Back in the USA (album)

Untitled

Back in the USA is the second album by the protopunk band MC5, released in 1970. The opener is a cover of the classic hit by Little Richard, "Let Me Try" is a ballad, "The American Ruse" attacks what they see as a hypocritical idea of freedom that the American government teaches and "The Human Being Lawnmower" is an attack upon the Vietnam War. The central focus of the album is the band's actual movement away from the raw, thrashy, protopunk sound pioneered and captured on their first release "Kick Out the Jams". This was due impart to producer Jon Landau's distaste for the ruff psychedelic movement, and adoration for the straight-forward, comercial rock of the 50's. Landau, who originally wrote for Rolling Stone Magazine, was looking to get more involved in actual music production. Becoming close with Atlantic Records executive Jerry Wexler was his chance and led Landau to the highly controversial MC5, who had just been picked up by Atlantic after being dropped from there label Elektra Records. The last song on the album, which is infact the title track, is a cover of Chuck Berry's "Back in the U.S.A" from the album "More Chuck Berry" released in 1962. Though the MC5's album was viewed as a flop early on by most fans, and did not have near the commercial success as their previous release, it would later be considered highly important due to the albums absolute projection of the bands core sound and earliest influence, American Blues. Template:RS500

Track listing

1. "Tutti-Frutti"
2. "Tonight"
3. "Teenage lust"
4. "Let Me Try"
5. "Looking at You"
6. "High School"
7. "Call Me Animal"
8. "The American Ruse"
9. "Shakin' Street"
10. "The Human Being Lawnmower"
11. Back in the U.S.A.