FASTWAY — All Fired Up (review)

Album · 1984 · Hard Rock

4/5 · 2017-09-14
siLLy puPPy

While many predicted FASTWAY would see its demise after the release of their debut album due to unstable lineups and shaky grounds with record companies, no one could’ve seen the success that the eponymous debut would have earned them which led them to open up for the bigwigs of the day such as Iron Maiden and AC/DC. While success had been more of instant gratification thing on the UK side of the Atlantic, it crept along at a snail’s pace in the US but finally found their just dessert. Due to the unexpected chart hitting debut album that cracked the top 40 on the Billboard charts, the record company was chomping at the bit to release a followup, so into the studio the band went to craft a new batch of heavy rockers to please the newfound fanbase. After a short reprise to recharge their batteries after a brutal and enervating tour schedule, ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke rounded up the troops to record ALL FIRED UP. While Dave King would return vocals and Jerry Shirley on drums, session bassist Mickey Feat was replaced with the full time member Charlie McCracken, former of the 70s band Taste.

ALL FIRED UP pretty much picks up in a logical manner where the debut album left off. It consists of eleven heavy rock tracks with Clarke’s signature early Motörhead guitar riff workouts along with Shirley’s percussive drum roll attacks. The compositions are based in heavy bluesy rock reminiscent of the 70s greats like Led Zeppelin and with Dave King’s vocals firing on full pistons, he once again takes the somewhat retro sound of the songs and adds a youthful turbo boosted mojo to the mix. Once again the tracks are all distinct from one another and flow rather nicely together. While most are heavy with a fast tempo living up to the band’s name, “The Stranger” and “If You Could See” have slow contemplative parts as well. After the release of ALL FIRED UP, the band continued their streak of semi-success without quite blowing up the charts but opened for Rush on their “Grace Under Pressure” tour.

Once again FASTWAY conjured up a heaping batch of heavy rock at its best. All the tracks are catchy, have that ballsy blues rock swagger and totally rock the house. Clarke seems to perform more soloing on this one and King’s vocals display an ever greater range in dynamics making him one of my favorite heavy rock vocalists of this era. While most tracks are top notch heavy rock of the 80s, a couple duds like “Hung Up On Love” and the more pure blues rock “Telephone” with dreadful lyrics like “My baby’s on the phone again….. Screamin’ and a cryin’ like an ol’ hound dog, yeh” make me wanna fuckin’ puke. However, these are the exception as the fiery opening title track, the feisty “Steal The Show” and the rest of the roster more than make ALL FIRED UP an excellent sophomore effort. Personally i prefer the debut to this by a mere smidge but this one has certainly grown on me over time. Both the first two albums are available on CD these days as a 2-for-1.