Pampered Menial is the debut album by American progressive rock/AOR band Pavlov's Dog, released in 1975.

Pampered Menial
Original ABC Records cover.[2] Artwork based on Low Life, a painting by Edwin Landseer.[3]
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 1975[1]
Recorded1973–1974
StudioCBS Studios, New York City
GenreProgressive rock
Length33:32
LabelABC
Columbia (reissue)
ProducerSandy Pearlman, Murray Krugman
Pavlov's Dog chronology
Pampered Menial
(1975)
At the Sound of the Bell
(1976)
Alternative cover
Columbia Records reissue cover
Singles from Pampered Menial
  1. "Julia / Episode"
    Released: 1975[4]
  2. "Song Dance / Natchez Trace"
    Released: 1975[5]
Audio sample
"Julia"
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
DMME[7]
Metal Invaderfavorable[8]
Prog[9]
Rocking.gr (in Greek)favorable[10]
Sputnikmusic[11]
The Great Rock Bible[12]

The album features a line-up comprising David Surkamp, Steve Scorfina, Mike Safron, Rick Stockton, David Hamilton, Doug Rayburn and Siegfried Carver (born Richard Nadler). Carver left the band soon after the album was released. It was first released on ABC Records, debuting on the charts in early April. The LP was soon reissued by Columbia Records, whose version (with slightly different cover) entered the charts in mid-June, just after the ABC issue had dropped off the charts. Having both versions on sale in stores at nearly the same time may have confused buyers.

In the Q & Mojo Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & the Story of Prog Rock, the album came number 26 in its list of "40 Cosmic Rock Albums".[13]

Track listing edit

All tracks credited to David Surkamp, except where noted. All information according to original vinyl liner notes.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Julia" 3:09
2."Late November"Steve Scorfina, David Surkamp3:10
3."Song Dance"Mike Safron4:58
4."Fast Gun" 3:08
5."Natchez Trace"Steve Scorfina3:40
6."Theme from Subway Sue" 4:25
7."Episode" 4:02
8."Preludin"Siegfried Carver1:37
9."Of Once and Future Kings" 5:23
Total length:33:32
2007 Rockville Music reissue bonus tracks[14]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Theme from Subway Sue" (Live Ford Auditorium Detroit '76) 4:25
11."Preludin" (Original 10 minutes version rec. live Ambassador Theatre St. Louis '75)Siegfried Carver9:58
12."I Wish it Would Rain" (Live Ambassador Theatre St. Louis '75) 5:48
13."Rainbow" (From the album Street Suite by Touch (orig. released 1969) feat. David Surkamp on vocals) 3:03

Charts edit

Chart (1975) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[15] 23
US Top LPs & Tape (Billboard)[16] 181

Personnel edit

Pavlov's Dog

Production

References edit

  1. ^ Rossi, Marco (2013). At the Sound of the Bell. Esoteric Recordings. p. 8. Retrieved 28 April 2022. Pampered Menial (...) was released in February 1975
  2. ^ "Pavlov's Dog – Pampered Menial". Discogs. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  3. ^ "Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, Low Life, 1829, exhibited 1831". Tate. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  4. ^ "Pavlov's Dog – Julia". Discogs. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  5. ^ "Pavlov's Dog – Song Dance b/w Natchez Trace". Discogs. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  6. ^ Joe Viglione. "Pampered Menial - Pavlov's Dog | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  7. ^ Epstein, Dmitry M. "PAVLOV'S DOG – Pampered Menial". dmme.net. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  8. ^ Elpida Baphomet. "Pavlov's Dog - Pampered Menial". Metal Invader. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  9. ^ GRM. "Pavlov's Dog: Pampered Menial/At The Sound Of The Bell". Prog. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  10. ^ Sakkalis, Kostas. "Pavlov's Dog Pampered Menial". rocking.gr. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  11. ^ Patiño Izquierdo, JP (19 February 2015). "Pavlov's - Dog". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  12. ^ Strong, Martin Charles. "PAVLOV'S DOG biography". The Great Rock Bible. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  13. ^ Q Classic: Pink Floyd & the Story of Prog Rock, 2005.
  14. ^ "Pavlov's Dog – Pampered Menial". Discogs. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  15. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 231. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  16. ^ "Pavlov's Dog Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 24 November 2019.