Dudes: We're no Angels

Band: Dudes

Album: We're No Angels
Songs of Note: I Just Wanna Dance, Dancin' Shoes, Got Me Where You Want Me.

The year is 1975. A group of Canadian musicians, known as the Dudes, is generating a lot of buzz in America's hat. The group is based out of Montreal, and if you are willing to believe the liner notes, their mystique is growing just like the early days of Liverpool. Unfortunately for the band, they never made it big. I was curious what the group would sound like. A band with three guitar players, two drummers, and a bassist named "Kootch" should have some complicated songs so all the instruments get a chance to be heard. Before I even started listening to the music, I knew why this group is not mentioned with the great ones. Image means a lot. Especially in the days of vinyl when an album cover acted as a billboard for the band. This album cover sends a message, a message no one wants to hear. I think they took an old backdrop from the Lawrence Welk show that had guitars and a big piano on it and had these guys do show girl kicks for the camera. The one guy that is sitting down has an "aw shucks" grin on his face and seems to be happy just being in the picture. The back cover features mug shots of the band that look like they were taken by the person from Olan Mills that makes an annual visit to public schools.

I am spending so much time on image with these guys because when I started listening to the music, it was better than I was expecting. Side One contains what my research tells me was their only hit, a little number called " I Just Wanna Dance". Oddly, this song did not make me wanna dance but was a slice of 70's am radio that goes down smooth and leaves no aftertaste. I can't say anything on side one was great, but it was nice. My overall impression was that this a band that could open for the BeeGee's before they found disco. The second side of the record was much more entertaining to me. The music was a little funkier. The band shows off more of its glam influences as well. The high point for me was the confused ballad "Got Me Where You Want Me". It starts off from the perspective of a true player, a real ladies man who tells his newest acquaintance, "Tonight's the night for love. I’m just an artist, I got a brush, you’re just a canvas waiting for my touch. Taking something you love to give away." A shift in the tone soon follows and our fearless narrator is now at the whim of his latest conquest, saying you got me right where you want me.
I can understand why this band never made it big. The songs are nice but not particularly memorable. The band does not do enough to stand out. There is no mystery, no sex appeal, and the music sounds a little flat. My recommendation would be to find a better producer or mixer and use this as an album cover instead.