A promising band in 1979 discovered and signed up by Tony Berk of shortliving Dutch division of RCA. The group intensively toured Netherlands, Belgium and Germany but turned out to be in the wrong place at the wrong time during the heydays of punk. The band split up by the end of the same year. 'Mean Streets', however, could have been a hit record if not somewhat overproduced by Neil 'Space Ranger' Merryweather. Strong vocals; nice guitar and piano parts.
I admit the term overproduced is arguable. In my view the arrangement should have been more bare which the band should have accomplished 'on the road to the studio' . Some help at that point would have been welcome. I think the song still stands and, apart from my critical note, the sound does as well. Relight was a top studio at the time and Robin Freeman a top engineer. I must say RCA did quite some promotion (Alfred Lagarde, Radio Caroline) Nice to hear from you and thanks for your reaction.
eijk02 4 months ago
I remember producing this record and felt the band had a lot of promise - The drummer singer was very strong and I enjoyed working with him. I don't think the song is over produced at all . It's just the band and the instruments they played and nothing more. I later signed to RCA in Holland myself and did an album called "Eyes" and it suffered the same fate as Ready Kilowatt - NO PROMOTION at all!!!!
HUNDREDWATTHEAD 4 months ago