White Lightning was formed in the U.K. back in 1984 by three ex-members of Iron Pig, guitarist Simon Pengilly, bassist Gerald Goff and drummer Jeff Ward. After enlisting vocalist Noel James and with Goff eventually being replaced by Rich Goddard the band with the help of famed British D.J. Tommy Vance providing some much needed publicity and support they finally managed to scrape enough money together to finance their debut record As Midnight Approaches. The album received some positive press and comparisons were made with Rush's more streamlined, keyboard driven sound of the mid to late 80's. After securing a record deal with a small label As Midnight Approaches was reissued and plans were quickly drawn up for a second album, even though Pengilly would depart prior to the recordings. With John Storey taking over on guitar White Lightning headed back into the studio and began working on their sophomoric record Paradise… At A Price. Sadly their label went belly up and the album went unmixed and unreleased. Not surprisingly by the end of 1990 White Lightning wisely decided to pack it in.
Bringing us up to present day the premiere heritage label in the U.K. Angel Air has stepped up to the plate as they so often do and delivered this two disc reissue of White Lightning's two full length albums along with added bonus demo and live tracks.
The first album As Midnight Approaches comes across as a bit of a head scratcher as far as their overall musical direction is concerned, due to the fact that the band was divided down the middle between whether or not to pursue a hard rock sound or go with a more pop oriented approach. Noel James' soaring upper register vocal range immediately brings to mind The Outfield's Tony Lewis as he pushes his pipes to limit on tacks like "Lesson One", "Danger Man" and the eight minute epic "Frightened Children". For someone who seemingly preferred the lighter, new romantic sounds of bands like Duran Duran guitarist Simon Pengilly is still afforded with plenty of opportunities to display his mighty chops and tastefully melodic solos on "London Nightlife" and "Blue Horizon". Not to mention his lengthy outro solo on the aforementioned "Frightened Children" is arguably his finest moment with the band. Overall much of this album comes across as typical for what was happening in the 80's rock and pop world, and the songs do seem to have held up pretty well over time, although it's quite clear listening to these tracks that the band was still searching for their sound at the time these songs were recorded.
Paradise…At A Price on the other hand features more of a straight ahead hard rock approach when compared to the debut. New guitarist John Storey takes over for the departed Pengilly and immediately proves that he's up to the task of assisting in taking their sound in a heavier direction. His furious and sometimes over the top guitar pyrotechnics are well suited for the muscular line of attack displayed on "Ticking", "Nailed (By The Hand Of Mercy)", "Under My Skin" and "Murder In Your Eyes". However that being said, the downside was that the songwriting clearly took a hit with the loss of Pengilly who together with James was responsible for penning the majority of the songs on the first album. Too many of these songs come across as nothing more than tepid excursions in watered down hard rock with "Dealer", "Can't Get Next To You" and the ill advised cock rock swagger of "Voodoo" sounding like they were scraped off of Whitesnake's cutting room floor. While As Midnight Approaches at least delivered it's fair share of interesting moments, and revealed a band with a decent amount of potential I have to say that Paradise… At A Price was a significant step backwards. The album lacks the color and diversity of their debut and I can honestly say there wasn't anything that stuck with me the minute the music was over.
Had I been reviewing each of these albums separately instead of in this reissued two for one format my score's would have reflected a distinct preference for As Midnight Approaches which I clearly feel is the stronger disc of the two. However, bundled together I give this collection three stars out of a possible five.
Track Listing
Disc One: As Midnight Approaches
1) Lesson One
2) Danger Man
3) Blue Horizon
4) Hypocrite
5) London Nightlife
6) Right Between The Eyes
7) This Poison Fountain
8) Losing Streak
9) Frightened Children
10) This Poison Fountain (bonus track)
11) Hypocrite (bonus track)
12) The Secrets In Your Eyes (demo)
13) Last Flight To Babylon (demo)
14) T.P.O.C. (demo)
15) Last Flight To Babylon (demo)
16) Frightened Children (live)
Disc Two: Paradise… At A Price
1) Nailed (By The Hand Of Mercy)
2) Under My Skin
3) Dealer
4) Swing Thing
5) Ticking…
6) Everything She Said
7) Murder In Your Eyes
8) Can't Get Next To You
9) Civilized Society?
10) Before I Close My Eyes
11) Voodoo
12) Murder In Your Eyes (demo)
13) Can't Get Next To You (demo)
14) Nailed (By The Hand Of Mercy) (demo)
15) Dealer (demo)
16) Ticking…(demo)
17) Paradise…At A Price (demo)
18) Nailed (By The Hand Of Mercy)
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