I had no idea who this band were though I thought they were American. As it turns out they are English.
Unfortunately this is dire regardless which side of the Atlantic they are from.
This is a second string supergroup of sorts based around Miller Anderson (vocalist and guitar) and Jimmy McCulloch (guitarist and backing vocalist).
- Miller Anderson (dob:1945, Scotland) is a UK-based blues guitarist and singer. He has had a solo career but he was also in the Keef Hartley Band, The Spencer Davis Group, Broken Glass, Savoy Brown, T.Rex, Chicken Shack,The British Blues Quintet and many others.
- Jimmy McCulloch (dob:1953 Scotland) was guitarist variously in the Jaygars (at age 11), Thunderclap Newman ( which he joined at age 15) in 1969, blues rock band Stone the Crows (1972 -73), Paul McCartney's Wings (1974-77),White Line ( a side line), the reformed Small Faces (1977), Wild Horses (1977), and finally the Dukes (1978-79). He died in 1979 at the age of 26.
- Ronnie Leahy (keyboards) had been in Stone the Crows and Nazareth.
- Charlie Tumahai (bass) had been in Be Bop Deluxe.
There is no drummer listed as part of the band but all of the tracks bar one have Stuart Elliot (ex Cockney Rebel) on drums. The remaining track (Hearts in Trouble) has Barry De Souza plying drums (a session muso who has played with everyone: Spinning Wheel, Curved Air, Rick Wakeman, Shawn Phillips, David Essex,Smith & D´Abo etc etc)
Despite the blues and rock pedigree this is pure late 70s MOR adult rock cheese firmly aimed at the American market and an eye on the $$$.
The main problem though is there is no cohesive sound but a ragbag of 70s styles. And all slick ones at that. Both Anderson and McCulloch were well known guitarists with Anderson inspired more by the blues and McCulloch by rock pop. Both those styles are evident though in an extremely watered down form. The musical nods to Supertramp, 10CC and obviously Wings, whilst trying to keep up with things happening in 1979, is clearly a stab at fame and money for the participants. It's sad really. The album is so contrived that even without the passing of McCulloch I would be surprised if there was a follow up.
To make matters worse the single "Heartbreaker" doesnt sound like the rest of the album … normally this does not make the punters happy.
Tracks (best in italics)
- Hearts in Trouble – "The streets are like rivers, as they burn through the night" … in other circumstances this may be a compelling lyric. Thats the trouble with music … it's a package of voice, music, lyric, and personality which are all linked to time and place and if you take out any of those elements you can fail dismally. I could see Johnny Cash singing this faux Springsteen lyric on a country song but here when it's tied musically to late 70s MOR rock, it merely sounds stupid.
- Leaving It All Behind – groan.
- All in a Game – double groan … colour by numbers … the trouble is the picture wasn't worth colouring in in the first place.
- Billy Niles – an emphasis on keyboards and a feel of some Steve Harley Cockney Rebel crossed with a new wave act (quirky keyboards),and maybe a little bit of German era Mitch Ryder.
- Crazy Fool – the obligatory romantic power ballad. Fuck, listening to this is hard work …
- Who's Gonna Tell You – I've just listened to this and I have already forgotten it.
- Time on Your Side – please make it end.
- I'll Try to Help – the side 2 power ballad.
- Heartbreaker – the only track to feature lead vocals by McCulloch I believe. The only straight rock song on the album … such as it is.
And …
It's a pity because with the pedigree of the musicians this should be a lot better than it is … sell, sell, sell.
Chart Action
nuttin no where
Sounds
Hearts in Trouble
Billy Niles
attached
attached
Heartbreaker
Others
McCulloch
MIller
Miller with Ian Hunter in "At Last the 1958 Rock and Roll Show " (Thats the name of the band!)
Review
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Bio
Website
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Trivia
- WIKIPEDIA: McCulloch died from a heroin overdose in 1979 in his flat in Maida Vale, North West London. He was 26. Previously, he had composed the anti-drug song, "Medicine Jar", on the Wings album Venus and Mars, and the similar "Wino Junko", on "Wings at the Speed of Sound".
- cover art by the 70s influential Hipgnosis group – they did many album covers … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipgnosis
(originally posted: 03/10/2010)
what Frank is listening to #177 – THE DUKES – Self Titled – (Warner Brothers) – 1979
