Search - Copperhead :: Copperhead

Rock'n'roll at it's best

Junglies | Morrisville, NC United States | 03/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a gem of an album, disregarded by a lot of folks as hippie turned roller derby violence toting John Cipollina ventured into new territory.I don' think so. This is a high energy album with lots of fast paced rock'n'roll and a couple of ballad type songs thrown in. No laid back grass smokin' music here this is red hot.It is a showcase for John Cipollina in a new role but you can see the attraction. A tight band very together with a lot of energy and interplay there. The album hits the ground running with Roller Derby Star, a song with a catchy chorus even though it is one you probably would not want your kids singing along to. All the tracks on this album, my personal favourite being Kamikaze although I suspect that would not be the correct thing to say these days. Cipollina is in excellent form throughout.All I would like to add, aside from a plea for any additional tracks that may be lying around in a vault somewhere, is buy this CD, turn the sound up way loud and just enjoy the experience of Copperhead."

DOESN'T HAVE MUCH BITE!

Joseph A. Kengor | Youngstown, OH USA | 02/15/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I waited a long time to buy this album. Had it in my hands a couple times when it first came out in the early seventies. I
should have trusted my original instincts. I was really disappointed when listening to this recently available import-
not much classic Cippolina-style guitar work (which is why I
purchased it). For some reason I thought he was the centerpiece
of the band? Somehow the banal lyrics and trite song arrangements
overwhelmed whatever contribution Mr. Cippolina made to the band.
My suggestion: just buy up all the Quicksilver Messenger Service
discs while they're still available, then lament that John never
really recorded any worthwhile stuff beyond that band."

Great long-lost '70s rock with John Cipollina

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 09/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Following on the heels of Cipollina's work with Quicksilver Messenger Service, Copperhead turned out to be something of a one-off that never garnered much favor with fans. After Clive Davis' firing from CBS, the band's label didn't have much use for them either, and this one album is all that remains.



Cipollina's signature guitar sound can be heard throughout, but this album is really more a creature of early-70s melodic hard-rock, ala fellow Bay Area rockers, Earthquake, and acts like The Edgar Winter Group/Rick Derringer and Joe Walsh. The tracks are distinguished (beyond Cipollina's presence, of course) by the fine playing of second guitarist Gary Philippet, bassist Jim McPherson and especially drummer Dave Weber. Cipollina, Philippet, and McPherson's songs feature humorously bizarre lyrics about roller derby, kamikazes and monsters. The use of Hawaiian and bottleneck guitars add some twangy lines.



This is one of the great forgotten rock albums of the '70s, and the CD reissue adds the non-LP B-side, "Chameleon.""