I was once very young. During that time as I discovered “proper” rock music as a raw teenager one of the first concerts I went to was the Heat on the Streets tour. Three bands on offer for the princely sum of one English pound. Boxer, Crawler and Moon.
Back then I’d not heard of any of them but a night out for a quid, three bands and the surprise of finding the promotional single on my seat (I still have it – the single, not the seat…….) was rather jolly good.
Moon did not go down well. Eclipsed, if you will forgive me the pun, by Boxer and Crawler both of which became instant favourites and remain so to this very day. Many years ago by faithful vinyl copy of Absolutely was played once too often and gave up on me. Ever since it has been a fruitless search for a CD. At last – it is here.
It remains now, as it was back in 1977, an instant classic of properly put together rock music which really does sounds as good now as four decades ago.
The late, great vocalist Mike Patto had put this version of Boxer together as something of a rebirth of the band. He’s roped in outstanding bassist Tim Bogert, killer guitarist Adrian Fisher plus the fine Chris Stainton tinkling the keys and rock-solid drummer Eddie Tudri. A great set of musicians and the magic was there in the studio – and on stage the night I saw them – not least in thanks to a smooth production job by the legendary Jeff Glixman.
Absolutely bristles with nine excellent rock songs of a diverse style and nature and not a little deceptive, and sometimes overt, power.
Patto sings up a storm. He had the range and subtlety sure enough. Top voice. Bogert’s bass lines are at times unusual in a sort of “squirty” style as they cut in for a burst. He is deft and creative. And what about Fishers six-string work? Dammed amazing. Clean, well timed and dexterous. One of the underrated players I suggest.
Listen to the breaks on No Reply in particular. That’s the stand-out on an album of stand-outs. The gentle key-based intro with Patto hitting sublime high notes makes you think it’s going to be a soppy ballad perhaps even though you can tell it’s building in to something else. Then everything else comes in and it’s marvellous. Swinging, swooping bass, thumping keys and drums and Fisher’s guitar all over it with that solo.
Here’s a video of No Reply.
The other eight songs are just as enjoyable. A bit funky in parts, a bit jazzy in parts though do not stop being rock songs. Fool in Love, Can’t Stand What You Do and Rich Man’s Daughter show how great Boxer should have been under different circumstances before the egos, bickering and “other substances” got the better of them.
What a crying shame that was. Though now Absolutely is available to be a testament to their talent. Below the Belt (with “that cover”) and Bloodletting worth a go too but for me Absolutely is, er absolutely the best.
>> MORE REVIEWS OF ABSOLUTELY ON AMAZON. HAVE A LOOK <<
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