THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 431 of 491)

GIRL – Sheer Greed

May 18, 2021 /

I’m experimenting with a change of scenery today as you have had the same view for over 200 reviews – I think it’s time for a change.

Formed in ’79, in primetime NWOBHM, Girl stood out like a sore thumb with their glam and lipstick, compared to everyone else who were all leather and bullet belts. I caught them supporting UFO and they were fantastic, unfortunately, all the metal lovers hated them and they only lasted for 2 great albums (and 1 not so). Fronted by Phil Lewis (who would later go one to front LA Guns) and also Phil Collen on guitar (who would join Def Leppard after Pete Willis was kicked out of the band). Anyway, this is a full on glam rock spectacular that rocks hard in all the right places.

Opening track, Hollywood Tease, is a cracking opener and riffs really hard. It is one of two tracks to reference the good old U-S-of-A, where Phil would spend the rest of his life. The Things You Say is a glam rock power pop tour de force. Lovely Lorraine is something the New York Dolls would be proud of. Strawberries is a total sleaze fest of a track – with Lewis doing his best Marc Bolan impression. Little Miss Ann carries on the sleaze, and Doctor Doctor is a killer ending to Side 1 (it has nothing to do with the UFO track of the same name).

Side 2 starts with a cover of Do You Love Me by Kiss, and it’s a straight up cover with a sleazier edge. Take Me Dancing has an awesome opening riff and is one of the stand out tracks on the album. The punked and rocked up What’s Up follows – this track speeds along and is my personal favourite on the album. Perhaps the strangest track on the album is the reggae tinged Passing Clouds. I love this track, but this is what the metal heads hated about them (other than the image). My Number was the single that was put out before the album. It got me to go out and by the album as it is all attitude and sleaze. Heartbreak America closes out the album, and like Def Leppard with Hello America, they were not hiding their influences and where their sights were set. A great production from the late Chris Tsangarides makes this a really food album.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

GAMMA – 2

May 17, 2021 /

Out of the three original albums, if I’m pushed, I would say this is my favourite as the songs are more consistent – although it’s a hard decision as I love the first one as well. In true Ronnie fashion, he had doubts about the band and would call it a day with them after the next record – just like he did with Montrose. A shame, as I thought the band were flying.

This album is all about Ronnie and vocalist Dave Pattison. It is noticeable that the keyboards are featuring more, and would be very prominent indeed on the next record. The first two tracks are stone cold classics: Mean Streak and Four Horseman rock hard with great riffs, killer vocals, and some really tasty guitar. Dirty City is next and I think it was released as a single – its the most commercial track so far. With a nice atmospheric intro it leads into a very 80’s keyboard main riff mirrored by the guitar. Close out track to Side 1 is Voyager, which has a very laid back groove, awesome melody, and superb vocals from Davey.

Keyboards again start off Side 2 with the intro to Something In The Air, which is a cover of the Thunderclap Newman tune – its a great take on the original. Cat On A Leash is an awesome tune with Ronnie dropping fills in every spare gap he can. This track is definitely all about Ronnie, and the middle section with the dropped down groove is just sublime. Skin And Bone is a slower paced track with a heavy riff and Davey sings is ass off. Mayday is the last track and closes out the record. Its the fastest song on the album, and once again, it’s the Davey and Ronnie show. A great album and would sit well in any rocker’s collection.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

SAD CAFE – Fanx Ta-Ra

May 17, 2021 /

Back before they became soft rock chart toppers (with hits such as Every Day Hurts and My Oh My), they were quite a rockin’ outfit with an eye firmly on America. Ironically, this album wasn’t released in America until much later. In their softer moments Steely Dan spring to mind, but with a British rock edge. This is their first album and I originally bought it when it first came out in ’77 after seeing them on the Whistle Test, and I still enjoy giving it a spin today. Hailing from Manchester, vocalist Paul Young would later go on to sing with Mike And The Mechanics until his untimely death in 2000.

Tracks such as Hungry Eyes and Sail On show the soft rock pathway they would take later with subsequent albums, but overall this album does rock. Opening track, Babylon, has a great melody and guitar from Ashley Mulford. Side 1 is given over to the more softer side of the band, whereas Side 2 could be described as Prog – especially with the weird intro to The Further Adventures Of Mad Alan, which then leads into the killer title track, Fanx Ta-Ra. With its heavy sounding opening, to the Santana style middle section, this is a great track. My other favourite moment on the record is Clumbidextrous, which is an instrumental – apart from a brief spoken section at the beginning. This track would have made it onto any Prog band’s album of the period.

Not a bad album at all and would set them on the road for success – although is does sound a bit dated.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

STREETWALKERS – Red Card

May 16, 2021 /

Having seen them performing tracks from this album on the Old Grey Whistle Test, I went out and bought this album the day after. Formed by ex-Family members Roger Chapman and John Whitney, this is the band’s third album released in ’76. They came around at the wrong time, as just they were gaining a bit of traction, Punk came along and the musical landscape changed nearly overnight. Taking what Family did and expanding the sound with more proggy vibes – they had a sound all of their own. Of course Chapman’s distinctive gravelly tones and vibrato are up front and centre, and the music that supports it is strong and diverse.

Run For Cover is a great opening track and the addition of Bob Tench on guitar really drives the song. Me An Me Horse And Me Rum is a strange but lovable track. Crazy Charade is all about Chapman and is driven by an off funk groove. Daddy Rolling Stone has an underlying old RnB groove, and is reminiscent of Family with Chapman singing his ass off. Side 2 starts with Roll Up, Roll Up and is another funky tune in the Family vein. Between Us follows, and has a barrow boozer vibe to proceedings. Shotgun Messiah has a very southern US vibe – they would get some success in the US with this type of tune. Decadence Code with its funk/reggae groove closes out the album with Chapman wailing all over the track. This type of music is seeing a bit of a revival. Whether Streetwalkers become fashionable again it remains to be seen.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

« Older posts Newer posts »

Archives

© 2026 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑