If you are from the UK, you may remember a kid’s TV show called Art Attack with presenter Neil Buchanan. Well, before TV stardom Neil was a member of hard rock combo, Marseille. The band formed back in ’76 and were part of the NWOBHM scene. They were the first band from that explosion to release an album in the US, and that is what we have before us today.
I saw them support UFO around this time and they weren’t a bad band Live. The album opens up with Rock You Tonight – an up-tempo boogie with a certain Kinks riff I’m sure you’ve heard before. Armed And Ready has a slower groove and has a very UFO vibe about it. Over And Over follows and is more commercial with a very poppy hook and chorus, and doing a fine Def Leppard before Def Leppard did. Lady Of The Night closes out Side 1 and is one of the best tracks on the album. Again, taking cues from UFO, this is a very big arrangement and not as immediate as the rest of the album, but a great tune nonetheless.
Side 2 kicks in with Walking Through The Night and it’s back to the boogie – a great tune with a nice riff and infectious hook. Kites is the only track not written by the band and it’s not great. It sounds like a different band. You’re A Woman sounds like an LA sleaze band way before that was a thing, but has a cool riff and hook. Don’t Wanna Hurt You is next and it’s a ballad – meh! We end on a somewhat high note with Some Like It Hot. Definitely my favourite track. A great riff and groove. Did Leppard steal the the vibe and riff?
This album lacks a decent production and producer. Things could have been a whole lot different for these guys.
7/10 from The Grooveman.
