Album review: TEENAGE GLAMPAGE – 80 Glambusters From The Seventies (4CD boxset)

Cherry Red [Release date 17.02.23]

Glamrock stamped its imprint on the UK Pop scene in the Seventies, and perhaps overstayed its welcome. But while it reigned supreme, it produced countless unforgettable pop songs.

This 4 CD anthology, Teenage Glampage, begins where you would expect.

On CD1, The UK’s towering giants of the era (and indeed of the genre), T Rex (Baby Strange), Wizzard (Ballpark Incident), and Mott The Hoople – more in a moment – lead the way in all their glittery, stack heeled magnificence.

And as well as these brand leaders, this first CD is chock a block with wannabe bands who rightly pressed their noses up against the shiny shop window of fame, desperate to gain entry.

One such prime suspect was Newcastle band, Geordie. Their second single ‘Can You Do It’, from their debut album, made the UK Top Twenty in 1973. It is featured here. Singer, Brian Johnson went on to front AC/DC some 5 years later after Geordie folded.

The Barron Knights’ serious minded pop single, ‘Turning My Back On You’ (from 1973), also gets a place here. The band bookended this release with many of their immensely popular parodies. But hey, you’ve got to go straight sometime.

But the truth is that Disc One (and perhaps the 4 disc set) belongs to one of the most re-unionised bands in showbiz, Mott The Hoople. The Ian Hunter song ‘Roll Away The Stone’ was the band’s third top twenty single (and biggest hit) from their 1973 album, The Hoople.

It epitomises rock’n’roll as the theatre side of Glam, with Ariel Bender’s strident riff and Hunters’ vocal swagger making the song instantly recognisable. It’s peak Mott.

In an era where the song titles themselves were a definition of the musical times, The Sweet’s ‘Teenage Rampage’ was truly in the moment. This track leads CD2.

Slik’s first single ‘The Boogiest Band In Town’ is here too. An historic step for a band on the cusp of huge popularity. Bill Martin and Phil Coulter had stopped writing for the Bay City Rollers (doesn’t make them bad people) and had moved onto Slik.

Cozy Powell’s ‘Na Na Na’, his third hit under the Cozy Powell’s Hammer banner is an historic addition. It was his last “solo” effort immediately preceding his stint with Rainbow.

Often referred to as “Junkshop Glam”, Coventry born Don Fardon’s single ‘Don’t Do That’ holds its own little place in history as a genre classic.

And there are many more of course, from headliners like Suzi Quatro, The Bay City Rollers, Hush, Barry Blue, Mud, Mungo Jerry, and equally many who didn’t quite make it, but left a lasting impression on the record buying public and music critics alike.

4 CDs, 80 tracks, Glamrock heaven. ****

Review by Brian McGowan

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