How do you approach re-recording a classic? How about a thirty year old classic that has more than stood the test of time? What about when it was a UK Number #2 album? To be honest I don’t care I’m just so glad they did!
30 years on, gone is Guy Bailey (guitar) who wrote all of the songs here with Spike, gone is Nigel Mogg (bass), gone is studio drummer Ian Wallace (Steve Marriott, Bob Dylan) and Chris Johnstone who provided sublime keys. Still hanging on though are Spike and Guy Griffin who played on the original record and are still here for the 30th Anniversary take along with long-standing members Keith Weir (Keyboards, piano), and Paul Guerin (Guitar) and relative newcomers Dave McCluskey (Drums) and Nick Mailing (Bass) who have just reached seven year itch territory.
Getting back to that original question the answer seems to be to stick as close to the originals as you can. But that’s not to say there aren’t enough little flourishes and changes of pace on here to ignite conversation and delight the faithful.
Interestingly looking back to 1991 as a kid I’d grown up on The Faces, the legendary band who by the time I was teen had long since disbanded and you could only catch the remnants like the wonderful Ronnie Lane and Ian McLagan, or Ronnie Wood if you could afford to see The Stones. So to me at least in 1991 the sound of The Quireboys was refreshingly familiar and also accessible! I could see these guys but The Faces were sadly gone. But it was far from hero worship these guys had the songs too! So from sweaty club to Donington I followed and they delivered.
Bands of course re-record albums for many reasons and these days you don’t see many Rock bands from the late 80’s or early 90’s being treated too well by their old labels but who gives a… Not normally a huge fan of re-recordings a dozen plays in I’m loving this one.
To be honest if you were worried what they would do the sound is great, and whilst there are some changes, subtlety is the key. And whilst opener ‘7 O’ Clock’ seems a little more laid back ‘Man on the Loose’ definitely is, and you know what it kind of suits the song. Running through ‘Whippin’ Boy’ darker and leaner and ‘Sex Party’ still sounds as awkwardly titled as it was 30 years ago and a song on a British band could name with a relatively straight face!
Delving deeper ‘Sweet Mary Ann’ has a Folkier feel – more fiddle! More power! and ‘I Don’t Love You Anymore’ has even more of a Faces feel than the original. It’s the untouchables though like ‘Hey You’ the classic I first heard in its entirety back in the day that is most sympathetically treated, it’s a song in remarkably good shape for its age and sounds timeless in its new shape.
The Faces-like barroom rumble ‘Misled’ sounds great too and is perhaps even more akin to a Rod & Co ditty than the original and I always loved the very Mott The Hoople opening to ‘Long Time Comin’’. ‘Roses & Rings’ was never a favourite first time round but that says more about the quality of the songs that surround it than the song itself, 30 years later its wonderfully crisp and reinvigorated.
And closing out ‘There She Goes Again’ takes me back to Rock clubs and teenage years listening to great music, one of my favourites songs of the era and here lovingly recreated and I love the more pronounced horns at the end. The final word still goes to Take Me Home’ the albums closing ballad was always the most ‘Rod Stewart’ of songs on the original – you could imagine the great man having a chart topper with this and I’ll stick by that. It’s far from my favourite here but it still sounds like the crossover million seller they never released as a single here 30 years later.
One of the real highlights of 1991 sounds great thirty years later! And if you grab the Cd version look out for a couple of added live tracks ‘Man on The Loose’ and ‘Mayfair’. For my money way better than more lauded releases by Gunners, Metallica and Nirvana!
Back in the day “A Bit of What You Fancy” showcased no fewer than 5 hit singles – including “Hey You” which peaked at number five in the US Billboard Rock Chart and number fourteen in the UK Singles Chart. But it was more than that – here like 30 years before all you get is pure gold.
9/10
A Bit of What You Fancy 30th Anniversary Edition will be released on July 30th, 2021
pre-order right here
A Bit Of What You Fancy Anniversary Edition Track Listing: 01. 7 O’ Clock | 02. Man on the Loose | 03. Whippin’ Boy | 04. Sex Party | 05. Sweet Mary Ann | 06. I Don’t Love You Anymore | 07. Hey You | 08. Misled | 09. Long Time Comin’ | 10. Roses & Rings | 11. There She Goes Again | 12. Take Me Home
As well as the original dozen the CD version adds Man on The Loose (Live) and Mayfair (Live)
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