Album review – JOHN WEIDER (50th Anniversary Edition)

January 1st, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Think Like A Key Music [Release date 12.12.25]

John Weider is one of those unsung heroes of British rock. Not exactly a household name but a creditable CV nevertheless, with early stints in Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, The “New” Animals and Family. His career in the 1970s was haphazard, he turned down an opportunity with Bad Company, and his next band Moonrider – his collaboration with Keith West – floundered due to label implosion and critical apathy.

The vibe throughout this 1976 solo album is soft-pop rock/AOR of the likes displayed with Moonrider but with less of the country influences. It’s all very tuneful if not exactly arresting. ‘Don’t Give Up On Me’ sounds like Pilot whilst ‘Ambush Alice’ could be Gilbert O’Sullivan. At other times, Badfinger spring to mind. Weider was a multi-instrumentalist and ‘Prelude II’ displays his acoustic guitar skills in a classical format.

Later on he released several instrumental albums but for the moment this is a curio for those that might have discovered Weider through his work in other bands and this first-time reissue/remaster does full justice to his legacy. Sadly his death in early 2025 seems to have gone largely unnoticed. ***1/2

Review by David Randall

Album review (Moonrider, 2025 reissue)

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Power Plays w/c 1 December 2025

We feature all the artists selected in this sequence in 2025.

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