Silverhead: '16 And Savaged'

16 And Savaged is the questionably (and when combined with the cover art, extremely questionably) titled second album from UK rock n' roll outfit Silverhead; possibly still best known for housing future members of Power Station (Michael Des Barres) and Blondie (Nigel Harrison). Having signed for Deep Purple's Purple Records imprint (which has now been revived by Cherry Red) for their self titled 1972 debut, 16… hoped to take critical acclaim and turn it into more tangible sales figures.

The band's focal point was singer Michael Des Barres, who is described in the liner notes as being something akin to an avalanche when he entered a room, such was his charisma. Without him the rough edged debut could well have tumbled into the ordinary, the band's amalgam of The Faces, Rolling Stones, Zeppelin and maybe even Slade, good, without fully standing out from the crowd. With new guitarist Robbie Blunt (recommended by Robert Plant, no less) in tow however, 16…, found a new urgency tightening up the whole operation; he and fellow guitarist Rod Rock Davies combining with a previously absent force. From the off it's clear that while the band stayed true to their early formula, there's a cohesion to "Hello New York", the (ahem) tastefully named "More Than Your Mouth Can Hold" and "Heavy Hammer" that raises the band well above also ran status. The title track seals the deal and along with "Rock Out Claudette Rock Out" really does leave you scratching your head as to why, if nothing else, Silverhead remain pretty much unknown. Followers of the late 60s and early 70s rock sound that the likes of The Faces took to mainstream success really shouldn't be missing out on 16 And Savaged (even if you might have to have it delivered in a plain paper bag…) - and if it meets your approval, then moving back to the earlier Silverhead album is then required.

Ten bonus tracks are also added to the nine original cuts, the excellent "James Dean" a highlight of the band's catalogue, while the low end rumble and hooked in backing vocals of "Marilyn" don't come far behind (even if there is some dropout in sound quality on the latter); the pair recorded for an intended third album, Brutiful, that never came to pass. Two Michael Des Barres solo tracks are also included, although the schmaltzy, chart focused slithers of "Leon" and "New Moon Tonight" lack the Silverhead punch. From there the final six bonuses are live takes of 16… album cuts. Although as with the bonus tracks on Silverhead, the quality alone ensures that only diehard fans will find all that much of interest, unfortunately.

16 And Savaged would be the last Silverhead studio album, the band ceasing to be in 1974, however there's no doubt that it leaves a strong legacy. Something that can also be said for the posthumous live album, Live At The Rainbow London, which saw the light of day a year later – of which you can read more about in the review also featured on SoT...

Track Listing
1. HELLO NEW YORK
2. MORE THAN YOUR MOUTH CAN HOLD
3. ONLY YOU
4. BRIGHT LIGHT
5. HEAVY HAMMER
6. CARTOON PRINCESS
7. ROCK OUT CLAUDETTE, ROCK OUT
8. THIS AIN'T A PARODY
9. 16 AND SAVAGED

BONUS TRACKS
10. JAMES DEAN (Previously unreleased)
11. MARILYN (Previously unreleased)
12. LEON (Michael Des Barres solo single)
13. NEW MOON TONIGHT (Michael Des Barres solo single)
14. CARTOON PRINCESS (Live)
15. MORE THAN YOUR MOUTH CAN HOLD (Live)
16. BRIGHT LIGHT (Live)
17. ROCK OUT CLAUDETTE, ROCK OUT (Live)
18. 16 AND SAVAGED (Live)
19. HELLO NEW YORK (Live)

Tracks 12-19 previously unavailable on CD outside of Japan
Tracks 10 & 11 previously unreleased

Added: August 20th 2016
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: 16 And Savaged at Cherry Red
Hits: 2414
Language: english

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