Biography by Paul Collins
Detective's sound fell somewhere between their Swan Song label-mates Bad Company and Pretty Things, but they never acquired the arena fame of the first or the longevity of the latter. Their lineup appeared unlikely at first blush -- it included former Yes keyboardist Tony Kaye, bass player Bobby Pickett, and lusty frontman Michael Des Barres. But together they created a slick, unified sound that ranged from crowing blues to stadium-friendly ballads. Despite friendly encouragement from Jimmy Page and sharp production values, Detective never really hit it big, and the band called it quits after their second studio album. The various band members have moved on in their disparate directions again; Kaye eventually rejoined Yes, and Monarch took up country music. When their old band is remembered today, is generally as a footnote to the story of Led Zeppelin and their Swan Song label.
Review by Alex Henderson rating 3 stars
Detective wasn't without its detractors who dismissed the short-lived band as a poor man's Led Zeppelin. But Detective had more to offer than that. To be sure, Detective was heavily influenced by Zeppelin, but it wasn't a knee-jerk Zeppelin clone -- and its bluesy brand of hard rock also owed a lot to Bad Company and Free and Pretty Things. Released in 1977, It Takes One to Know One was the second of Detective's two studio albums. This LP is uneven; a few of the tunes are pedestrian and forgettable (especially the sappy MOR numbers "Warm Love" and "Something Beautiful"). But when Detective hits its mark -- and it often does -- the listener is happy to have this record in his/her collection. The album's best songs (which include "Dynamite," "Competition," and "Tear Jerker") pack an invigorating hard rock punch. Equally memorable is "Are You Talkin' to Me?," which was obviously inspired by Robert De Niro's famous line in the film Taxi Driver. That Martin Scorsese masterpiece came out in 1976, and Detective's 1977 song is an example of how De Niro's line quickly became a part of popular culture. Imperfections and all, It Takes One to Know One is worth having in your collection if you have a taste for bluesy, riff-oriented hard rock.
Band:
Tony Kaye — keyboards
Michael Des Barres — lead vocals
Jon Hyde — drums, percussion, vocals
Michael Monarch — guitars
Bobby Pickett — bass, vocals
Tracklist:
01. Help Me Up (4:18)
02. Competition (4:42)
03. Are You Talkin To Me (4:36)
04. Dynamite (5:29)
05. Something Beautiful (4:23)
06. Warm Love (5:26)
07. Betcha Won't Dance (4:26)
08. Fever (4:43)
09. Tear Jerker (4:30)
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