Scorching Beauty is the fifth studio album released by the American hard rock group Iron Butterfly. Released four years after their original breakup, it was recorded by a reformed lineup with only one member remaining from their previous album, drummer Ron Bushy. In addition to Bushy, this lineup includes Erik Brann (the guitarist from the classic lineup), Phil Kramer, and Howard Reitzes. The album cover was designed by Ernie Cefalu and illustrated by Drew Struzan. This album, along with Sun and Steel (released later in 1975), failed commercially. Tracks from this album tend to be ignored on Iron Butterfly compilations/greatest hit collections.

Scorching Beauty
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 1975
Recorded1974
GenreHard rock
Length36:18
LabelMCA
ProducerDenny Randell
Iron Butterfly chronology
Evolution: The Best of Iron Butterfly
(1971)
Scorching Beauty
(1975)
Sun and Steel
(1975)

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]

AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album "undistinguished" and said that it "fell between the group's heavy acid rock and mid-'70s arena rock conventions."[1]

Track listing

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Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."1975 Overture"Erik Brann, Ron Bushy, Philip Taylor Kramer, Howard ReitzesBrann4:19
2."Hard Miseree"BrannBrann3:42
3."High on a Mountain Top"KramerKramer4:01
4."Am I Down"BrannBrann5:22
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
5."People of the World"BrannBrann3:23
6."Searchin' Circles"BrannBrann4:38
7."Pearly Gates"Jon Anderson, BushyKramer3:25
8."Lonely Hearts"BrannBrann3:14
9."Before You Go"Brann, ReitzesBrann, Reitzes5:34

Charts

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Chart (1975) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] 97

Personnel

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Iron Butterfly

Guest musician

Singles

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  • "Searchin' Circles" (2:53 edit) b/w "Pearly Gates" (2:35 edit)
  • "High on a Mountain Top" b/w "Before You Go"

References

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  1. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Scorching Beauty – Iron Butterfly at AllMusic. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  2. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 149. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.