Alex Harvey - Roman Wall Blues

Contrarian1

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This is not a full blown review, which I may do later on, but I just want to give a shout out to this first solo album by Alex Harvey.

It's a shame that Alex Harvey passed away relatively young because he was super talented and didn't get the credit today that he deserves.

Some of the stand out songs on this album are Roman Wall Blues (exceptionally weird and fantsric), Bye Bye Birmingham, Donna (super catchy and from the musical Hair, which Alex starred in at one point), Midnight mosses and Hammer Song ( Both rerecorded much heavier by the sensational band) Candy and a great version of Jumping Jack Flash just to name a few.

The production is a little slim on RWB but it definitely rocks. The albums guitars are recorded by Leslie Harvey from Stone the Crows, he was Alex's brother who also died young. This is technically a solo album as it was made after the Alex Harvey Soul Band and before the Alex Harvey Sensational Band.

Give it a listen if you haven't, it's definitely worth it if you like Rock N Blues.



https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wb8TkLkShQ
 

rtbuck

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I love it! Granted I love the Sensational Alex Harvey Band version of Midnight Moses but the original version on here must be heard! Love the way the horn section works it. Killer version of Jumpin' Jack Flash. One thing though...If you're a fan of Sensational Alex Harvey Band...the music style here is quite different from them but the one thing with Alex is you never know...Alex covered so many genres/styles of music in his lifetime. Great Artist!
 

E-Z

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Not really a fan of SAHB although I do have a few of there albums namely The Penthouse Tapes & Rock Drill also I do actually recall hearing of Alex's death being announced on the radio back in the early 1980s. The guitarist in SAHB namely Zal Cleminson him with the 'white face' turned up later on in Nazareth on there No Mean City album from 1979 which I still like listening to and the album after that one called Malice In Wonderland from 1980 as well I recall. I once met a young rock dude back in the early 1990s who thought SAHB was the greatest rock band of all time and listened to them constantly although the only song that I associate with the band is Alex singing Delilah?. Also drummer Ted McKenna turned up in Rory Gallagher's 3-piece blues/rock band circa 1978-1980 before returning to SAHB I believe.
 
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rtbuck

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Not really a fan of SAHB although I do have a few of there albums namely The Penthouse Tapes & Rock Drill also I do actually recall hearing of Alex's death being announced on the radio back in the early 1980s. The guitarist in SAHB namely Zal Cleminson him with the 'white face' turned up later on in Nazareth on there No Mean City album from 1979 which I still like listening to and the album after that one called Malice In Wonderland from 1980 as well I recall. I once met a young rock dude back in the early 1990s who thought SAHB was the greatest rock band of all time and listened to them constantly although the only song that I associate with the band is Alex singing Delilah?. Also drummer Ted McKenna turned up in Rory Gallagher's 3-piece blues/rock band circa 1978-1980 before returning to SAHB I believe.
Me, I am a fan...If I were you I’d stay away from Roman Wall Blues if you’re not really a fan. Framed is a great album as is Next.... I love the 2 Nazareth albums with Zal. Zal released an album by his new band the Zal Cleminson’s Sin Dogs recently...It’s a heavier sounding band. Drummer Ted McKenna(RIP) and bassist Chris Glen also played in the Michael Schenker Group in the early 80’s
 

E-Z

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Drummer Ted McKenna(RIP)
Has Ted died?. Wow that news passed me by I never heard it before that really is sad.

Even though I'm not a SHAB fan I always associated Ted McKenna playing in the Rory Gallagher band between 1978-1981.

***Apparently Ted passed away on January 19th 2019 of a haemorrhage during a routine hernia operation***
 
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