The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

Fans at the alter of The Sensational Alex Harvey Bandcan only pray for the late Alex Harvey's eternal life after peace in the Rock n' Roll Heavenly skies. For they & the Lord only know how much blood, sweat, tears and life Alex Harvey gave to his craft as a professional musician, songwriter and entertainer. Since his untimely death of a heart attack just one day shy of his 48th birthday, in 1982, the legend of Alex Harvey has grown in a stealth like fashion. There have been and still are Sensational Alex Harvey Bandcover bands and then there was the short lived original SAHB lineup reunion in 2004 (sans Alex, of course and now guitarist Zal Cleminson who quit the reunion despite the apparent appeal and success). Even Canada's Paul Hyde & Bob Rock dedicated their 1982 album No Stranger To Danger to the memory of Alex. The web is abound with hits of Alex Harveydedicated websites and plenty from Youtube available (See Below)

I got turned on to the SAHB when I made a trip to Glasgow, Scotland with my Dad back in 1973. I hadn't yet turned 15 years old. I saw SAHB on the Old Grey Whistle Test doing a cover of Jacques Brel's classic "Next". The song itself was captivating, as I had never heard any Brel before, but watching Alex on the TV was equally as mesmerizing. All I remembered was this mop of hair, griselled face and theatrical flair. Then there was the guitarist, Zal Cleminson, with the evil clown makeup. The whole group was dead on the money for my entertainment value. Later that year, when I returned to Nova Scotia, I received for Christmas from my cousins in Glasgow, the newly released Vertigo UK LP of Next. The cover differed from N.A. latter versions, where the black stripes on the LP cover were actually reflective silver stripes on the UK version. I played that album faithfully for a year solid and couldn't wait for their next release, 1974's The Impossible Dream.

Released in September of '74, The Imposible Dream was SAHB at their creative best and at the top of their game for showmanship live. Unfortunately, after that album is when eveything started to unravel. While I still enjoy a great number of SAHB songs post Impossible Dream, like "$25 For A Massage", "Dance For Your Daddy", "Snakebite", "Soul In Chains" , "Who Murdered Sex?" or "Boston Tea Party", for me the pinaccle of SAHB enjoyment was 1973 and 1974. Which is the sole reason for devoting this blog to 2 SAHB albums - Next and The Impossible Dream.

Next. A brilliantly crafted and sounding album (their second LP as SAHB) and helped launch the band into the growing wave of Glam Rock in Great Britain during 1973. The albums' lead off track "Swampsnake" just sets the tone and attitude right away, with its' sexy guitar groove. That was just the precursor to "Gangbang" (Imagine today a song titled that being released w/out PRMC control). What a rollicking good song and only Alex could paint the imagery with his vocals especially on the opening line of the 2nd verse. "The Faith Healer" was another great song with an infectious hook off the top with Hugh McKenna's synthesizer. The UK/European TV performances of this song had a great effect of any number of the emerging musicians in the UK from the Clash to the Cult (who did their own version in the 1980s). "Giddy Up A Ding Dong" was another barrel rolling rock n' roll number followed by the introspective and passionate rock version of Jacques Brel's "Next" (I enjoy this version better than Scott Walker's or Gavin Friday's). The album's closer, "Vambo Marble Eye" was so high energy for a final song on an LP. No rest for the fans, the song blasts through the speaker with another great Zal Cleminson guitar hook, this one fashioned with a quasi- funky groove a la Shaft. The song begins the concept story of the anti-hero Vambo, Alex Harvey's alter ego in performance. The story was just beginning to infold.

The Impossible Dream. Released just 11 months after Next, this was the album that captured the band at their career peak. The gatefold sleeve of the LP had shots of the band live, in character for the Vambo story. The lyrics on the right side sleeve told the story. (After all, those were the years of the "concept" album").

The Vambo story picks up right away with "Hot City Symphony". First impression is the theatrical style of Harvey's vocals. He is truly playing the part of Vambo. With "The Man In The Jar", the mystery of Vambo picks up speed. This song rivalled anything by by Bowie, 10CC, Roxy Music, Mott The Hoople with its' dramatic flair and delivery. It evoked images of Pulp fictions and Humphrey Bogart movies mixed with its own apocolyptical storyline. Besides, any song with a bridge that includes the sing along vocals "Zaba zaba zaba da ba baba da za zaba da ba" is okay by me. "River Of Love" and "Long Hair Music" were a couple of great glam-ish rock songs that essentially filled the gap until Side one's closing ditty "Hey"...

I knew we had

to say goodbye

When I felt that warmth

against my thigh

Ha Ha Ha Ha... Hey!

Is that you pissing on my leg?

Side 2 again brings back the nostalgic melody with "Sergeant Fury". "Weights Made Of Lead" sounded like another great late-Glam number. The real gem of side two laid with"Money Honey/The Impossible Dream". Any band that can combine a Drifters number and a show tune from Man Of La Mancha is deserved of anyone's attention & a worthy listening. What a fantastic medley. "Tomahawk Kid" almost gives the listener a idea of what to expect on the next album Tomorrow Belongs To Me. Unlike Next, The Impossible Dream closes on a much sofetr note with the closer "Anthem". To me, these albums are timeless and a unique snapshot into the world of mid-1970s Rock music. Vastly under rated, still, but with some hope, the music of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band will fall onto appreciative ears.