Sometimes it is all about timing. In 1977 all the music press was interested in was Punk and New Wave. Only Sounds (the UK Music Paper) was still rallying around rock music and the old guard. Even so, young rock fans (like me) were also very careful with our money. Albums were very expensive and could be a large percentage of your apprenticeship wages back then.
So hearing that David Byron the ex lead vocalist from Uriah Heep had formed a super group and was signed to Island records, was not really hot news.
David Byron had been sacked from Uriah Heep the year before for substance abuse (although musical differences was the reason back then). The last album High & Mighty had been seen as a very lightweight album and had been panned everywhere. I am sure Island Records (who had also signed the Ian Gillan Band) were thinking lets not spend too much on this.
It is a competent rock album from a bunch of musicians who obviously felt they had paid their dues. You can sense the bitterness in the lyrics from Byron in the opening track called Rock n Roll where he references his previous band. He was determined to get back in the rock first division, but alcohol and playing small venues with smaller audiences and press indifference would see the band fold before their star could shine.
The album actually cracked the Billboard top 200 in the USA, so the interest was there, but they never got the chance. I also feel the album was sequenced very badly. In the 1970s it was more common than you think to keep the best tracks until the end of side two. in more modern times you open with your strongest songs, not then. The last two tracks ‘The Link’ and ‘End Of The Line’ are epic, full of atmosphere and PROG overtones. David Byron is in fine voice throughout and he remains a very underated vocalist.
The interplay between keyboard player ‘Damon Butcher’ and Clem Clempson is terrific. Clem Clempson had auditioned for Deep Purple before this. The real find was Damon Butcher on Keyboards, this guy could really play. I do not own this on CD and I played it today to see if I should try and upgrade it, and my decision is made. I will.
by Phil Aston, 31st August 2019
Tracks
1. Rock 'n' Roll (David Byron, Geoff Britton, Martin Rushent) - 3:28
2. Lookin' For You (Clem Clempson, Damon Butcher, David Byron) - 4:06
3. Lock And Key (Clem Clempson, David Byron) - 4:59
4. Seasong (Clem Clempson, David Byron) - 7:35
5. By The Horn (Clem Clempson, David Byron) - 3:13
6. Scared (Clem Clempson, Damon Butcher, David Byron, Geoff Britton, Willie Bath) - 5:33
7. Hobo (Clem Clempson, Damon Butcher, David Byron, Geoff Britton, Willie Bath) - 5:45
8. The Link (Damon Butcher) - 2:19
9. End Of The Line (Clem Clempson, Damon Butcher, David Byron, Geoff Britton) - 5:46
Rough Diamond
*Clem Clempson - Guitar
*Damon Butcher - Keyboards
*David Byron - Lead Vocals
*Geoff Britton - Drums
*Willie Bath - Bass
Thanks very much, Marios.
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