Search - Showaddywaddy :: Very Best of

The definitive Showaddywaddy Album

linden lovejoy | England | 12/31/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If this is the album I think it is(Music Club label), buy it! It contains all their hits(certainly UK ones anyway).Showaddywaddy began back in the early Seventies when two local Leicestershire rival bands merged. Style? well rock and roll of course! all eight members great showmen. They are compared to US band Sha Na Na the key difference? Showaddywaddy cld write their own and successful material.Their big break came in 1974 on UK TV's 'New Faces' talent show. From then a recording deal with Bell(Arista) records. Their first four hits 'Hey Rock and Roll', 'Rock and Roll Lady','Hey Mr Christmas'(very twee) and 'Sweet Music' all band written very unusual for those days. Looking to further boost their popularity, the guys decided on releasing cover versions( to become their mainstay of success). Between 1974 and 1979 their 'glory years' Showaddywaddy had 15 hits nine of them top ten, covering standards like Eddie Cochran's 'Heartbeat', 'Under the Moon of Love'(their biggest hit), 'When' etc etc etc. In fact, in the end people came to expect any Showaddywaddy single would be a cover version, rejecting albeit very good band trys like 'Heavenly' and the much plugged 'Trocadero'. Obviously it all had to come to an end, as it did with in 1982 with 'Who put the Bomp' ending their eight year chart career. Fortunately Showaddywaddy has always been run like a business not a 'friend thing' and they have been able to consolidate their position to this day doing live work, Seventies revival concerts and the like and remain a very popular attraction in Britain at least. The band is still fronted by Dave Bartram has charismatic black drummer Romeo Challanger and other original members Trevor Oakes, Al James, and Rod Deas within its ranks. This is a great album for any Rock and Roll fan whether they know Showaddywaddy or not. Of course if you are a fan and remember their heady chart days with affection even better. All the tracks you remember are here. Linden Lovejoy England"