Altered Images – The Epic Years (Cherry Red)
4CD
23 February 2018
8 / 10
Conclusive box set from Scottish post punk/new wave/pop
band.
From the ashes of punk rose the phoenix of pop with Scottish
and Altered Images. A demo tape to
Siouxsie And The Banshees resulted in a slot as their support act, being
championed by John Peel and a debut album produced by bassist Steve Severin, it
all seemed so easy and, it probably was as the they signed a major deal with
Epic. Producing the whole of Altered
Images’ debut album Happy Birthday (with the exception of the title), Severin
helped it stay in the UK charts for over five months spurning three singles.
The band’s debut single, the single Dead Pop Stars couldn’t
have had a more unfortunate start when its release came shortly after the death
of John Lennon. The track failed to make
the final version of the album but does appear here as a bonus. The album itself was raw, with vocalist
Claire Grogan often sounding childlike, sometimes charming and always textured
rather than formatted. It did however,
carry an intrigue and an excitement which still resonates today with effective
guitar work courtesy of Tony McDaid, frenetic drums from Tich Anderson and bass
via Johnny McEhlone (who would later go on to form the mighty Hipsway and the
less impressive Texas).
Written because they wanted to be on Top Of The Pops and
convinced that “everyone will buy”, Happy Birthday was produced by Martin
Rushent who was enjoying success as the producer of the Human League’s gazillion
selling Dare album. It appeared in three
version on the album – as an Intro and Outro as well as the single that reached
number 2 in the UK singles chart. It was
starkly different to the rest of the album making a pop classic in amongst the anarchic
angst.
The bands second single, A Days Wait remains an angry,
pop-bordering tune to this day and even instrumental Legionnaire is enjoyable
in an era minded context. Whilst the
album has obvioucly dated there are still several gems to enjoy notably Real
Toys, Leave Me Alone and the creepily infectious Insects. An additional seven bonus tracks feature
including a cover of the T Rex classic Jeepster which, while it isn’t a classic
does give an interesting punk take on the Bolan beauty.
Released in 1982, the bands second album Pinky Blue became
the subject of the well-known British media backlash. Following the success of the Happy Birthday
single the band moved further into pop territory with Rushent producing the
whole album. Despite receiving a mixed reception,
it became the bands highest charting album with some well-crafted songs including
several ‘tricks’ that Rushent had used on the League Unlimited Orchestra (aka
Human League) album Love And Dancing. It
was in many ways perfect pop with singles in See Those Eyes, I Could Be Happy
and the title track with John Peel continued his affinity with the band as he
made an appearance on backing vocals and ‘whistling’.
Pinky Blue was a lively album, high paced pop with Forgotten
and Little Brown Head with Grogans vocals more powerful and controlled than its
predecessor whilst still maintaining a slightly anarchic sound. She was be now means the greatest singer but
somehow her vocal ‘shaping’ and energy made her incredibly distinctive and
addictive.
Inclusion of the cover version Song Sung Blue (Neil Diamond)
was strange. It seemed misplaced and
frankly, a bad joke as it didn’t particularly do the song justice and, if meant
as a joke wasn’t particularly amusing. Seven
more bonus tracks are included with new versions of Insects, Real Toys and Dead
Pop Stars (renamed Disco Pop Stars) and Happy New Year, a festive message from
Clare over the Happy Birthday tune which was given away as a part of a Flexipop
magazine flexidisc (Google it kids).
The final Altered Images album, Bite, saw them up their game
tremendously starting with the Audrey Hepburn esq image of Grogan gracing the album
cover. Her voice was stronger and more
mature than before and the production of Tony Visconti (David Bowie, Sparks,
Thin Lizzy) and Mike Chapman (Mud, Suzi Quatro, The Sweet) aimed for a classy album. In many ways it succeeded, with its first single,
Don’t Talk To Me About Love becoming one of their biggest hits. Sadly, subsequent singles Bring Me Closer,
Love To Stay and Change Of Heart marked a slow decline before the band finally
went their separate ways.
Bite marked another solid pop album with – a pleasant change
for the 80s – no ‘filler’ tracks. Love To Stay was gorgeous and deserved far
more recognition than its number 46 chart placing and Don’t Talk To Me About
Love remains a cracking pop tune to this day with its Donna Summer/Blondie
alliance and hi-energy backbone.
The album went for class with an quartet of additional
backing vocals adding depth and warmth to the proceedings and largely succeeded
in every respect though short at just eight tracks. Another six bonus tracks are here including a
suspicious ‘live’ version of Another Lost Look which at one point seems to have
Grogan on lead and backing vocals at the same time.
Disc four of the set is The 12” Album with eight tracks from
across the bands career given the dreaded 80s remix treatment which usually
meant a part of the song instrumental attached to either the beginning or
middle of the song. Maybe one for the
collector as it doesn’t particularly tread new ground but does complete a fascinating
journey through the short career of one of Scotland’s finest and most memorable
acts.
Clare Grogan
Published on Louder Than War 15/02/18 - here
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