Vicious But Fair… Plus (1977)
Balls Out Bluesers, Bruisers & Boozers
I can’t even imagine what it’d be like to hear Streetwalkers for the first time today. They were a hair-raising, booze rock outfit that rose from the ashes of Family – who, for years, were best known in the US as the band that spawned Blind Faith bassist Ric Grech. Fronted by vocal shredder Roger Chapman & raucous riff-meister Charlie Whitney, Streetwalkers released four studio albums of hell-bent hellfire, using schematics re-wired from some adrenaline-fueled, bastardized version of the Faces… with fangs. Of course, in the US, Streetwalkers were best known for spawning Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain… so it seems they just couldn’t win for losing, or get noticed for their music alone. They knew how to kick ass, though, and Streetwalkers are still a powerful listen to this day. My personal favorite is Vicious But Fair (… Plus is an expanded import of the original featuring bonus tracks from previous releases, Downtown Flyers and Red Card). Issued at the dawn of punk, Vicious But Fair went nowhere fast, even in the UK, and the All Music Guide went so far as to dismiss it as “pathetic.” Obviously, I couldn’t disagree more. Hear the indicative “Mama Was Mad,” below. Can’t find this …Plus version at Amazon. We’ve got a bunch of Roger Chapman in the archives.
Mama Was Mad (4:15)
Chilli-Con-Carne (3:54)
Dice Man (9:28)
But You’re Beautiful (3:56)
Can’t Come In (4:02)
Belle Star (3:12)
Sam (Maybe He Can Come To Some Arrangement) (5:45)
Cross Time Women (5:14)
Downtown Flyers (4:02) from Downtown Flyers
Gypsy Moon (4:44) from Downtown Flyers
Crawfish (4:33) from Downtown Flyers
Raingame (3:03) from Downtown Flyers
Crazy Charade (5:25) from Red Card
Shotgun Messiah (4:49) from Red Card
Decadence Code (6:39) from Red Card
Daddy Rolling Stone (3:11) from Red Card
22 Comments
thanks – steve.
I was a huge Family fan back in the day, and found Streetwalkers to be a sometimes inspired, and sometimes tired carry on of the Family tradition. But it was Always a joy to hear Chapman's growl and Whitney's geetar.
I've always looked to them as two completely different bands. That's how they sounded to me, anyway. You're right, though. Streetwalkers did have their tired moments (some think it was this album), but I bought into their style early on and have enjoyed it all as a result.. even into Chapman's solo career. Thanks for commenting.
Is it just me or does the young lady on the cover look like a kinky Angeline Jolie? Rowrrr. Oh yeah, the music's not bad either.
Never heard of this band. But it sure sounds like my cup of blare. Thanks!
Streetwalkers were a great band – there's loads of them on YouTube. I'd not seen this one, with the bonus tracks from their other two excellent LPs. Thanks for sharing and keep on rockling in the free world!!
Thanks for this. I have been looking for Red Card for a while. To be truth all the tracks I loved from the album are included here. I remember sitting in my Grandfathers house at lunchtime listening to Daddy Rolling Stone as it pumped out of his little radio. Hard to imagine such raw power on lunchtime radio today.
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I’ve always liked Family and Streetwalkers and Roger as well. I already have all this but it does my heart good to see somebody giving them the time of day.I’m beginning to think you and I are about the same as far as taste in music. Phil
Careful… I like Bubblegum and Vincent Gallo, too.
Hi Willard, is it just me or is anyone else finding no download link when clicking on HERE ? It used to be so easy to download from your site and now it appears to be getting harder and harder, Jay
It must be you because the link is working fine. Make sure your pop-up blocker isn’t stopping the new window from opening.
Hi Willard, working fine now, thanks, Jay
Cool, thanks. Was it a pop-up issue or just a general gremlin?
How about some Sharks posts with Roger and Chris Spedding. Have they ever been issued on CD? Need to dust off my LP’s.
WOOPS! Sorry for the last comment. Just pulled theire first LP and Sharks had Mr. Snips on vocals. Sounded a lot like Chappo, though. Might be a nice complementary posting anyway.
I remember hearing the Sharks, but don’t remember hearing them.
Damn, find you some Sharks, Captain Willard, First Water especially. Snips was definitely in the Chappo/Cocker mold at that point. Sang some good tunes on a couple Baker-Gurvitz Army LP’s, too “Hearts On Fire” comes to mind).
nice one!
Personally, Red Card is my fave, closest thing to the power of Family’s Bandstand album. Have all the Streetwalkers on vinyl, and Red Card and first Chapman-Whitney album, so it is great to have this (my second fave SW album, and a few tracks from downtown Flyers!
Thanx for sharing!
Al
AAAAHHHH!
I went to listen to Downtown Flyers yesterday, and I’ve lost ALL my StreetWalkers!?!?!
So I came straight on board, and knew I’d get some of it back real quick!
Thanx for running such a tight ship Cap’n!!
Al
Not to worry…Luckily I had shared most of Streetwalkers with my bro, and he came to my rescue!