Metalville Records is reissuing SWEET’s 2002 album Sweetlife. At the time SWEET consisted of guitarist Andy Scott, along with drummer Bruce Bisland (Widlfire, Statetrooper, Praying Mantis), keyboard player Steve Grant (Top Secret, The Animals), and bassist Jeff Brown (Widfire, Statetrooper, Cats In Space) – also handling lead vocals here.
As a fan of The Sweet’s 70s albums, I have a hard time getting in to much Sweet beyond Brian Connolly, and then more so after Steve Priest left the band (albeit the Live At The Marquee with Phil Lanzon and Paul Mario Day is a solid release). But Sweetlife has some very good tracks, notably “Everything”, “Never Say Forever”, “Everybody Wants To”, “You’re Crazy”, and the acoustic “Leap Of Faith”. The band tries real hard on this album to recapture the magic, especially with excellent backing vocals throughout this. A pretty good album overall. I am curious to see how far back Metalville will go with these Sweet reissues.
The album offers 11 outstanding AOR songs. Long out of print and sought after by many fans, the album is finally back in stores on CD and vinyl.
From Metalville (who’ve issued the latest new SWEET album – Full Circle, as well as reissued the previous 2 on vinyl – New York Connection and Isolation Boulevard), Platinum Rare 1 looks to be the same tracklisting as the 2021 RSD release Platinum Rare (w/ a different cover). This is being released as a 2 CD or 2 LP (red vinyl) set. I’m not sure where all these tracks are pulled from, but the SWEET in the 70s had an amazing run of albums starting with Sweet Fanny Adams. These guys could be pop/glam, hard rock or metal, or even a bit progressive. This set is full of classic Sweet outtakes, alternate mixes, demos… *Check out the press info & tracklisting below…
SWEET – one of the most legendary, influential, and enduring names in the history of rock music – will have the absolute collector’s album Platinum Rare 1 available in regular stores for the first time on May 23rd via METALVILLE RECORDS.
Platinum Rare 1 contains extremely rare recordings by the four original SWEET members.
The legendary glam/hard rock band continues to thrill fans all over the world to this day. Over the years, SWEET have sold more than 55 million records and reached 34 #1 chart positions.
The songs on Platinum Rare 1 come from the private archive of SWEET guitarist Andy Scott and were personally selected by him.
Fans of the band will be thrilled with this collection of rare and alternative takes and mixes. Many of the songs on the album have never before seen the light of day on a regular SWEET release.
Platinum Rare 1 is an absolute enrichment for every true fan of SWEET.
Tracklisting CD1: 1. Ballroom Blitz (Rough Mix) 2. IDC Jam 3. Midnight To Daylight (Outtake) 4. Show Me The Way (Alternative Mix) 5. Log One (That Girl) (Brian Vox) 6. Cover Girl (Band Demo) 7. Love Is Like Oxygen (Instrumental) 8. Windy City (Band Demo) 9. Falling In Love 10. Yesterday’s Hero 11. Live For Today (Rough Mix) 12. New Shoes
CD2: 1. Rebel Rouser (Steve Vocal) 2. Fire Engine 3. Blockbuster (Rough Mix) 4. Play All Night (Brian Vox) 5. Strong Love (Outtake) 6. Teenage Rampage (Rough Mix) 7. California Nights (Band Demo) 8. Hellraiser (Rough Mix) 9. Where Do We Go From Here 10. Silverbird (Band Demo) 11. Maggie 12. Lettres D’amour (Band Demo) 13. Lost Angels (Extended Rough Mix)
TRAPEZE was a British band, perhaps better remembered for the players that were in it and went on to bigger success with other acts, instead of the of excellent albums they made in the ’70s. The band existed from 1969 til 1981 (or 82), and seems to be best known as the band that Glenn Hughes got his recording start in. But, TRAPEZE was not particularly just Hughes’ band; in fact the band based around the guitar sound of Mel Galley carried on well after Hughes left to join Deep Purple in 1973, and released a few very good albums in the latter ’70s. The band also featured (drummer) Dave Holland before he joined Judas Priest, and their last recording line-up – Peter Goalby, before he joined Uriah Heep. Mel Galley was there beginning to end ’til he had an offer to join Whitesnake, so I think it’s safe to say that Trapeze was Mel’s band.
This 14 track album of previously unreleased and unheard material is a most welcomed addition to the band’s catalogue, which in recent years has been reissued in expanded versions, compilations and live releases, undoubtedly bringing back the name Trapeze to many who previously may not have been very familiar, myself included! My initial interest years back was the Hughes-Deep Purple connection, and the Peter Goalby connection (being a Heep fan), and Hold On (the band’s last studio album) remains my favorite. The band’s debut featured a 5 piece band that was signed to the Moody Blues label, but Trapeze seemed to be best remembered as the short-lived trio that released the 2 classic albums Medusa and You Are The Music…We’re Just The Band. After Hughes left, Mel Galley took on lead vocals as well, and added guitarist Rob Kendrick and bass player Peter Wright, and recorded the classic Hot Wire (love that album cover), followed by Trapeze (self-titled), Running/Hold On (with Peter Goalby), and the Live in Texas: Dead Armadillos. Lost Tapes Vol. 1 features tracks from the band’s early days right through to the end with Goalby, and a few from the band’s short-lived reunion in the ’90s. Though the songs aren’t in chronological order, this album features a pile of outstanding Trapeze tunes that might make you wonder why this stuff has never surfaced before. Trapeze was known for their funk-rock style, something that made them a fairly unique band in the ’70s, though often lumped in with early ‘heavy metal’ acts, they were far from it, though they could deliver some heavy hard rockers, and here we get standouts like the heavy Hughes’ sang “Breakdown” – which sounds so fresh one could easily mistaken this for a much more modern recording. There’s the ’80s production sound of “Destiny”, the funkier “Lover”, and closing track “Going Home” (which is a heavier take of the song that appeared on 1974’s Hot Wire).
Lost Tapes also features 3 tracks with Goalby on vocals, including the first one “Cool Water”, an excellent catchy feel-good rock tune, and one of many to feature a memorable guitar riff/intro from Galley, who also doubles up on the vocals on this, with a solid drum performance from Dave Holland (RIP). There’s also the memorable “You’ve Got It” from this era, featuring some excellent slide guitar as well. But my favorite track here is Goalby’s “Who Do You Run To” (the one song written by PG, himself here), absolutely outstanding late ’70s hard rock with influences from the period, a killer little intro and chorus. (Maybe someone can explain how this chorus and similar title ended up on the 1982 Hughes-Thrall album!?).
This makes a great addition to the Trapeze catalogue for fans of the band. The 14 tracks here are all well worth hearing; this is no exercise in ‘cleaning out the vaults’ of anything and everything, this was properly put together for fans to enjoy, and a tribute / reminder of this great band. One of my favorite releases of 2023! I am curious and looking forward to a Volume 2 (presumably there will be!?) Lost Tapes Vol. 1 can be purchased in digital form, CD, and limited orange vinyl (which I am awaiting!)
Outsider Rock 