Heartbreaker were formed in the early 1970s by Steve Annetts, who would go on to join After Dark so we have a New Wave of British Heavy Metal connection though Heartbreaker took their name from the Free song of the same name and were a bluesy hard rock band.
Heartbreaker attracted the attention major label attention and Ian Gillan got involved and it was looking rosy for the band.
However by this time towards the back end of the 1970s hard rock of this nature was out of style which eventually saw Heartbreaker fold without releasing an album.
That situation has now been rectified thanks to Diamond Roxx who have released a limited edition CD run of Heartbreaker’s previously unreleased recordings from back in the 1970s. Gillan provided backing vocals on Angel in Rags and Colin Towns plays keys as he does on Kingsway Reprise.
Overall we have fourteen excellent bluesy hard rockers featuring some scorching guitar work.
Gamblin’ Man and Heartbreaker punch away nicely. Sailor of the World brings in something of a trippy feel to proceedings to mix things up a bit.
Angel in Rags has a great melody and hook to it with more of the free-flowing guitar – as does Berlin Berlin, which starts in an understated catchy way breaking out in to a remarkable guitar-based extended play-out.
Quiet Lady being another classy cut with yet more superb soloing going on.
There are a couple of slower, moody, slow burning songs which fit in well amongst the more powerful stuff. Some proper tasty riffage going on throughout which does have a NWOBHM feel about it at times – perhaps a precursor to what Annetts would do subsequently with After Dark.
Top marks to Diamond Roxx for unearthing this and organising the limited edition run of 500 CDs. It certainly is, as it says on the jewel case, a “lost UK 70s classic rock gem”.
Track one down if you can before the 500 sell out. Bagged mine from Plastic Head here in the UK. As I type this post, they have it listed as available as do Diamond Roxx. Links below:
https://www.progaor.com/apps/webstore/products/show/8247219
https://plastichead.com/heartbreaker-heartbreaker-compact-disc-dr16