Thunder - Back Street Symphony

Thunder were formed in the late 1980's by the trio of vocalist Danny Bowes, guitarist Luke Morley and drummer Gary 'Harry' James. All three had served time in the cheesy pop/metal combo Terraplane who died due to general disinterest from the buying public. The trio enrolled the services of Ben Matthews [Guitar and Hammond] and Mark Luckhurst to make up the line-up. The band opted for more English bluesier sound and came up with an album that still sounds entirely credible a decade on. 'Back Street Symphony' has remained Thunder's finest hour and will be remembered as the album that almost got them the riches but ultimately became the noose around their necks. The main problem for the band was that 'BSS' was so right in every aspect that subsequent albums just saw the winning formula become hard to maintain and ultimately meant their demise despite high popularity in Europe and Japan. However 1990 was Thunder's year, they opened the famous 'Donington Monsters Of Rock' festival in England which saw them open a bill containing The Quireboys, Poison, Aerosmith and Whitesnake where they blew everyone away, this gave rise to a wave of popularity that saw 'BSS' go platinum in the UK and saw several high profile international tours [including the US as support for Aerosmith at the personal request of Joe Perry]. Unfortunately America never quite took to Thunder and this was another seed sown for the destruction later on. The main reason 'Backstreet Symphony' remains the bands finest album is purely down to the quality of the tracks, the first 7 in particular highlight just where the bands talents lie - deep down honest blues rock played with a passion with the emphasis more on the songs than virtuoso musicianship.

1. SHE'S SO FINE (5.30)
A simple blues hard rock track, that does an effective job off setting the scene for the type of music to expect - superb vocals, guitar riffs and hooks that while not setting new standards do create very strong melodic hooks and backing. The star of this track is undoubtedly Danny Bowes' vocals which come across as a very pleasant mix of the best of David Coverdale and Paul Rogers. A superb clear voice with a little grit, perfectly able to get the best out of the lyrics. The chorus is full of charm 'And if it takes forever and a day I've gotta make that woman mine, If I don't tell her then I'll waste my life away She's so fine'. Not groundbreaking lyrics sure but Bowes get the message across.

2. DIRTY LOVE (5.20)
The obvious choice for prime hit single candidate if ever their was one and funnily enough it was the first single off the album. Again more superlative hooks and melody lines with top performances all around. The main riff again is simple but powerful and Harry James' drumming stands out as it propels the track on. The bridge is superb with Bowes sounding like Paul Rogers at his best. An addictive song that was a live favourite as an encore, crowds went wild at the chant along chorus.

3. DON'T WAIT FOR ME (5.33)
A power blues ballad that is heavily Free influenced. Danny Bowes' vocals sound like he is feeling ever word like classic Coverdale, however, don't think that because of all these other vocalist references he is a clone, not at all, Bowes' voice is unmistakable and arguably better than those mentioned. This track would show pitfalls in many vocalists but its all down with such apparent ease here that you can't help but be impressed. The lyrics are archetypical blues setting e.g. woman left etc. but the whole enthusiasm shown from the band carries it off easily. Luke Morley throws in a couple of Gary Moore-ish solos with a thick Les Paul / Marshall sound over Ben Matthew's simple but powerful Hammond chords, this adds yet more depth to this stunning track.

4. HIGHER GROUND (5.05)
Opening with another solid riff the track takes a turn for an atmospheric approach with the verse 'I feel the wind blow on the corner, and I'm looking down along this dead end street. All the people are getting older, but they don't give a damn their lives are incomplete', picture lyrics for sure and you can visualize the story unfolding. Its a tale of someone having to leave their hometown otherwise they will become mere clones of everyone else their. This track hits its peak with the chorus which is divine 'I don't wanna spend my whole life in this town, I can feel it driving me away. Baby you and me were meant for higher ground we've got to steal away'. The track builds to an uplifting climax before ending. One of my personal favorites.

5. UNTIL MY DYING DAY (6.30)
Another highlight and another track that builds and builds. Setting out with acoustic guitar with some dobro slide it progresses into the verse which is quite sparse with just acoustic guitar and Bowes fine voice - 'I can see the fading sun sinking at the edge of town, and its one more day that's gone. I'm thinking about the past and a time that slipped away, but I can't change what I've done'. This could well be his best performance on the record making the verses and choruses sounds 'real'. The chorus sees the track pick up in an almost Zeppelin-ish fashion before a great riff that is also quite Page like hits you like a sledge hammer. Great grooves and a tight backing from Luckhurst and James.

6. BACKSTREET SYMPHONY (4.30)
A great hard rock track, again quite a simple riff that that powers the track along, this was an awesome live track that was a perfect opener for the set. Bowes is throwing out the lyrics with great intensity and is reminiscent of Aerosmith's Steven Tyler's best moments. There's more Aerosmith feel in the solo which is pure Joe Perry - all arrogance and swaggering bluesy metallic shine. A track that is impossible not to be blown away by.

7. LOVE WALKED IN (6.22)
Another of the bands trademark power ballads. Heartfelt lyrics are flawlessly delivered by Bowes - 'Just about that moment the timing was so right, You appeared like a vision sent down to my life, I thought I was dreaming when I saw you that night'. The chorus is again very powerful 'That's when love walked in through my door, I found just what I wanted but got so much more, Love Walked In and it felt so strange, like a long lost friend that hadn't changed givin' me hope again'. Bowes is in full flight at the end of the chorus and it is stunning. Luke Morley throws in a perfectly suited solo that is so right. An awesome track that should of been a huge worldwide hit.

8. AN ENGLISHMAN ON HOLIDAY (4.25)
One of the weaker tracks on the album, it still has a swaggering blues appeal that is very traditionally English sounding. The lyrics are about the stereotypical 'Englishman on holiday' e.g. getting drunk and into fights, not the most intelligent lyrics but they are quite amusing 'I had a fight with this German guy, I saw him give my little girl the eye, While he was trying hard to be so cool, I hit him with a stool'. Probably my least favourite track and one that it is normally skipped.

9. GIRL'S GOING OUT OF HER HEAD (4.16)
Another track that lets the album down a little. Somehow it just doesn't sound as convincing compared to the earlier tunes. Its an okay slice of fast hard rock about one of Luke Morley's ex girlfriends that tells the story of shortly after consummating their relationship she holds a gun to his head to get him to take a particular substance. That about sums it up.

10. GIMME SOME LOVIN' (3.44)
A cover of the 'Spencer Davis' tune probably best known from the 'Blues Brothers' flick. Thunder's version is a very credible one that perfectly suits the bands style. The riff is rocked up and again Ben Matthews throws in some great Hammond Organ that creates a dense wall of sound. Bowes again belts out the lyrics and overall its a track that restores the balance after the previous two.

11. DISTANT THUNDER (4.55)
A track that was a forerunner for the sound that band would take on subsequent albums. An average track that falls somewhere between 'Girls going...' and the earlier tracks. The track gets better has towards the end with some more good bluesy rock solos and the pre chorus is pretty good, still not as powerful as the first 7 tracks though.

Well there it is, for the most part Thunder produced an album that made all the right noises and the tracks that don't quite hit the spot are not bad enough to ruin your impression of the album. One thing that strikes you though is that even the bands blunders are better than many average bands best. 'Don't Wait For Me', 'Higher Ground', 'Until My Dying Day' and 'Love Walked In' are the highlights and these 4 tracks alone are classics of this genre and go a long way to making you realise that when the band got it right, they really got it right. Bowes is arguably the best vocalist to have come out of England since David Coverdale, but as Luke Morley writes the majority of the tracks, lyrics and melody lines perhaps all the praise should be put on his shoulders? If you fancy some excellently crafted British blues rock this should be one of your first port of calls and prepare to get an education in finely crafted rock in the process.

Additional Comments: The groovy, thick choruslines of "Dirty Love"... the pure flowing emotion of "Love Walked In"... the escalating pound of "Until My Daying Day"... these should have been blockbusters in the US, for the time was right when they were released. I suppose Thunder was a little more bluesy, and much more refined than the reigning kings of the time period, like Poison and Warrant, but its material like what's offered up on their first splash into the metal market, that will withstand the test of time, just simply because its so good. The first half is a little higher quality than what the album finishes up with, but that doesnt take away from its awesome beginnings in the slightest. Just listen to the blues powered melodic delicacy that is "Don't Wait For Me", this is no doubt a masterpiece in its own right, and a must have for fans of blues flavored melodic rock. ~ Alanna Evans

RATING
8.6
Review by Andy Craven
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