With the 1974 disintegration of the original group, was free to launch a solo career. He wisely decided to re-enlist the services of for his solo debut, , which was a concept album tied into the story line of the highly theatrical concert tour he launched soon after the album's release. While the music lost most of the gritty edge of the original lineup, remains 's best solo effort -- while some tracks stray from his expected direction, there's plenty of fist-pumping to go around. The -flavored, album-opening title track would be reworked on the stage as more of a tune, while dips into territory, and is a sensitive that became a Top Ten hit. But the rockers serve as the album's foundation -- and are all standouts, as is the more tranquil yet eerie epic Despite this promising start to 's solo career, the majority of his subsequent releases were often not as focused and were of varying quality. ~ Greg Prato