. Syd Straw and Skid Roper contributed to the recording sessions.Critical reception
Newsday said that Roscoe's Gang is "what a solo album should be: an off-hand, unaffected, underproduced busman's holiday." The Chicago Tribune opined that "Ambel's true talents still seem to lie in rock 'n' roll territory, the best songs here being some strutting, full-power rockers." The New York Times praised the "cheerfully rowdy material". The Calgary Herald labeled the music "raunchy rock and gritty country-rock". The Morning Call concluded that Ambel "does better than Jason & the Scorchers or the Georgia Satellites".The Ottawa Citizen noted that unlike Ambel's work with the Del-Lords and the Blackhearts, the music is "less contrived and exudes pure intentions." The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that "this is wonderfully raw, passionate music that never loses its sense of humor." The Boston Globe admired the "inspired primitivism" and "loose and unencumbered" performances. The SouthtownStar likened the music to "the Rolling Stones meet the dB's". Playboy noted that "Ambel's guitar expertise ranges from country to hard rock to pop metal".