"Lonesome Crow" is the debut studio album by the German rock band Scorpions. Released on February 9, 1972, this album witnessed the pioneer transition from psychedelic music to hard rock. It was recorded soon after the band was formed, and the members were still teenagers at the time.
The band in this period consisted of Klaus Meine as the lead vocals, Michael Schenker on lead guitar, Rudolf Schenker as rhythm guitarist, Lothar Heimberg on bass, and Wolfgang Dziony as the drummer.
Distinctively different from their later heavy metal and hard rock sound, "Lonesome Crow" is an experimental album that largely embraces a psychedelic and hard rock style. This variety in genre across tracks makes the album unique in the band's discography. The album is noted for its dark, complex compositions, heavily influenced by the 1970s progressive rock era, and elaborate guitar work by Michael Schenker.
"Lonesome Crow" being the first album, it did not reach the mainstream popularity until their later albums did. However, this debut album still provided a stepping stone for the band's future successes and represented their artistic potential that would develop amazingly in the following years. The album cover was designed by Hipgnosis, a British design group known to have worked with many rock acts at the time.
The album didn't chart as well as their future releases, but it was importantly a showcase of what was to come from the Scorpions. In a career spanning over fifty years, The Scorpions have matured with their music but "Lonesome Crow" reminds fans where it all began.
