Album review: FASTWAY – A’s and B’s (The Sony Years)

BGO Records [Release date 09.12.22]

You might think that the combination of Jerry Shirley (Humble Pie), Pete Way (UFO) and “Fast” Eddie Clarke (Motorhead) was a marriage made in heavy rock heaven. But this original triumvirate only lasted weeks before Way left and ultimately Shirley and Clarke with Dave King on vocals became the mainstays.

Hendrix acolyte Eddie Kramer produced their debut album (1983) which yielded two singles (plus two non-album B-sides ‘Crazy Dream’ and ‘Back In The Game’). Also included here is the track ‘Far From Home’ which was dropped from later vinyl pressings and was originally a U.S. promo single.

Stylistically the early band was sometimes compared to Led Zeppelin and in that same trajectory they also bring to mind the likes of Budgie and even early Uriah Heep.

‘Steal The Show’, an additional track on the 1984 12″ single ‘All Fired Up’ is omitted, one of two singles included from the band’s second album. In fact the missing track gave it’s name to the box set released by in 2010 featuring live recordings.

Shirley and bassist Charlie McCracken (ex-Rory Gallagher) were dropped for the third album and ‘Waiting For The Roar’ (1986) featured Eddie Clarke and Dave King from the original album line-up and a more santitized sound with greater use of keyboards.

This collection omits the track ‘Kill Me With Your Heart’ which was released as a 12″ promo. ‘Don’t Stop The Fight’ underlines that they were starting to sound like any number of bands on the other side of the pond and in the shade of Sunset Strip.

Four tracks are included from the band’s horror soundtrack ‘Trick Or Treat’ released as an EP in 1986 and the last to feature King on vocals.

In truth this compilation must get a star docked for the omission of the two tracks (they could have been squeezed on) but by way of reparation BGO have re-released the first three Fastway albums (the first two available as a 2 on 1 CD).

There were various attempts to revive Fastway over the years, including latterly with Toby Jepson on vocals. Eddie Clarke died in 2018, Pete Way in 2020. This compilation captures the band in all their former glory and in what many believe to be the definitive iterations. ***1/2

Review by David Randall

Album review (Trick Or Treat, 2020)
Album review (Eat Dog Eat, 2011)
Album review (Anthology, 2007)

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