News 11 Jan 2016

Alex Harvey / The Last Of The Teenage Idols / 14CD box set

By Justyn Barnes

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Universal Music pay tribute to the short but prolific musical life of enigmatic Glasgow blues-rocker Alex Harvey with the biggest-ever, career-spanning, cross-label collection of his work.

The Last Of The Teenage Idols is presented as a 10 x 10-inch box set with a heavy-duty slipcase. Fourteen CDs are complemented by a 60-page hardcover book featuring a new essay on Alex Harvey by Scottish scribe Tim Barr, many previously unseen personal photos, documents (such as Harvey’s appeal to be exempted from National Service on the grounds that he was a conscientious objector) and newspaper cutting supplied by his family. A total of 217 fully remastered tracks (with much of the material from the original master tapes) includes 21 that are previously unreleased, and a further 59 that are appearing officially on CD for the first time.

The music fest kicks off with the eponymous debut album of Alex Harvey And His Soul Band for the first time on CD. There are five bonus tracks on this disc – three previously unreleased songs from May 1964, plus two songs from Everything’s Alright With Iabella Bond, the live Decca album recorded at Hamburg’s Top Ten Club that same year.

Disc two delivers the first release 2nd Album, that, to Harvey’s displeasure, Polydor refused to release back in 1964. Three previously unreleased tracks from the same period are also included. The story goes that the acoustic solo long-player, The Blues, that followed, which featured Alex’s brother Les accompanying him on guitar, was something of a retaliatory strike against Polydor made mainly to fulfil his Polydor contract as quickly as possible. It sold few copies, but actually contains some delightful tracks and the original vinyl has latterly become a sought-after and expensive collectors’ item for Harvey devotees. The CD of this ‘lost album’ is bolstered here by two bonus tracks – the A- and B-side of his first single for the Fontana: a cover of Northern Soul classic Agent Double-O-Soul and his Harvey’s own Go Away Baby.

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The fourth disc showcases Harvey’s second album Roman Wall Blues (1969), plus Fontana and Decca singles and a rare early demo of Harp which would later become a favourite of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (or SAHB for short).

After sampling the varied flavours of Hair Rave Up (an offshoot from Harvey’s job as a member of the pit band on London musical Hair), Rock Workshop (Harvey’s work with the 13-piece band he formed with Ray Russell in 1970) and his 1972 solo album The Joker Is Wild on disc five, the SAHB years are covered on discs six to thirteen.

The Sensationals’ 1973 debut long-player Framed is supplemented by a final version of the aforementioned Harp and five Radio 1 In Concert live recordings from November 1971.

Each of the subsequent discs featuring SAHB albums are augmented with bonus live recordings, notably of their British Top 40 hits, Delilah on Old Grey Whistle Test in 1975 (disc ten) and Boston Tea Party on Top Of The Pops in 1976 (disc 12), introduced by none other than poptabulous DJ Noel ‘Tidy-Beard-Multicoloured-Swap-Shop-House-Party-Deal-Or-No-Deal’ Edmonds

Also look out for a rare 24-minute spoken word piece from Alex, from the extravagantly named promo-only album Alex Harvey Talks About Everything: An In Depth Session With Alex Harvey Of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band.

Disc thirteen features Rock Drill (1977), SAHB’s last album, and is expanded to include two extra tracks by the band, including rarity No Complaints Department, which was omitted from the original album at the last minute. To segue into Harvey’s post-SAHB career, three songs with his next band Quad, performed for Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman’s Radio 1 Show in March 1978.

This comprehensive collection is completed with selected tracks from Harvey’s three post-SAHB albums, plus a sprinkling of non-album tracks ending with previously unreleased home demo of Billy Bolero.

Alex Harvey died in February 1982, after suffering two heart attacks on his way back from a gig in Belgium. He was just a day short of his 47^th birthday, but as this extensive and lovingly packaged collection attests, his had been a richly productive musical life.

The Last of the Teenage Idols is released on 18 March.

Disc One:

Alex Harvey And His Soul Band ( 1963 to 1964 )

1: What’s Wrong With Me Baby ? ( 3:02 ) – Alex Harvey and His Soul Band ( 3/10/1963 )
2: The Liverpool Scene ( 2:51 ) – Alex Harvey and His Soul Band ( 2/9/1963 )
3: Going Back To Birmingham ( 3:05 ) – Alex Harvey and His Soul Band aka The Sabres*
4: Jailhouse Rock ( 2:44 ) – Alex Harvey and His Soul Band aka James Dale and The Top 10 Allstars*

Alex Harvey And His Soul Band ‎– Alex Harvey And His Soul Band ( Polydor 831 887-1 )

5: Framed ( 3:20 ) *
6: I Ain’t Worrying Baby ( 2:58 ) *
7: Backwater Blue ( 3:07 ) *
8: Let The Good Times Roll ( 3:05 ) *
9: Going Home ( 2:09 ) *
10: I’ve Got My Mojo Working ( 3:50 ) *
11: Teensville USA ( 3:31 ) *
12: New Orleans ( 3:17 ) *
13: Bo Diddley Is A Gun Slinger ( 2:26 ) *
14: When I Grow To Old To Rock ( 2:26 ) *
15: Evil Hearted Man ( 3:00 ) *
16: I Just Wanna Make Love To You ( 2:38 ) *
17: The Blind Man ( 2:37 ) *
18: Reeling And Rocking ( 3:28 )*
19: Lord Randall ( 4:05 ) Alex Harvey and Leslie Harvey ( 9/5/1964 ) †
20: Born With The Blues ( 2:47 ) Alex Harvey and Leslie Harvey ( 9/5/1964 ) †
21: House of The Rising Sun ( 2:50 ) Alex Harvey and Leslie Harvey ( 9/5/1964 ) †

Disc Two:

Alex Harvey And His Soul Band – 2nd Album ( 1964 )

1: Shout ( 4:44 )
2: Sticks and Stones ( 2:15 )
3: Take Out Some Insurance On Me Baby ( 4:15 )
4: Long Long Gone ( 2:18 )
5: Penicillin Blues ( 3:52 )
6: Shakin’ All Over ( 2:04 )
7: Outskirts Of Town ( 3:30 )
8: Tutti Frutti ( 2:18 )
9: My Kind Of Lovin’ ( 2:12 )
10: Parchman Farm ( 3:09 )
11: Ten A Penny ( 2:30 )
12: Canoe Song ( 2:49 ) ( 5/8/1964 )
13: You Ain’t No Good To Me ( 2:28 )
14: You’ve Put A Spell On Me ( 2:51 )
15: Hoochie Coochie Man ( 4:28 )
16: Elevator Rock ( 2:08 )
17: You Are My Sunshine ( 2:25 ) ( 14/8/1964 )
18: Ain’t That Just Too Bad ( 2:25 ) *
19: The Little Boy Who Santa Claus Forgot ( 2:57 ) – Alex Harvey and His Soul Band ( 11/11/1964)

Disc Three:

Alex Harvey – The Blues ( Polydor 237 641 ) ( 1964 to 1965 )

1: Trouble In Mind ( 3:15 ) *
2: Honey Bee ( 4:08 ) *
3: I Learned About Woman ( 3:15 ) *
4: Danger Zone ( 3:25 ) *
5: The Riddle Song ( 3:09 ) *
6: Waltzing Matilda ( 3:37 ) *
7: T.B. Blues ( 5:19 ) *
8: The Big Rock Candy Mountain ( 2:11 ) *
9: The Michigan Massacre ( 3:25 ) *
10: No Peace ( 5:12 ) *
11: Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out ( 3:02 ) *
12: St. James Infirmary ( 3:02 )
13: Strange Fruit ( 2:37 ) *
14: Kisses Sweeter Than Wine ( 3:25 ) *
15: Good God Almighty ( 3:03 ) *

Bonus tracks:

16: Agent OO Soul ( 2:41 ) – Fontana single TF 610 A-Side
17: Go Away Baby ( 2:25 ) – Fontana single TF 610 B-Side *

Disc Four:

Alex Harvey ‎– Roman Wall Blues ( 1966 to 1969 )

1: Work Song ( 2:35 ) – Fontana single TF 764 A-Side
2: I Can Do Without You ( 2:43 ) -Fontana single TF 764 B-Side *
3: The Sunday Song ( 2:25 ) Decca single F12640 A-Side *
4: Horizons ( 2:39 ) – Decca single F12640 B-Side *
5: Maybe Someday ( 2:47 ) – Decca single F12660 A-Side *
6: Curtains For My Baby ( 3:13 )- Decca single F12660 B-Side *
strong>Roman Wall Blues ( Fontana ‎– 886 783TY / STL 5534 ) ( 1969 )
7: Midnight Moses ( 3:30 )
8: Hello L.A. Bye Bye Birmingham ( 2:29 ) *
9: Broken Hearted Fairytale ( 3:41 ) *
10: Donna ( 2:21 ) *
11: Roman Wall Blues( 2:50 )
12: Jumpin’ Jack Flash ( 3:14 ) *
13: Hammer Song ( 3:12 ) *
14: Let My Bluebird Sing ( 3:40 ) *
15: Maxine ( 4:40 ) *
16: Down At Bart’s Place ( 4:21 ) *
17: Candy ( 2:57 ) *
18: Harp – Demo version ( 5:22 )

Disc Five:

Rock Workshop / Hair Rave Up / Rock Workshop / Solo ( 1969 to 1972 )

1: Hair ( 2:49 ) – Hair Rave Up – Pye / Sanctuary 1969
2: Royal International Love-In ( 2:19 ) – Hair Rave Up – Pye / Sanctuary 1969
3: Bond Street Baby ( 2:19 ) – Hair Rave Up – Pye / Sanctuary 1969
4: Birthday ( 2:30 ) – Hair Rave Up – Pye / Sanctuary 1969
5: Ice Cold ( 2:58 ) – Rock Workshop ( CBS S-64075 ) featuring Alex Harvey on vocals
6: You To Lose ( 6:42 ) – Rock Workshop ( CBS S-64075 ) featuring Alex Harvey on vocals
7: Hole In Her Stocking ( 4:12 ) Rock Workshop ( CBS S-64075 ) featuring Alex Harvey on vocals
8: Wade In The Water ( 3:45 ) – Rock Workshop ( CBS S-64075 ) featuring Alex Harvey on vocals
9: Born In The City ( 3:02 ) Rock Workshop ( CBS S-64075 ) featuring Alex Harvey on vocals

Alex Harvey – The Joker Is Wild ( Metronome MLP 15429 – Germany ) ( 1972)

10: The Joker Is Wild ( 2:07 ) *
11: Penicillin Blues ( 4:58 ) *
12: I Just Want To Make Love To You ( 3:23 ) *
13: I’m Just A Man ( 3:12 ) *
14: He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother ( 5:05 ) *
15: Silhouette and Shadow ( 2:07 ) *
16: Hare Krishna / Willie The Pimp -Medley ( 12:23 ) *
17: Flying Saucer’s Daughter ( 4:50 ) *

Disc Six:

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Framed ( 1973 )

1: Framed ( 4:56 )
2: Hammer Song ( 4:05 )
3: Midnight Moses ( 4:25 )
4: Isobel Goudie ( 7:29 )
5: Buff’s Bar Blues ( 3:04 )
6: I Just Want To Make Love To You ( 6:39 )
7: Hole In Her Stocking ( 4:39 )
8: There’s No Lights On The Christmas Tree Mother, They’re Burning Big Louie Tonight ( 3:44 )
9: St. Anthony ( 4:46 )

Bonus tracks:

10: Harp ( 4:10 ) – B-Side
11: Midnight Moses ( 4:40 )– BBC Radio 1 – In Concert – Recorded 2/11/1972
12: St Anthony ( 6:24 )– BBC Radio 1 – In Concert – Recorded 2/11/1972
13: Framed ( 6:41 ) – BBC Radio 1 – In Concert – Recorded 2/11/1972
14: There’s No Lights On The Christmas Tree Mother, They’re Burning Big Louie Tonight ( 3:54 )
15: Hole In Her Stocking ( 5:44 ) – BBC Radio 1 – In Concert – Recorded 2/11/1972

Disc Seven:

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Next ( 1973 )

1:Swampsnake ( 4:52 )
2: Gang Bang ( 4:44 )
3: The Faith Healer ( 7:11 )
4: Giddy-Up-A-Ding-Dong ( 3:16 )
5: Next ( 4:03 )
6: Vambo Marble Eye ( 4:24 )
7: The Last Of The Teenage Idols ( 7:11 )

Bonus tracks:

8: The Faith Healer ( 6:23 ) – BBC Radio 1 – In Concert – Recorded 2/10/1973
9: Midnight Moses ( 4:33 ) – BBC Radio 1 – In Concert – Recorded 2/11/1972
10: Gang Bang ( 4:54 ) – BBC Radio 1 – In Concert – Recorded 2/11/1972
11: The Last of The Teenage Idols ( 8:19 ) – BBC Radio 1 – In Concert – Recorded 2/11/1972
12: Giddy Up A Ding Dong ( 3:25 ) – BBC Radio 1 – In Concert – Recorded 2/11/1972
13: Next ( 3:59 ) – The Old Grey Whistle Test – 20/12/1973
14: The Faith Healer ( 3:17 ) – The Old Grey Whistle Test – 20/12/1973

Disc Eight:

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – The Impossible Dream ( 1974 )

1: The Hot City Symphony – Part One : Vambo ( 5:04 )
2: The Hot City Symphony – Part Two : The Man In The Jar ( 8:14 )
3: River of Love ( 3:12 )
4: Long Hair Music ( 4:37 )
5: Hey ( 0:39 )
6: Sgt. Fury ( 3:29 )
7: Weights Made of Lead ( 2:41 )
8: Money Honey / Impossible Dream ( 2:10 )
9: Tomahawk Kid ( 4:35)
10: Anthem ( 7:45 )

Bonus tracks:

11: Faith Healer ( 6:41 ) – Live at the Ragnarock Festival, Oslo
12: Giddy Up-A-Ding-Dong ( 4:31 ) – Live at the Ragnarock Festival , Oslo
13: Alex Harvey Talks About Everything – An In depth Session with Alex of SAHB ( 24:38 ) Previously Unreleased †

Disc Nine:

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Tomorrow Belongs To Me ( 1975 )

1: Action Strasse ( 3:16 )
2: Snake Bite ( 3:55 )
3: Soul In Chains ( 3:54 )
4: The Tale Of The Giant Stone Eater ( 7:20 )
5: Ribs and Balls ( 1:53 )
6: Give My Compliments To The Chef ( 5:32 )
7: Sharks Teeth ( 4:54 )
8: Shake That Thing ( 4:05 )
9: Tomorrow Belongs To Me ( 3:47 )
10: To Be Continued ( 0:56 )

Bonus tracks:

11: Give My Compliments To The Chef ( 6:06 ) – The Old Grey Whistle Test – 30/5/1975
12: Action Strasse ( 5:15 ) – Live at the Hammersmith Odeon ( 6:07 ) Previously Unreleased†
13: Soul In Chains ( 7:01 ) – Live at the Hammersmith Odeon ( 6:07 ) Previously Unreleased†
14: Tale of the Giant Stone Eater ( 9:01 )– Live at the Hammersmith Odeon ( 6:07 ) Previously Unreleased†

Disc Ten:

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Live( 1975 )

1: Fanfare ( 1:24)
2: Faith Healer ( 6:50 )
3: Tomahawk Kid ( 5:50 )
4: Vambo ( 9:29 )
5: Give My Compliments To The Chef ( 6:37 )
6: Delilah ( 5:17 )
7: Framed ( 11:08 )

Bonus tracks:

8: Sgt Fury – Live at the Hammersmith Odeon ( 4:08 ) Previously Unreleased†
9: Gang Bang – – Live at the Hammersmith Odeon ( 5:50 ) Previously Unreleased†
10: Midnight Moses Live at the Hammersmith Odeon ( 4:32 ) Previously Unreleased†
11: Tomorrow Belongs To Me – Live at the Hammersmith Odeon ( 6:16 ) Previously Unreleased †
12: Delilah ( 5:04 ) – The Old Grey Whistle Test – 30/5/1975

Disc Eleven:

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – The Penthouse Tapes ( 1976 )

1: I Wanna Have You Back ( 2:39 )
2: Jungle Jenny ( 3:59 )
3: Runaway ( 2:44 )
4: Love Story ( 5:03 )
5: School’s Out ( 4:55 )
6: Goodnight Irene ( 4:32 )
7: Say You’re Mine ( Every Cowboy Song ) ( 3:21 )
8: Gamblin’ Bar Room Blues ( 4:06 )
9: Crazy Horses ( 2:50 )
10: Cheek To Cheek ( 3:32 )

Bonus tracks:

11: The Tomahawk Kid ( 5:50 ) – Recorded Live at The De Montford Hall, Leicester ( 22/5/1976 ) *
12: Isobel Goudie ( 9:35 ) – Recorded Live at The De Montford Hall, Leicester ( 22/5/1976 ) *
13: Dance To Your Daddy ( 10:40 ) – Recorded Live at The De Montford Hall, Leicester ( 22/5/76) *
14: Framed ( 7:33 ) – Recorded Live at The De Montford Hall, Leicester ( 22/5/1976 ) *
15: The Boston Tea Party ( 7:45 ) – Recorded Live at The De Montford Hall, Leicester ( 22/5/1976 ) *

Disc Twelve:

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – SAHB Stories ( 1976 )

1: Dance To Your Daddy ( 5:45 )
2: Amos Moses ( 5:17 )
3: Jungle Rub Out ( 4:26 )
4: Sirocco ( 6:52 )
5: Boston Tea Party ( 4:36 )
6: Sultan’s Choice ( 4:06 )
7: $25 For A Massage ( 3:16 )
8: Dogs of War ( 6:13 )

Bonus tracks:

9: Satchel and the Scalp Hunter ( 3:18 ) Vertigo single : 6078 244 / TOP 19 B-Side *
10: Boston Tea Party ( 3:48 ) – TOTP 10/6/1976
11: Amos Moses” – Backing Track ( 5:33 ) *

Disc Thirteen:

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Rock Drill ( 1977 )

1: Rock Drill ( 6:22 )
2: The Dolphins ( 6:10 )
3: Rock ‘n’ Roll ( 3:40 )
4: King Kong ( 3:16 )
5: Booids ( 1:38 )
6: Who Murdered Sex ? ( 5:16 )
7: Nightmare City ( 3:48 )
8: Water Beastie ( 4:50 )
9: Mrs Blackhouse ( 3:37 )

Bonus tracks:

10: No Complaints Department ( 5:00 ) †
11: Engine Room Boogie ( 6:52 ) Vertigo single : TOP 32 B-Side *
12: King Kong ( 3:42 ) – with QUAD – The Alan Freeman Rock Show –BBC Radio One – 6/3/1978†
13: Midnight Moses ( 4:10 ) – with QUAD – The Alan Freeman Rock Show – 6/3/1978†
14: Rock ‘n’ Rool ( 5:59 ) – with QUAD – The Alan Freeman Rock Show –BBC Radio One 6/3/1978†

Disc Fourteen:

Alex Harvey – Presents The Loch Ness Monster ( K-Tel : NE984 )

1: Introduction – Richard O’Brien ( 0:39 )
2: Mrs. Grant of Invermorriston ( 2:26 )
3: Billy Kennedy ( 1:40 )
4: I Love Monsters Too ( 0:37 )

Alex Harvey – The New Band – The Mafia Stole My Guitar ( RCA Victor : Cat # PL 25257 1979 )

5: Back In The Depot ( 6:28)
6: The Mafia Stole My Guitar ( 5:09 )
7: Shakin’ All Over ( 4:46 )
8: The Whalers ( Thar She Blows ) ( 7:03 )
9: Just A Gigolo / I Ain’t Got Nobody ( 5:16 )
10: Wake Up Davis ( Sings The Oil Man Boogie ) ( 3:12 ) RCA single PB 5199 B-side *
11: ( Big Tree ) Small Axe ( 3:41 ) – RCA single PB 5252 A-side *

Alex Harvey – The Soldier On The Wall ( Demon – 1983 )

12: Mitzi ( 4:03 )
13: Snowshoes Thompson ( 3:12 )
14: Roman Wall Blues ( 5:19 )
15: The Poet and I ( 4:12 )
16: Carry The Water ( 4:16 )
17: Billy Bolero – Home Demo ( 5:44 ) †

* First Official Release on CD

† Previously Unreleased

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