Scorching Beauty

Album by Iron Butterfly

Scorching Beauty

Studio album by

Iron Butterfly

Released

January 1975

Recorded

1974

Genre

Hard rock

Length

36:18

Label

MCA

Producer

Denny Randell

Iron Butterfly chronology

Evolution: The Best of Iron Butterfly
(1971)

Scorching Beauty
(1975)

Sun and Steel
(1975)

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.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
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

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"1975 Overture"	Erik Brann, Ron Bushy, Philip Taylor Kramer, Howard Reitzes	Brann	4:19
2.	"Hard Miseree"	Brann	Brann	3:42
3.	"High on a Mountain Top"	Kramer	Kramer	4:01
4.	"Am I Down"	Brann	Brann	5:22

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
5.	"People of the World"	Brann	Brann	3:23
6.	"Searchin' Circles"	Brann	Brann	4:38
7.	"Pearly Gates"	Jon Anderson, Bushy	Kramer	3:25
8.	"Lonely Hearts"	Brann	Brann	3:14
9.	"Before You Go"	Brann, Reitzes	Brann, Reitzes	5:34

Charts

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

Personnel

Iron Butterfly

Erik Brann – guitars, lead vocals
Ron Bushy – drums, backing vocals
Philip Taylor Kramer – bass guitar, vocals
Howard Reitzes – keyboards, vocals

Guest musician

Jon Anderson – backing vocals on "Pearly Gates"

Singles

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

References

^ ^a ^b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Scorching Beauty – Iron Butterfly at AllMusic. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
^ 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.