The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Good Evening Boys And Girls!
★★★★
MADFISH
James Brown knew how to make an entrance. So did Jerry Seinfeld’s neighbour, Kramer. Alex Harvey, though, went several steps beyond. On June 16, 1974, when The Sensational Alex Harvey Band played the Ragnarök Festival in Holmenkollen, Oslo, Harvey took the stage stark-naked save for a swimming cap improvised from a plastic carrier bag. He’d just swum the breadth of a nearby fjord, and as The Faith Healer’s sinister throb promised weird, possibly supernatural communion, the singer donned his pirate stripe T-shirt and jeans to front his sensational band. Next morning, Harvey made a big splash in the Norwegian papers.
Coupled with SAHB’s extraordinary versatility, that coup de théâtre and countless others – green rubber catsuit-clad guitarist Zal Cleminson tap dancing on a metal tray while reciting Hamlet, anyone? – meant that SAHB were the toughest of acts to follow. So while Madfish’s 21-CD set of largely unreleased SAHB shows might seem like overkill, it really isn’t. The stage was where SAHB came into their own, bringing raw power and vaudevillian pizazz. Their gigs were carnivalesque masterclasses in entertainment, vibrant affairs with a subversive undercurrent.
Largely sourced from soundboard recordings of varying fidelity, Good Evening Boys And Girls! serves as an epic addendum to 1975’s tantalisingly brief Live, an in-concert record sparky enough to reach Number 14 in the UK that year. Here, the gig chronology runs from London’s Marquee in September 1973 – “they opened with a version of Crazy Horses that would give Donny nightmares”, notes then-journalist Barbara Charone in SAHB guru Martin Kielty’s sleevenotes – through to a storied 1977 set at the Reading Festival.
The latter show transpired to be classic SAHB’s last stand. As Cleminson fires the colossal, stop-start riff of Leiber & Stoller’s Framed, you can hear the crowd’s incredulity morph into cheers as Harvey, dragging a huge crucifix and wearing a giant nappy-come-loincloth, adapts the song’s lyrics to empathetically portray Christ as framed by Pontius Pilate. This was bound to spark controversy, and it did. But like this release’s raw take on the Stones’ Jumpin’ Jack Flash at London’s Rainbow Theatre in June 1974, or the high camp of SAHB’s own Sergeant Fury as aired live at New York’s Electric Lady studios in session for WQIV FM that November, it’s proof that Alex and co didn’t do things by halves.
“Good evening boys and girls!” was Harvey’s traditional greeting to audiences. His phraseology was deliberately mischievous, though, since what ensued could be pointedly confrontational, not just panto fun. Harvey’s widow Trudy once described him as a pacifist “with a warrior aura”, and that warrior could be intimidating as well as charismatic, stretching nylons over his head to grotesquely distort his features or stuffing them into his cheeks to impersonate Marlon Brando. Harvey’s oft-repeated mantra “don’t shoot any bullets, don’t make any bullets, don’t buy any bullets” was crystal clear, though. He was a pacifist; hence he called out the sectarian violence and bigotry that blighted his native Glasgow, calling it “caveman stuff”.
For long-term fans the holy grail here is a December 20 set from SAHB’s famed Christmas run at the Glasgow Apollo in 1975. “It’s by no means a faithful reproduction of the musical experience,” writes Kielty of the somewhat lo-fi recording but thankfully, Harvey’s charisma cannot be contained and we finally have a document of one of three mythic nights synonymous with peak SAHB – though sadly not a visual one.
Alex had appeared on the cover of the NME dressed as Santa that week. Tickets for the Apollo shows cost £1.75 and Christmas came early; SAHB delivering an especially powerful and theatrical show that was carefully choreographed for maximum impact. As Harvey brings a genuinely unnerving quality to Jacques Brel’s Next, then gleefully compères a daft, audience-judged talent contest that comes on like the prequel to Jim Moir and Bob Mortimer’s Novelty Island spots on Vic Reeves Big Night Out, the enthralled Apollo crowd is – to use Glaswegian patois denoting a state of high excitement – having weans.
The contestants in Harvey’s Search For A Star contest are SAHB members or roadies appearing pseudonymously. It’s keyboardist Hugh McKenna – here billed as “The last of the great has-beens, Hugo McCardle” who wins out over Sailor Boy Logan and the Harry Lime theme-accompanied shtick of Young Lord Longford – and rightly so. For a crowd raised on Jimmy Shand’s Hogmanay floor-fillers, McKenna’s deft accordion reel is catnip.
In a band of at least three virtuosos, it’s perhaps the musicality of the late Hugh McKenna, Alex’s chief songwriting foil, that impresses most here. In the 144-page book which houses Kielty’s sleevenotes, Hugh’s sister Mae, late drummer Ted McKenna’s cousin, recalls that during one of Hugh’s nervous breakdown-occasioned absences from SAHB, Harvey phoned the keyboardist’s parents and shed tears while explaining their gifted son’s centrality to the whole Sensational remit.
The beautiful symbiosis between Alex Harvey and his much younger bandmates remains a joy to hear. Musically, they take him wherever he wants to go. To the ’20s or ’50s; to the outer reaches of his Robert Louis Stevenson and Marvel comics-inspired imagination; across Europe and the USA for an average of 280 spectacular gigs a year. And a quick word, in passing, about Zal Cleminson, bassist Chris Glen and the McKenna cousins’ backing vocals on these live recordings: they are exemplary throughout, falsetto notes and all.
With the studio LPs, “everything was undercooked, underdone”, Cleminson once said, expressing deep frustration. “We always needed another week, another month, but we never got it.” SAHB live were a completely different prospect, everything happening in the moment, untethered and unscripted. Cleminson’s Gibson SG/Marshall stacked guitar sound was a thing of seismic power and heft, while Harvey was cocky and nonchalant enough to blow kisses to Blue Öyster Cult’s fans even as they heckled him. The great man would have been 91 on February 5 and Good Evening Boys And Girls! is a fine way to commemorate his singular magnetism. Remember him and his sensational band this way.
Good Evening Boys And Girls! is out now on Madfish.
BUY: Amazon | Rough Trade | HMV
Tracklisting:
DISC 1
Crazy Horses (Marquee Club, London, 18/09/73)
St. Anthony (Marquee Club, London, 18/09/73)
Midnight Moses (Marquee Club, London, 18/09/73)
Runaway (Marquee Club, London, 18/09/73)
After You`ve Gone (Marquee Club, London, 18/09/73)
Framed (Marquee Club, London, 18/09/73)
Giddy Up A Ding Dong (Marquee Club, London, 18/09/73)
I Just Want To Make Love To You (Marquee Club, London, 18/09/73)
Hole In Her Stocking (Marquee Club, London, 18/09/73)
Dance To The Music (Part 1) (Marquee Club, London, 18/09/73)
Tomorrow Belongs To Me (Marquee Club, London, 18/09/73)
Dance To The Music (Part 2) (Marquee Club, London, 18/09/73)
Buff’s Bar Blues (Marquee Club, London, 18/09/73)
DISC 2
Long Hair Music (The Rainbow Theatre, London, 07/06/74)
Sergeant Fury (The Rainbow Theatre, London, 07/06/74)
Vambo (The Rainbow Theatre, London, 07/06/74)
Man In The Jar (The Rainbow Theatre, London, 07/06/74)
Gang Bang (The Rainbow Theatre, London, 07/06/74)
Money Honey/The Impossible Dream/Rock Around The Clock/Dance To The Music (The Rainbow Theatre, London, 07/06/74)
Framed (The Rainbow Theatre, London, 07/06/74)
Next (The Rainbow Theatre, London, 07/06/74)
Jumping Jack Flash (The Rainbow Theatre, London, 07/06/74)
DISC 3
Midnight Moses (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 18/10/74)
Long Hair Music (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 18/10/74)
Sergeant Fury (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 18/10/74)
Vambo (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 18/10/74)
Man In The Jar (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 18/10/74)
Gang Bang (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 18/10/74)
Land Of 1000 Dances/Boney Maronie/Money Honey/The Impossible Dream/Rock Around The Clock/Dance To The Music (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 18/10/74)
DISC 4
Intro (Syracuse, NY, Autumn 1974)
The Faith Healer (Syracuse, NY, Autumn 1974)
Midnight Moses (Syracuse, NY, Autumn 1974)
Next (Syracuse, NY, Autumn 1974)
Sergeant Fury (Syracuse, NY, Autumn 1974)
Vambo (Syracuse, NY, Autumn 1974)
School’s Out (Syracuse, NY, Autumn 1974)
The Impossible Dream (Syracuse, NY, Autumn 1974)
Framed (Syracuse, NY, Autumn 1974)
I Just Wanna Make Love To You (Syracuse, NY, Autumn 1974)
Anthem (Syracuse, NY, Autumn 1974)
DISC 5
The Faith Healer (Electric Ladyland Studios, New York City, 16/11/74)
Next (Electric Ladyland Studios, New York City, 16/11/74)
Sergeant Fury (Electric Ladyland Studios, New York City, 16/11/74)
Vambo (Electric Ladyland Studios, New York City, 16/11/74)
Gang Bang (Electric Ladyland Studios, New York City, 16/11/74)
Anthem (Electric Ladyland Studios, New York City, 16/11/74)
Midnight Moses (New Jersey, 1974)
Vambo (New Jersey, 1974)
DISC 6
Fanfare (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 09/05/75)
The Faith Healer (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 09/05/75)
Action Strasse (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 09/05/75)
Tomahawk Kid (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 09/05/75)
Give My Compliments To The Chef (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 09/05/75)
Delilah (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 09/05/75)
Soul In Chains (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 09/05/75)
The Tale Of The Giant Stone Eater (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 09/05/75)
Midnight Moses (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 09/05/75)
Vambo (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 09/05/75)
Tomorrow Belongs To Me (Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, 09/05/75)
DISC 7
Introduction / Faith Healer (Guildhall, Preston, 11/05/75)
Action Strasse (Guildhall, Preston, 11/05/75)
Tomahawk Kid (Guildhall, Preston, 11/05/75)
Give My Compliments To The Chef (Guildhall, Preston, 11/05/75)
Delilah (Guildhall, Preston, 11/05/75)
Gang Bang (Guildhall, Preston, 11/05/75)
Framed (Guildhall, Preston, 11/05/75)
DISC 8
Fanfare (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 12/05/75)
The Faith Healer (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 12/05/75)
Action Strasse (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 12/05/75)
Tomahawk Kid (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 12/05/75)
Give My Compliments To The Chef (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 12/05/75)
Delilah (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 12/05/75)
Ribs And Balls (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 12/05/75)
The Tale Of The Giant Stone Eater (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 12/05/75)
DISC 9
Soul In Chains (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 12/05/75)
Gang Bang (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 12/05/75)
Midnight Moses (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 12/05/75)
Vambo (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 12/05/75)
Tomorrow Belongs To Me (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 12/05/75)
Sergeant Fury (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 12/05/75)
DISC 10
Fanfare (City Hall, Sheffield, 13/05/75)
The Faith Healer (City Hall, Sheffield, 13/05/75)
Action Strasse (City Hall, Sheffield, 13/05/75)
Tomahawk Kid (City Hall, Sheffield, 13/05/75)
Give My Compliments To The Chef (City Hall, Sheffield, 13/05/75)
Delilah (City Hall, Sheffield, 13/05/75)
Soul In Chains (City Hall, Sheffield, 13/05/75)
Ribs And Balls (City Hall, Sheffield, 13/05/75)
The Tale Of The Giant Stone Eater (City Hall, Sheffield, 13/05/75)
DISC 11
Gang Bang (City Hall, Sheffield, 13/05/75)
Midnight Moses (City Hall, Sheffield, 13/05/75)
Vambo (City Hall, Sheffield, 13/05/75)
Tomorrow Belongs To Me (City Hall, Sheffield, 13/05/75)
Sergeant Fury (City Hall, Sheffield, 13/05/75)
Framed (City Hall, Sheffield, 13/05/75)
DISC 12
The Faith Healer (Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent, 17/05/75)
Action Strasse (Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent, 17/05/75)
Tomahawk Kid (Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent, 17/05/75)
Give My Compliments To The Chef (Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent, 17/05/75)
Delilah (Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent, 17/05/75)
Ribs And Balls (Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent, 17/05/75)
The Tale Of The Giant Stone Eater (Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent, 17/05/75)
Midnight Moses (Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent, 17/05/75)
DISC 13
Vambo (Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent, 17/05/75)
Tomorrow Belongs To Me (Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent, 17/05/75)
Gang Bang (Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent, 17/05/75)
Framed (Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent, 17/05/75)
DISC 14
Gamblin’ Bar Room Blues (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Fanfare (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Love Story (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
St. Anthony (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Next (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Runaway (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Isobel Goudie (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Jungle Jenny (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Talent Contest (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Cheek To Cheek (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Gamblin’ Bar Room Blues (Reprise) (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
DISC 15
April Kisses (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Framed (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Sharks Teeth (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Vambo (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Gang Bang (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Sergeant Fury (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Delilah (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
The Faith Healer (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
Midnight Moses (Apollo, Glasgow, 20/12/75)
DISC 16
Gamblin’ Bar Room Blues (New Victoria Theatre, London, 23/12/75)
Fanfare (New Victoria Theatre, London, 23/12/75)
Love Story (New Victoria Theatre, London, 23/12/75)
St. Anthony (New Victoria Theatre, London, 23/12/75)
Next (New Victoria Theatre, London, 23/12/75)
Runaway (New Victoria Theatre, London, 23/12/75)
Isobel Goudie (New Victoria Theatre, London, 23/12/75)
Jungle Jenny (New Victoria Theatre, London, 23/12/75)
April Kisses (New Victoria Theatre, London, 23/12/75)
Framed (New Victoria Theatre, London, 23/12/75)
Sharks Teeth (New Victoria Theatre, London, 23/12/75)
Vambo (New Victoria Theatre, London, 23/12/75)
Gang Bang (New Victoria Theatre, London, 23/12/75)
DISC 17
Love Story (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
St. Anthony (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
Next (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
Runaway (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
Isobel Goudie (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
Jungle Jenny (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
Talent Contest (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
Cheek To Cheek (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
Gamblin’ Bar Room Blues (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
DISC 18
April Kisses (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
Framed (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
Sharks Teeth (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
Vambo (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
Gang Bang (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
Sergeant Fury (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
Delilah (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
The Faith Healer (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
Midnight Moses (New Victoria Theatre, London, December 1975)
DISC 19
School’s Out (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 09/05/76)
Tomahawk Kid (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 09/05/76)
Isobel Goudie (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 09/05/76)
Dance To Your Daddy (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 09/05/76)
April Kisses (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 09/05/76)
Framed (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 09/05/76)
Amos Moses (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 09/05/76)
Vambo (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 09/05/76)
Boston Tea Party (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 09/05/76)
Delilah (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 09/05/76)
The Faith Healer (Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 09/05/76)
DISC 20
Tomahawk Kid (Neue Welt, Berlin, 12/10/76)
Isobel Goudie (Neue Welt, Berlin, 12/10/76)
Dance To Your Daddy (Neue Welt, Berlin, 12/10/76)
April Kisses (Neue Welt, Berlin, 12/10/76)
Framed (Neue Welt, Berlin, 12/10/76)
Amos Moses (Neue Welt, Berlin, 12/10/76)
Vambo (Incomplete) (Neue Welt, Berlin, 12/10/76)
DISC 21
The Faith Healer (Reading Festival, 28/08/77)
Midnight Moses (Reading Festival, 28/08/77)
School's Out (Reading Festival, 28/08/77)
King Kong (Reading Festival, 28/08/77)
Vambo (Reading Festival, 28/08/77)
Hoolie Hoolie Coocha (Reading Festival, 28/08/77)
Gang Bang (Reading Festival, 28/08/77)
Engine Room Boogie (Reading Festival, 28/08/77)
Framed (Reading Festival, 28/08/77)
Mrs. Blackhouse (Reading Festival, 28/08/77)
Delilah (Reading Festival, 28/08/77)
Blue Suede Shoes (Reading Festival, 28/08/77)
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