Rock Candy Records {Release date 29.11.19]
The late, great “Fast” Eddie Clark died a year ago this month. Many consider Motorhead to be his single most important legacy. Fastway wasn’t far behind.
The 80s produced some great horror movies. “Trick Or Treat”(1987) wasn’t one of them. So how do you match up an album’s worth of rock songs to 90 minutes of cheesy, schlock horror banality? Bearing in mind this was way before movie/music tie-ins became the commercial behemoths of the 21st century.
The answer is, of course, you don’t even try. What you do is write nine ragged edged rock songs, bring in legendary producer Eddie Kramer to oversee the studio recordings, then carry on in-fighting (this was Fastway, don’t forget).
In fairness, the album sees the band re-examine its classic rock roots, picking up from time to time on the movie’s moods with music that is suitably dark and dynamic. ‘Don’t Stop The Fight’ is a rolling thundercloud of gloom and the sparse barbaric logic of ‘Tear Down The Walls’ is perfectly tuned to the movie’s insanity.
Clark’s pneumatically powered riffs and Connor & Reid’s pitch black rhythms consistently create a sombre, menacing backdrop. Add Dave King’s siren howl, and quality rock songs like ‘Stand Up’ and ‘If You Could See’ become blistering spins through the grim reality of life on the streets, suggesting “Trick Or Treat” is not just a movie construct.
The Rock Candy remastering Techs keep it simple (as much as this process could ever be described as “simple”), giving the album’s sound a sympathetic re-assessment, adding punch and clarity at all the right moments.
Like the movie, the album was a moderate success and generated some badly needed funding for the band. But you know what they say about money. Fastway disbanded soon after.
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 6 October 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 8 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 28 October 2024
IZZY REIGN Spooky Scary Skeletons (FiXT)
THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)
Featured Albums w/c 28 October 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)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
