Saying Goodbye
Mr. Richard D. Coreno | Berea, Ohio USA | 07/12/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The SAHB was in transition from 1976-1978 due to the health and side projects of Alex Harvey, which found the band releasing an album without the lead vocalist (Fourplay, 1977) and then calling it quits soon after the release of Rock Drill in 1978.
SAHB Stories (1976) may not be a quirky classic, but it has Harvey as a convincing history teacher - Boston Tea Party - along with a neat cover of Jerry Reed's Amos Moses and a pointed look at the Soldier of Fortune (Dogs of War). Sirocco and Sultan's Choice are vastly underrated tracks.
After taking a year off from the band's relentless schedule of recording/touring and releasing a spoken-word solo album, Harvey tentatively returned as punk rock was poised to dominate the UK charts. Water Beastie rates as one of Harvey's best efforts, with Mrs. Blackhouse close behind. But the drop-off in songwriting after that pair is noticeable.
This two-album package on two CD's may not be the starting point to hear the brilliance of the band, but the trail will eventually lead here.
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