White Spirit - Right Or Wrong (2022) [FLAC] {Rubicon Music RBNCD-1364}
Release Info:
RLSDATE: 2022/11/05 RTLDATE: 2022/08/17
GENRE: AOR SiZE: 470 MB
SOURCE: CD RUNTiME: 53:54
RELEASE: Rubicon Music RBNCD-1364
ORiGiN: Japan ENCODER: FLAC 1.42
MATRiX: IFPI L168 RBNCD-1364 MT L61
with log/cue/nfo/m3u/sfv/300 dpi scans.
NewWaveOfBritishHeavyMetal (dot) com adds. . .
White Spirit's self-titled debut album from 1980 was one of the finest
albums of the then burgeoning New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene.
With a style more akin to say Uriah Heep or Rainbow they looked sure
to hit the big time only for line-up changes to get in the way.
One of those line-up changes was the bringing in of a new vocalist -
Brian Howe - and the band entered the studio to record a second album.
That fell flat too as White Spirit broke up before the album was
completed.
Howe went on to huge success with the post-Paul Rogers Bad Company
though sadly passed away in 2020.
Now some four decades after that debut album, the tapes of that "lost"
second album were discovered by members Mal Pearson and Mick Tucker
who set about rescuing what they could.
Now, after four decades the tapes were not exactly in pristine
condition - however Howe's vocals survived on five tracks though the
sound quality of the music tracks were in too bad a shape so Person
and Tucker set about re-recording the music and the vocals on the
tracks where the vocals were too far gone.
To do so they brought in a superb line-up of Neil Murray on bass,
Russell Gilbrook on drums and the vocal talents of Jeff Scott Soto,
Lee Small and Steve Overland.
The result is an excellent album of 1980s sounding classic rock with a
fresh feel and a fine listen from start to finish. Different in style
to the debut probably because Howe's vocal style is much different to
original vocalist Bruce Ruff. Had Right or Wrong been released back in
the day it would surely have gone down well - as it surely will now.
Ten beefy rockers full of crisp riffs and leads from Tucker, Pearson's
keys are nicely up in the mix to pomp and prog things up particularly
on Don't Say No and Wait a Little Longer and with a rhythm section of
Murray and Gilbrook then what's not to like?
Howe's vocals are clean as a whistle with Scott Soto, Small and
Overland giving their all too. A fitting tribute to Howe's talents.
The title track kicks it off. A fine chunky fast-paced rocker with
some excellent guitar. Runaway (with Howe on vocals) is pure 1980s
catchy melodic rock. Infectious.
The Dice Rolls On has a bit of a brooding, slow-burning feel to it
then comes Lady of the Night beefing it up with a nicely paced song
with the guitar and keys mixing in nicely in the mid-section.
Gotta Get Out thumps along nicely as does Better Watch Out with more
good fretwork on show. Don't Say No and Wait a Little Longer have more
of the guitar/key/organ interchange going on which does hark back to
the style of the debut album a little which is a nice touch.
The version of Bad Company’s Holy Water (which Howe sang on of course)
is energetic as is the pulsing closer of Rock 'N' Roll on which Howe
stretches out and the band sound like they're having fun.
So good to have White Spirit back and full marks to Mick Tucker and
Mal Pearson for putting it all together.
It's often the case when having looked forward to something with much
anticipation that the outcome can disappoint. That's certainly not the
case here with Right or Wrong.
Welcome back White Spirit...!
Ripper's Notes:
Despite the review above, Brian does not sing on his Holy Water, as
noted in the booklet, scans included.
The instrumental version of Rock 'N' Roll is the Japanese bonus track.
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