Cherry Red Records have released yet another box set. This time around, it’s devoted to cult favorite UK art rockers Be Bop Deluxe. The box set, simply entitled The Albums (1974-1976), is a set devoted to the band’s first three studio albums. As to be expected from Cherry Red, the albums have top notch remastering and sound great. While the albums vary in quality, this is a solid release from Cherry Red.
A Little History
Be Bop Deluxe were formed by guitarist/singer Bill Nelson. Formed in Wakefield, West Yorkshire in 1972, Be Bop Deluxe would be signed to Harvest Records. From 1974 to 1978, the band released five studio albums and a live album. During this time, Nelson would remain the band’s lone consistent member.
This set consists of the band’s first three studio albums. For the rest of this review, I will go album-by-album.
Axe Victim (1974)
Be Bop’s debut album is a stellar glam rock effort. The band are tight and sound great. While a solid effort, it’s not a consistent one. The band lean a little too heavily on the glam side of things, with the slower songs being some of the weaker parts of the album. This is also the lone Be Bop album with the original line up of Nelson, guitarist Ian Parkin, bassist Robert Bryan and drummer Nicholas Chatteron-Dew. There might be a reason why he revamped the band come the next year. Still, this is a good but not perfect album.
Rating: 7/10
Highlights: Jet Silver and The Dolls of Venus, Jets at Dawn, Third Floor Heaven, Axe Victim
Futurama (1975)
Now backed with bassist Charlie Tumahai and drummer Simon Fox, Nelson had formed a new version of Be Bop. Produced by Queen producer Roy Thomas Baker, Futurama leans more towards a progressive rock and art rock sound. It’s a better album than Axe Victim but still has some weaknesses here and there (again, the slower songs drag this). If anything, this was progress for the band with a new line up.
Rating: 7/10
Highlights: Maid In Heaven, Music in Dreamland, Between the Worlds, Sound Track
Sunburst Finish (1976)
Of the three albums in this set, Sunburst Finish just might be the best of the first three albums: using what worked with the first and second albums, the band were able to make something unique that was a splendid cross between glam and progressive/art rock. Added to the line up was keyboardist Andrew Clark, setting in place the line up that would serve as the classic and last up on the band. Some of the songs segue into each other and there’s a grand feeling to the music on Sunburst Finish.
Rating: 7.5/10
Highlights: Sleep That Burns, Fair Exchange, Ship in the Night, Like an Old Blues
Conclusion
In addition to the music, the set comes with a 50-something page booklet with liner notes from Bill Nelson and pictures. Nelson’s memories of each album add more to the music and make you appreciate the albums even more. With this, The Albums is another great set of music from Cherry Red Records. This set will be follow by The Albums: 1976-78 (which will feature the band’s last two studio albums plus the live album), which will come out in September. If you missed the original expanded sets of these albums or you just wanted the albums, this is the set to buy.
Overall Rating: 7/10
I'm a writer/journalist with a passion for music and pop culture. Having graduated from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA in 2014, I've been looking for a platform in which I can share my passions. Since 2009, I've been posting to my own blog- The Walrus' Music Blog- via Blogger. I'm also the author of two self-published books, "The Camp: Stories from the Summer" and "The College: Stories from King's." Together, the two books cover the story of my life from 2004 to 2014. I've been lucky enough to interview several of my favorite musicians over the years and go to concerts from time to time. I'm also very devoted to the CBS reality TV show Survivor, which I started watching in 2002 when its fourth season started. I currently live in New Jersey.