REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: March 30, 2022

ELECTRIC BOYS – Groovus Maximus

This the band’s 2nd album released back in ’92. At the time, mainstream rock bands (especially all the hair bands) were about as popular as Hitler in a kindergarten. Funk rock, however, was flavour of the month and Electric Boys were riding high after the success of their first album – why they waited 4 years to record a follow up is mind blowing.

The title track gets things under way and it’s where we left off from the first album – a great groovy funked up rocker. Knee Deep In You is a sleazy grooved up monster of a tune with tongue firmly in cheek lyrically. Mary In The Mystery World has a hook that would not be out of place on Sgt Pepper, and the instrumental middle eight is killer. Fire In The House has a nice riff and grooves hard. The Sky Is Crying follows, and it’s more of the same, with a real heavy funky vibe. Side 1 closes out with Bed Of Roses and is a change of pace and sound as we could be in the mid-west of the US with the Beatles as companions.

Great opening to Side 2 with She’s Into Something Heavy, with a great funky sing a long chorus. Dying To Be Loved is a sleazed up LA style ballad. Back to our normal programming with Bad Motherfunker – a full on Friday night party tune. Next up is When Love Explodes – possibly my favourite on the record. A great funky riff and groove, and I love the hook and chorus. Tambourine doesn’t quite work for me and is a bit of a filler track. Tear It Up is pure LA sleaze complete with the harmonica intro. The instrumental March Of The Spirits closes out the album, and although it’s good, it sounds as though it’s from a different band.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BE BOP DELUXE – Live In The Air Age

This live album was released in ’77. I think it was recorded during the touring cycle for the Sunburst Finish album. Even though it’s a double album, Side 1 and 4 are the album but Side 2 and 3 are a live EP. No idea why it was done this way, but it makes it all a tad confusing. Also included are two never before released tracks, one from way before the first album, Mill Street Junction, and a new track at the time, Piece Of Mine.

I was a huge fan of the band, and it was a big shame that the band did not carry on longer before Bill went on his merry way. They were a great live band and Bill is a killer guitar player with a superb voice. There are four tracks from Sunburst Finish, which was their most successful album at the time – mainly due to the hit single Ships In The Night. Sister Seagull and Made In Heaven are two of my favourite Be Bop tracks and are on Side 2 of the EP – these tracks are just superb Live. Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape is one of my favourite tunes by any band ever and I love this version. The instrumental Shine is included, and Bill shows what a killer player he is as the track is one big jam. Killer band and a great live album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.