Raised on the likes of Elvis and Glam Rock, Steve grew up in the 70’s and started playing guitar from an early age. The influences were immeasurable back in those days, like Steve I watched Top of The Pops, bought weekly mags like NME and Sounds and visited the local record shop to buy vinyl, sometimes just because the cover looked cool. But that’s how we discovered music and that’s stayed with our generation, we have multiple favourites, spanning several genres and we still love listening to bands. Of course one of those discoveries for me was the UK Glam rock scene back in the late 80’s, when every band’s title consisted of either, Hearts, Dogs or Angels. The Charing Cross Road, was the place to be and the Marquee and Astoria were regular gig joints. ‘Paradise Alley’ and Steves earlier band the Glasgow based ‘Indian Angel’ were integral parts of those days and the fond memories remain.
The Paradise Alley frontman amazes me with his fluent song writing. ‘The Best Kept Secret in Rock ’N’ Roll’ is Steve Vincents second solo album and it’s stuffed with ten tracks of both personal and emotional encounters. Such is the style of this glam punk vocalist, whose words pour close to the heart, as he reminisces on life.
‘Baby Don’t Cry’ as with most of the songs see Steve not only singing but playing multiple instruments in the mix. The Rock and Roll is laid back and simplistic, for this tale of a broken relationship. I love the flowing harmonies and those backing vocals by ‘Kerry’ Aka Mrs Vincent. Mike Lowe provides decent guitar chords and ‘Ian ‘Ged’ Norris’ on bass maintains the rhythm. The album steps straight into ‘Sliding Doors’ which was an idea after seeing the film of that name. All about choices in life isn’t it, what if ? Strumming by ‘Rhoades D’ablo’ allows it to ride with unfaltering smoothness and there are plenty of ‘Whoo who who’s’ to raise uplifting levels and both Kerry and Cirwen Costa offer backing vocals.
‘Whatever Happened To Back In The Day?’ doesn’t break from the theme and there’s a singalong chorus that swells between the notes. ‘Adam Feasey’ on guitar helps out on this one, like Cirwen he’s usually seen on stage with ‘Adam And The Hellcats’. It’s all about how often bands start out, young and naive and then as the years wear on, it gets complicated and everything changes. ‘Just Like That’ hears Steve getting grittier, telling us again about the ups and downs of life, this was written shortly after his father passed away and deals with family life. Adam joins again on guitar and ‘Rob Moss’ provides additional vocals.
Photo Credit – Kerry Vincent
‘Forgive and Forget’ has a ‘Tom Petty’ riff, as Steve confirms in the press notes. Written about moving on from a bad partnership and not always forgiving the other party, it’s about ‘setting boundaries’ as Steve also states. With ‘Rhoades’ on lead guitar again, there’s a breezy vibe, leaning on those Southern strings of Tom’s ‘Heartbreakers’. Loads of power vocals and a finely placed guitar solo, take in the slack as this is a brilliant and tightly woven track. ‘Living In The Digital Age’ has lyrics Steve wrote around 5 years ago, naturally it’s a stab at modern technology and our over indulgence on social media. Being constantly bombarded with online messages, texts and emails, some of us can’t switch off and it’s a disease of the age. The song is fairly easygoing despite the theme, although the chanting is a rant against the social minded society. Stiffer Rock and Roll returns for ‘Stop Messing My Heart Around’, you know opposites attract and pairs are often two people with different requirements, ‘see you at the weekend’ type of coupling, but when it starts to fail, it’s not always easy to break up. Steve calls it ‘Love Bombing’ yeah, been there got the T ! Mr Vincent leaves the title track until last and ‘Garry Chapple’ is superb on Saxophone. Steve rocks his roots, there’s Piano as well from ‘Little Vincent’, which is a salute to ‘Little Richard’, a dynamic retro piece and we are back at the beginning, with influences from a lifetime in the business. I salute you Steve Vincent, this is a glorious album, nothing overcooked or flamboyant, just passionate Rock ’N’ Roll.
‘Nothing overcooked or flamboyant, just passionate Rock ’N’ Roll’.
HIGHLIGHTS – Sliding Doors, Just Like That, Living In The Digital Age, The Best Kept Secret In Rock N Roll.
FOR FANS OF – 70’s, Stones, Ramones, Glam & Sleaze.
TRACK LISTING – Baby Don’t Cry, Sliding Doors, Whatever Happened To Back In The Day, Live For Today, Just Like That, Somebody I Used To Know, Forgive Or Forget, Living In The Digital Age, Stop Messing My Heart Around, The Best Kept Secret In Rock N Roll.
All music & lyrics by Steve Vincent © 2024 all rights reserved. All Steve’s basic tracks recorded at Vincent Towers, Dec 2023 – July 2024, engineered and co-produced by Steve
Vincent; Additional recording at home studios around the world; Ged & Mike’s tracking engineered by Mike Lowe, August 2024. Co-produced, Mixed and Mastered by Wan Hewitt , Summer 2024.
Bombshell Records Catalogue No BRCD3025
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