Yes, Tom, very commendable, but then you were never really
normal either ...
German critics thought these bands cringeworthy because of their Teutonic earnestness and bad school Eeeeeeenglish. They feared they'd be laughed at and constitute an embarrassment outside of Germany. No one even gave a dime for the Scorpions making it internationally either (who ironically saw initially greater success in France and the Benelux countries than in their home country).
German critics wanted German bands to sound like this:
Immaculate English (courtesy of a Scottish singer from Glenn Cornick's Wild Turkey), lead guitar and organ playing not drenched in German neo-classicism, funky rhythms and not morose "pieces" in slowish tempos, West Coast style harmony vocals etc. But Lake, good as they were, probably beckon the question with you as an American yourself: "
Sounds great, but we already have a Doobie Brothers here, thank you!".
