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. Have a listen:
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…..! Let’s hope there’s more to come.
>> WHITE SPIRIT RIGHT OR WRONG ON AMAZON <<