Hollywood Stars –Shine Like a Radio -Last
Summer Records LS1974HS (2013)
With the
release of the LP only days away, here is the background on how Shine Like a Radio
finally gained release as well as a track by track descriptor…
For me, It
all started back in 1975. Bomp magazine not only featured The Flamin’ Groovies
on the cover of the spring 1975 issue, but also a long piece written by Kim
Fowley on the next big thing that never was –The Hollywood Stars. It was a
tragic but fascinating story, they seemed just like the band we were crying out
for at the time. This band had it all - the looks, attitude, great song titles
plus the involvement of the king of Sleaze. When would I ever get to hear song like
Russia, Kings of The Night Time World or Shine Like a Radio? The song titles
alone promised so much, but as highlighted in the article the band was no more,
but the story behind the unreleased album got me dreaming.
Last year the
dream started to meld into reality. Terry
Rae (drummer) left a comment on the Flamin’ Groovies post about the Dutch issue
Shake Some Action (which he played on). I guess my second question to him was…do
you have the 1974 recordings? The answer was positive and he sent me a CDR of
the 1974 recordings along with the 1976 Neil
Merryweather demos (10 cracking from the Hollywood Stars MKII), for the
first time I was finally able to hear the tracks. The tape was very hissy and
some intros and endings were clipped, but I was in awe. Later Ruben De Fuentes sent me a remastered
version and although it was great to hear clearer versions, something was
missing, the sound was too brash and trebly. Still the thought of getting the
LP released was now becoming a concrete project. Later on a ¼” tape was
discovered in the hands of singer of Scott
Phares, and although missing a bit of top, this was the real deal and made the hairs on the back of my neck quiver.
You must
remember that the album was never really finished and Scott’s tape was a
collection of rough mixes they presented to the label. But I am glad these are
rough mixes as the rough edges provide an urgency which may have been subdued
by a proper mix.
The LP was mastered and cut at Fluid Mastering in London http://www.fluidmastering.com and it really sound perfect, loud, clear yet meaty and warm. After all these years, I am very proud to have been instrumental in finally getting these great songs and performances released.
The LP was mastered and cut at Fluid Mastering in London http://www.fluidmastering.com and it really sound perfect, loud, clear yet meaty and warm. After all these years, I am very proud to have been instrumental in finally getting these great songs and performances released.
1. Supermen
are Always Gentlemen
Loud
and brash rocker with cutting guitars to the fore. It’s a great first track as
it combines a rough and ready urgency with a great chorus hook with blistering
lead breaks and a fine tough vocal by Scott.
2. Kings
of The Night time World
Later
re-written and popularised by Kiss. The original is a great Stonesian rocker.
Particularly impressive is Marc Anthony’s tight Richards-like riffing which
chugs along under Ruben’s great lead. This one rocks supreme.
3. Tough
Guys Don’t Cry
A
Mars Bonfire tune. It’s another tough number with crashing powerchords underlined
by a stomping piano. Note the sitar-like guitar. A real cool touch…
4. Shine
Like A Radio
Angie
Bowie said it sounded like a number one hit and in a better world this would
have come to pass. Kim Fowley’s own version on Automatic didn’t bring out the
best in the song, however The Stars turn it into a real tour de Force. The
backing vocals are a real hoot to boot!
5. Russia
Another
classic Mars Bonfire song. The production is lush and more refined. It provides
the perfect backdrop to this tale of Teenage Spies and betrayal ” Bureaucrats and winter palace, army tanks
and ballerinas…” A striking stand
out track
6. Don’t
Let The Kid Down
Mark
Anthony’s plea to the record business to give the Kids a Chance. It fell on
deaf ears, but this short and snappy statement of intent makes a great closer
to side one.
7. Escape
Some
songs are built around a killer riff, such as The Move’s Do Ya, the Velvet’s
Sweet Jane or Ducks Deluxe’s Fireball. This is one of the better examples of a riff song and a classic piece of brash
70s Rock. Alice Cooper recognised its
value as he later covered the song on the Welcome To My Nightmare LP. This original
version is far superior
8. Roses
and Rainbows
Roses
and Rainbows was a small hit for Danny Hutton and was an inspired choice
for a cover. From the way the song
emerges from Escape to the delightful backing vocals supporting Scott’s pure
and crystalline vocals, this is another performance which could have provided
The Stars with bona fide hit.
9. It’s
Got To Be Today
A
fine original capturing a perfect blend of outright rock with a certain Buffalo
Springfield appeal. Great vocals and guitar throughout.
10. Satisfied
Electric Fingers
What
this album is all about, energy, electricity and a great tune. The lyrics
allude that being a guitarist in a Rock and Roll band doesn’t always guarantee
being able to hold on to a special lady.
You don’t often get references to a Ringo solo effort, but you do here…
11. Last
Days of Rock n Roll
Although
a bit corny at times (Glenn Miller?), the song is a heart-felt ode to loss of
innocence. Nostalgia a vehicle to loss as valid then as it is now. There’s a
nice off hand feel to the overall performance and the backing vocals are
stellar.
12. Modern
Romance
Like
Mott The Hoople giving a nod to A Day in The Life. The song is supremely dramatic
with Scott’s vocal full of pathos. There’s nice line in Mellotron layering and
with Ruben lead sounding just like Mick Ronson; it’s a truly majestic tour de
force and a perfect album closer
Shine Like a
Radio should be reaching stores at the end of this month. 1000 copies (Vinyl
only!) are being split for distribution between Europe and the US.
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