One Time, One Life
OK. When I was at secondary school (William Ellis school, north London) there were three main bands there - Narcissus (my band), Landslide (slightly younger kids but better musicians, played at Windsor free festival with me on lead vocals) and Sore Throat.
Sore Throat was Matthew Flowers on keyboards, Danny Flowers on bass, Reid Savage on guitar, Greg Mason on sax, and Robin Knapp on drums. Soon Justin Ward joined on lead vocals and manic frontperson personality, then Robin was replaced by Clive Kirby from Landslide. They played a residency at the Stapleton in Stroud Green and also the Pindar Of Wakefield in Kings Cross. They were a great live band, and for me one of the highlights was Reid's guitar playing and onstage antics (he'd end up being strangled and 'dying' on stage while playing the most incredible solos).
When Sore Throat broke up, Reid joined Way Of The West and I saw them live several times - including a great gig at the Music Machine in Camden where they supported the Comsat Angels (another great band). WOTW released five singles and then changed their name to the Candymen - I roadied and mixed for them a few times but then they broke up.
Reid married Louise Goffin (Carole King's daughter) and played on and produced her debut album, but then they split up and I lost contact with Reid - I saw him a few years ago at Greg's 40th birthday party. He's now working with a woman called Lucinda Sieger, about whom I know nothing but I must check out because anything Reid's involved with can't be all bad. I hope he's OK - he's a great guy and a phenomenal guitarist.
I might rip & post some Sore Throat stuff soon.
Way Of The West - The Collected Singles
By the way, if you don't know WOTW and would like a sample, you can hear See You Shake at http://www.littlehits.com/2006/04/songs-of-day-april-29-2006.html
01 - Don't Say That's Just For White Boys
02 - Prove It
03 - See You Shake
04 - My Own Front Door
05 - Drum
06 - The Friend
07 - City For Lovers
08 - Countdown
09 - The Cool Set
10 - Feel The Steel
11 - Cars Collide
12 - Countdown (full version)
13 - City For Lovers (12'' version)
posted by Witchseason at 4:41 pm
3 Comments:
Saw WOTW in '81 or '82 in Boston opening up for Romeo Void. Great big sound, pretty much stole the show. Found some of the 8 (?) inch singles, but nothing more. I always thought they disappeared because of weak management or something; your post fills in some old blanks.
Dave in California
'one time , one life' .... words that came from a fantastic track of theirs... great guitar... which track?! Truly has haunted me for many years!
Hard to believe that they were never able to produce an album .... I waited and searched for years!
A GREAT BAND .....
Can't download their music... help?! Any ideas...?
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER?....
One Time, One Life? That was the first line from our 2nd single SEE YOU SHAKE and the first that Reid Savage played on.
As singer and songwriter for Way Of The West I've been gratified that some people noticed our brief streak across the 80's night sky, and because there's so little about the band out there I've decided to put the story and the music in a blog at http://mercury66.wordpress.com/
If anybody wants to see some photos, check the music, get the story or leave a comment, you're welcome, and much thanks to this great blog and others for providing a place to share stories on some bands & music that still have a resonance out there.
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