Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Genre: Glam rock, hard rock 1973 Such an odd album. Don't know him or any of the songs except (NEXT). His version of Next is amazing and it makes the album worth listening to. The rest of the album is not that great for me. Standout: Next Next best songs: Gang Bang, Faith Healer Worst song: Giddy Up a Ding Dong. 3.5
While it does feel a bit thin, dated and glammy in places, there are also some genuine high points, and (annoyingly) catchy songs.
Glammy, theatrical and way over the top, and certainly not one's thing. No doubt the cool kids (like, teens) woulda dug this decades ago but are likely embarrassed by it now, as it reads mostly cartoonish now. Like a caricature of what would scare parents about rock and roll. "Last of Teenage Idols" is funny, making explicit the links to doo-wop era that have been implicit throughout. "Faith Healer" may be top cut. “Nothing like a gang bang to blow away the blues” — can’t argue with that, now can we? Better than Alice Cooper. Not as good Mott the Hoople.
For a band I've never heard of before I enjoyed this record. Stylistically it's quite varied and kept me interested throughout - no two songs sounded the same. It's on the risqué side; I thought a tune like Gang Bang had the perfect classic rock FM radio sound but the blatant lyrical content would have prevented it from reaching a wide audience. Giddy Up A Ding Dong had a similar catchy vibe. The Faith Healer is their most popular song but to me it was one of the weaker tunes on the album. I considered giving it a 4 but ultimately I wouldn't listen to it again, so I've settled with a strong 3.
This immediately made me think of Ben Folds. The album massively swings between 50's rock, to waltzes, to 70's guitar wails. The whole album felt both younger and older than it is. Super high energy that was just fine.
Alex Harvey is definately at the forefront of the punk movement. This was a weird record. There's a song about gang bangs, and another about a horse named Ding Dong, but it's actually a metaphor for his cock. A third song documents how the military paid for soldiers to use a brothel, and he ended up catching gonorrhea. Apparently Nick Cave started his music career in an Alex Harvey cover band. It's like blues rock and hard rock mixed. Favourite songs: Giddy Up A Ding Dong, Gang Bang, Vambo Marble Eye Least favourite songs: The Faith Healer, Next 3/5
This is canny mad. Sounds like it would be an incredible soundtrack to a musical. If this was the music, I’d definitely go to see the play. Lyrics are mad; and I quite like his delivery. It’s got the over the top rock aspects to it, without getting old for me. I think it’s because it’s so frantic. Probably wont be back, it aint my thing, but it flew by and it was an experience. Gangbangers. Ya gotta love ‘em!
A bit silly, but interesting enough. I thought I was having a stroke during the extensive panning on 'The Last of the Teenage Idols'.
My memories of this album is that there were always copious quantities of it in the record bins marked down to like 50p. I think I even owned this album at one point, but ultimately decided to ditch it. I really like the cover of Next on this album and it's definitely the high point. There's a few other pre-ACDC hard rock/ blues tracks that are enjoyable. However, I really didn't enjoy the more glam rock style tracks, Gang Bang being particularly odious. This makes it very difficult to score, as the individual tracks range from 1 to 5. I think a 3 rating makes sense for me.
I'm more than 2 years in and this is the type of album that makes me question if i want to listen to the whole list.
This may have been conceived as the soundtrack for the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I hated the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
2.5
The first two songs on the album are just fast paced class rock and roll similar to other bands of that era, the third song of tha album has a slow and long build up and doesn’t really amount to much, the fourth song goes into funky heavy bluesy territory, the fifth song isn’t an enjoyable song it’s a slow song but if just feels like he is just mindlessly shouting and not singing, the 6th song goes back to funky blues style with a great guitar solo, the the final song of the album is a slow ballad that slowly builds into high energy song but I didn’t his voice suits singing slow songs overall it was an ok album it had a few good songs but nothing amazing 5/10
One of "your favorite band's favorite band". Loud, chaotic, and messy relative to contemporary glam artists at the time, they emphasized the blues in a hard busy style that would influence Aussie artists AC/DC and Nick Cave. I can certainly see why what they did was so innovative and provocative, as part of the transition phase as proto-punk before this style would find its voice that works. But I can't see too much value beyond that. The songs are too long and all over the place. For how simple of blues songs they are, they add this all fluff that just ends up being messy sensory overload in an attempt to compensate for how shallow the music is otherwise. I feel like I've heard these melodies stolen from other rockabilly and blues songs, just painted in glam hues. Not only are the songs inconsistent within themselves, but they don't even sound good side-by-side. "Vambo Marble Eye" sounds like an outtake sandwiched between the overproduced "Next" (which sounds like a cabaret) and "The Last of The Teenage Idols" (sounds like a rock musical). I feel like every song is modeled after other songs with no consistent themes. Sure, their energy and personality makes up for some of it, and I'm sure it'd be a killer show live, and I'm also sure any kid would feel lucky to have something so wild on his turntable in the 70s, but its novelty didn't age well past 5 years.
This album was fairly basic glam rock. There was nothing special about it musically though the musicianship was fine. The production wasn’t great either. There were some strange decisions made on panning which were not smooth at all. The lyrics were incredibly juvenile and most sounded like they were there just to rhyme. There was a whole song about a gang bang which was completely unnecessary.
Oh God, maybe I take things too seriously, but I could not enjoy this. A couple songs were alright, so it's definitely not *bad*, but I don't think it's for me.
The list continues of incredibly boring albums that somehow find their way on this list. The first three songs were all just sexual innuendos. That’s what deserved to make this list huh. Well a wasted spot an assume. Silver lining is that it’s still music and outside of the lyrics not completely terrible. 4.3/10
I did not enjoy this album. It was a hodge podge of different sounds. Most albums have some sort of cohesive sound - not this one! Gang Bang does not stand the test of time. The objectification gets exhausting and we certainly shouldn’t celebrate it by including it on a list you must hear. Vambo Marble Eye was probably my favorite track. Had a bit of a funk feel. I enjoyed it but not enough it to save it to my play list. This is a 2 for me. I’ve heard worse on this list which is why it’s not a 1.
This was weird but not necessarily in a good way
who taught this man to sing
next was cool and the rest was bleh
Rating: 5/10
New to me. And roving all over the place stylistically, prog, glam, musical etc, loads of things thrown at the wall, mostly with energy, sometimes sounding like pastiche. Interesting, but I don't love it. 2.5 🌟?
Meh
It has some fun tracks and I enjoyed the Jaques Brel cover, and the overall experimentation and energy
Meh.
Big ego to describe yourself as sensational, sadly this album is far from that. Mediocre at best. Not much to enjoy.
Started strong, got a little generic and weird towards the end.
Kinda boring classic rock
Side A of this album is the most Divorced music I've heard in a while. The lead singer completely ruins anything going on instrumentally. He sounds like a restraint order became sentient and started braying into a mic at his local honky tonk. Side B is better, and I suspect it's because it's half cover songs.
I feel like ppl who hate glam rock think all glam rock sounds like this. This would probably work for me if the lyrics didn’t suck and there was less “honky tonk”. Like T.Rex and New York Dolls both do a better version of this vibe.
a silly jam album full of blues and yelling with some alright instrumentation. Nothing will stick with me because this particular niche isnt for me but i appreciated it.
Ain't nothin' like a gang bang To blow away the blues
This albums is nuts. It starts off all swagger and style with killer piano hooks and thumping energy, Harvey's unabashed libido in charge of the entire enterprise; but then the wheels fall over as he attempts Brel's 'Next' (or really rather Scott Walker's version), entirely missing the point of the track and unable to muster the requisite emotion in lieu of shouting his head off. The rest just falls away to sub par schlock and glam.
This is not at all sensational. It’s just some 70’s junk I’ve never heard before. Send it back to the $1 record bins and call it a day, don’t waste your time trying to find merit here.
this album kinda sounds like that bar band that a bunch of your friends' dads plays in (derogatory) not awful but really nothing super interesting for me here. weirdly horny? and not in a fun way. the production is alright until 'last of the teenage idols' in which the entire song just pans hard left??? everything is in your left ear. and then the song picks up panned hard right. and then it evens back out. this feels intentional. and bad. can't say i am a huge fan
This is music you would listen to while cleaning smegma from underneath your foreskin with a toothpick. SMASH that like button if you can relate!
If a middle schooler drew a dick on their notebook and that dick came to life and started a band, it would sound like this.
I mightily did not feel comfortable listening to "Gang Bang." I can't begin to explain how gross I felt. Despite that, I enjoy glam rock and I enjoyed what they did here (minus the lyrics of one song; see aforementioned paragraph). They played around with genres--"Giddy Up A Ding Dong" had a country feel, and "The Last of the Teenage Idols" had that pleasant fifties pop sound at the end. Next was pretty decent; it could've gotten a 3 if I wasn't so icked. A 1 feels right to me.
Fuckin' gross. "Gang Bang" is particularly disgusting. This album should be forgotten forever. There's no need to keep this around for any reason. It's so gross. Rompy, bawdy 70s rock. Lots of butt-ass swagger here. Some of the tracks start out decent if not totally by-the-numbers stock 70s rock, but the singer comes in and farts all over the place with his repulsive, overbearing, overconfident schtick. He almost sounds like a wannabe and very unconvincing Bon Scott. There moments where things gets almost showtune-y and it's fucking awful. This guy swears he's got this big charisma but it's just overbearing sexual harassment. This guy is seriously a creep. A lot of rape-y lyrics. Like, a lot. Terrible. Fuckin' awful. (I listened to this album before reading about the album/band as I want an uncolored listen the first time around, and turns out this Scottish band influenced AC/DC [which does make sense, though I would take Bon Scott any day])
This was bad. Terrible lyrics too
jesus this sucked lol. the gangbang song made me lol though.
⭐ 1/10 Horrible. I hate that I've even heard this album. The lyrics read like they're written by a sex offender who is proud of his offences. Mind you, Alex Harvey apparently was 37 when this album released. Such whiney and cringe lyrics just to flex on us for having sex once in a while at that age? Thats just sad Favourite tracks: None Least favourite tracks: The full album
stopped listening after the second track
"Just because it can be made doesn't mean it should be" -Fiancee. I agree.
Really dislike this album. I know it has a cult following of some kind, but it rubs me entirely the wrong way. I don’t like 70s hard rock at all.
It was hard to get through. Not a fan
“ain’t nothing like a gang bang,” indeed
Annoying-ass-dated-boomer-bullshit rock. Fuck off.
Ah yes, the album with such stone classics as "Gang Bang" and "Giddy Up A Ding Dong". Listening to this made me stupider. This is easily the worst album on the list so far (about halfway through now).
Yall I decided to start this thing and this was the FIRST album i listened to i got three tracks in it was literally un fucking listenable
(...)
???????
Couldn't get through this one. Just too rough around the edges to get into. Something about the presence of this whole album just turns me off.
This is a band I was familiar with without realizing I was familiar with them. I instantly recognized Alex Harvey's unique vocals. Almost fun and rather throwback, but some long tracks and some tracks that feel a bit long and overall a more showy and ridiculous than good. Probably too much Sensational and not enough Band. Highlights - Umm...yup...the one that wasn't about his wiener?
Well that was bad.
Yessss!!!! This is the juice. A truly marvellous discovery. SENSATIONAL INDEED!
Unexpected five.
Like theater kids got into hard rock. Loved it.
some rock n roll bangers that ive never ever heard, sounds like james gunn bait in a great way. gnarly guitar soloes aplenty, short and sweet, really just got me in a jolly mood from minute one. it's kind of fuckin gross sometimes, in a way that i don't like, but i don't not like it? i just chalk it up to glam rock set dressing. like wanting to sing along to "ain't nothin' like a gang bang" just because it's so catchy is weird. honestly though every single song did something cool and different that had me clapping my little hands in delight like a perfectly satisfied toddler. this shit hits
One of the few musicians that made me go "I want my music to sound like this", what a revelation!
This was really good with lots of catchy songs. It works really well.
This album caught me off guard. I really enjoyed the sound. Their style used elements of different styles it rock that became popular week after the release of this album showing horse far ahead of their time they were.
Fun, eccentric, diverse and rocking. Another great discovery. Some songs are already played in my head after I finished listening to the album. Will listen more of their stuff
I must've been in the mood for this because I LOVED it. I didn't realize what a huge influence these guys were. 4 new songs on my faves. 5/5
10/10 absolut Classic Chanson pref : The last of the teenage idols
This was a really fun surprise. It's a blues rock album from a Scottish band, and it kicks off to a great start and keeps the energy up the whole way through, and it doesn't outstay its welcome. A rocking good time
Sensationellt, som utlovat!
This album was crazy.
Gran sorpresa
Wow. This is really cool. I can easily understand why it was so highly influential on early British punk rock.
2025-10-05: I really enjoyed listening to this album. Was I in a good listening mood, or is there more to it? Whatever the case, it is a top score for enjoyment to me today.
Honestly Blew me away. Never heard of these guys before
WOW! from the moment this began, i knew i was in for a treat! what a powerhouse of an album! front to back, no skips, so chaotic and loud and fun but also extremely talented people! well written, the lyrics were so provocative but exciting, and almost a queen-like flair for giving single songs multiple sections to explore! and the DRAMA of it all! it was like a rocky horror picture show type musical and the lead singer had so many CHARACTERS to help him deliver the message that really elevated the experience for me. i was hearing little richard meets big band meets bob seger meets queen meets gospel meets rocky horror meets the darkness, and interestingly enough this came BEFORE a lot of the things i was hearing, meaning THIS was probably inspiration for ALL THE OTHER ONES! never knew i needed an "old time rock n roll" for orgies but here we are! the intro to "the faith healer" was incredible i loved how it grew and changed and the let it breathe before he started singing - they really made sure the music was as interesting as the singer, which seems hard to do with a guy like that in front!
Ok, I stopped listening to Ok Computer by Radiohead for this. Those are some hefty stairs to climb for greatness. Right away I’m thinking Bon Scott if he went solo. If every song on this album was a punch in the mouth, let’s see what the outcome would be. 1-first punch knockdown 2. A dizzying punch 3. Several jabs to an already broken nose 4. Oh ya I’m into this And it goes on. Thoroughly impressed
This is a super fun album. I love that it's basically a hard-edged seventies version of 50s rock 'n' roll. Cool idea and well-executed. 4.5/5.0: Excellent
Really enjoyed, will add to a more frequent rotation
Superb
Some of the lyrical content might be questionable, but the music and delivery are excellent, in my opinion. I can absolutely see why he/they were such an influence on some of my favourite artists.
1973 Scotland. Glam rock, hard rock
Everyone else on here must be listening to a different album, really fun classic rock. Feels almost punk-y at times.
I was aware of Alex and his stripey top and Zal and his mime makeup but I had never heard any of their music before and did not know what to expect. And I love it. Ridiculous and quirky and wonderful. Great voice, tight band. Bet they put on a great live show. Such a shame he died so young. One of my favourite finds from this thing so far
This was a real good album it was high energy every sone was fun and it kind of reminded me of like Gogol bordello in a way on how wacky and fun it was. Next and gang bang where so good
Quirky 70s UK rock. Outstanding rock ’n roll. An excellent, unexpected surprise.
Solid rock and roll album. I hear how this band influenced other bands, namely AC/DC and Quiet Riot. This isn't the type of rock I revisit much these days, but this is pretty strong.
Next and faith healer are some of my favourite tracks.
Wow! Another stunner I’ve never heard of before. This album was bursting with rock and roll energy, both on the traditional and blues-based side and on the creative, exploratory side. Clearly a forerunner for punk and post-punk and even today, a clear influence on Geordie Greep/Black Midi. Somehow both forward-thinking and rooted in familiarity. Excellent rock performances. Was very pleased with this. Must-listen #83.
Holy shit. That's really the review. Holy shit. I'm semi-obsessed with this album that I'd never even known existed before Swampsnake and then Gangbang destroyed me. The band and production are fucking incredible. Just, tight and bombastic. And Alex is so goddam horny and absolutely confident across this thing, sounding like a combination of Bon Scott (AC/DC) and Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) with a little David Lee Roth (Van Halen). Just, straightforward rock, blues, boogie-woogie, and apparently British Music Hall. Many of us in the U.S. are most familiar with Paul McCartney's and The Beatles Music Hall ditties. There is drama. Like, this album could be the soundtrack to some companion film to Little Shop of Horrors or Grease 2. Anyway, I highly recommend anyone who doesn't know this album to give it a shot. Again, I'm obsessed, and am now traveling through their catalog. A perfect second album is their first album, Framed, from 1972. Anyway, I'm giving this bad boy a 5 because nothing has captured me like this in a long while.
A great album. Like the album, Alex Harvey was unknown to me. When I started listening to it, I was very pleasantly surprised. A cool sound. And then there was also one of my favorite songs - The Faith Healer - on the album. I didn't realize it was by Alex Harvey. I take part in the project for such music and (re)discoveries. 5/5
a cracking glam/rock album, a forerunner of punk ?
I'd give this 10 stars if I could!
This one's taken me a couple days to wrap my head around. These folks are amazing and I can't believe I hadn't heard of them. It's like maximalist and raw at the same time. Such a cool mix of style and edge. Confidence. Another group that makes my life just look so colorless and safe 😅 4.5!
This was an unexpectedly super fun album to listen to! Added some songs to my January 2025 playlist and look forward to listening to more of their stuff!
Fierce, wild, wonderful, swinging, vibrant and very authentic. (Albeit with some outdated lyrical themes) As we say in Glasgow - "gallus". Which probably translates as "Arrogant, but carrying it off with charm". Five stars, of course.
Lots of fun with raw and unique delivery. Next was the one that made me look up and pay attention the most. Definitely something to sink your teeth into
5 out of 5. This was a fun, energetic album and not what I was expecting with songs like Gang Bang. When Robert Smith said this band was a forerunner to punk it's clear why. I'm interested to know what their other albums sound like.
Sensational doesn't even begin to describe it.
A classic. I remember them doing "The Faith Healer" on TOGWT and I was hooked. For em another stand-out track from the album is the title track "Next".
I did a very quick google before listening to this album as his name felt familiar. He’s apparently considered to be one of the original punks. However, this didn’t really seem punky at all to me, instead being pretty much straight up rock and roll. This is no bad thing, as Alex Harvey plays rock and roll very well. I’m not sure why I seem to vaguely recognise Gang Bang, but I do. The highlight for me though is the final track - The Last Of The Teenage Idols - which feels more like an amalgamation of many shorter tracks.
What a fun presentation of an ecclectic mix of music. Rock hard
Honestly I was surprisingly into this album. Was a lot more rock rifts and jamming than I expected. Definitely seems like some elements were taken by 80s rock and fully ran with. Surprise 5 star
I honestly don't know what's wrong with you all. At this stage whenever I see an album with an average score less than 3, I know I'm in for a good time. I was skeptical at first with Swampsnake, but Gang Bang is BRILLIANT. Come on! Have a sense of humour everyone. This is swagger and stupidity at its finest. And then you get Next. Wow. I've never heard anything like this, but I adore it. Apparently from Jacques Brel, translated, but given so much feeling and spite. An absolute masterpiece. And finally Last of the Teenage Idols? It's just good, clean. bizarre fun. But even for all of its weirdness, it maintains a sense of musicality and charisma. I love it. This is precisely the kind of curveball I like to see in this project.
Alice Cooper can go to hell (actually, I think he's meant to have a good time there). I have read the name "The Sensational Alex Harvey Band" quite a few times before, but from their description, I always dismissed it as the one of yet another British shock-rock / glam-rock act like the early seventies produced dozens of them. Turns out that this band is indeed yet another shock-rock act, but that *this one* ticks all my boxes and pushes all the right buttons. It's not only Alex Harvey's *outré*, theatrical vocal performance, or the mindless (and probably dated) hedonism at the heart of his lyrics, you see. What seals the deal is the sheer *musicality* of the stellar roster of musicians playing with him. Because the music is often inventive, harmonically rich, and always expertly performed and recorded. The tracklist (and album) is short, and that's what makes the whole thing slap even harder. "Swampsnake" starts with low stakes belying the richness about to follow as it foretells hard rock guitar tones AC/DC would hone later on. But from that starting point, this record builds up into a dirty masterpiece (love it when "essential albums" do that). "Gang Bang" is an efficient meat-and-potatoes cut, and its lyrics are in poor taste, but somehow, I can't help but admire the result here. And then comes the absolute gem "Faith Healer"--ominous, deranged, with all sorts of disturbing harmonies and moods and textures, Harvey's crazy performance supported by the obsessive coupling of synth bass and palm-muted quavers on the guitar. No wonder another young Aussie, Nick Cave, fell in love with this band... "Giddy Up A Ding Dong" is admittedly a rockabilly cover that brings nothing important on the table (except its synth solo during the middle-eight, and its bluesy outro section with all the background vocals). But then "Next" offers a great English version of the Jacques Brel staple song. Once again, Nick Cave must have taken notes here, and I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the young ruffians from black midi had done so as well when I hear those histrionic vocals and the lively and unpredictable instrumentation supporting it... Following the title-track, "Vambo Marble Eyes" returns to hard rock territories, and boy oh boy, it's a riot. What a great chorus, and what a striking performance--so striking that I wonder why the band had the idea to record a lesser version of that song for their next LP. Yeah, the one after *Next*--are you following this? Actually, they recorded the song two more times, for two different versions of their third album. Now I'm pretty sure you are lost indeed. But anyway, guess that's a story for another moment, kiddies... Because, hell yeah, after listening to *Next*, I have listened to five other LPs from Alex Harvey and his wonderful band of misfits (the one before *Next*, their debut album *Framed*, plus the three that follow). And now I can say they're my new favorite band from the early seventies, a moment of music history that was ripe with so many good records it can make your head spin. A golden age of rock'n'roll for sure. And I wasn't even born then. Speaking of the "golden age of rock'n'roll", there's also an iconic feel to the three-part extravaganza that *Next*'s closer "The Last Of The Teenage Idols" is. The only thing I can reproach this very *harveyesque* song with is that its "legato" first section could have been twice as long, so good it is. And here I am using the word "harveyesque" about an act I had never listened to this morning. But sometimes, music appreciation is a no-brainer. When you know, you know. 4.5/5 for the purposes of this app, rounded up to 5 (that 0.5 substraction is the only compromise I will make with any idea of caution here. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band's music doesn't elicit such sorts of compromise anyway--I'd rather have listeners with different tastes finding it distasteful instead of feeling "neutral" about it). 9.5/10 for more general purposes. Number of albums left to review: 180 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 357 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 205 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 260
Didn't expect that at all; loved it!
Love them
++: Swampsnake, Gang Bang, Giddy Up a Ding Dong, Next, Vambo Marble Eye, The Last of the Teenage Idols +-: The Faith Healer 9,1/10
03/07/2026 I only know this band for one song which wasn't on here, but this album was alright. Spotify listeners:
Day910 - you know what. there’s a place for the ridiculousness here. not enough songs about gonorrhea and gang bangs
pretty good! all over the map here and constantly feels like they're having fun making it. surprisingly danceable too
27 person gangbang????? God damn. 4.1/5
Day 310 I definitely enjoyed this more than most people seem to have, felt kind of Monty Python in places. Highlights Swampsnake Gangbang Next
Felt a bit different and fun. Not too long. I'd listen again.
Ok
Solid, new to me. 80s movie soundtrack sounding, odd and entertaining.
Potential to be a 5, need to properly listen to the rest
Next... es un trabajo audaz que desafía las convenciones del rock de su época. El álbum se presenta como una genialidad divertida y descarada, donde la teatralidad del vodevil, el cabaret y el hard rock más pesado conviven en un mismo espacio. Precisamente por esa audacia de saltar entre géneros tan dispares, la escucha puede sentirse como un viaje un poco fragmentado, pero cada una de esas piezas ofrece una propuesta visual y sonora fascinante. El tema homónimo y la hipnótica "The Faith Healer" son muestras perfectas de cómo se entretejen muy bien la voz y los instrumentos: la guitarra de Zal Cleminson y la interpretación rasposa y llena de autoridad de Alex Harvey crean una atmósfera densa, por momentos tétrica y oscura, pero siempre magnética. Aunque carece de la sensación de paz y fluidez de otros clásicos, su valor radica en su honestidad irreverente; es un disco conmovedor, crudo y real que antepone el drama y la narrativa al orden convencional, consolidándose como una pieza de culto que ha envejecido bien.
Тупые пиндосы ноют о том, как плохи текста, а я скажу так: Альбом звучит охриненно, бро просто врывается, нападает на вас, дает вам по щам и будто говорит: "готовьтесь, щас будет 30 минут моего музыкального балагана". И балаган этот весьма веселый, забавный и интересный. What a relief, это не очередной двойной альбом унылой и/или/ одинаковой музыки.
When I listen to this, I am reminded of the genius that went into pulling this all together. The sense of humor, the ability to write catchy songs around the lyrics and the ability to construct interesting songs with elements of just about every genre together. Zal Clemison was criminally underrated.
This was pretty wild. Ended up listening to it several times.
Got me toe tapping, head bobbing. Had a good time. I didn’t think too hard about this one, because I got the feeling that Alex Harvey didn’t either.
That was very fun! Good energy! My favourite was The Last Of The Teenage Idols.
Better than I remembered.
This was a very cool proto punk album! Never heard of them before but I liked it quite a bit!
I really liked this... A lot more than I thought I would based on other people's reviews...
Nice Album, i also like the shortness of it 😊
Um… love the left fielders. Oh, this was a left fielder! Truly. Never heard it before. God it’s weird. Fantastically weird. I’m giving it 4 stars cause this is the kind of album that keeps me coming back. Will I ever listen to this just cause? Probably not! Boolean rating: yes! Very glad that I did hear it before I die.
Interesting for sure
Great album from SAHB
New band for me - pretty solid!
This was awesome
Solid early Rock & Roll
one of the first albums I bought as a kid. still sounds great.
Nice classic
Die Sensational Alex Harvey Band, gegründet 1972 in Glasgow, nahm ihr zweites Album in den Londoner Audio International Studios sowie in den Apple Studios auf und veröffentlichte es im November 1973 über Vertigo. Next… vereint schottisches Arbeiterklasse-Pathos mit Varieté-Theatralik, Blues-Grobheit und einer musikalischen Bandbreite, die für Glam Rock dieser Ära ungewöhnlich weit greift. Harvey und Keyboarder Hugh McKenna zeichnen für den Großteil des Songmaterials verantwortlich; Pip Williams steuerte Arrangements bei. Das Ergebnis ist ein Album, das stilistisch kaum einzuordnen ist – und genau darin liegt sein Reiz. Die Eröffnung mit „Swampsnake" setzt sofort den Ton: ein lüsternes Blues-Rock-Ungetüm mit Karnevalsgestus. Das darauffolgende „The Faith Healer" – sieben Minuten hypnotisches Crescendo, unterfüttert von Hugh McKennas frühem Basssequenzer-Experiment – wurde zum Erkennungslied der Band und beeinflusste Künstler von Nick Cave bis The Cult. Auf der B-Seite überführt SAHB mit der Jacques-Brel-Coverversion „Next" den belgischen Chanson-Sarkasmus in hartes Rockformat, während das Rockabilly-Fossil „Giddy-Up-a-Ding-Dong" die Ironiedistanz der Band zum puren Unterhaltungsgeschäft demonstriert. „The Last of the Teenage Idols", das Album abschließende dreiteilige Epos, legt ein weiteres Mal offen, wie ernst Harvey die Ambition hinter der Maske nahm. Next… gehört zu jenen Alben, die sich eine Nische jenseits etablierter Schubladen erzwingen: zu roh für das Cabaret, zu verspielt für den harten Rock, zu theatralisch für den Blues. Es erreichte die britischen Top 40, wurde später mit Silber ausgezeichnet und landete in Robert Dimerys kanonischer Liste 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die – eine Anerkennung, die dem Werk weder zu viel noch zu wenig verspricht. Wer Alex Harvey einmal gehört hat, versteht sofort, warum er unvergessen blieb.
Oikein hauska ja jopa varsin hyvä levy! Bändi oli itselleni entuudestaan tuttu ainoastaan nimenä, en muista olenko koskaan aikaisemmin kuullut yhtään biisiä - en ainakaan tämän levyn ralleja. Paikkapaikoin vähän jopa AC/DC:n mieleen tuovaa bluesrock-veivausta, sitten jossain hetkissä mentiin ihan Rocky Horror Picture Show'n täysin övereissä meiningeissä, ennenkuin hypättiin sitten pornofunkkiin. Tykkäsin paljonkin!
A very pkeasabt surprise - this is what Bowie wanted to be.
No… ta płyta chociaż jest jakaś. Dziwaczna, niezbyt poważna, dość absurdalna, ale jakaś. I chyba tylko dlatego dam jej 6.5/10 równane w górę. Bo chociaż wokal jest manieryczny i teatralny to wyrwał mnie z marazmu, czego większości płyt tutaj nie udaje się osiągnąć.
Catchy
This is wild. I can’t believe I’ve never heard of it before! I can totally see how Nick Cave got his entire schtick from here. Really wish I could have seen them live.
I think I was just raped by Alex Harvey
I liked it - may not be one I'd purchase though
Enjoyed this one a lot. Odd, but not uncommercial, and I can definitely see where Bon Scott was influenced by the vocals. I will definitely listen to this again.
This was wild to say the least. I'll be honest I wasn't sure what the next song was gonna sound like as they're all quite different from each other. "Swampsnake" is straight up rock, Gang Bang is super repetitive and shows off the weird and wild vocals this guy has got. "The Faith Healer" was a big surprise, that's a hell of a track and I absolutely loved the sort of proggy-ish trippiness of it. The title track is the strangest song I've heard in a long time, the weird vocals are off the chart - super dark and uncomfortable subject matter too, wasn't expecting this. I have to say I did really enjoy this for the most part, there's some great stuff musically and high energy songs. 4/5
Okay I didn't expect a literal gang bang song. A solid album! Wasn't expecting much, but was suprised and pleased with "the faith healer" — the composition of this song is really cool. "Next" was also an interesting theatrical piece. I like how the album is somehow an obvious glam-rock record but also clearly a root of progressive rock.
Really good SAHB album with songs that sound even better live. Faith Healer is a classic with Vambo and Last of The Teenage Idols setting a high mark too. Let down a bit by the honky tonk pop nonsense of Giddy Up a Ding Dong but then it was Glam '73.
I enjoyed this!
I’ve heard of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band and understand they’re influential, though maybe not on this side of the ocean, but I’ve never heard them before. Alex Harvey’s vocals remind me a lot of Bon Scott, but this pre-dates AC/DC, so influential indeed! Apparently also a big influence on Nick Cave and Robert Smith, so I understand why this would be on here. Musically, it’s glam/hard rock with a strong theatrical bent, very raunchy (in a way that likewise makes me think of Bon Scott-era AC/DC), and I think meant to be deliberately provocative and in bad taste. Not something you’d hear now. It’s fun, I imagine they would have been a great live act.
Sleezy, grimy, dirty, and perfectly exuding the undercarriage of 70s rock & roll culture. This band was for the rockers who lived out of trailers, who fist fought in parking lots drunk at 2AM when the bars closed, who woke up smelling like sex, hard liquor, and weed. This is a disgusting and awesome album, it fucking rocks. 8/10
Didn't zone out. Interesting album. Lyrics are questionable and makes you listen to it.
Not a huge fan of the first 3 songs, but really liked the second half of the album.
Täysin uusi tuttavuus mutta ehdottomasti viikon positiivinen yllätys. Hyvä, erilainen rocklevy peilattuina niin julkaisuhetkeen kuin nykypäiväänkin. Tiettyä Serj Tankian -henkeä. The Faith Healer -biisiä en vaan ymmärrä, pitkä junnaus mutta kai se taidetta sitten on. Hyvä rocklevy ihan tähänkin päivään, The Temptationsin jälkeen paras löytö tältä listalta tähän mennessä. 4/5
At first I thought, man this guy is a fucking freak, but you know what? He’s right. There ain’t nothing like a gangbang.
I don’t know if this was supposed to be funny but it was to me. Would rather listen to this than most on this list
3.5/5 Never heard of this guy before but this was fun
Lyrically strange but surprisingly good, feels like they'd have been very good live.
I liked gang bang so giving a 4
This is simply awesome idk what to say
70’s era glam rock and i am here for it. very cool album.
The A side was unexpectedly great, while the B side felt a lot less interesting, especially Next. I still enjoyed it enough to place it in the low 4 range.
I did not know what to expect from this album, but I really liked it. Fun. Irreverent. Groovy. Theatrical. Ticked a lot of boxes for me. Enjoyed quite a bit!
Está guay. Tampoco le presté demasiada atención. Va duro. Hard rock o algo. No sé si vi por ahí también algo de proto-punk o yo que sé. Sigo sin entender del todo lo que es el glam. Me gustó que fuese escocés. Poco que decir. Pero buenos temas.
This was a pretty cool album that I had been completely unaware of, especially considering how strong it is within the 70s glam rock scene. If you’re a fan of Bowie, Television, T. Rex, or Roxy Music, this one will be right up your alley. It’s got a lot of fun, catchy hooks that makes it easy to stay engaged from front to back.
The cure for those who think cock-rock is too high-brow. Magnificently vulgar, but what a sound! 4.5 stars
more short and sweet classic rock music today, with sorta the same energy with the last album i heard? this music is... slimy. if that's a good descriptor. the music, the voices, all of it sounds really slimy and sludgy. when you turn the radio on, it feels like suddenly you're naked and vulnerable in a trailer home that smells like cigarettes and butthole. a pretty nice if a bit nasty listen especially if you're really wanting more power rock to flip your hair, stick your tongue out like a demon and prance around like nosferatu on a sugar high.
Musically, I enjoyed this a lot. But many of the lyrics are super sleazy and haven’t stood the test of time. The AC/DC lads must have given this a fair few listens. Or is it more like a proto- RHCP? Punk in places, vaudevillian in others, simple 70s hard rock elsewhere. It’s an odd mix and a bit disjointed overall but works in parts. Faith Healer and Teenage Idols are great tracks. 4 stars.
Alex Harvey just had a way of delivering songs that made them different to the usual 70's rock. Zal Cleminson just a great underrated guitarist. Vambo not as strong as the other material, but still a strong album. Faith healer is certainly a classic track.
This was a ridiculously fun album with a weird blend of styles. Intense and eclectic without being pretentious. The flow of this album is a weird mix of glam rock (“The Faith Healer” and “Vambo Marble Eye”), honky-tonk (“Swampsnake”), rock & roll swing (“Giddy Up A Ding Dong”), and theatrical cabaret (“Next”). And even combining styles as in “Last of the Teenage Idols “. This album is all over the place…..IN SUCH A GOOD WAY!!!!. The lyrics are catchy and intense. Some are raunchy and dirty without being obscene (as in “Gang Bang”). But it all comes together in a remarkable way. Never heard of this band but this turned out to be a wonderful surprise. I LOVE it.
Surprised with the amount of hate for this album. I didn't look at the tracklist so when Gang Bang came on that was hilarious. Rocky Horror Picture Show vibes at times and looks like this came out the same year as the play, so I think there has to be some sort of connection there. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.
What in the Rocky Horror Picture Show is going on here then Pretty sensational, to be fair to the bloke 8 / 10 Best track/s: Gang Bang, The Last of the Teenage Idols, Giddy Up A Ding Dong
Well this was fucking fun! I am embarrassed to admit I had never heard of this band… but based on the year and album cover art, I was pretty sure I’d like it. And it surpassed expectations by far! Definitely got some Rocky Horror Picture show vibes… it’s that fun intersection of rock and drama and performance and all that jazz. Loved the energy, mix of instrumentation and immediate catchiness of nearly all the songs. Super hard to pick just one… so I will allow two this time! Standout: Gang Bang and The Last of the Teenage Idols (although I think the latter is probably their popular song, I’d never heard it so I’m allowed to pick!) 01-14-2026
Täähän oli hyvä levy. Bändin tiesin nimeltä, mutta ei oo tullut aiemmin kuunneltua. Tutuin biisi oli "Giddy Up a Ding Dong", tosin Juice Leskinen Grand Slamin ”Hellurei ja Onni Gideon” versiona.
This was surprisingly solid.
Ha estado guay, definitivamente no me esperaba eso para ser de los 70, lo volveria a escuchar mas veces la verdad
7/10 Favourite: The Faith Healer Least Favourite: Gang Bang
Sympa de ouf mais c’est pas se que je préf le plus ma moins touché Préf : vambo marble eyes
This is really horny music. 15 year old school boy horniness with a bluesy backing track. But dont get too comfy, we'll throw horny vaudeville at you too...no problem.
Alright. I thought this album was pretty good, and I will not be taking any questions, comments, or concerns. The semi-rock elements in the songs along with the goofy lyrics/stories told in the songs made for a fun and interesting listen
What a nice hidden gem. Some funny dated stuff in there (“Gang Bang”) but I’m giving it a four in hopes more people find this interesting tidbit of 70s blues rock.
Raunchy blues rock Adam and the Ants. Talented musicians back up Harvey's very unserious vocals for comedic and enjoyably raucous music. Much of it is dripping with glam rock over-indulgence to the point of sounding satirical (in a time before satirizing glam rock was fashionable), which brings about a theatrical rock opera vibe (think Rocky Horror Picture Show). Really enjoyed this album and feel that the Harvey must have been going for a specific sound and nailed it perfectly.
pretty weird in a good way, much to think about
This was fun! Rare 1001 Albums aesthetic: ends before you're ready for it to be over. Apparently lots of bands I like, like this band, so I will try to check out more of their work.
Het lijkt wat lekker domme glamrock, glamrockers lijken over het algemeen toch niet door de natuur bedeeld met al te veel hersencellen. Maar dan blijkt het titelnummer ineens een Brel-vertaling (Au suivant). Dat maakt het allemaal weer een stuk interessanter. Sowieso is glamrock stiekem best een leuk genre.
Gekke mix van muziekstijlen, want we krijgen moddervette glam rock, punky muziek, bluesy Elvis, vleugje Ozzy. En dan plots een musicalesque toneelstuk. Eén ding dat het gemeen heeft, is dat het allemaal bombastisch is. En dat maakt het toch wel geinig om te luisteren. De maffe titletrack hadden ze mogen overslaan, maar verder vermaak ik me er toch prima mee. Ik gun dit wel een over the top 4 sterren.
Some wild lyrics on this album haha. Some of the songs were hokey and others were good.
**In-depth review of “Next” by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (1973)** *Lyrics – Music – Production – Themes – Influence – Pros & Cons* --- ### 🎭 **Album Overview** Released in late-1973, *Next* is the second studio album by **The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (SAHB)**. It is a **35-minute, 7-track explosion** of glam-rock, blues, cabaret and proto-punk theatricality, produced by **Phil Wainman** (also behind The Sweet) and recorded at Audio International Studios in London . The record captures Harvey’s **Glaswegian vaudeville persona** and the band’s razor-tight hard-rock muscle, serving as both **a glam manifesto and a sneering satire of 1950s nostalgia, military dehumanization and false prophets**. --- ### 🖋️ **Lyrics – Storytelling, Satire & Scottish Swagger** Alex Harvey writes like a **music-hall poet trapped in a proto-punk cabaret**: every song is a **character sketch drenched in irony, sexuality and urban grime**. | Track | Narrative & Key Lines | Sub-text | |---|---|---| | **Swampsnake** | “Let me be your swampsnake ’til the real one comes along” | A **surreal blues parable** of disposable lovers; the snake as **metaphor for transient comfort** in a harsh world . | | **The Faith Healer** | “Can I put my hands on you?” | A **seven-minute sermon** exposing **charismatic charlatans** who trade hollow salvation for devotion; **spoken-word incantations swell into hard-rock exorcism** . | | **Next** (Jacques Brel cover) | “Next – your turn in the chair” | **Shell-shocked soldier** queued through a **mobile army brothel**; venereal disease, **bureaucratic cruelty**, loss of innocence delivered with **music-hall sarcasm** . | | **Gang Bang** | “Ain’t nothing like a gang-bang to blow away your blues” | **Campy anthem for social misfits**; **orgiastic release as therapy** for “winged women” and “high-heeled boys” – **ridiculous yet inclusive** . | | **The Last of the Teenage Idols** | “You can hang me in the morning… call me the last of the big-time spenders” | **Auto-biographical three-act suite**: **teenage talent-show win ➜ faded stardom ➜ doo-wop resurrection**; Harvey’s own 1957 Tommy Steele coronation becomes **meditation on ageing and reinvention** . | **Harvey’s delivery** – half **sprechgesang**, half **full-throated belter** – **amps the theatricality**; he bends vowels in thick Glasgow accent, **cracks his voice on purpose**, and **never winks at the audience**, which makes the satire cut deeper . --- ### 🎸 **Music – Genre-bending & Virtuosity** SAHB **fuse opposite poles** without collapsing into parody. - **Hard-rock spine**: Zal Cleminson’s **swampy wah-wah riffs** (“Swampsnake”), **proto-metal chug** (“Vambo Marble Eye”) and **scything leads** throughout . - **Cabaret keys**: Hugh McKenna layers **baroque organ**, **moog squelches**, **honky-tonk piano** – hear the **hypnotic synth motif** that drives “The Faith Healer” . - **Rhythm engine**: Ted McKenna’s **crisp snare** and Chris Glen’s **melodic bass** keep the theatrics **danceable** rather than pretentious. - **Dynamic detours**: tempo shifts, hand-clap rockabilly (“Giddy Up a Ding Dong”), **doo-wop coda** (“Teenage Idols”), **tango breaks** in “Next” – all **sewn together with whip-crack edits** . **Result**: a **glam-rock revue** that can **drop into Sabbath-weight grooves** without losing **cabaret sparkle**. --- ### 🎛️ **Production – Phil Wainman’s Glam Gloss** Phil Wainman (**The Sweet, Bay City Rollers**) applies **glam-rock sheen** yet keeps **drums snappy, guitars razor-sharp and vocals upfront** – **no muddy 70s sludge**. Stereo separation **spotlights Cleminson’s guitar acrobatics** against McKenna’s **keyboards**, while **reverb on Harvey’s voice** evokes **music-hall stageboards** . At **under 36 minutes**, the album is **trim, punchy and sequenced like a stage show**: opener rouses, epic centerpiece, cover for color, novelty single, autobiographical closer – **no fat**. --- ### 🎨 **Themes** 1. **Urban alienation & communal escape** (“Gang Bang”) 2. **False redemption & spiritual snake-oil** (“The Faith Healer”) 3. **Militarised sexuality & bureaucratic cruelty** (“Next”) 4. **Show-business mythology & ageing** (“Teenage Idols”) 5. **1950s nostalgia vs 1970s sleaze** (recurrent rock-’n’-roll quotes) Harvey’s **Glaswegian music-hall upbringing** lets him **laugh at despair** – the album **never moralises**, yet **empathy leaks through the sarcasm**. --- ### 🚀 **Influence & Legacy** - **AC/DC**: Bon Scott **lifted Harvey’s vocal cadences** and **storytelling swagger**; *Next*’s **blues-boogie riffs** prefigure **“High Voltage”** . - **Nick Cave**: *“Next was the biggest influence on my first band – we covered SAHB songs exclusively”* ; Cave’s **murder-ballad narratives** and **baritone theatricality** echo Harvey’s spoken-word passages. - **Proto-punk / Goth**: The **sleazy cabaret** of *Next* **bridges glam and punk** – **New York Dolls** camp, **Cramps** psychobilly, **early Cult** gothic blues all **trace DNA here** . - **Meat Loaf / Jim Steinman**: The **epic multi-part song structure** and **sardonic operatic vocals** of *“The Faith Healer”* and *“Teenage Idols”* are **clear templates for Bat Out of Hell** . **Modern reappraisal**: featured in *“1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die”*; 2020s critics hail it as **“massively under-appreciated”** and **“the missing link between Roxy Music and the Sex Pistols”** . --- ### ✅ **Pros** - **Unique hybrid**: glam, blues, cabaret, proto-punk in **cohesive cocktail**. - **Harvey’s charisma**: **actor’s timing, singer’s power** – impossible to replicate. - **Sharp narratives**: every track a **mini-play** – quotable, visual, still relevant. - **Musical chops**: **riffs, tempo shifts, solos** – band can **jam and jerk tears**. - **Concise runtime**: **no filler**, replay-friendly. - **Influence**: **tangible lineage** to AC/DC, Cave, Meat Loaf, punk. --- ### ❌ **Cons** - **Polarising voice**: **deliberate cracks, exaggerated vibrato** – **grates on some ears** . - **Problematic titles**: **“Gang Bang”** and **lyrical vulgarity** can feel **pandering or dated**; **modern listeners may bounce off the camp sleaze** . - **Cover dependency**: two of seven tracks are **covers / re-workings** – **slight dilution of original statement** (though re-imagined radically). - **Production gloss**: Wainman’s **sheen** occasionally **softens guitar edges** for listeners craving **proto-metal rawness**. --- ### 🏁 **Verdict** *Next* is **a 35-minute shot of theatrical adrenaline** that **still crackles** half a century on. It **never plays it straight**, yet **never slips into parody** – the **jokes are serious, the riffs are real**, and the **stories linger like bar-room myths**. For the **open-eared**, it’s **essential glam-era cartilage** linking **’50s rock-’n’-roll innocence** to **’70s urban cynicism** – and **a blueprint for every snarling storyteller** who followed. Sensational by name, sensational by nature… just don’t expect polite company.*
Feels very ahead of its time, yet still simmilar to what was made at the time, just like better
This was a pretty cool album that I had been completely unaware of, especially considering how strong it is within the 70s glam rock scene. If you’re a fan of Bowie, Television, T. Rex, or Roxy Music, this one will be right up your alley. It’s got a lot of fun, catchy hooks that makes it easy to stay engaged from front to back.
A weird surprise.
This album sounded like everyone involved had a good time making it. The lyrics are a little cheesy and cringe but, they got a chuckle out of me. The album is pretty good. Just don’t take it seriously.
Cool Album. Didn't know about this guy. Don't know if it's really that good that it needs to be in this list, but there are a lot of albums that are much less understandable for this list :D
Very good, thoroughly enjoyable. Next!
Wasn't sure about this one at first but overall it wasn't too half bad.
Giddy Up a Ding Dong is a great song, as is The Last of the Teenage Idols. Gang bangs seem a strange subject matter to base a song around...
This album seems ahead of its time. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
Interesting
Gangbang
3.5/4
7 - GOOD
Heard it before. It’s good.
enjoyed this despite myself
Bluesy, theatrical, rock. What’s not to like
I heard of Alex Harvey but not familiar with his music at all. I was pleasantly surprised with the good Rock n Roll songs on it. He has some risqué baldy numbers typical of blues rockers. This would be a great album to play at parties.
Kõlab lahedalt
That gangbang song is certainly something, but in spite of that I still quite enjoyed this, it's a bit silly and OTT but it's clear fun and the length helps alot (pun intended)
This wasn’t as bad as I feared based on the reviews, and I enjoyed it. It’s not “punk” as the critics said it would be, but it was a vibe I enjoyed.
I'm surprised at this selection, pleasantly so, not because The Sensational Alex Harvey Band aren't worthy of inclusion in this list, they are, but because their 'Live' album is typically the recommended album. They really were a fantastic live band. Nonetheless, "Next.." was a very enjoyable listen, my first time hearing the album. The first side of the album is very good. It opens with the excellent "Swampsnake", followed by "Gang Bang" and "Faith Healer". That latter being somewhat progressive. A very good first side of rock music. The second side contains two covers: A fun but throw away cover of "Giddy Up A Ding Dong" (Originally by Freddie Bell and The Bell Boys) and a theatrical cover of "Next" ( a Jacques Brel song), that's quite wonderful. I'm familiar with the song "Next", and Jacques Brel, through Scott Walker's excellent albums. This cover is every bit as good as any Jacques Brel cover that Scott Walker released. "Vambo Marble Eye" is an excellent rock track with a wonderful guitar solo by the underrated Zal Cleminson and the album closes with the excellent "The Last of the Teenage Idols". A fun album, very much of its time, that with another track or two of original material, dropping the Freddie Bell cover, could have made five stars. As it is, an enjoyable four star listen. I bought this album after listening! Side one 1 "Swampsnake" (5/5) 2 "Gang Bang" (4/4) 3 "The Faith Healer" (4/4) Side two 1 "Giddy Up a Ding Dong" (4/4) 2 "Next" (5/5) 3 "Vambo Marble Eye" (5/5) 4 "The Last of the Teenage Idols" (5/5) Total - 31.00 Average - 4.43 111/1001 58/111 albums reviewed were new to me.
Never heard of this band before and this was a fun, surprising listen! I will listen again.
This was an unexpectedly fun album to listen to. The mesh of hard/glam rock with musical theatre style songs makes it border on silly at times, but I quite enjoyed the flamboyance. Surprised me a little because the average score on this site is weak and there isn't much critical acclaim either, I thought it was better than that and would definitely listen again!
Nigdy nie słyszałem o tym zespole, ale cieszę się, że jednak się dowiedziałem. Solidne 4/5. Dobry brudny rock/punk. Prawdopodobnie jeden z pionierów.
Просто прикольно Моментами спорно
This is an insanely silly album. Glam turned up to 11. Extra points for the title track—a gloriously camp, over-the-top cover of Jacques Brel’s seminal song.
A 70s glam band with a song called “Gang Bang”? Now we’re talking!
So Bon Scott and Nick Cave were both influenced by these guys, neat! Bonus they are from Glasgow! This was funny and weird, but I really liked it.
Punk?
Well that was quite unique, wasn’t it? Just the thing for a list like this. Hard rock, blues, theater, doo-wop all on the same record. At different times, the singer sounds like Robert Plant, Bon Scott, Billy Squier, and Noddy Holder. It’s a shame one song had to be called “Gang Bang.”
Very unique sound and it isn't repetitive like some of the other albums I've listened to.
Not sure why I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did,, some properly great sounds. Bit of a scattergun approach, but most of it landed
Barely in the top 1001 albums of 1973 when it was released. Much more of a camp musical than most of that blues rock stuff in that era. It had a real Cabaret vibe. I bet Meatloaf loved this shit.
Another great discovery on the 1001 list for me. Although most of the lyrics are laughable, I really enjoyed the bluesy swamp rock and punky riffs.
Fjollet bras med et kæmpe underholdene glimt i øjet. Jeg grinede flere gange igennem det.
Don’t know what to expect but wouldn’t have guessed Rocky Horror/Meatloaf/Steven Tyler.. I think the global reviews are a bit low - this was stupid but really fun. 3.5/5
Alex, I had my doubts, but you guys are pretty sensational. Just trim “The Faith Healer” and we’re golden.
Rockin
Quite entertaining
Never heard of this guy but this was fun! I liked Gang Bang a lot. It got pretty weird by the end but overall glad I heard it. Light 4.
A crazy, glammy album with so many twists and turns. Definitely returning to this one.
Oh fuck yes! I bloody love this album - it's comic book rock, blending twisted vaudeville lunacy with a hard hitting rhythm section and incendiary guitar work. There is impressive music on display here - agile, adept and clever. The lunacy would not work without such tight songwriting and playing! At times dark and weird (how on earth was The Faith Healer such a hit??), other times jolly and rocking - Alex and his band run a wide gamut of bathetic emotions, introducing a menagery of characters who all behave appallingly. What a character, what a band - Next is their best work. Sensational. Favourite tracks: Gang Bang, Next, Vambo, Last Of The Teenage Idols (one of my very favourite songs in all of music)
Hidden semi jam
3.6 some interesting lyrical content
Fabulous album, I really enjoyed listened to this album.
Quite electric and eclectic. Refreshing among the lot of early 70s albums. Like! 3.9
Unknown in the US, for some reason
Not my type of thing but I love the energy and attitude.
This was pretty cool. I think it's hard to appreciate albums like this without having lived it.
There is enough here to want to hear more. 4 stars or B-.
Great stuff! Didn’t knew this one! That’s why I do this “project”
"Next..." is the second album by Scottish rock band the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Glam rock and hard rock are the Wiki-listed genres. They could through in a whole bunch more but that's fine. Phil Wainman and the band produced the album. The band included Alex Harvey (lead vocals, guitar), Zale Cleminson (guitar, vocals), Chris Glen (bass, vocals), Hugh McKenna (pianos, organ, vocals), Ted McKenna (drums, percussion, vocals) and Graham Smith (harmonica). The album reached #37 in the UK and all the album reviews that I could find on a quick search were very positive. "Swampsnake" opens the album. Drums, a bouncy piano, harmonica and a bluesy guitar. Harvey is very theatrical and sound a lot like Alice Cooper. "He wants to be a swampsnake." Things slow down a bit in "The Faith Healer." Shakers, guitar slashes and various noises (robot, percussion, coins dropping). A long intro leading into a pyschedelic organ and eerie-layered guitars. The religious con artist trying to convince you, you need healing. They cover a Freddy Bell song "Giddy Up a Ding Dong." Handclaps and more bouncy, bluesy and glam. This sounds like mash-up between "Sweet Home Chicago" and the Sweet. They continue the cover-song theme by covering a Jacques Brel song "Next." Piano and Harvey talking about his first sexual experience. The song takes a dramatic turn and goes cabaret and then back soft. There's also strings on top of everything. Woah!!! This is a wild and fun ride: rollicking, glam, loud, pyschedelic and theatrical. Impressive guitar work by Cleminson. Great production as the album sounds great and it's loud, bombastic and even over-the-top. This is the band (SAHB as they are called) to that with their energetic lead singer and very capable loud band. Producer Phil Wainman had worked with the Sweet and you can hear it. Yeah, if you like glam, hard rock or just rock in general, this should be right up your alley.
A real 50/50 of an album. Scots absolutely LOVE Alex Harvey and you can see why. The man had a glorious rock voice with real diversity, the band had a great combination of prog's variety of tone and texture with some absolute balls-out rock. 'Next' is gloriously dramatic, Faith Healer is one of the great songs of the 70s, and Swampsnake, Vambo and Teenage Idol all have some great bits to offer. And yet...Giddy Up is a pointless bit of retro boogie, and Gang Bang would have been tasteless sub-AC/DC innuendo even at the time, and is godawful now. Just scrapes a 4 because the highlights are so high, but maybe skip those two?
This album punched me in the face. I listened to it way too early in the morning. I'm awake now. Spoilers: this album kinda slaps and if you can't see that, I dont know what to tell you. The album is rough around the edges. It sounds a little raw, the lyrics are pretty wild and raunchy, it's in your face old school rock and roll. These guys probably would have been wild to see live. My standouts on this one were "Faith Healer," "Giddy Up A Ding Dong" - sigh.... it's a jam though... - and "The Last Of The Teenage Idols." I went into this not knowing what I'd get, and it ended up being pretty entertaining. It's like a deranged Scottish AC/DC and it works. Most of the songs were actually pretty likeable and had some highlights, enough so that this is a 4 star album for me.
This was surprisingly good, had no idea what to expect but it reminded me of punk.
you know what. i have to hand it to them, this was unlike anything else I've heard on the list and gave me a giggle or two. i have to respect it.
Good music with bad lyrics.
Never heard this band or album, first song is sounding like my jam! Second song is lyrically dubious! Interesting album, AC/DC but make it Glam, would seek a physical copy, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Not gonna lie, I think these guys like sex just as much as they like music. Couldddd be trippin', idk lol.
Niezła jazda ten album. "Gang bang" odjęło mi mowę, fascynujące, jak pewne rzeczy na nowo stają się szokujące po tym, jak kiedyś już spowszedniały, a potem znowu zostały cofnięte w obszar tabu. Krótki album, ale mieszczący w sobie mnóstwo inspiracji. Rock&Roll ("Giddy Up A Ding Dong"), Rolling Stonesowy rock ("Swampsnake"), aż po tango ("Next" - swoją drogą skojarzyło mi się to z coverem "Roxane" w filmie Moulin Rouge). Ten album nie daje słuchaczowi nawet chwili spokoju. Skacze po tematach i stylach, z każdym kolejnym utworem zadaje kolejny dezorientujący cios. "Gang bang" jest szokująco seksualny (w stylu Stonesów właśnie), "Vambo Marble Eye" jest w dziwny sposób niepokojący i eerie, aż po spokojne i pełne zadumy "The Last of the Teenage Idols".
Did not know this album and it was a nice surprise. Good music!
This was a really cool album that seemed like it was way ahead of its time. I could see how folks see this as an early or proto-punk album, though I don't really see it that way, especially when you compare it to what the Stooges were doing. Judged on it's own merits, though, it's a really solid rock album that took a lot of chances and executed them well 4/5
Didn't know them before this. Enjoyed it.
I have this on vinyl, but I don't know if I ever listened to it all the way through. Love that "Next"!
Some of the subject matter was questionable but I liked the overall vibe
I think Alex Harvey was one of the great rock and roll voices. He sings with such abandon. They are a weird group with the range that they cover. I don't hear much glam in this. Old rock and roll, touch of prog and a heap of theatricality. Gang Bang is deeply unpleasant if delivered with brio. That pulsating synthetic at the start of The Faith Healer is at least a decade early. The title track is my favourite Brel English cover. I wish he'd done an album of Brel tunes. He has an earthy grasp of the humour, tragedy and desperation unequalled by Scott Walker, David Bowie or Marc Almond. Even the original translator Mort Schumann.
vibey
Have no idea what to do with this album lmao. Proto greep but also loved the production
SAHB drive a coach and horses through the rock and roll rule book, insisting on doing it their way, and insisting that you will like it. And I do. I enjoyed the opener, and was hooked from the second. Chances are you will be too. A highly enjoyable romp.
That was nice, I hear Geordie Greep 4/5
This sounds like Raunchy Rock and/or Roll, I like it! A couple songs with outrageous and/or questionable themes, but overall a pretty fun listen. It’s not necessarily an album to share with the kids, but I will try to remember to check out the rest of their catalog.
Not what I was expecting based on the crappy band name. More interesting, some guitar, some rock, maybe a bit of ska and blues. Happy to say it wasn’t boring, if anything
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band were a Scottish band that made dramatic glam-rock. Their music has a vaudeville feeling to it, which was matched with elaborate costumes and stage shows full of theatrics. Their songs were blues based rock songs, with funk influences. Next was the group's second album, which performed well in the UK and Europe. The band never achieved significant commercial success, but were influential on a number of acts, including AC/DC and Nick Cave.
I was not expecting such a diversified and entertaining rock album. Fun listen. And a nice discovery.
Album 609 of 1001 The Sensational Alex Harvey Band -Next (1973) Rating : 3.5 / 5 I like my glam rock. This is a bit above average. It is more of an blend of glam rock, hard rock, and blues rock. Some interesting lyrics, for sure. If you're a fan of glam rock and enjoy a mix of humor and raw energy in your music, this is definitely worth a listen.
Quite the unhinged experience. This is so over the top and absurd, I can't NOT like it.
Supposed to be a big inspiration for the first wave of Punk bands from the first wave of Punk. Don't really hear it though. I enjoyed listening to the album but it didn't really feel boundary breaking. Still a nice sounding album with some good variety throughout. The singer really belts out at times and there's some really cool riffs throughout. Reminds me most of Cockney Rebel.
No need for innuendo here. Surprisingly straight forward, but enjoyable.
Pretty fun but also pretty weird. I still enjoy this a good amount, though.
This might be the polar opposite of the album I got yesterday, Seventeen Seconds by The Cure. While Seventeen Seconds was whisper-quiet, one-note, and pretentious, Next is loud, ambitious, and entirely unserious. Ironic that the album blurb on the 1001 site has a quote from Robert Smith about this album. Next is all over the place, but I’m here for it. I feel like I’m getting a glimpse into the frenetic mind of Alex Harvey, and I like what I see. Notes of Hendrix, The Stones, Sabbath, Zeppelin, and…show tunes? Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but I applaud the effort. Love the drums and guitar on Vambo Marble Eye. Also, wtf is going on with the stereo mix on Last of the Teenage Idols? Proper mess of a musical journey, but in a good way, ya know? High 4. 4/5 Highlights: Swampsnake Next Vambo Marble Eye The Last of the Teenage Idols
A sex fueled non stop rock album
Nice album if you given it a chance
Surprisingly good album
An explosive blast of all killer, no filler glam rock from start to finish, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band lives up to its namesake and ends up leaving you not want to go on to the next thing, rather wanting more and more. Favorites: Swampsnake, Gang Bang, The Faith Healer, Next, Vambo Marble Eye.
Sounds like Bon Scott
Great energy, bluesy rocky vibes. Definite rotation
Þetta er mjög hresst áttundatugarrokk og áheyrilegt. Röddin er ekki mitt fyrsta val en flutningurinn er fantagóður. Mér finnst þetta skemmtilegt og sá ástæðu til að renna þessu oftar en tvisvar.
Naked a sin An army towel, covering my belly Some of us weep, some of us howl Knees turn to jelly, but Next! Next! I was just a child A hundred like me I followed a naked body A naked body followed me, Next! Next! I was just a child when my innocence was lost In a mobile army whorehouse A gift of the army, free of cost. Next! Next! Next! I didnt think I would like it, but holy shit this is actually a good album! 4/5
Rock on!
pretty fucking awesome
First listen to this, heard about them from a friend but never took the chance. Will definitely have to check out more of their stuff.
4/5
Vivant, brut, avec un certain je-m’en-foutisme
Según vi en las reviews de esta misma página (o aplicación), las personas no entienden la tremenda relevancia e influencia que este LP tuve sobre el panorama de la música pop y alternativa. Nick Cave roba bastante de la imposición y forma de componer de Alex Harvey, quien tiene una propuesta glam más cercana al punk, siendo satírica, cruda y de mal gusto. Sumamente recomendable. Si no puedes reconocer la influencia que este trabajo tuvo sobre otras piezas musicales, o no estás tan profundo en esta lista o no escuchas tanta música en general.
Really enjoyed this one, maybe more than I should, yeah the lyrics are a bit cheesy and crass but it’s really just a good fun album, clearly influenced a lot of punk, and even some hair metal.
Honestly thought I was gonna hate this when it was described as British proto punk but it actually took me by surprise. I can see some of the punk origins with the goofy and crass lyrics and stuff but that just made it a fun 70s comedy rock type thing to me instead. Gang bang was my fav.
Ok, Next (the song) was awful but the rest was pretty decent. I need to read up more on this guy.
What a high-energy opening banger, and I can hear the theatricality dripping through and rest of this heavy rock / psychedelic / classic rock'n'roll fusion. I enjoyed the album and can only imagine how fun a live concert would have been.
A new discovery for me with straight forward glam rock. In your face and proud of it.
Cool
I'd never heard of this band or album before, but I quite enjoyed it Didn't like "next" but there were some songs I really liked and added to my playlist! "Gang bang" and "swampsnake" were highlights 4 ⭐️
Hard rock sententero. Me ha gustado. Un 4.
Rock escocés, parecido a Rolling.
Enjoyed this one. Nice full rock sound, wild lyrics
Es gab auch in den 70er schon gute Musik, dieses Album gehört definitiv dazu.
It'll do for 4. I wouldn't say it's a terrible album. 4/5
bom. só uma música aperto de mente
3.75
Pretty good stuff
Good stuff! Enjoyed the sense of humor throughout.
M'ha encantat, ni m'he adonat que l'estava escoltant. ELR: 3/5
Never heard of them.
This was great fun. It's gotta get a 4.
Highlights: The Faith Healer
Forceful yet playful music that could even work with less glam but more prog. And that's what I find very fascinating: Each of these songs seem straightforward enough but each of them could develop into something completely different.