GODDO — An Act of Goddo (review)

Album · 1979 · Hard Rock

3/5 · 2016-07-02
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Goddo’s third album, “An Act of Goddo” was released in 1979 and marks the final chapter in the trilogy of 70’s recordings for the band. Though their fortunes had peaked with “Who Cares”, their sophomore release, this album would still keep the band steadfast to the track. What was to follow would see the band struggling with their label, a move to a new label, a double live album, one more studio album and then a temporary cessation of Goddo activities.

Here the band are still full of vigour and kicking it out, though the opening track is a bit of a surprise; Greg Godovitz tries his hands at composing music for an orchestra and pulls off a decent “classical” instrumental called “Anapanacanapana” which features strings, woodwinds and brass. This is followed by “So Walk On”, one of Goddo’s typical hard rock numbers, which tends to sound like AC/DC with a little less attitude but still a streetwise sneer. Gino Scarpelli’s lead guitar work does have that plucky sound that resembles Angus Young’s playing style of the late seventies.

“Chantel” is a ballad about Anglophone boy meets Francophone girl and is kind of cute with its mid-sentence mix of English and French. Built on acoustic guitar, piano, bass, and drums, the music is close to typical but saved by the obligatory accordion, which any song about French anything must have. “You’re So Cruel” is a kind of ZZ Top rocker that the seventies produced in copious amounts. What sets this and other Goddo songs apart or at least in their own pigeon hole is Greg Godovitz’s voice. It’s one of those voices that only the seventies could have produced, that rock and roll, eastside, bad boy voice.

A slashing guitar sound and feedback introduce the quick-paced rocker “The Verdict’s In”. Here the AC/DC guitars are joined by some sax and the song sounds a bit closer to classic Aerosmith. “Sign on the Line” is an electric ballad about the rigours of getting a record contract. Saxophone prevails here too, and the song packs some good emotive vocals with Godovitz’s almost street punk style.

A mix of classic seventies hard rock with some leanings toward blues rock and classic rock and roll comes up in “Rosie (Just Hang On)”. Jive dancing anyone? Just not in the parts where the guitars slash and crash down a little harder.

“Take Care” is an acoustic track with a bit of a Led Zeppelin vibe and some orchestral strings. It leads into the final rocker “Work It Out”, which reminds me of a mellower AC/DC track from around “For Those About to Rock”. But again, Godovitz’s vocals clearly establish this as a Goddo track.

The final 36 seconds are for “Anacanapanacana” which is a palindrome, and just as palindromes are spelled the same way backwards as they are forwards, the music here is from the opening track but played backwards. A spot of humour here, no doubt.

Though not a solid hard rock album, “An Act of Goddo” packs a variety of Goddo-styled music and if you’re into something more rock than metal than this is an interesting little gem to find. Unfortunately, the CD has been out of print for some time and it’s not easy or cheap to come by. These days, the best a person interested in Goddo can do is pick up their fourth album “Pretty Bad Boys” or some of their live albums. You can still find some songs posted on YouTube.