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Scottish rockers captured live...
Perennial Scottish rockers Nazareth were always at home in the live arena, have been for years and still are. Through ups and downs, by Nazareth had gone some way to conquering the world by 1981, even if they were becoming increasingly ignored in the UK.
By 1981, Nazareth had had several original hits worldwide, who can forget the classics 'Bad Bad Boy' and 'Broken Down Angel', and several covers. With Joni Mitchell referring to 'This Flight Tonight' as a Nazareth song so taken was she with Nazareth’s version, and 'Love Hurts' still one of A&M’s biggest selling singles to this day, the world was their oyster. This direct reissue of an early 80s video will therefore be welcome to fans both casual and serious, young and old.
The set opens with the classic 'Telegram', a set opener for years, with footage of the band on the tour bus and various other on tour fun and games. The music is synchronised to match the band on stage, and the rest of the show is a mixture of on and off stage montage.
This is the first tour with Nazareth as a 6 piece, so there’s much banter with new (barely out of school) Glaswegian guitarist Billy Rankin and ex Spirit pianist John Locke. Live arrangements are different, and in most cases come off. With original members Manny Charlton (guitarist extraordinaire), drummer Darrell Sweet (RIP, the most underrated big hitter), bassist Pete Agnew (rhythm supreme) and vocalist Dan McCafferty (more Brian Johnson than Brian Johnson) all on form, it’s all thoroughly enjoyable. Track excerpts include 'Razamanaz', 'Holiday' and 'Expect No Mercy', the concert closes with a great rendition of 'Shapes Of Things'.
No extras, no booklet, even the DVD is blank, this is a basic release of the video, running at just under an hour. But the original video is now pretty rare, Darrell Sweet brought mine off me for £25 just before he died 6 years ago. Essential for fans, enjoyable for others, but not the greatest value for money.
****
Review by Joe Geesin
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