Wednesday 18 January 2012

Various Artists [Glam Slam - The Definitive Glam Rock Collection]

I've had this disc for nearly 15 years, it's been well played, i can certainly think of another two disc set i have that is superior, but this 20 song compilation seems to bring together some of the very best songs of the era, i played it in 2010 [14th October 2010], and it helps me to relive my teenage years when i bought vinyl singles [1973-1979], i remember that the 10cc song Rubber Bullets was the fifth single i ever bought, those were the days, the Rod Stewart songs stretch the definition of Glam Rock though.

The front cover is somewhat naff, but it's the music on the disc that i really enjoyed, and this time listening i liked tracks 8 & 11, and here's a short synopsis of each,
8 Wizzard - Angel Fingers, harking back to Fifties Rock & Roll, fronted by Roy Wood, Wizzard was quite a big band, with an excellent saxophone contingent, this song got to number one in England in 1973, the background saxophones make the song, tenor as well as baritone, and percussive sounds are aplenty, glockenspiel, and maybe tubular bells too, it stretches to three verses, which gives it power and strength, and unlike most singles it goes on for four and a half minutes, including a sort of coda and horn close, there's even a piano in there too, Wizzard was more like an orchestra than a band!.
11 Sweet - Blockbuster, also a number one single in England in 1973, Sweet were a Glam Rock band, all dolled up in make-up and looking like girls with long hair, fronted by Brian Connolly, the song starts with sirens wailing away at the beginning, and a tremendous contagious guitar riff throughout, and nice heavy beat drumming, the siren keeps coming back again and again, the outro is excellent, with a chorus chanting 'buster, buster, block buster' over and over again, getting more manic and louder!, it's an excellent moment.