Few weeks ago we featured in exclusive the Japanese CD reissue of the self-titled cult album by early ’80s British rockers WHITE SPIRIT. From sessions recorded over 40 years ago, the first album to feature the vocals of the late, great Brian Howe, White Spirit’s new album ”Right Or Wrong” is finally ready to be heard by the public.
Howe, who went on to mega platinum success as vocalist for Bad Company, revealed his singing class in a barnstorming vocal that showed clearly that he was destined for stardom.
After their debut single ‘Back To The Grind’ released on the legendary NEAT Records in 1980, White Spirit were hot property and courted by the majors. They were eager to snap up a band that had far more to offer than the majority of NWOBHM acts that they were lazily bracketed with.
A constant schedule of touring created some internal friction, and frontman Bruce Ruff make way for an unknown singer called… Brian Howe. The new and improved White Spirit entered the studio to work on their second album with then Gillan keysman, Colin Towns at the production helm. The album was never fully completed, the band broke up and musicians went their separate ways.
Howe sings on 5 tracks, and on the other 5 he have Jeff Scott Soto, Lee Small and Steve Overland…
Now after a lovely restoration process & re-recordings – we have these songs in all its glory… this is simply top notch first half of the ’80s UK’s melodic hard rock / AOR.
There were other changes in White Spirit’s personnel: guitarist Janick Gers join Ian Gillan Band and later Iron Maiden, replaced by Mick Tucker, while Toby Sadler take over bass duties from Phil Brady.
This improved White Spirit line up entered the studio in 1981 to work on their second album with Colin Towns as producer. Over a dozen of tracks were worked but the band parted ways soon.
Brian Howe crossed the Atlantic and became frontman for Ted Nugent, before achieving mega platinum success as the replacement for Paul Rodgers in Bad Company.
So White Spirit were seemingly consigned to music history, with former members proceeding to forge impressive careers built on this promising foundation.
Four decades on, and the location of these 2nd album sessions remained a mystery. Presumed to have been consigned to a skip, as was the fate of so many priceless master tapes carelessly discarded over the years.
The day following Brian Howe’s tragic death from a heart attack in May 2020, original White Spirit members guitarist Mick Tucker and keyboardist Malcolm Pearson were on the phone reflecting on those heady White Spirit days. The missing tapes were once more discussed, but still neither had any idea where to find them.
Fate stepped in, and whilst preparing to relocate to France, Pearson was rifling through his furniture in storage when he found a dusty old bedside cabinet. Inside were four sets of tapes.
One labelled ‘Chiswick Studios – White Spirit’. This was it. The one they’d all thought was lost for ever.
The tape was handed over to Conquest Music boss and Tank guitarist, Cliff Evans. He arranged for the delicate and risky process of restoring the tapes to preserve and retrieve the old recordings.
Successful as the process was, the sound quality of some elements of the tracks were just not good enough for today’s ears so Tucker & Pearson decided to replace all of the musical accompaniment with a stellar line up of players.
Neil Murray (Whitesnake) and Russell Gilbrook (Uriah Heep) made up the rhythm section, with the guitars and keyboards replaced by Mick and Mal.
Tracklist:
01. Right or Wrong (04:50)
02. Runaway (04:06)
03. The Dice Rolls On (04:53)
04. Lady of the Night (04:29)
05. Gotta Get Out (06:24)
06. Better Watch Out (04:55)
07. Don't Say No (05:14)
08. Wait a Little Longer (04:45)
09. Holy Water (04:53)
10. Rock and Roll (Is Good For You) (04:42)
WHITE SPIRIT (feat Brian Howe, Jeff Scott Soto, Steve Overland) – Right Or Wrong [recorded 1981] (2022)+FLAC
 |
