Chart entered : 19 August 1989
Chart peak : 59 ( 43 on reissue in 1990 )
Number of hits : 17
The Scottish lads were no overnight success, taking the best part of a decade to score their first hit.
The band started in 1980 when Justin Currie ( born 1964 ) placed an ad in a music shop for like-minded musicians. As well as singing lead Justin played bass in the band which was originally a trio named Del Amitri Rialzo, the name being chosen because it was meaningless.Justin's initial recruits didn't last long and in 1982 were replaced by guitarists Iain Harvie ( born 1962 ) and Bryan Tolland and drummer Paul Tyagi. The group's first recording was on a flexi-disc ( shared with The Bluebells ) for a local fanzine in 1982. It was called "What She Calls It " and I haven't heard it.
The following year they released their first single proper, "Sense Sickness", on an independent label. A tale of matchmaking gone wrong, it sounds like Big Country's Stuart Adamson fronting a Postcard act. Tinny and tuneless it was never going to be a hit. Nonetheless their local following was increasing and in 1984 they were signed by Chrysalis.
In 1985 they toured with The Smiths and released their eponymous debut album. The moment you hear it you realise the two events are connected. Every song owes something to The Smiths and Justin's vocals sound more like Morrissey than the voice on their hits ( apart from "Breaking Bread" where he sounds uncannily like Inspiral Carpets' Tom Hingley. The generally downbeat songs aren't that bad , just over-wordy and lacking in punch. The album was a minor hit ,peaking at number 49 but neither of the singles "Sticks and Stones, Girl" and "Hammering Heart ", charted.
Chrysalis were not happy with the return on their investment and dropped them but the band stayed together and went on a self-financed tour of the US in 1986. At the end of it, Tolland was ejected from the band and replaced by Mick Slaven ( born 1961 ) from Bourgie Bourgie who had a minor hit with the dramatic soul-pop of "Breaking Point" in 1984. Mick recorded the next album "Waking Hours" with the band but left before it was released and his replacement David Cummings appeared on the sleeve. Keyboard player Andy Alston joined in 1988 and played on the album. Paul left during the sessions and Commotion Steve Irvine helped complete the LP; I'm not sure which of them is playing on the single.
"Kiss This Thing Goodbye" was the lead single from the album. Right from the off it signals a new musical direction with harmonica, steel guitar and banjo suggesting that, like Texas, they had one eye on success across the pond. It's an OK song about knocking a relationship on the head with a shuffle beat and Justin's earnest vocals but. like a lot of their material, it fails to excite me. The song was a bigger hit in America reaching number 35 . the first of their trio of hits there.
Never really minded these lads. Some of their songs cross the MOR taste line far too much for me, but others are more than pleasant enough listening (such as their last big US hit). One of those acts were a decent compilation provides good value.
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough, while I have a certain taste for the esoteric and unusual, the works of Currie's cousin Nick (aka Momus) have never done a lot for me.