SAHB - 'Hot City - The 1974 Unreleased Album'

Strange as it may seem, but a 'new' album from The Sensational Alex Harvey Band from 1974 is due for release in March 2009 called 'Hot City'. All but one of the songs were re-recorded and issued on later albums, but 'Hot City' includes original versions of the songs and one previously unheard track.

The blurb on Amazon says:

In early 1974, the Sensational Alex Harvey Band were planning to record their upcoming third album. The band, had been constantly touring and were well rehearsed when in late Janauary, they went into Advision studios in London with legendary US producer: Shel Talmy to record their biggest album to date. By April, the sessions were finished and the album was mixed. However, after completion the band and management had some reservations about the overall sound and amazingly they decided to scrap the entire album. Shel Talmy the returned to Los Angeles with his tapes.

Most of the song titles eventually showed up on the official album 'The Impossible Dream' later that year with a different producer on board and the songs changed dramatically. You can now hear how the album sounded with the original versions of these songs. SAHB fans will be totally surprised and amazed at the different styles, delivery and lyric arrangements of well known SAHB songs such as Vambo & Man In The Jar. There are also two versions of both Anthem and Tomahawk Kid and an previously unreleased song `Ace In The Hole' which has not been heard even by the band since those sessions in 1974.

As SAHB became the biggest band of 1975, these recordings were quickly forgotten about. Now after 34 years, MLP have re-discovered the fully mixed unreleased album by a rock group on the verge of stardom. The recordings were re-assessed by both Shel and the band and an agreement was reached.

Now re-mastered and with the band's full approval, you can hear how songs like Vambo, Man In The Jar, Anthem and Sgt Fury originally sounded. This CD release features 11 tracks and comes in a deluxe package which includes a 20 page booklet with rare photos and extensive liner notes from the band with track/track comments and opinions.

The track list is:

1. Vambo

2. Man In The Jar

3. Hey You

4. Long Haired Music

5. Sergeant Fury

6. Tomahawk Kid Version 1

7. Ace In The Hole

8. Weights Made Of Lead

9. Last Train Version 1 (Aka - Anthem)

10. Tomahawk Kid Version 2

11. Last Train Version 2

I know what I'll be buying in March.