Wam Glam (Pt.3)

#3

 

SILVERHEAD - S/T (1972)

Awright, awright... I harbor as much disdain for Michael Des Barres as the next jerk. Be it his involvement with Miami Vice, the Duran Duran offshoot the Power Station-- where he replaced a schmaltz-meister of unparalleled magnitude, Robert Palmer, that horrific "My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star" show-- his resumé reads like the Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Z-List Celebrity. But believe me when I say my cretinous compadrés, there was a brief, shining moment Circa 1972, where he was one of the finest purveyors of slinky, slutty R&R.

This here LP is chock fulla great Bolan-esque boogies-- matter of fact, they often outdo the Ol' Slider himself on his own turf. "Sold Me Down the River" with its huge, femme-backed chorus and Faces-era Ronnie Wood slide guitar moves courtesy of Steve Forrest positively screams "HIT!" Ditto "Long Legged Lisa," a sleazefest that puts the L.A. glitter kiddies from a decade later to shame. Alas, such good fortune was never to be the case for this British Quintet--ceptin' in Japan which further adds to Mr. DB's Spinal Tap-like career (although bassist Nigel Harrison would find fame with Blondie).

Comments, yes comments-- where I put goodies and you shower me with indifference.