Album review: ALBIE DONNELLY’S SUPERCHARGE – Get Hip

3MS Music [Release date 18.01.19]

On a number of occasions back in the early 1970s, fellow scribe David Randall and I would venture to the Sportsman Bar in Liverpool, often post gig, to catch Albie Donnelly’s Supercharge.

The band – fronted by the larger than life sax player – had a regular spot there, and were often more ‘entertaining’ than the headline acts we’d just seen (and certainly more so than some support acts).

But, served with a heavy dose of scouse humour, it was never really clear whether Donnelly wanted to be a rock musician or a comedian, a dichotomy epitomised by ‘She Moved The Dishes First’ (a number off their 1976 Local Lads Make Good debut on Virgin) – the song title being the ‘punchline’ from a song about Albie taking a girlfriend home for the first time, and her taking a pee in the sink. Delivered in true Mothers Of Invention style, it was highly amusing at the time, and never fails to raise a wry smile, even today.

But despite being a gifted live act, the band’s act didn’t translate well to record sales and various incarnations of the band have come and gone over the years, with and without Donnelly.

For the past couple of decades Donnelly’s own ‘Supercharge’ have borne little resemblance to the original band, being an R&B outfit featuring top German musicians, with Get Hip being described as ‘dynamite rhythm and blues’ – a set of covers from the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, and James Brown.

True to form, there’s some marvellous musicianship on display and four decades on, Donnelly’s gruff vocals are still immediately recognisable. It may not set any new standards, and won’t appeal to everyone (and probably not to most who marvelled at Supercharge at the Sportsman back in the day), but if R&B is your bag, it could be worth exploring. ***1/2

Review by Pete Whalley

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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

Next session: Sunday 19 January

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 1 December 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 3 December 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 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)