Album review : PETE WAY – Solo Albums 2000 – 2004 (3 CDs)

September 24th, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 30.09.22]

In 2019, the late great Pete Way and his band played an unannounced gig in my home town, a few miles from Glasgow, just before the pandemic hit and less than a year before his death.

It was a small venue, not what he was used to, but the band’s Aberdeen gig had been cancelled and this was a hastily arranged stopgap.

No prima donna antics, the band played like they were auditioning for a gig at Hampden, quickly winning over the small crowd with their enthusiastic delivery, and their tight, eminently roadworthy set list.

The source material came primarily from Way’s first solo album, Amphetamine (2000), with a few UFO biggies thrown in.

Fast growing reissues label, Cherry Red has now re-released all three of the ex UFO, ex Waysted bass guitarist/vocalist’s solo albums.

The aforementioned Amphetamine, plus 2002′s Alive In Cleveland (hello!), and Acoustic Animal (2004).

Together, they represent as rounded a picture of Way’s musical talent and determination to find his own groove as you’re likely to find.

Amphetamine shines a very personal light on the darkside of his addictions, the needle and the damage done… not a square inch of Way’s soul goes unbared. ‘Fooled Again’, ‘American Kid’ and ‘Crazy’ are the album’s best Garage Rock shots.

Those three plus ‘You And Me’, ‘Need Her Bad’ and ‘Born Again’ from The Plot album (Way’s recording with Michael Schenker) deservedly elbowed their way into the live setlist, forming the backbone of Alive In Cleveland, a raw, ragged edged slab of punk, rock and blues for the masses. The sound quality is better than expected.

Way is joined by guitarist Michael Christian for the Acoustic Animal album. It is what is says, 10 acoustic numbers. There are a few of the usual suspects in the tracklist, but Way also pays his respects to a couple of the rock’n'roll greats with covers of John Lennon’s ‘Working Class Hero’ and ‘Fats Domino’s ‘If You Need Me’.

As you might expect, the pared down approach leads to much more of a laid back feel. What Way describes as a “raw, honest simplicity”.
No better way to bow out. ****

Review by Brian McGowan

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.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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 3 November 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 29 October 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 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)