Rock Archeologia

City Boy: 5 Albums 

(Japan Mini LP 24 Bit Remaster) 2011

1976 • City Boy (Air Mail Archive AIRAC-1632)
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1976 • Dinner At The Ritz (Air Mail Archive AIRAC-1633)
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1977 • Young Men Gone West (Air Mail Archive AIRAC-1634)
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1978 • Book Early (Air Mail Archive AIRAC-1635)
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1979 • The Day The Earth Caught Fire (Air Mail Archive AIRAC-1636)
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British Legend Collection Vol. 78; Air Mail Recordings: Air Mail Archive
Vertigo Records / Air Mail Recordings. 24 Bit Remaster 2011 / Reissue / CD
Comes in a CD-sized papersleeve album replica
Made in Japan
Genre / Style: Rock / AOR
Released Year: 2011
Format: FLAC / Level 8 (img + *cue + log, AccurateRip)
BitRate: lossless
Covers: format PNG 300dpi, full scans
Total Time: 03:32:49

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Cardboard sleeve (mini LP) reissue from City Boy featuring 2011 24-bit remastering. The cardboard sleeve faithfully replicates the UK first press LP design. Includes an original inner bag. Part of a five-album City Boy cardboard sleeve reissue series featuring albums "City Boy," "Dinner At The Ritz," "Young Men Gone West," "Book Early," and "The Day The Earth Caught Fire."

hardrockcafe.narod.ru
Стиль "City Boy" по большому счету можно определить как AOR (adult-oriented rock), хотя в их музыке встречались также фанковые и прогрессивные элементы. История этой бирмингемской группы уходит корнями в 60-е годы, когда впервые судьба свела Лола Мэйсона и Стива Бротона. Позже к этим парням присоединились гитаристы Макс Томас и Майк Слэймер, и таким образом возник акустическо-фолковый квартет "Back in the band". Музыканты долгое время выступали в окрестностях Бирмингема, но все эти концерты носили любительский характер. Лишь к концу 1975 года было решено поставить дело на профессиональную основу. Переименовавшись в "City Boy", группа начала подыскивать себе пристанище на каком-нибудь лейбле. Согласие принять команду под свою опеку выразил "Phonogram records". Правда, представители фирмы выдвинули условие, что в состав должны быть введены бас-гитарист и ударник. Таким образом, в коллективе появились Крис Данн и Роджер Кент. Первые два альбома не произвели большого впечатления на публику, хотя некоторые критики хорошо отозвались о "City Boy" и "Dinner at the Ritz". В 1978 году вместо Роджера Кента за ударные уселся Рой Уорд. Появление Уорда совпало с первым значительным успехом группы, обусловленным выходом хит-сингла "5-7-0-5" (первоначально песня называлась "Turn on to Jesus", но по настоянию лейбла была переименована). Композиция угодила в британскую горячую десятку и помогла альбому "Book Early" попасть в национальный Топ 30. В том же году "City Boy" посетили с гастролями Северную Америку, где выступали на разогреве у "Hall & Oates". В 1979-м команда записала второй альбом с продюсером Мэттом Ланджем, "The Day the Earth Caught Fire". Благодаря своей заглавной композиции эта пластинка также имела успех. Однако бороться с засильем панка и новой волны бирмингемским аорщикам было тяжело и уже их следующее творение "Heads are rolling" вызвало неоднозначную реакцию критиков. Дальше дела "City Boy" пошли еще хуже. Диск 1981 года "It's Personal" вышел только в Скандинавии, а мажорный контракт с американским представительством "Atlantic Records" был утрачен. Записывающие компании уже не привлекало творчество "городских мальчиков", и в 1982 году коллектив выпустил сингл "In Love" собственными силами. Но эта последняя попытка пробиться наверх не увенчалась успехом, и группа вскоре распалась. Лол Мэйсон впоследствии добился некоторой известности в рядах своей новой банды "Masonettes", Стив Бротон взялся сочинять песни для Синди Лаупер, а Майк Слэймер скооперировался с вокалистом "Kansas" Стивом Уолшем в проекте "Streets".

       • Lol Mason - lead vocals
       • Steve Broughton - guitar, lead vocals
       • Max Thomas - keyboards, guitar
       • Chris Dunn - bass, guitar
       • Roger Kent - drums
       • Mike Slamer - guitar, bass
       • Roy Ward - drums, vocals

         Fan site: cityboy.org

Allmusic / Biography by Craig Harris
At a time when punk rock and new wave were sweeping the music charts, Birmingham, England-based quintet, City Boy, produced melodic, hook-laden, progressive rock tunes. Despite placing two songs, "5-7-0-5," and "The Day the Earth Caught Fire," the title track of their 1979 album, in the British Top Ten, the band failed to capitalize on their commercial success and disbanded in 1981. According to The Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock, City Boy is remembered for their "strong identification with progressive rock and funk-oriented tracks." The inspiration for City Boy was sparked in the early '60s when lead vocalists Steve Broughton and Lol Mason met in prep school. In 1964, Mason befriended 12-string guitarist and bongo player Max Thomas. Two years later, Broughton, Mason, and Thomas recorded an acoustic album. left school and began writing songs together. When Thomas left to attend Suffolk University shortly afterwards, he lost touch with Broughton and Mason. By the time they reestablished their relationship, in 1969, Thomas had suffered several nervous breakdowns and was confined to the psychiatric ward of a hospital. Broughton, Mason, and acoustic guitarist Chris would pick him up each evening to spend the night jamming together. As an acoustic group, "Back-in-the-Band," the musicians began playing semi-regularly in a folk club, The Cherry Trees. In 1973, the group, renamed City Boy, was signed by the Vertigo label with the stipulation that they add an electric guitarist (Mike Slamer) and a drummer (Roger Kent). Their debut album, Mark I, was released three years later. Their first single, "Hap-Ki-Do," reached number 32 on the British charts. Kent was replaced by Roy Ward in 1978, shortly before the band embarked on a four-month tour of the United States as opening act for Hall and Oates. Although they signed with Atlantic for U.S. and Canada distribution, the days of City Boy were practically over. Despite moving to New York State, the band began to splinter with the departure of Broughton and Chris. Shortly after releasing a single on their own City Boy label in 1982, the group disbanded.

1976 ♪ City Boy
Original Release: UK Vertigo 6360 126

Allmusic / Review by Gina Boldman
City Boy's self-titled debut ranges from blues/funk tunes to mellow AOR songs to progressive, melodic tracks -- there's something on the album for most everyone to like. From the Sweet-ish anthem "The Greatest Story Ever Told" to the quirky "Oddball Dance," City Boy is an eclectic, interesting and notable introduction.






  ♪ Tracklist:
 
01. Moonlight (Shake My Head And Leave)
02. Deadly Delicious
03. Surgery Hours (Doctor Doctor)
04. Sunset Boulevard
05. Oddball Dance
06. 5000 Years / Don't Know Can't Tell
07. The Hap-Ki-Do Kid
08. The Greatest Story Ever Told
09. Haymaking Time

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1976 ♪ Dinner At The Ritz

Original Release: UK Vertigo 6360 136

 


Allmusic / Review by Gina Boldman
Experimenting with their already mosaic sound, City Boy's second album, Dinner at the Ritz, relies heavily on guitars and harmonies, giving their songs a Yes or Queen quality. Their three-part "State Secrets - A Thriller" works quite well with the rest of the album's progressive, rock feel.







  ♪ Tracklist:
 
01. Momma's Boy
02. Walk On The Water
03. Narcissus
04. Dinner At The Ritz
05. Goodbye Blue Monday
06. The Violin
07. State Secrets - A Thriller
i). State Secrets
ii). Heavy Breathing
iii). Spring In Peking

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 1977 ♪ Young Men Gone West

Original Release: UK Vertigo 6360 151

Allmusic / Review by Gina Boldman

On this album, the band focuses on the glam rock sound of the mid- to late-'70s (swirling guitars, high-pitched harmonies) on tracks like "Dear Jean (I'm Nervous)" and "The Man Who Ate His Car," but City Boy maintains its soft rock sound with light keyboard touches and soft vocals on songs such as "One After Two" and the title track. Young Men Gone West has an interesting, albeit uneven, mix of songs that doesn't have the same quirky, eclectic feel of the first two albums - but it is a worthy effort nonetheless.




  ♪ Tracklist:
 
01. Dear Jean (I'm Nervous)
02. Bordello Night
03. Honeymooners
04. She's Got Style
05. Bad For Business
06. Young Men Gone West
07. I've Been Spun
08. One After Two
09. The Runaround
10. The Man Who Ate His Car
11. Millionaire

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1978 ♪ Book Early

Original Release: UK Vertigo 9102 028

Allmusic / Review by Gina Boldman

Book Early starts with "5.7.0.5," a Queen / ELO hybrid, and the rest of the album follows suit pretty closely - but this time City Boy adds more pop elements to their sound and drops the soft rock feel that was prevalent on much of Young Men Gone West. The result is quite enjoyable, especially on tracks like "Raise Your Glass (To Foolish Me)," "Cigarettes" and "Dangerous Ground." Book Early is City Boy's most energetic, if not their best.






  ♪ Tracklist:
 
01. 5-7-0-5
02. Summer In The School Yard
03. Goodbye Laurelie
04. Raise Your Glass (To Foolish Me)
05. Cigarettes
06. What A Night
07. Do What You Do, Do Well
08. The World Loves A Dancer
09. Beth
10. Moving In Circles
11. Dangerous Ground

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 1979 ♪ The Day The Earth Caught Fire

Original Release: UK Vertigo 9102 036

 

Allmusic / Review by Gina Boldman

Album, 1979's The Day The Earth Caught Fire, produced a minor UK hit with the title song. This album marked an early recording appearance by Huey Lewis, who played harmonica on the second track "It's Only the End of the World."








  ♪ Tracklist:
 
01. The Day The Earth Caught Fire
02. It's Only The End Of The World
03. Interrupted Melody
04. Modern Love Affairs
05. New York Times
06. Up In The Eighties
07. Machines
08. Ambition
i). Ambition
ii). Me And My Tarot
iii). Rev-On
iv). The End

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