The Big
Sound Authority – An Inward Revolution (Cherry Red)
CD
23 March
2015
Former Paul
Weller protégées enjoy a re-release of their only album.
If you’re a
child of the 80s you might remember The Big Sound Authority. A refreshing brand of pop-soul that graced
the airwaves with the superb This House (Is Where Your Love Stands) and popped
up on TV shows from The Tube to Wogan, from (the final) Old Grey Whistle Test
to No.73 (Google it kids!).
The
formation of the band is well-known, with both singer Julie Hadwen and
songwriter Tony Burke being introduced to each other after an ad was placed in
Smash Hits by Paul Weller calling for artists to sing vocals with The Jam. The pair went on to form the band and
contributed History Of The World to Wellers Respond Records sampler album, they
then turned down a contract instead taking up an offer from MCA.
An Inward
Revolution spawned three singles – This House was the only one to grace the Top
40 and missed out on the Top 20 by just one place, A Bad Town and Moving Heaven
And Earth. The album unfortunately
proved to be the band’s first and last which was followed by a fourth single
Don’t Let Our Love Start A War which again failed to chart.
It’s fair to
say that the full potential of the band was never achieved. Critically acclaimed, they employed the
skills of a string of top producers which included Tony Visconti and Robin
Millar, recorded sessions for Radio 1, and performed at the Montreux Jazz
Festival. Despite all this they never
reached the commercial success that they so richly and rightly deserved.
A Bad Town
kicks off the album and how it was never a hit single is a mystery, perhaps it
was the left wing lyrics and ideals which featured highly. It was one of the most energetic singles of
the time and focussed on both the vocals of both Burke and Hadwen with a strong
chorus and superb brass, section it also expanded the single version by a
minute and a half with a brilliant instrumental segue.
The Big
Sound Authority weren’t just about high powered anthems though, their ability
to craft some lovely ballads and torch songs had to be applauded and slotting
in Loverama as the second track was a master stroke.
Thirty years
since its original release it’s actually difficult to believe that there were
only three singles lifted from the album.
The reason probably being an affectionate over-familiarity – it was
played over and over and over. When
Things Fall Apart is sheer poetry.
Both
vocalists possessed a gritty, almost harsh voice which only added to the muscle
of the backing and My Hell Shaped Room showcases Hadwen’s remarkable voice with
aplomb. (Call Me) Soul Man was another
brassy affair begging for single release.
Now released
for the first time on cd, the album features all the bands output including
additional single versions, 12” mixes and b-sides. Sure, there are several versions of some
songs but the inclusion of Mother Help Us All, History Of The World and
Somebody Up There Likes Her confirms that the band weren’t one trick ponies and
could have gone on to much greater things.
An Inward
Revolution is one of those forgotten gems, but with this re-release maybe a
discerning pop audience will give it one more try.
8/10
Links
Cherry Red Records
The Big Sound Authority on Twitter
The Big Sound Authority on Facebook
8/10
Links
Cherry Red Records
The Big Sound Authority on Twitter
The Big Sound Authority on Facebook
Published on Louder Than War 20/03/15 - here
Julie Hadwen was a great vocalist. The first hit had so much promise but it was not to be. One of the lost bands of the eighties.
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