Rock and Roll

Although Foghat's second studio album had yet to forge the fiery blues based rock that would soon make them arena deities, it was not without its share of unsuspecting party anthems and tailgate tunes. The opening "Ride, Ride, Ride" sounds powered by the muscle of a million motorcycles as Lonesome Dave Peverett soulfully croons over a trio of female backing singers who belt it out with just as much gospel-rocking prowess as the Honkettes from Lynyrd Skynyrd's band. The biker boogie of "What a Shame" and the hard grooving "Road Fever" also pandered to the C.C. Rider set — the latter with a pedaling strut and hushed horn section that matched well with Rod Price's sinister sounding slide-guitar leads, while the slightly mellower "Helping Hand" moved with a "Hey Bo Diddley" swagger and infectious rhythms seemingly inspired by the James Gang's better moments. "Couldn't Make Her Stay" stands out like a flower in the fog with a lazy acoustic guitar strumming under a lovelorn narrative where Peverett takes a break from his lyrical down-on-my-knees-and-begging-you-please clichés to deliver a heartfelt lament.