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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
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