THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 131 of 491)

AUTOGRAPH – Loud And Clear

November 11, 2023 /

This is album number three for Autograph, and it was released in ’87. They toured on the back of it then after the tour they were dropped by their label, and basically that was it. I’m not sure if there were singles released off the record however, there were two tracks in the movie “Like Father Like Son” which the band also appeared in.

They were a killer band that didn’t disappoint on any of the three original albums. In Steve Lynch they possessed one of the best guitar players out there. Everything about this album screams class, apart from the big hit single. It wasn’t wanting for a bad production either as master knob twiddler Andy Johns did a great job giving the record a huge sound.

My favourite track is Dance All Night. It’s a kickass, feel good rocker with a great riff and groove that you just can’t stop singing to. Honourable mentions go to the title track, and the close out song When The Sun Gies Down which I would say is a trademark Autograph song. It’s got that big drum sound with that massive party gang sing a long chorus.

You can’t go wrong with Autograph.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

DOGS D’AMOUR – Errol Flynn

November 10, 2023 /

There was sort of a mini Faces-inspired movement of bands based around the pubs of London that popped up around the late eighties. The Quireboys and Dogs D’Amour were the leading lights of it.

I do have a sneaking love for the simple barroom whisky rock n’ roll, especially if it’s delivered with melody. The Faces were gifted when it came to that type of song, especially with the pipes that Rod Stewart once possessed. The Dogs also have that gift, and songs like Satellite Kid with the Faces’ patented mandolin have that gift also. Trail Of Tears is almost a carbon copy, and I guess that’s why they both charted in the UK singles chart.

If you like your rock n’ roll stripped back and whisky soaked, then you may need to give The Dogs a listen.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

LONDON – Don’t Cry Wolf

November 10, 2023 /

This album number for the nearly band of Hollywood. Believe it or not, Nikki Sixx formed this band with guitarist Lizzie Grey back in ’78 and there was a revolving door of members until Nadir’D Priest and Brian West joined; this is the line up that recorded this album in ’86.

It’s typical Sunset Strip of the time really, except without having that one track just to get the album off and running. I guess the song with the biggest impact is For Whom The Bell Tolls. This song was written by Blackie Lawless when he was in the band and he would later record it with WASP, which appears on The Headless Children. Although, my favourite track is a lot simpler and more wham bam thank you mam. That would be Fast As Light, a four to the floor rocker with double kicks all the way.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

MAX WEBSTER – Universal Juveniles

November 9, 2023 /

This is the Max Webster’s fifth album, released back in 1980. They were quite a big deal in Canada, all their albums were certified gold and a Million Vacations was platinum. They made a little headway in the UK, but before any momentum was built the band quit in ’81. Kim had quite a successful solo career in Canada and some parts of the US and he is still gigging today. In the UK, they supported Rush on this tour (I think). The Rush guys play on this album, on the track Battle Scar.

I really like this record and it is the only one of theirs I can fully appreciate all the way through. It’s quite a hard album to categorize as yes, it’s rock but it’s also very progressive. All of Side 1 is a classic but it does tale off somewhat on Side 2. Kim is what I would call, an unsung guitar hero. He has some killer chops and he can riff with the best of them. Check for instance is all about Kim, and that riff. It’s a great, fun tune that oozes the band’s sense of humour. Most people seem to go for Battle Scar as their favourite tune just because of Rush playing on it, but I’ve always loved the more obscure Drive And Desire. It’s a more straight up rock tune with a great riff, but it’s the melody and the hook line that I love. A close second is the close out tune Cry Out For Your Life, which has a touch of King Crimson about it.

This is a band that definitely deserves to be heard by a much wider audience.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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