THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: sensational alex harvey band

Sensational Alex Harvey Band – The Penthouse Tapes

November 14, 2023 /

I’ll admit that SAHB were a big schoolboy crush band for me, and I still revisit them often. This album wasn’t loved by the press when it came out as they were accused of taking the easy option as most of tunes are covers.  All of the songs however, were played live at some point over the years and the band did add their originals. There was a few problems withe Alex’s health around this time, so this was more of a take the pressure off record.

Of the three original tracks, my favourite is Jungle Jenny which is prime SAHB with Alex giving us his best story teller lyrics. Of the covers and my favourite of the whole album is a ripping version of Love Story by Jethro Tull. Now, if you’re going to do a cover you have to blow the doors off, and indeed that is what the Harvey’s do here. Giving it the right amount of beef to add to the dramatics and Zal just rips it on the guitar. There are some other seemingly strange choices on the album, like Del Shannon’s Runaway which was a single, and a killer version of Crazy Horses by the Osmonds.

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band are one of the best live acts of their time and are greatly missed.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

SAHB (without Alex) – Fourplay

July 20, 2021 /

I’m amazed that this album was ever recorded as there was so much turmoil behind the scenes at the time, with Alex’s health and money troubles. Alex was amazed to find out that the band were still in debt after raking in a lot of money from live performances. Alex had basically quit the band at this point, and this album was made as a contractual obligation. Alex would return to record the Rock Drill album. This album is a much more polished radio friendly record, that if released properly in the US with the right backing, it would have done well. Emphasis is on the songs and melodies, the lyrics are a bit cheesy and naïve, but the music is top drawer.

Opening track, Smouldering, has a great riff from Zal, and the chorus and hook are really fantastic – this is one of my favourite tracks. Chase It Into The Night is slightly different, with a great groove and rhythm and some great guitar from Zal. Shake Your Way To Heaven is almost a boogie, but has a monster riff and guitar tone – plus a superb melody and hook. The vocals are mostly by keyboardist Hugh McKenna, but next track, Outer Boogie, has vocals by drummer Ted McKenna. The start has a very Celtic feel, and then we have an almost fusion vibe to the rest of the track.

Side 2 starts with Big Boy with vocals by Zal – this is the one track that has the SAHB vibe to it – complete with big riff and short snappy solo from Zal. The groovy funk of Pick It Up And Kick It is up next, and was released as a single and I remember seeing this on the Whistle Test. Love You For A Lifetime is a big power ballad before they became fashionable. Close out track, Too Much American Pie, is the production number and a monster way to go out on.

This would be the only thing they would record as this line up, which is such a shame as this is such a great record and they were such a great band. Alex would be dead a few years later, and the band all went their separate ways. They would get back together in the early toonies with Max Maxwell as front man to play as SAHB, but with no new material.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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