Album review: PHIL SAATCHI – Sun Come Up

PHIL SAATCHI - Sun Come Up

Jobbing Brighton musician , singer, and writer Phil Saatchi’s main claim to fame seem to be collaborations with Sam Brown on her 1990 debut Stop!, and with Phil Manzanera on And The Beat Goes On in 1991. Oh, and a solo album – Stripped – on A&M Records way back in 1987, and more recently Serenity Songs (2006) – a chill out/relaxation album of acoustic guitar and flute, and Eden (2017) – an hour and 20 mins of psychedelic ambient and electronic chill.

Probably the least said about Serenity Songs and Eden the better and, dig a little, and it transpires he only provided backing vocals on the track ‘Walking Back To Me’ on Stop! , and the Manzanera track is some rare/obscure 12” (Italian?) single. Still, how many can genuinely put such names on their CV?

The funny thing is, the first thing that struck me on pressing ‘play’ was Tenderhooks – another Brighton artist/outfit that I’ve reviewed with varying degrees of enthusiasm over the years. And, lo and behold, according to Saatchi’s website he has indeed collaborated with Tenderhooks.

Anyway back to Sun Come Up. It’s actually a decent album. It opens with ‘Time Bomb’ – one of three co-writes with Ian Sugar and one that featured on Sam Brown’s album ReBoot (2000). No wonder I thought it sounded familiar!

‘You Gave Me Gospel’ and ‘Song For A Survivor’ are steeped in Plastic Ono Band / Double Fantasy-era Lennon (perhaps little surprise as Saatchi was the winner of a ‘John Lennon Song Writing Competition’ in 2012), and ‘Not For Sale’ is an undisguised tribute to Cream.

Which just goes to signpost the diversity of the album. But most of the material falls somewhere in between easy-on-the- ear pop/rock. If the mugshot on the back of the sleeve is anything to go by, Saatchi is something of a ‘geezer’, and while it’s best not to pretend he’s on the leading edge of any new wave, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a half decent, well played, tune. ***

Review by Pete Whalley


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 25 February 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 27 February 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 4 March 2024

COLLATERAL Glass Sky (Big Shot Records)
THE ZUTONS Pauline (ICEPOP)
THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS Rise Above It All (Mascot)
MATT PEARCE & THE MUTINY From Here To The Moon (indie)
THE BLACK VULTURES Never Say (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 4 March 2024

09:00-12:00 LEE AARON Tattoo Me (Metalville)
12:00-13:00 THE END MACHINE The Quantum Phase (Frontiers)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply