Rock Archeologia

The Local Boys - Moments Of Madness (1983)

Artist: The Local Boys
Album: Moments Of Madness
Label: Island Records
Catalog#: 90111-1
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Soft Rock, Pop Rock
Duration: 00:35:30

• This one-off, put together by producer Glyn Johns, was built around former teen idol and slumping solo artist Andy Fairweather Low, along with a stellar cast of session men. But while Low is the focus here, the Local Boys are a band in every sense of the word, featuring a great rhythm section and a terrific guitarist in Fairport Convention/Fotheringay alumnus Jerry Donahue. Each member -- including producer Johns -- receives writing credit for at least a few tracks, and keyboardist Tim Gorman takes lead vocals on a pair, both of which were written on his own. One of these tunes, the charming "Angels Fall," is one of the record's surprise highlights. Still, it's Low who is at the forefront and, despite occasionally cumbersome keyboards that tend to date things a bit, he and his bandmates create a first-rate early-'80s British rock album. Fans will find the same sort of terrific songwriting -- as playful as it is earnest -- that inhabited Low's excellent yet commercially disappointing solo efforts, albeit with a slightly more heavy-handed approach. Moments of Madness may bring to mind some of Eric Clapton's mid-'80s work or, thanks in part to Donahue's guitar, Dire Straits (though his earliest work predates Mark Knopfler's by nearly a decade). It may be difficult to find, but Moments of Madness should offer plenty of rewards to anyone who may have followed the career of Andy Fairweather Low or who is interested in intelligent '80s AOR. - Brett Hartenbach

 • Side One:
A1. All Heartache N No Fun 05:17
A2. Camouflage 03:34
A3. Coast To Coast 03:16
A4. Shoot Out On The Highway 05:48
 • Side Two:
B1. The Truth Hurts 03:36
B2. High Stepping Away 03:09
B3. Schoolboy Hero 04:43
B4. Angels Fall 02:51
B5. Moments Of Madness 03:12

Personel:
Jerry Donahue - Lead Guitar, Vocals
Pat Donaldson - Bass
Tim Gorman - Keyboards, Vocals
Glyn Johns - Engineer, Producer
David Kemper - Drums, Vocals
Andy Fairweather Low - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Peter Woods - Keyboards
 

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