DAVID ESSEX – Hot Love – (Mercury) – 1980

I have commented on a David Essex album in the past and I had this to say

I like David Essex. A dirty little secret? No !

Essex is one of the few contemporary artists I recollect liking in he 70s and his albums were remarkably easy to find in op shops in the 80s. I assume that is because they were bought by kids who out grew them quickly, which is a pity as most of his 70s albums have redeeming features and "Rock On"(1973), "David Essex" (1974) and "All the Fun of the Fair"(1975) are great. Some of the best stuff coming out of England in the 70s prior to punk. There I’ve said it.

That all remains true and I went on to say:

Mid 70s England was awash with Essex-mania. He was that popular.

Despite his teen idol status Essex had loftier ambitions. … he wrote most of his albums and displays quite a bit of cynicism (though sometimes obvious),darkness, and alienated detachment.  There is also a lot of melancholia, sentimentality, and "loss" in his songs. Also, many of the songs seem to refer thematically to the fall of the British Empire, or "Empire lost" possibly taking a leaf out of the Ray Davies songbook, given that the 70s in England was not the place to be writing ode to palm trees and sunshine type songs – strikes, unemployment, bombings, urban decay being the norm. But, musically, there is quite a bit of pop in there – so is it "lightly dark" music? Essex‘s voice is never really extended and it’s almost as if he is singing "in character" …..as if his own persona was a character like some sort of alienated Ziggy Stardust teen idol.

It is generally assumed that Essex was spent by the 1980s as punk and new wave had pushed him aside. This is true, though only partially. Essex had some English chart success but his career as a big seller was over. His albums from this period are all interesting and occasionally innovative even though they may not be all that successful. It is fair to say that his recording career during this period took a back seat to his film and stage careers but that only makes the music of this period more interesting.

This album comes from the period of transition between teen idol and committed obscurest.

Essex always had a reliance on the 50s in titles and musical imagery because Essex was always a sort of updated and displaced 50s rocker. Here, that exists but there are also nods to the new wave and new sounds.  Essex has managed to merge them all together within his big, full, Broadway like sound but, with mixed results. I think some of the songs would sound better if they were produced differently.

Tracks (best in italics)

• Hot Love – a 50s styled rocker with 70s glam overtones which is actually quite infectious.
• I Luv Ya – another 50s styled song with glam overtones – the only difference is this is track is mid tempo. You could see Gene Vincent doing this.
• Talking with Your Body – a slight new wave influence on this one
• Zebra Kid – a bit of bouncy British show hall being introduced – which is very David Essex and David Bowie (his early 70s stuff). They both learnt from Ray Davies.
• Heart on My Sleeve – a big Broadway type ballad with “heart on the sleeve” lyrics …quite good of its genre.
• Reality – more new wave …and more that a little naff.
• Rock N Roll Me – no rock n roll in this song. Horns and a slight (very) blue beat dominate.
• Cold as Ice – hmmmm
• Swim Against the Flow – dull
• On My Bike – it would be tempting to same something smart here but the song isn’t too bad.

And …

The album starts off strong and then peters out …Maybe Essex (who writes all the songs) was running out of ideas or maybe he was in a rush, but the album doesn’t really work apart from some individual tracks. Still, for the sake of completeness, I’m keeping it.

Chart Action

US

Singles

Album

—

England

Singles

1980 Hot Love #57

Album

1980 #75

Sounds

Hot Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtZIC7PlXQI

I Luv Ya

Song attached here (slick on link)

David Essex – I Luv Ya

Heart on My Sleeve

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TwtRRHyJdM

On My Bike

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_g3ywgBGmg

Others

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdTg9n0_Rsc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G2lqY3Nuk0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETERYRzwkq0&feature=fvwrel

Review

http://www.allmusic.com/album/hot-love-mw0001879456

Bio

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Essex

Website

http://www.davidessex.com/

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-essex-mn0000645474

Trivia

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