Nominated by: KS
Music club: Wander to Wozza's
At the time (1977), I was more a Split Enz/ Citizen Band fan (The Beatle influenced locals) than a dedicated follower of Hello Sailor (more in the Rolling Stones camp), so in my collection I only have this album and memories of seeing them at The Windsor Castle with Mike and Greg. Oh, and a bootleg cassette that Kevy's brother made at Westlake Girls.This was the band's debut album and it distills all that is best about the band - Faces/Stones style guitar riff-a-ramas, attitude songs about the down and out underbelly of Auckland life, and in lead singer Graham Brazier they had a genuine rawk staaar. His vocals are immediately distinctive.
They were far from a one trick pony though as Dave McArtney and Harry Lyons were also talented singers, songwriters and musicians ('is' in Harry's case as he's still with us - McArtney and Brazier both died far too young). Ricky Ball (from Ticket - one of my favourite NZ bands) was also a key ingredient with his powerful drumming and Lisle Kinney added the meaty bass lines.
Interesting that Gutter Black (the lead off song on side one) has over 11 million listens on Spotify and Blue Lady only has 4 mill. Maybe that's because Gutter Black was featured in a NZ TV programme (Outrageous Fortune) but 7 million more plays? and Blue Lady is easily a better song.
The other songs are deeply ingrained in my musical consciousness. I've lived with these songs for a loooong time!
Five stars? Oh yes! A Nu Zild classic!
Five stars? Oh yes! A Nu Zild classic!
