A comprehensive collection of their work in the second half of the 1970’s, Born Under The Wrong Sign (1976-1979) is the latest release via Cherry Red Records from Scotland’s legendary rockers Nazereth. With more than 25 bonus tracks across the five discs, there is plenty here to excite completists together with those looking for a good place to kick start their Nazereth collection. This period in the bands history saw them riding the crest of a wave commercially, having achieved a chart breakthrough across the Atlantic with ‘Love Hurts’ and 1975’s Hair of the Dog.

The set kicks off with Close Enough for Rock N Roll, recorded by the classic line-up of Dan McCafferty, Pete Agnew, Manny Charlton and Darrell Sweet, and was at the time their first album on the A&M label. Epic tour diary ‘Telegram’ opens the album in fine fashion, the 7 minute mini-opera being a firm live favourite for many years to come. Mellow ballad ‘Homesick Again’ continued the touring theme. and elsewhere ‘Vancouver Blues’ and ‘Born Under the Wrong Sign’ are solid boogie drenched rockers in the bands signature style. A very good album that saw Nazereth back in the Billboard Top 30. Bonus tracks include the brilliant ‘My White Bicycle’. By the end of the same year they were back with Play ‘n’ the Game, which although not as successful commercially, still has some good moments. Nearly half of the album is made up of covers, including the Beach Boys ‘Wild Honey’ and Joe Tex ‘I Want To Do Everything For You’ which suggests they may have been lacking in new material given the demands of two albums in a calendar year. But the originals such as catchy opener ‘Somebody to Roll’ and bass-driven funk of ‘Waiting for the Man’ are notable highlights.

Expect No Mercy from 1977 is on both discs 3 and 4, the latter being the version that was originally rejected by the record label at the time; the band being instructed to rework the album. This resulted in a hard rocking record that returned Nazereth back to their roots, typified by the title track and ‘Gone Dead Train’. The album is also known for the striking cover artwork courtesy of Frank Frazetta, that sits well with the uncompromising, gritty songs, Dan McCafferty’s voice really standing out on this one. The album as originally intended definitely doesn’t pack the same punch and you can understand why the label sent the Scottish rockers back to try again. And having hit upon a winning formula, 1979’s No Mean City followed a similar pattern, the overall songwriting also shifted up another gear. Guitarist Zal Cleminson from SAHB rounded out the line-up, and with some suitably menacing artwork from the superb Rodney Matthews, No Mean City would be the most successful Nazereth album for several years. Big sounding power ballad ‘Star’, kick-ass rocker ‘Just to Get Into It’ and the epic title track combine to make this one a real high point of not only their 70’s output, but their discography as a whole.

Overall this is a very satisfying box set, showcasing not only a solid period in Nazereth history but the added bonus of numerous additional tracks and Cherry Red’s attention to detail ensuring a high quality release.

DISC ONE
CLOSE ENOUGH FOR ROCK´N´ROLL (1976)
1  Telegram (Parts 1 – 4)
2  Vicki
3  Homesick Again
4  Vancouver Shakedown
5  Born Under The Wrong Sign
6  Loretta
7  Carry Out Feelings
8  Lift The Lid
9  You’re The Violin
BONUS TRACKS
10  My White Bicycle (Single)
11  You’re The Violin (Edited A-Side)
12  Loretta (Alternate Single Version)
13  Carry Out Feelings (US Single Edit)
14  Lift The Lid (Alternate Single Version)
15  My White Bicycle (Original Version)
16  Telegram (Edited Version)
17  On Your Way
18  So You Want To Be A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star

DISC TWO
PLAY ´N´ THE GAME (1976)
1  Somebody To Roll
2  Down Home Girl
3  Flying
4  Waiting For The Man
5  Born To Love
6  I Want To Do Everything For You
7  I Don’t Want To Go On Without You
8  Wild Honey
9  L.A. Girls
BONUS TRACKS
10  Good Love (B-Side)
11  I Don’t Want To Go On Without You (Alternate Edit)
12  Waiting For The Man (Alternate Edit)
13  Somebody To Roll (Edit)
14  Born To Love (Edited Version)

DISC THREE
EXPECT NO MERCY (1977)
1  Expect No Mercy
2  Gone Dead Train
3  Shot Me Down
4  Revenge Is Sweet
5  Gimme What’s Mine
6  Kentucky Fried Blues
7  New York Broken Toy
8  Busted
9  Place In Your Heart
10  All The King’s Horses
BONUS TRACKS
11  Greens (B-Side)
12  Desolation Road (B-Side)
13  Gone Dead Train (Edited Version)
14  Expect No Mercy (Alternate Version)
15  Place In Your Heart (Alternate Edited Version)
16  Kentucky Fried Blues (Edited Version)
17  Expect No Mercy (Live)

DISC FOUR
EXPECT NO MERCY (Original Version)
1  Kentucky Fried Blues
2  Gone Dead Train
3  Shot Me Down
4  Greens
5  Life Of A Dog
6  New York Broken Toy
7  Revenge Is Sweet
8  Desolation Road
9  Can’t Keep A Good Man Down
10  Moonlight Eyes
 
DISC FIVE
NO MEAN CITY (1979)
1 Just To Get Into It
2 May The Sunshine
3  Simple Solution (Parts 1 & 2)
4  Star
5  Claim To Fame
6  Whatever You Want Babe
7  What’s In It For Me
8  No Mean City (Parts 1 & 2)
BONUS TRACKS
9  Snaefell (No Mean City Outtake, 1979, Instrumental) 10 May The Sunshine (Single Edit)
11  Whatever You Want Babe (Single Edit)
12  Star (US Version)
13  No Mean City (Alternate Edit)
14  Simple Solution (Edit)