Reviews (page 5 of 7)
The music was actually really good, like his vocals, but the premise is a little crazy. 3/5
Always aware of Alex Harvey but never bought and of his music. Always associate him with his version of Delilah which was good. Thought he was still with us but learnt today as a result of this that he died yonks ago much too young. RIP. Can’t say I enjoyed this album much. Some good musicianship but not to my liking. One redeeming track was The Faith Healer which is excellent and bumped it up a star. 2.5(2)/5 9/6/25
Fabulous album, I really enjoyed listened to this album.
Quite electric and eclectic. Refreshing among the lot of early 70s albums. Like! 3.9
Unforgettable. But not in a good way
Hard to find much to enjoy here. Grating music and cringe lyrics
That's not my taste in music - But ok
"Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac?
Kind of the platonic ideal of an okay first listen. Wasn’t familiar with this band at all, dude has an interesting voice, I like about half the songs, it’s 30 minutes long. Bing bang bong. Easy peasy. If I see the album for a couple bucks at a record store, I’d pick it up.
Yeah....not good. I'm not sure why it's on lusts as the reviews don't really say either
I'll not listen again but it was fun while it lasted
Unknown in the US, for some reason
Not my type of thing but I love the energy and attitude.
I have no idea who Alex Harvey is, nor have I ever heard of the band or the album, but you have to give him and the band credit for letting it all hang out from the opening salvo of "Swampsnake". I'm guessing they were a lot to fun to watch (and listen to) live, and I'm also guessing they were super campy, or at least they should have been, since they seem to be channeling a lot of Meatloaf-style music and lyrics. And while I'm not sure anything could really excuse a song titled "Gang bang", the other songs are fairly entertaining, and kudos to them for doing a decent version of Jacques Brel's "Next" as their title track. It's pretty amusing too that this album might just win the award for the shortest and least informative Wikipedia entry so far. Thankfully, the "1001 Albums" entry is more useful, and even has a pretty funny anecdote about how "Faith Healer" became an anthemic hit largely because they needed to fill out two minutes on the cassette side to balance the album, which was the origin of the intro loop to that song. However, I can definitely say that *I* do not want Alex Harvey to lay his hands on me.
I stopped listening during the song about the gang bang, which hasn't aged well and probably sucked in the first place.
So cringingly bad. A very uncomfortable listen with the icky sexual references.
Ouch this just doesn’t age well. May have enjoyed some of music but lyrics make for a very tough listen.
Ain’t nothing’ like a gangbang to blow away the blues
They’re like the Doors - if the Doors were from Glasgow and less good
Not that great. Still better than Oasis.
Not my thing.
Undersized, self-consciously-dressed Brit with massively unrealistic musical ambitions wants to sing like a Delta bluesman and then pose as a sexual trickster, then be a chanson man, then pretend he's Jimi Hendrix– what could go wrong? No bonus points for seeming to inspire AC/DC vocalists. The whole thing's excessive even allowing for the indulgence-friendly standards of glam. Also, bands that include "Sensational" in their names are not to be taken seriously. Same with those that feature song titles like "Giddy Up a Ding Dong."
This doesn't belong here.
I appreciate how weird and different this album is. I thought it was a fun experience. But my biggest gripes with the album is it’s so of it’s time that it’s a detriment. And I felt like the humor was lazy and cringey. If this had tried alittle harder in the technical aspect of like the guitar playing and tried maybe a few psychedelic songs I think that could’ve bumped it up alittle. I do think this is like the best band that my dad would love that he’s never heard of. But it’s sadly not really for me.
This was pretty cool. I think it's hard to appreciate albums like this without having lived it.
stupid but fun enough that i can't hate
Reading the wiki, I was able to understand the background that shows the importance of this album and the influence it had on well-known musicians and artists. But musically speaking, I didn't hear anything that made this album special or unique, other than the fact that this guy is really horny. Could someone give this man the cunt? For God's sake...
Wowww the lyrics to Gang Bang were something
Musically, I really liked this. Personally, *I* might have written fewer lyrics about gang bangs, but to each their own.
Inspiration for Robert Smith and Nick Cave Glad it left an impression on them but it barely registered with me
first listen there's something here but haven't loved it first listen
Nothing interesting for me
I hated this. I failed to make it to the end of a single song. Is it here as some kind of joke? Hands down the worst album so far.
There is enough here to want to hear more. 4 stars or B-.
"Aint nothing like a gang bang"
Great stuff! Didn’t knew this one! That’s why I do this “project”
3 maybe 4
Didn't like the style, the sound, nor the energy. 5/10
# 481 : Next : 15/05/2025 I don't love it, I don't hate it. A couple of things stood out but no songs that connected with me. It’s good, but not great.
It’s like a sex obsessed version of the bay city rollers mixed with the rocky horror show. Likeable though!
I hate that 4 of my 7 albums so far have been 70s blues/rock albums. This one was the weirdest of the lot, although it's bumped up a star by the guy's Scottish accent
Sigh. There needs to be more women both on the list and creating the list.
"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.
Really didn't do much for me but I'm not typically into the glam side of classic rock.
Next is like a shitty version of shitty albums by shitty bands like: AC/DC, Kiss, Meatloaf, Aerosmith, etc. When I was in second grade, a kid brought in a record that his dad's band had recorded. Everyone in the class got a copy of the 12 inch album to take home. I ran home to listen to the tunes and I remember it sounded kind of like this. The cover of Next was fun by I recall liking the Scott Walker version more. Giddy Up A Ding Dong!
background music. annoying voice. 2.
Spans the line of 60's pop/rock tunes to early 70's pop/rock stuff. Bluesy vibe to a lot of it in my opinion. Not terrible. Gang bang song is hilarious.
I loathed this album. The writing was shit, the band was shit, the singing was shit. It was like the singer decided to sing every song in the worst possible way.
Alex Harvey is mid
Like a mix of southern rock and Gwar, with sound quality that just doesn't land for me. I find very little redeeming in this.
that was absolutely disgusting. very uninspired and repetitive and annoying . I'm very much surprised that it made it onto this list.
Not for me 1/5
"Sensational"
my headache
I see where Nick Cave was coming from. All bit too 'rocking' for me. Some lethal moments e.g. the intro to Faith Healer. But that's quickly ruined by hard rock guitar and sexy 70s guy yelling. Real edgy in 73
Another godawful irritating one
Horny guy in the 70's makes album. Good music. Too bad there's vocals.
Rick muziek, maar ook some een beetje klassiek. Klinkt wel geinig.
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?
Kinda zeppeliny
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.
OK, very dated
Honestly, not bad. A little overindulgent. It wants to be cinematic. It wants to be primal. It’s got a strong pulse to it. The production is tight, immersive, and full of movement. Definitely a late-night or background listen more than anything focused. The lyrics don’t do much, and sometimes feel like nonsense for nonsense’s sake. Three songs doing all the work to make this a ⭐⭐⭐ review from me. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Swampsnake - Giddy Up A Ding Dong - Vambo Marble Eye
My poor ears
So... subtlety is not Alex Harvey's strong suit. Songs like "Gang Bang" make AC/DC's "Big Balls" sound deep. Not that that's a BAD thing, really. Although singing about being riddled with gonorrhea does NOT make you sound endearing to me. Decent rock and roll album. But still... yikes. Top tracks: "The Faith Healer," "Last Of The Teenage Idols"
Reading up on these guys, I feel like their stage presence (or gimmicks) were more important than their music. And because I can't hear costumes on this album, it's average at best. Solid energy, but a bit spastic. And it's hard to be in on the joke 50 years later - looking at you Swampsnake, Gang Bang, and Giddy Up a Ding Dong. Next may have a vaguer title, but just as paper thin in its veiled attempt to hide the song's true meaning. I see where Bon Scott got his stroke, given he was a fan of these guys. The songs were fun, I guess, but quickly lost their appeal once the novelty wore off. The Faith Healer was probably their best song - a more serious effort that was solid but maybe twice as long as it needed to be. I really hope the next album up is better than this last slate. Feels like 8 middling albums in a row where I've just shrugged my shoulders and gave a 3.
Interesting trivia from Wikipedia: On May 20, 1960, Alex Harvey and his Big Beat Band opened for a band called Johnny Gentle and His Group. Johnny's "group" included some Liverpudlian lads named John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison. nbd. Anyway, to this album. It's ok. A little cheesy and pretty dated, but ok. Swampsnake was a good bop. "Ain't nothing like a gang bang" - I cringed and laughed a little. The Faith Healer dragged on (I knew the cover by Fish). Giddy Up a Ding Dong was a decent bop, but not very original. Then there's Next - sounds like a song from a very demented musical and the lyrics are just...wow. Vambo is super dated 70s hard rock, but it's another good bop. The Last of the Teenage Idols lurched from style to style - starting with a dragging ballad-ish beginning, followed by a fast hard rock section...then a section where everything suddenly was only in my left ear, then switched to my right ear before coming back to stereo - I had to figure out if my headphones were breaking - not cool. Then it ended with a 50s style doo-wop. I'm sure they were going for something clever, but to quote Spinal Tap: "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever." Unfortunately, this album wavered over that line a few too many times.
Well, that sucked.
Listened Before? N Hopefully I'll never listen to this again. Wailing, noisy, overtly sexual trash. I'd say it's a product of it's time but it does a terrible job capturing the 70s too. Whatever. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Gang Bang (because fuck it at this point)
ugh pretty bad
This was surprisingly good, had no idea what to expect but it reminded me of punk.
4-5/10.
Nothing special. To listen to once and to forget just after.
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
I didn't like this. I wanted to like it, but it was annoying. Almost good, but actually bad.
Сенсэйшнл(ли) не моё. Лучшая песня - Next.
Correcto
I respect the creativity and musicality but none of the actual songs did much for me.
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.
not great, todd. how many impossibly horny men writing 70s blues rock albums do we honestly need on this list? at least the commenter saying this sounds like rocky horror b-sides was spot on. favorites: the faith healer? i guess? tbh this all sucks
ain't nothing like a gang bang apparently.....
I think this was just like yeah ok. I wouldn't consider it 'sensational' or anything, just pretty mid. I think it was pretty short, a tad uninteresting but overall alright.
Well, I really liked it until he started singing - and about his Swampsnake, no less. That pattern pretty much followed for each song. There's a fine line between Alex Harvey and Bon Scott, and it might be nitpicking, but the tongue-in-cheek wink-wink aspect of Bon was miles above this 40-IQ nonsense. Shame, because the music is really adventurous - the vocals and lyrics alone shot this down from what would have been a likely 4 - sensational work Alex! 5/10 2 stars
Nothing sensational about this
Really interesting album. The first two songs are fairly simple, catchy, raunchy rock tunes, then The Faith Healer comes out of nowhere. From the start of the song it's a departure from what came before. Far longer and more sophisticated, it would sound more appropriate on a Led Zeppelin album than on this one. The song Next is another one that sounds like it came from a completely different album. This one is opera rock and features strings and a totally different style of singing. It's interesting they chose to name the album after this track. Even the final song is like two songs in one. The first half of the song is upbeat rock then it suddenly turns into a reggaefied Beach Boys track. Actually a fascinating album. Favorites: The Faith Healer, Swampsnake
Goofy fun
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
Huh?
Good music with bad lyrics.
Just came up short for me.
Flipping between the completely forgettable and downright offense to the ears. There's really not a lot to like from this record - no particularly new or interesting instrumentation, no engaging lyrics, no songwriting to note. Maybe it's very of it's time, but this making a top 1001 albums seems like an April fools joke. Best Tracks: N/A Worst Tracks: - The Faith Healer - Giddy Up a Ding Dong Rating: 1/10
Campy. That’s the most positive thing I can say about this one. Not a fan.
This was better than I thought it would be. Some of the song topics (e.g. Gang Bang) are ridiculous but, hey, that's rock 'n' roll. Good album.
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, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Chunky, powerful and fun. Would have been better if it had been weirder.
Really disliked his vocal delivery and the content of the songs is pretty dubious. Some of it sounded not too bad musically. Low two - pretty close to a one.
The best thing about this album, is knowing I'll never have to listen to it again.
What an unexpected treat. Too many people on this site take themselves a bit too seriously lol
A weird mix of some great guitar/piano with the absolute worst elements of glam rock and the lightly irritating silliness of the 70s British pop charts. I love *some* glam and I'm not averse to a Funky Gibbon or Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep, but Giddy Up A Ding Dong... absolutely awful. That said, The Faith Healer was some good proto-metal and I quite enjoyed the Zappa-ish doo-wop at the very end of the album, so not a complete disaster!
Next... is a strange little beast of a record—part glam rock, part pub theatre, part fever dream cabaret—and while that might sound like a recipe for something exciting, it mostly left me scratching my head. Alex Harvey certainly has charisma, and the band is tight, but the whole thing leans so hard into its theatrical weirdness that it often forgets to be enjoyable. The title track, a cover of a Jacques Brel song, is impressively dramatic but also borders on exhausting. Elsewhere, songs like Swampsnake and The Faith Healer have a bit more punch, but they get lost in the album’s overall lack of direction. There’s a certain cult charm to it, and I can see how this might have hit differently in a live setting with Harvey strutting around like a rock 'n' roll pirate. But as a listening experience? It’s inconsistent, occasionally grating, and feels more like a quirky stage show than a great rock album. A couple of fun moments here and there, but ultimately, Next... is more odd than essential.
The music on Next is undeniably catchy and fun, with a playful, theatrical edge that keeps things interesting. However, the lyrics lean a bit... juvenile at times, which can be off-putting depending on your mood. It’s a wild ride that doesn’t take itself too seriously, for better or worse.
Not gonna lie, I think these guys like sex just as much as they like music. Couldddd be trippin', idk lol.
a very long 35 minutes
Not a big fan of glam rock. Some solid guitar tho. Standout song: The last of the teenage idols
Not sure what genre this is called but I'd say the 'Interesting enough to keep me engaged for the entire run time' genre would be most appropriate.
didn't love it, didn't hate it
Ummm…no. Was this accidentally put on this list? Gang Bang - 🤮. I can see how they may have been the first to do some raunchy, theatrical shit, but yeah, I must have had to live then to see its influence or impact.
Pa dosta kul album, pogotovo sam odlijepila na orgulje/piano, pre pre dobar zvuk 🫶🏻 Fino osvježenje i ugodno iznenađenje, pošto nisam nikad slušala album. Giddy Up A Ding Dong ima baš dobru peglicu. Visokih 3/5, 6.5/10
Strange combination of rock with horns and goofy vocals with laughable lyrics. Every song is too long and repetitive.
I liked the first couple of tracks
I enjoyed this. Sounded like a lot of different artists took from this. Nothing outstanding here, but solid.
Interesting artifact. Alex Harvey influences a load of bands. But leaves very little footprint. Worth listening and some fun stuff.
I guess you had to be there.
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".
2.5
Nothing to say on this one. Just garden variety 70s rock
Quirky 70s UK rock. Outstanding rock ’n roll. An excellent, unexpected surprise.
If Meatloaf and Iggy Pop had a baby. Pretty creepy.
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.
Did not know this album and it was a nice surprise. Good music!
Я не понял этот альбом. 7 абсолютно непохожих друг на друга песен в размытом в плане жанра исполнении, в котором присутствуют и духовые, и губная гармошка, и гитарные запилы, и орущий вокал, и певучий вокал, и много чего еще. У большинства групп, присутствующих в этом списке, такой набор инструментов, навыков и энергии выдает шедевры и концепцию альбома, здесь же ни первого, ни второго нет. Возможно, отдельно взятые песни смогут попасть хоть в какой-нибудь плейлист, но мне даже сложно выделить запоминающиеся песни. Проходные 1,5/5 (2/5), и дайте мне уже next альбом🙏.
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.
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.
Not bad
Weird but ok
I can't even lie, this was pretty underwhelming for the first major milestone of the challenge: rolling over into triple digits. we'll hit quadruple digits in no time! this is a Scottish glam rock album in the vein of David Bowie's material from around the same time, with a bit of Stooges in there, too. if you're a die-hard UK glam aficionado, I can't recommend this highly enough. but, alas, I find that I'd much rather just listen to Bowie. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band is a pretty tight unit (as demonstrated by the artsy 3-part closer), but these lyrics are just too silly. the sex songs (most of these songs, in some way) sound like they were written by a guy who's never had sex, but who's still trying to brag as if he has. maybe it's supposed to be more tongue-in-cheek than it comes off? or maybe pillow talk is way different in Scotland. strong 5/10.
Now this is rock and roll kid
It was just kinda there.
It has some very interesting songs. I don't necessarily like it as an album.
Nah. I didn’t have to listen to this. It’s not terrible but I didn’t like it.
Bruh like huh?? The vocals are fartin garbidge. Can't do it. Not goo. This might be worse than prince.
wtf
Seemed okay, didn't listen to a ton as not in the head space for it at work, but it was fine.
Eh. 2
I just didn't care for his voice or the topic of the songs.
R‘n‘R will never die - but sometimes it deserves to.
A really fun, over the top, bluesy and theatrical album. Guess they were brilliant live, but no matter how influential they were, the album doesn't quite cut 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 crazy dad rock going on here, but it was so short and sweet... I think I liked it. Not relevant to this album itself, but the album ended before I realised that Spotify radio started playing and this band for sure has some bangers worth listening to!
Some of the subject matter was questionable but I liked the overall vibe
This album sucks. Like, suuuuuuuucks.
This may have been conceived as the soundtrack for the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I hated the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
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.
Not sure how I feel about the fact that I'm now extremely into a song with the chorus "Ain't nothin' like a gang bang / To blow away the blues," but life goes on
Aint nothing but a gang bang is NOT the vibe for this morning >:(
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.
Mad, fun over the top and perfectly enjoyable
Very bawdy!
I’ve listened to this album multiple times, I even own it on vinyl, but every listen still confuses me - and as a result leaves me not knowing what to think of it!? I’m unsure if a mid rating is suitable.
Bitvis rätt bra men helheten lämnade inget starkt intryck på mig förutom att gitarristen var bra och det kändes lite sliskigt som typ Motley Crue. 2 av 5.
eh
76% Best: Swampsnake; Gang Bang; Vambo Marble Eye Must-Hear? Not quite
Rock, 1973 -> 3
Glamrock kan altijd zo lekker omslaan in cringey meuk. NEXT
Leuk dat Nick Cave dit als inspiratie zag voor the Birthday Party. Ik vind er bijzonder weinig aan te beleven. Schiet echt alle kanten op. 4/10
Hey, at least this is short. This is punk? I was expecting to hate this, but this was somewhat enjoyable, but then the lyrics took a nosedive. 3*
vibey
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
Najo, 3/5
Could grow on me after a few listens
Meh
Well, this was both fun and disturbing. Some of it was pretty interesting, but I don't think I'll be going back to it too much.
Dirty text, but nice mix of rock and piano music
Never heard of these guys. Definitely not what I was expecting. Very rockin. Sounds like someone from Iron maiden or one of those hair metal bands that went solo.
I don’t get what’s sensational here. Glad it was short.
Some freaky stuff going on here... 4/10
ok but not that special
never heard of them before. this was a solid album
⭐ 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
a cracking glam/rock album, a forerunner of punk ?
Ikke lige mig. Noget havde potentiale men lidt for 70’er guitar rock. Sangen next kan noget
I'd give this 10 stars if I could!
A real mixed bag. I really like some of it, but some of it was stupid
As usual, Glam Rock leaves me in between feeling interested in the musical arrangements and rolling my eyes at the lyrical material. There's some great horn playing on this record, which I appreciate, and probably bumps it up a rating. Favorite Tracks - Next, The Last of the Teenage Idols
Actually, that was a pretty decent album. I expected it to be meh, but it was actually not too bad. It was melodic and a bit rock-y, so I assume it was great until maybe the AC/DC days a year later.
Very disjointed for me.
When it started, I thought it was a joke, another irrelevant album from someone who maybe had some importance in musical history. During the listening session, I changed my mind a bit due to 1 or 2 songs that caught my attention, but with no power to avoid thinking it's still mediocre. It can be enjoyable, but not enough to be part of a list of essential albums.
Have no idea what to do with this album lmao. Proto greep but also loved the production
I think for a song called gang bang and also the use of the f slur, we're gonna have to dock this one down to a 2. but must say there were two killer tunes on there with the rest of the cheesy fillers
Strange yet familiar
Alright.
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.
Dramatic delivery
Hm so I really hate this. The lead vocal’s singing is essentially just screaming constantly which is quite annoying. The music itself is fine, good even, but the vocals and lyrics are so poor that it ruins the album. Fave Song: … Least Fave Song: Gang Bang Rating: 1/5
Best part of this album was the sound effects (like on the first portion of The Faith Healer). Everything else made me an active hater. Gang Bang had me inches away from Banging my head onto the table. Faith Healer made me wish my ears were un-healed. Most songs on this album should've stayed instrumentals; that would be something. But alas, I wanted to hit Next for nearly 36 minutes straight. What a chore. Least Fav: Swampsnake, Gang Bang, The Faith Healer, Giddy Up a Ding Dong, Next, Vambo Marble Eye, The Last Of The Teenage Idols Fav: N/A
Next was a bit of a hoot, it's hard to really define but it's both good and awful at the same time :D like a bunch of it wouldn't be out of place in musical theatre and then there's a fair bit of old school rock and roll in there. Nobody's gonna mistake it for quality musicianship but it does a good job of standing out and making me smile, 3/5, would probably listen again too so a high 3 at that.
This was, if not sensational, quite fun. It's very glam, could almost be a filthy musical soundtrack. The vocals are a bit off, and the lyrics definitely are! Don't think I'll return, almost a 3 but not quite. 2/5.
Ambitious name, good energy, but nothing to write home about.
I can understand how this was a heavy influence to the Punk stuff in the 70s, as it already has quite a lot of the elements which you would expect to hear, especially instrumentally (just listen to midway through the last song) (except these are quite a bit slower generally). Vocally is a bit weird, as I really like it in some places, but not in others (e.g. the Next song). Just realised there are a lot of comparisons to the E-street album (year, amount of songs, length of songs, some of the instrumentation (brass) ). drawbacks are that the vocals can be quite terrible, or poorly aged lyrics. Favourite songs: swampsnake, The faith healer, Vambo marble eye, the last of the teenage idols. Overall around 6/10
That was nice, I hear Geordie Greep 4/5
Horrible sexist shite.
I was not previously familiar with the artist or album. This is a pretty entertaining listen. Glam rock is probably the best description. I would listen to this again.
I like this music. Half way through the first song I though this was going to be a 4 or 5 (dumb but super fun). Then Gang Bang. At first I thought it was just dumb, but when they got to the section from the (one) woman's point of view and the words "she was smiling through the tears". Just eesh. That song is terrible and I think exacerbated by the song lengths. Each of these songs could be half as long and still get the job done. And if Gang Bang ad been half as long, it wouldn't have had that particularly atrocious verse. Jesus christ what is this band? Any one of these songs is interesting and entertaining, but this is one of the most disparate albums I have ever heard. Is Next actually a german theater song ala Alabama Song or were they just aping it? (Holy shit, I called it - it's a cover of a song by a Belgian theater composer). Man, I don't know. some of it was 5, some of it actively angered and offended me. I think if it weren't for Gang Bang I'd give it a 4, but that song gets it a 3.
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.
Ok, this album was put out the same year as Queen’s first album. I don’t know whose ideas got stolen, but Queen did it better. Nothing here caught my ear and made me really take notice. At least it’s a typical 70s album and it was only 35 minutes of time lost.
Yikes. Songs were too long and a little too theatrical. Some good musicianship but I wasn't impressed overall.
I'm not familiar with this going in to this listen, but the Wikipedia article citing Robert Smith calling Alex Harvey a forefather of punk is enough to get me locked in.
Basic bluesy rock that never really gets cooking. And that’s when it’s at its best. Experimental parts just aren’t good. Vocals and lyrics really kill this for me.
Never heard this before. I didn't mind it but it's not something I could see myself buying. It seemed rather gimmicky.
Subtle this is not. Wasn't a huge fan.
Oh, jazzy and delightful, I like it. The sound brings back some 70s nostalgia; the vocal is...well...singing. Glam rock. Sounds Queen-ish, sounds from Rocky Horror Picture Show, but I guess that's just how every glam rock in the 70s sounds like. I don't mean to compare bands with bands, but you have to admit that not everyone can sing like Freddie. I can enjoy it, but I don't see why it's on the top 1001. It's like a 2-2.5/5 album to me. Also, the lyrics are boring; you have to be musically as good as Led Zeppelin to get away with those lyrics, sir.
Thoughts before listening: Never heard of Alex Harvey and do not recognize the album cover. I'm going to guess this was popular in England in the 70s and just from the cover I'll say its similar in style to Rod Stewart...blues based pop rock songs maybe. I don't really know. Review: Well he's not a Rod Stewart copycat although I did get the British part right. This sounds a bit like Alice Cooper to me. Over-the-top glammy blues-based hard rock with a sneering lead singer mainly singing about sex. This is okay although this sound has been done much better by other bands. There is a murkiness to the production on some of these songs that is turning me off, but I do like some of the later songs on the album like "Next" and "The Last of the Teenage Idols". I was going to give this 2-stars, but the more I listen the more its winning me over so I'll say 3-stars.
Generally I'm quite keen on things which claim to be "early punk" or groundbreaking, and I like almost all the music that comes out of Glasgow, but this didn't do it for me at all. I'll admit I didn't make it the whole way through, but once I'd struggled through seven and a bit minutes of the third track I was done. I also found his voice particularly annoying- shades of Rod Stewart.
Nope
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
fun with a some dashes of humor too! Jahas taitaa enemmänkin dashes of irstautta everywhere blood and cum on the ceiling....
Most of the songs starts of in an interesting place but stays there until it becomes tedious and goes well beyond. Proof that good ideas don't make a great songwriter.
Conventional 70's blues rock entry here. Fun for about 6min
thank u, NEXT.......2 stars because the music was good - I like glam rock - otherwise it would be a 1. His singing style really put me off the whole thing, and the lyrics were sometimes downright horrifying. (The part about the woman smiling through the tears on Gang Bang in particular.) I saw a review that said the point is to feel uncomfortable and icky - okay, I do. To what end though? This was a tough listen.
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!
I’d call this Cock Rock, but that seems disrespectful to the other twenty-seven cocks that made an appearance in “Gang Bang”.
This is a weird album... Why in the world is it on this list? Definitely gives of Rocky Horror vibes.
Thanks, I hated it.
Pretty varied sounds on this album. Unfortunately all of them are noisy objectionable glam rock.
Not much to like about this album if i'm honest. The opening track "Swampsnake" is fast-paced and kinda catchy. Same can be said about the second track "Gang Bang", even if the subject theme is completely out of pocket. The beginning of track 3 is the point in the album where the musical composition slows right down and becomes quite boring and bland. "The Faith Healer" is an interesting song. I wouldn't say it's terrible, but it did feel bland and drawn out whilst also being pretty forgettable too. The rest of the album just sounds like Alex Harvey has descended into madness, as he screams his unhinged, schizophrenic thoughts into the microphone. This certainly isn't an album i'll be listening to again anytime soon. Probably ever.
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!
Weird rock opera
Gang bang is an interesting listen when your 14 year old daughter is in the back seat...
I'm starting to think that I enjoy Glam Rock a great deal less than I had previously thought. My prior experience with this band has been limited to hearing "Faith Healer" on late-night Classic Rock radio. Clearly, it was played when the DJ needed to use the restroom, smoke a cigarette, and make a phone call. The rest of it was typically bombastic and overly sexual. In an era where similar bands were a dime a dozen, this album sits well below the powerhouses that led the genre.
That is the right amount of stupid
I did not really enjoy this at all.
2 for the music only
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.
This is the glam rock Dr John tribute act you never knew you needed, because you didn't. Somebody nuke the swamps of the Glasgow Cajun Quarter before this abomination breaches containment.
I hate this man. No idea when to end a song and thinks he’s funny when he is painfully unfunny and cringey. I was so excited that this one was only 35 mins but I felt every second. NEXT!
I was not expecting such a diversified and entertaining rock album. Fun listen. And a nice discovery.
Just like many other movements scratch below the surface of A-listers (Bolan, Bowie, Ferry) and glam has some ordinary stuff that has not aged well. SAHB being one. I've tried with him, but never works.
Sensational is an apt word. By definition something need not be quality to be sensational. In fact, there may well be some facet of the presentation that provokes interest that is in direct contradiction of the standards and norms of the day for what is good. This is lusty, stompy, mid-tempo bog rock that's about to embarrass itself like someone's dirty uncle. Trying a bit too hard to be confrontational in its heaving sleaze on a number of tracks. Its shock value and cultural significance worn nearly all away while remaining deeply cringe. These glam, proto-punk songs are like a tarnished belt buckle with a sculpted pin-up girl plate removed from its leather and thrown away in a drawer because it belonged to some soon-to-be incarcerated, renegade relative. Maybe every once and a while you open the drawer, shuffle the contents around and the buckle peeks out at you—still lewd and begging to be recycled, melted down and reforged. The impulse to shock an audience still exists, it is one of the great impulses, but it has to be remade with the times.
Interesting
Viihdyttävä setti ja täysin uusi tuttavuus.
Pirskahteleva yllätys, menevä ja hauska
3.0
This would’ve been a great instrumental album but this guy just had to open his mouth
Not so sensational, just kind of meh! Forgettable glam rock with a touch of weirdness that couldn't move me in any way. I'll reluctantly give it three stars, simply because I could listen to it again, although I wouldn't seek to do so.
Nope.
I think the “sensational” in The Sensational Alex Harvey Band does a lot of heavy lifting. This was just diet AC/DC, as they sing sleazy songs, usually about sex, as they push the envelope on what they could get away with. But while AC/DC can make their songs work, the same cannot be said for Alex Harvey. Their songs just come off as stupid. The lyrics are really dumb, and the vocals can get very annoying. I almost felt like I could get behind a song or two (especially between The Faith Healer and Vambo Marble Eye), but it never happens. It’s a 35-minute album that feels like an eternity, which is not an easy feat. Favorite track: The Faith Healer, I guess Other hits: parts of Vambo Marble Eye and Gang Bang
Not really my cup of tea but The Faith Healer stood out a mile against the rest, such a brilliant, weird almost experimental track, loved the pulsing synth bass and the drums teasing but never quite kicking in. Wish they’d have done more in this vein.
I generally like the punk influencers. Not this one.
Groovy and not previously known.
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.
I know this band mainly because of their influence on AC/DC and Bon Scott. Setting the lyrics aside, Harvey’s vocal delivery is fantastic. It’s so striking that it makes me respect Bon a bit less, knowing he 'borrowed' his vocal style. I'm giving this a 3 because of the direct influences on one of the biggest rock bands in history.
Almost turned it off during Gang Bang but was determined to see if there was anything on here worthy of making this album notable. There wasn’t.
Didn't connect with this at all.
This was a very weird album. I couldn't tell if it was a joke album, or serious, or what it was. That said, there was some very interesting things here and I was surprised that I didn't want to turn it off more. But it's not going to get listened to again most likely. It was recorded very well, too.
What is it with records from the 70's trumpeting "fantastic vocalists" and having the strangest vocal inflections? This is getting old fast. Some parts of songs are good, but neeeEEEEXXXT isn't pleasing to listen to. 4/10
Quite the unhinged experience. This is so over the top and absurd, I can't NOT like it.
By turns it is either heatrical, childish, inappropriate, glam rock or brilliant.
Not great. “The Last of the Teenage Idols” was quite bad.
Blech
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.
2.5 I see the potential, but cannot get past the lyrics
Olipa kerran nainen, jolla oli siivet Tyytyväinen yksinkertaisista asioista Hänellä oli silkkisukkahousut ja korkeakorkoiset sukkahousut Auttaa minua tarpeessani Hän oli todellakin ystävä Hän oli lapseni kuolemaansa asti Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Puhaltaaksesi bluesin Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Puhaltaaksesi bluesin Hän oli nainen, joka oli kaksi kertaa minua suurempi Hän katsoi silmiini Hän sanoi "Vain sinä voit puhaltaa bluesani pois" Hän sanoi: "Kerron sinulle mitä tehdä Tuo kaikki ystäväsi mukaasi Ja voit tulla katsomaan minua mihin aikaan päivästä tahansa" Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Puhaltaaksesi bluesin Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Puhaltaaksesi bluesin Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Puhaltaaksesi bluesin Siellä oli kaksikymmentäseitsemän miestä Odottamaton yllätys Hän vain jatkoi rokkaamista, kunnes yö oli mennyt Hän hymyili kyynelten läpi Sataviisikymmentä vuotta Nuolen vain hänen huuliaan ja autat minua Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Puhaltaaksesi bluesin Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Puhaltaaksesi bluesin Ei ole mitään sellaista kuin jengi, ga, ga, ga, ga, ga, ga, ga, ga... ... ga, ga, ga, ga, ga, ga, ga, ga, ga, gang bang Ei mikään ole kuin jengiisku Puhaltaaksesi bluesin gang bang.
People will argue that modern music is obsessed with sex and conveniently forget this 1973 album all about the singer’s penis It’s very theatrical and ranges from the hard rock opener Swampsnake to the psychedelic The Faith Healer to an orchestra-backed Jacques Brel cover on the title track. The music is pretty good and Harvey’s vocals are ok if a bit much, but my god the lyrics… nothing more to be said, just listen to track 2 if you feel brave enough
Interesting, but not my thing. Strangely aggressive and at times theatrical, but the feel is off for my taste.
This was an odd one. It’s interesting but it was difficult to ‘find my way into it.’ I need probably three more listens.
Brought to mind the review of Intravenus Di Milo from Spinal Tap: “The musical growth rate of this band cannot even be charted. They are treading water in a sea of retarded sexuality and bad poetry."
I am familiar with the G.B.H. version of the Last of the Teenage Idols, but didn't know the original. This was fun.
This was a strange album. I enjoyed the music, but was disinterested in the subject matter and lyrics of what they chose to sing about, whether it was a gang bang or "the taste of gonorrhea," I wasn't having any of it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Fine blues rock if you ignore the lyrics
Fantastic album from start to finish.
I don't know what the song Next is from, but I've heard it, and it feels like it was featured in a movie scene.
Was ready for the Next album of the day after this Gang Bang of an album.
It's just not for me.
No need for innuendo here. Surprisingly straight forward, but enjoyable.
Fun sound, but it didn't blow me away.
They just casually slide a song in called Gang Bang that starts off with a pretty cool piano then tells the story of some woman banging 27 guys and smiling through the tears. If you liked that one, wait until you get to the song “next”.
Interesting, raunchy, awesome vocals!
Next.
man has fight with piano, dead heat at half-time
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.
Reminded me of Alice Cooper. Didn’t love.
While I normally like when musicians do their own thing, and don't mind sexual themes, this went past fun in the first few songs. After "Giddy Up A Ding Dong" I had to check how long this album was and thankfully only 35 minutes. He couldn't even resist making a song apparently about PTSD after war weirdly sexual. That being said the music itself is not bad at all
Скучно, треки очень длинные.
There is no doubt the late Bon Scott was influence by these guys. Some of these songs have aged poorly. (Gang Bang is flat out gross.) Some are great. (Faith Healer is a banger.) It squeaks by with a passing grade due to its influence but the lyrics are icky.
I hope someone got fired for this band naming blunder. 1.9 stars
More like the average Alex Harvey band
Pretty fun but also pretty weird. I still enjoy this a good amount, though.
Well, if the lyrics and subject matter were not so objectionable, I really would’ve liked this one. Too bad.
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
Passou batido, nem lembrava que coloquei para tocar.
A sex fueled non stop rock album
Listened to this on a Tuesday morning, completely sober... yet I now feel piss drunk upon completion. It's overindulgent and in-your-face, that is probably more enjoyable to listen to WHILE piss drunk. There's some interesting songwriting choices being made, and thankfully at 35mins it doesn't overstay its welcome... but that was still grating on the ears in some places.
Nice album if you given it a chance
Surprisingly good album
OK, I get it. I get it. You have a dick.
Good sound but not great
As my mom would say “this music has no redeeming values ” Or my friend Ray, “this some butt rock” Or my friend Chrisbee “Yecccchhhh 🤢” Straight trash.
Glam, protopunk, cabaret. It was ok but not rely my bag.
Never heard of it before. Piano hard rock or something. I like it. Except the lyrics. They're awful. Favorite song: swampsnake.
Some funny and absurd tracks. Fairly good music, but nothing too exciting. Ok.
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.
Gang Bang // Vambo Marble Eye // The Last Of The Teenage Idols 2.5/5
Sounds like Bon Scott
Great energy, bluesy rocky vibes. Definite rotation
Lyrically horrible. Got a kick out of some of the songs but wouldn't listen again. Glam rock came and went and no-one should miss it.
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.
Complete bs but so funny
At times this reminded me of bands like Queen and Led Zeppelin. Other times, it felt kind of like a concept album. In between, there was a gang bang. Anyone that gave it 1, I get it. Like wise for anyone that gave it a 5. I’m in the middle.