Rage - Nice 'N' Dirty (1981) [2015 Rock Candy Remastered]

Liverpool’s Rage were been born out of the ashes of well-respected ’70s hard rock unit Nutz, a group who had released four well received albums for A&M Records. With relations cooling between the label, the band and their management, it was decided out of sheer frustration and political uncertainty, to cut off those associations and move on to pastures new, albeit under a different name.
Re-branded as Rage, the band signed to enterprising independent label Carrere Records (home of Saxon, Rose Tattoo and Dokken) and began their fight back by releasing the album ‘Out Of Control’.

“Nice ‘N’ Dirty”, originally issued in 1983, played to their strengths, showcasing a determined and rugged sound befitting the hard rock zeitgeist prevalent at the time. It also signalled the addition of second guitarist Terry ‘Tony’ Steers, helping to reinforce their more muscular approach.
Perfectly produced by Peter Hinton, the album contains a number of impressive tracks, including the prophetic “American Radio Stations”, the melodious “Wasted Years”, and the quite commercial “Heartbreaker”, with a sound thet would be developed later by Bronz.

As said, a cult classic from the early ’80s British hard rock scene.


Tracks:

01 – American Radio Stations
02 – Wasted Years
03 – Woman
04 – Heartbreaker
05 – Silver And Gold
06 – Long Way From Home
07 – Only Child
08 – Blame It On The Night
09 – Wild Cat Woman
10 – Ready To Go

Personnel:

Dave Lloyd – lead vocals, guitar
Mick Devonport – guitars, backing vocals
Terry ‘Tony’ Steers – guitars
Keith Mulholland – bass
John Mylett – drums