Few days ago we featured remastered versions of DETECTIVE studio albums, and now, as requested, here’s the band’s rare “Live From The Atlantic Studios“, for the first time officially released and digitally remastered by Cherry Red Record / Hear No Evil. This is a limited edition appeared 2016, now out of print and very expensive.
Fronted by Michael Des Barres, Detective released two studio albums after signing to Led Zeppelin’s own imprint, Swan Song Records. Where Detective really shone was on stage, and this is self-evident on ”Live From The Atlantic Studios”, even before a very small, invited audience, a world away from the enormodomes that the band had been playing in support of their first two LPs as guests of the likes of KISS.
This recording is a ‘Live into the Studio’ so the sound quality is very good, showcasing how good Detective were playing together.
Detective featured Des Barres on vocals, Michael Monarch on guitars, YES’ Tony Kaye on keyboards, Bobby Pickett on bass and Jon Hyde on drums. Des Barres had previously cut his teeth with Deep Purple protégés Silverhead, a London based band that recorded two LP for Purple Records in 1972 and 1973. Where Silverhead could be seen as the bridge between early 70s glam rock and 80s style hair metal, Detective were firmly based in the gutters of LA and the clubs of Sunset Strip.
”Live From The Atlantic Studios” was a short lived, promo only series of in concert albums, recorded live before a small, invited audience. In fact, this series of now highly collectible releases, produced to be played just on the radio, only lasted three albums; by AC/DC, The Le Blanc & Carr Band, and short lived Swan Song hard rockers, Detective.
This is a “live in the studio” record capturing that raw sound that we like from a live performance, without distracting crowd noises. It also features some really good songs from the era when arena hard rock ruled, with hook heavy and guitar laden riffs.
Michael Des Barres has the type of voice that a frontman needs to get the lyrics out above and ahead of the music behind him, and he proves that point well by his delivery.
Although the Swan Song Icarus logo appears proudly on the cover, the LP demonstrates the growing interest parent label Atlantic had in developing the band, even going so far as to bring famed producer Tom Dowd on board to produce the proposed third album.
”Live From The Atlantic Studios” remains a fitting testament to the short-lived band. Originally issued in 1978, but never officially made available commercially, this is the very first time this album has been legitimately released on CD, fully remastered.
01 – Help Me Up
02 – Got Enough Love
03 – Recognition
04 – One More Heartache
05 – Detective Man
06 – Grim Reaper
07 – Fever
08 – Nightingale
09 – Tear Jerker / Good Rockin’ Tonight
Michael Des Barres – lead vocals
Michael Monarch – guitars
Tony Kaye (aka Tony Selvidge) – keyboards
Bobby Pickett – bass, backing vocals
Jon Hyde – drums, backing vocals, percussion