album cover
artist
Rupert Holmes
Brass Knuckles
829
Soundtrack
Brass Knuckles was released on January 1, 1974 by Concord Theatricals as a part of the album Widescreen: Collector's Edition
album cover
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OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Rupert Holmes
Rupert Holmes
Vocals
Vincent Bell
Vincent Bell
Electric Guitar
Elliott Randall
Elliott Randall
Electric Guitar
Jay Berliner
Jay Berliner
Acoustic Guitar
Sal Detroya
Sal Detroya
Acoustic Guitar
Stu Scharf
Stu Scharf
Acoustic Guitar
Wilbur Bascomb, Jr.
Wilbur Bascomb, Jr.
Electric Bass Guitar
Russell George
Russell George
Electric Bass Guitar
John Miller
John Miller
Electric Bass Guitar
Martin Fulterman
Martin Fulterman
Drums
Al Rogers
Al Rogers
Drums
Jimmie Young
Jimmie Young
Drums
John Frosk
John Frosk
Trumpet
Alan Rubin
Alan Rubin
Trumpet
Jimmy Selder
Jimmy Selder
Trumpet
Joe Shepley
Joe Shepley
Trumpet
Lewis Michael Soloff
Lewis Michael Soloff
Trumpet
David Taylor
David Taylor
Trombone
Peter & Gordon
Peter & Gordon
French Horn
Bill Hamilton
Bill Hamilton
French Horn
Bob Karlisle
Bob Karlisle
French Horn
Lou DelGato
Lou DelGato
Woodwinds
Phil Bodner
Phil Bodner
Woodwinds
Jerry Dodgion
Jerry Dodgion
Woodwinds
William Slapion
William Slapion
Woodwinds
Romeo Panque
Romeo Panque
Woodwinds
Jesse Levy
Jesse Levy
Cello
Maurice Bialkin
Maurice Bialkin
Cello
Sally Rosoff
Sally Rosoff
Cello
Toby Saks
Toby Saks
Cello
Seymour Barab
Seymour Barab
Cello
Harry Cykman
Harry Cykman
Cello
George Koutzen
George Koutzen
Cello
Alan Schulman
Alan Schulman
Cello
David Nadien
David Nadien
Violin
Paul Gershman
Paul Gershman
Violin
Charles McCracker
Charles McCracker
Violin
Joseph Malignaggi
Joseph Malignaggi
Violin
Harry Lookofsky
Harry Lookofsky
Violin
Manny Green
Manny Green
Violin
Elliot Rosoff
Elliot Rosoff
Violin
Anahid Ajerian
Anahid Ajerian
Violin
Ruth Buffington
Ruth Buffington
Violin
Israel Chorberg
Israel Chorberg
Violin
Michael Comins
Michael Comins
Violin
Sidney Kauffmann
Sidney Kauffmann
Violin
John Palanchian
John Palanchian
Violin
Irving Spice
Irving Spice
Violin
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Rupert Holmes
Rupert Holmes
Composer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Jeffrey Lesser
Jeffrey Lesser
Producer
Bruce Kimmel
Bruce Kimmel
Recording Supervisor
Don Puluse
Don Puluse
Recording Engineer
Doug Pomeroy
Doug Pomeroy
Recording Engineer
Frank Laico
Frank Laico
Recording Engineer
Tim Geelin
Tim Geelin
Recording Engineer
Rusty Payne
Rusty Payne
Recording Engineer
Stan Tonkel
Stan Tonkel
Recording Engineer
Bob Clearmountain
Bob Clearmountain
Assistant Recording Engineer
Ron Saint Germain
Ron Saint Germain
Assistant Recording Engineer
Don Wershba
Don Wershba
Assistant Recording Engineer
Ted Brosnan
Ted Brosnan
Assistant Recording Engineer
Pete Dauria
Pete Dauria
Assistant Recording Engineer
Lou Schlossberg
Lou Schlossberg
Assistant Recording Engineer
Lou Waxman
Lou Waxman
Assistant Recording Engineer
Joe Gastwirt
Joe Gastwirt
Mastering Engineer
Ramon Breton
Ramon Breton
Mastering Engineer

Lyrics

Workin' out a homicide
They told me Joe Vinelli died
We'd been a team for seven years
His widow wouldn't waste her tears
Who'd done it, no one seemed to care
'Cause crooked cops foul up the air
But since I worked so long with Joe
I felt I had the right to know
I found a club in Malibu
He'd gone when he felt black and blue
For twenty bucks in petty cash
The hat-check girl spilled out some trash
And in her tale, I heard a name
That rang a gong to save the game
A congressman named Thorley Doakes
Who had a place in Sherman Oaks
Step softly, gumshoe, you're outta your class
You're treading mighty barefoot and there's glass in the grass
Brass knuckles won't help you when your hands ain't clean
Rubber hoses, broken noses are a trenchcoat scene
And you ain't dressed for this affair
You're breathing rarefied air
Up through the luscious state, I wheeled
A servant made me show my shield
The congressman conversed with me
He flashed his smile convincingly
He said he'd not a thing to hide
Which told me right away he lied
'Cause how could he afford the rent
Unless he's somewhat overspent?
Then down the stairs came Mrs. Doakes
The kind that takes off ermine cloaks
She'd left her furs upon her bed
And slipped on angel lace instead
Her husband left to get a drink
Her eyes sped up the way I think
I figured Doakes had murdered Joe
When blackmailed for his needing dough
Brass knuckles, copper, you've fallen in love
You're near the rim of hell, but you see heaven above
Brass knuckles won't fail you, but the light touch will
Pistol holder, chip on shoulder with your guts set to spill
You think that justice owes you thanks
You brain is loaded with blanks
The angel fell heavenly
She sank her body into me
My double-breasted suit fit fine
Her form aligned itself with mine
I warned her I'd an agile brain
I spelled the truth out clean and plain
I'd have to take her husband in that night
I hoped he'd come without a fight
That's when the angel stole my gun
And said, "I hate to spoil your fun"
Then laughing, she explained to me
The murderer was none but she
A love affair with Joe had tired
And six shots into him, she'd fired
The congressman, a jerk like me
Had covered up to keep her free
So goodbye, shamus, I'll aim for the chest
The bullet oughta enter near the top of your vest
You lost your heart already, so you won't feel the pain
Brass knuckles, brass knuckles and a brass-headed brain
Take a breath, prepare to crash
You'll see a bright, blinding flash
Written by: Rupert Holmes

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