Label: Windsong Records (UK), WINCD 005
Style: Hard Rock
Country: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Time: 50:59
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 315 Mb
Recording Dates: 5th June 1972 / 17th May 1973 The Paris Theatre.
Many
groups have been tagged "the hardest working band in the business" but
during their Seventies heyday Nazareth had a better claim to the title
than most They launched their career with an 18-month tour of their
Scottish homeland and moved on to conquer England, Europe and the States
in similar fashion. Their brand of aggressive, unadulterated heavy rock
was heard at its best in live performance and during years of incessant
touring Nazareth deservedly developed a huge worldwide following.
The
long haul to the top began in Dunfermline, Scotland in the mid-Sixties,
when vocalist Dan McCafferty, bassist Pete Agnew and drummer Darrell
Sweet played in local group the Shadettes. In 1969 they joined with lead
guitarist Manny Charlton to form Nazareth, taking their name from the
classic Band song 'The Weight ' A year and a half on the road secured a
solid Scottish audience but in 1971 the group moved to London in search
of a record deal and wider commercial success. They signed to B&C
Records and were introduced to the music press at a Soho stripclub, an
occasion of memorable showbiz excess.
The hype took some living down
and neither their debut album 'Nazareth9 nor the single release 'Morning
Dew' made the charts. Their second album 'Exercises/ released in 1972,
fared no better. But while record sales were disappointing, Nazareth
throughout this period were gigging all over England and acquiring a
reputation - especially on the college circuit - as a dynamic live act.
Their
reward finally came in 1973, a year when several other Scottish acts
(the Average White Band, Glencoe, the Sensational Alex Harvey Band) also
struck lucky in England. A tour supporting Deep Purple introduced
Nazareth to Purple bassist Roger Glover, who saw the group's potential
and offered to produce their next album. 'Razamanaz9 proved their
breakthrough release, climbing to No. 11 on the U.K. album charts and
spawning two Top Ten singles, 'Broken Down Angel' and 'Bad Bad Boy.'
Another Glover-produced album, 'Loud 9n9 Proud/ followed later the same
year and established the band in Europe, reaching No. 1 in Sweden,
Switzerland and Finland and No.2 in Germany. It also featured another
hit single, and unusual hard-rock version of Joni Mitchell's 'This
Flight Tonight' Guitarist Manny Charlton took over as producer for the
next album, 'Hair Of The Dog9 (1975), which gave the group their biggest
American album success, reaching No. 17 on the Billboard charts. The
flow of hit singles continued with another unexpected cover version, Dan
McCafferty exchanging his customary growl for an arresting high-pitched
delivery on 'My White Bicycle, ' originally recorded in the Sixties by
the psychedelic group Tomorrow. The Everly Brothers' oldie 'Love Hurts'
was next to receive the Nazareth treatment and became the group's only
LJ.S. Top Ten hit.
By this time the group's extensive touring had
enabled them to break into several international markets and the album
'Rampant/ released in 1975, was certified gold in Canada prior to
release. With Manny charlton again producing, the album featured Jon
Lord of Deep Purple guesting on keyboards. The same year saw the release
of a Dan McCafferty solo album. More albums followed in 1976 and 1977 -
'Close Enough For Rock 9n9 roll/ 'Play The Game9 and 'Expect No Mercy9 -
but while the first of these made the U.S. charts this was generally a
leaner period commercially for the band. An upturn in their fortunes
came with the addition to the group of guitarist Zal Cleminson co-wrote
many of the tracks on the album 'No Mean City9 (1979), which became
Nazareth's most successful British album for almost five years and
produced a Top Thirty single, 'May The Sun Shine.'
The Eighties
brought further personnel changes. Cleminson left in 1980 and in 1981
keyboardist John Locke (formerly of Spirit) and guitarist Billy Rankin
were added to the line-up. The band continued releasing albums
(including 'Snaz/ a double live set recorded in Canada in 1981) but
their days as a major chart act were over. Their live performances
continued to pack in the crowds, however, and the reissue in the late
Eighties of much of their early material bears witness to their enduring
appeal.
On this album, culled from two BBC 'In Concert' appearances
in 1972 and 1973, Nazareth are captured in stunning form, performing to
an enthusiastic live audience with characteristic energy and aggression.
Crank up the volume and prepare yourself for an undiluted dose of
classic rock at its hardest.
ALAN GARDINER. Recording Dates: 5th June 1972/ 17th May 1973, The Paris Theatre.
01. Morning Dew (07:05)
02. Alcatraz (03:53)
03. Vigilante Man (05:12)
04. Razamanaz (04:04)
05. Night Woman (03:26)
06. Brokendown Angel (04:06)
07. Country Girl (04:19)
08. Woke Up This Morning (04:40)
09. Called Her Name (04:19)
10. Black Hearted Woman (09:51)
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