Law and Order (1981)

[BeatleFred]

I always thought this was a really good record- excellent songs, excellent recording quality. I remember when it first came out in '81 and buying it, I was... lets see,... 17 yrs old at the time And when I hear it now, it always takes me back to '81.

'Out of the Cradle' is ok, I like "Dont Look Down" alot, and "Countdown" is alright, but I think L&O is a much better record.

Any other L&O fans here?

Regards,

B/F

[Gazza]

I would say it's the weakest of his 3. Some way behind Go Insane and Out Of The Cradle actually.

[Cammie]

A Great Solo Album from a younger Lindsey!
Its innocence and humour are just so refreshing!
We vote for Shadow of the West and Trouble!Sky

[shackin'up]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

Yeah, I've always loved Law And Order above Lindsey's other solo records (bar Gift Of Screws but I guess that doesn't count).
I've always felt it carried on from Tusk - it has a similar feel.
There's a lot of humour on that record too, which is cool and Shadow Of The West is just magnificent.
As for A Satisfied Mind, I can't decide if I like the Jeff Buckley or Lindsey version more... hmmm.

Oh, then listen to the version of the Walkabouts. Brilliant. Although lindsey's very special, too. I prefer those above Buckley's. Very good also, I think it's just a classic song.

[Les]

Originally Posted by BeatleFred

Any other L&O fans here?

Of course.

Cradle is definitely a pretty serious album. I do love the sense of humor in Law & Order. It can be a difficult thing to pull off humor in music. I think people sometimes don't expect humor in music that still expects to be taken seriously as good rock material. There's a balance to strike between just the right amount of campy fun versus just the right amount of straight ahead sincerity, which I think Law & Order has. It's charming.

[wondergirl9847]

I haven't listened to Law and Order in a lil while, so I must revisit it. My fave songs are Bwana, Trouble and Shadow of the West. It is the most eclectic LB album, it's got the quirky, country-ish, rock and 50's songs.

[BeatleFred]

Well, I suppose I could try and give 'OOTC' another listen though I dunno if it'll change my opinion. As I mentioned, I like two tracks in particular on it, otherwise from what I recall, none of the other tunes on it made a lasting impression on me.

I would agree that L&O has a bit of a 'Tusk' feel to it, and thats another reason why I like the L&0 record (cd) so much, because I LOVE the whole Tusk album.

I can play L&O all the way thru, as to me, there are no weak tracks on it. I'd love to know what studio effects he used on the recording because it sounds great ("Johhnny, Johnny, Johnnnnnnney!! -form 'Johnny Stew' I think if he used the effects of today on that record it would sound a bit too digitally overprocessed & artificial.

L&O is a very 1981-ish record to me, and some others that I also feel the same about- Stones- Tattoo You, Joan Armatrading- Walk Under Ladders, and Hall & Oates- Private Eyes.

Of course, I just picked up the 3 newly released F Mac remasters and I have really enjoyed listening to them on my hi fi system.

'Farmers Daughter' - wow, great tune, though I prefer the version on the live album than the bonus track on the remaster.

B/F

[hayley]

I'm not a particular fan of OOTC- my heart has always been with L&O and Go Insane, but especially L&O. It's quirky, it's catchy, it's just plain fun... "I'll Tell You Now" is one of my favorite Lindsey songs of all time.

As for Satisfied Mind- his version's fine, so's Buckley's, and the Walkabouts' is fine too, but there's nothing like J.C.'s.

[Hawkeye]

I've grown to really love Law and Order but none of his work will ever touch the sheer BRILLIANCE of Out of the Cradle. Every danm song is a masterpiece on Cradle. But Law and Order has it's gems. A Satisfied Mind is a song I could listen to 10 straight times. Johnny Stew is my other favorite. And Trouble and Bwana are each superb.

[Les]

Originally Posted by hayley

It's quirky, it's catchy, it's just plain fun... "I'll Tell You Now" is one of my favorite Lindsey songs of all time.

Mine too. It's one of those deceptively simply little songs that captures this peculiar but warm tone of happy sadness that Lindsey has perfected.

[macmar71]

I bought this album a week after I bought Mirage in 1982 as I wanted to go back and get as much Mac and Mac-related music as possible. Law And Order is one of my favorites and probably due to some of the songs like Shadow of the West, Bwana and Johhny Stew, but I know it was also a favorite of mine because of the time period of discovering the Mac and Lindsey. I also remember Trouble being a big hit, was always on the radio here and the rollerskating rink I frequented as a 12 year old had it in the rotation set. Law And Order does bring to me a bit of nostalgia.

[littlelies7]

Chalk me up as another fan of Law and Order.

I approached it as I approached Tusk: unsure.

But, after listening to it (and this goes for Tusk also)... they were brilliant albums.

[sodascouts]

I'm chime in with the folks who believe Law and Order is not his best work and the brilliance of OOTC far outshines it. It's no bad, however, and I do really like Mary Lee Jones a lot. Never really took to Trouble as much as everyone else. At any rate, I think it's a good thing that Lindsey has evolved from that sound. He truly does get better with each solo effort.

[4Buck]

To continue the Lindsey LAW & ORDER love-fest….

I adore every one of Lindsey Buckingham’s musical sounds in agreeable succession! LAW & ORDER is a top dollar production! Buckingham’s first solo album displayed how tremendously versatile he was becoming in the recording studio.

My mind-bending faves are TROUBLE, complete with nimble fingerwork on Buck’s Spanish guitar solo, and SHADOW OF THE WEST; both which flaunt Buckingham’s songwriting chops, liquid voice -- and are starkly pretty!

I like Buckingham’s vocalization of SATISFIED MIND the best, complete with killer harmonies! My boyfriend and I heard Johnny Cash’s version in the thriller “Kill Bill - Vol. 2” last night. Ace cult actor and tough guy, Michael Madsen, plays a vinyl SATISFIED MIND in his trailer home in the film. (The end credits said it was sung by Cash.)

I love his I'LL TELL YOU NOW and IT WAS I cover, for their sheer innocence and ear-pleasing vocals. His unleashing of some fine brawny licks on the stirring, JOHNNY STEW and his MARY LEE JONES’ exit blast of axe AND stellar drumming -- by Buckingham! LOVE FROM HERE, LOVE FROM THERE has ”suggestive” lyrical moments , and it rocks because it’s nostalgic and dance-ready!

(I am flummoxed why lyrics for SHADOW OF THE WEST did not come with the CD booklet, however.)

[David]

L&O is the only LB solo album I can really listen to these days. It's forever fresh & basic & wildly inventive to these old ears, & it doesn't scream "serious work" at you.