After a very long tour in support of their album, ‘Get Your Wings’, Aerosmith was tight and playing better than ever. They were ready to jump back in the studio for new album and bring back producer Jack Douglas. Their first two albums used up all the songs they had been playing for years and so it was time they brought out some brand new material for their ever growing fans.

Their third album ‘Toys in the Attic’ they created would take the band to a whole new level of stardom. The album would go on to sell more than 8 million copies and become one of their most commercially successful albums of all time.

‘Toys in the Attic’ was released on 8^th April, 1975 and was recorded at the Record Plant in New York City from January to March of that year. The album finally saw Aerosmith get what they had been working so hard for over the years. It was not just the music, but fame, fortune and drugs.

Led by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the other members Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford and Joey Kramer, had at least one writing credit on the album except for Joey. Tyler had songwriting duties on all of the songs except for the cover song.

This album in its original pressing is a treasure hold for me and is one of two albums I own, with the other being ‘Get Your Wings’.  For me, Sweet Emotion is the best song of the band's album. From Tom Hamilton's boiling bass line to the crunching guitars of Joe Perry and Brad Whitford to Joey Kramer's killer drums to Tyler's spot-on lead vocal, it was a perfect rock anthem. The band found who they were with this album and this offering showed that their songwriting had matured and grown bringing new and exciting songs.

With such classics as the title track, Sweet Emotion, Walk This Way and Big Ten Inch Record and then throw in something as creative as You See Me Crying, the band was onto something great with this one, with even other songs that are really enjoyable as well.  Not only does Joe Perry turn out indelible riffs on the teenage heavy petting of Walk This Way, Toys in the Attic, and the promiscuous Sweet Emotion, but Steven Tyler has fully embraced sleaziness as his artistic muse. All of their songs were original, except for their cover of Big Ten Inch Record, a 1952 blues song recorded by Bullmoose Jackson that was just hilarious good fun.

Boston's bad boys hit big time with this one that also opened them up to an international audience, ‘Toys in the Attic’ was certified gold in just four months. It has since gone platinum eight times over. These boys know how to rock. Aerosmith is one of the greatest rock n roll bands of all-time and has retained a huge audience for decades. A really enjoyable rock album with some great riffs and power vocals.

For fans new to Aerosmith must buy this album first, and even if you buy all of their hits compilations, you still must buy ‘Toys in the Attic’.

Duration: 37 minutes

Released on: 8^th April 1975

Rating; *****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira