The Best Of British Part 2

We’re back, thanks to the complete lack of public acclaim, with the much derided Best Of British Part 2. Mebbe this isn’t the best time to be plugging something with that title, but if it makes Nick Griffin a better man, then it’s time well spent.

With that in mind I’m already regretting the first track from Warfare – “Burn The King’s Road”. Now I’ve been down the king’s Road, and it seemed comparatively pleasant compared to other streets in London. Me, I’d be burning Streatham, but perhaps Warfare knew something I don’t.

Originally the B-side to their Neat Records debut 7″ “This Machine Kills”, Warfare plugged away gamely for most of the eighties, sticking with Neat, long after Neat meant anything to anyone. Naturally, the hailed from Newcastle, and if I tell you that they were formed by Evo, ex drummer with the Angelic Upstarts, then I think you will know exactly how good they were. They also featured the legend that is Wurzel, in his pre-Motorhead days as well as Mantas (the Venom fella). At different times obviously.

MP3 one – Warfare – Burn The Kings Road

Next up is Jaguar. Now I liked Jaguar, especially their “Axe Crazy” single, which came out on Neat in 1982.

Sadly by the time their “Power Games” LP came out, it was 1983 and the horse had long since bolted. I remember seeing them opening the show for Girlschool in 1984(?), and they were still pretty impressive. They packed it in a year or so later, but got back together about ten years ago, continuing in one for or another right up till today. This track doesn’t seem to appear on any other release.

MP3 two – Jaguar – (Nights Of) Long Shadow

This installment comes to an end with Emerson. One of the single worst bands I ever saw play live. It was at the Hard Rock Cafe (pre franchise), which used to be upstairs in the Edinburgh Playhouse, and is now a swanky restaurant. I saw some great gigs there – Twisted Sister and Raven spring to mind, as well as the legendary Spider. But, oh dear. Emerson were absolutely awful. I suppose their brand of wannabee US AOR was not what beered up Scotch teenage metal fans wanted to hear, but even now, this is pretty dire.

I seem to recall the band was led by the Emerson brothers, and that they released on solitary 7″. This track wasn’t good enough to get on the B-side.

Fact fiends may be interested to know that Stu (the guitarist) ended up performing on albums by Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler! And by glancing over my right shoulder, I can see a poster for a Tyketto gig at the Newcastle Mayfair in 1994, when they were supported by Mrs Loud aka Lorraine Crosby, the partner of Stu who sang lead on “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)”. You never thought I was going there, did you.

Now, I know you’re pretty blown away right now. But wait, there’s more. The singer in Emerson was a guy called Sam Blewitt. Not a great name. So he changed it to Sam Blue. He went on to sing with (deep breath) Axis, L. A. Secrets, Paul Samson’s Empire, Ya Ya, Ultravox, GTS, and Burns Blue. But, and prepare to gasp, he is most famous for being the vocalist on The Streets’ chart-topping single “Dry Your Eyes”! It’s true! Although for me, his two Song For Europe entries are what mark him out (in 1996 as part of the duo Esseness with the song “I Never Knew” and 1997 as a solo artist with the song “For The Life You Don’t Yet Know”). He didn’t win.

I’ve dropped enough big names for now;
MP3 three – Emerson – Maybe Someday

But here’s a pic of Mrs Loud in her Meat Loaf days.