FASTWAY – All Fired Up [Rock Candy remastered] (2019) *EXCLUSIVE*

For many even better than their great debut record, FASTWAY‘s second effort “All Fired Up” has recently been remastered by Rock Candy Records. And this is the kind of albums that really needed a proper ‘Remastered & Reloaded’ treatment, as the original CD press resulted awful flat. The vinyl LP always sounded great but the early ’80s transfers to CD were ‘cold’ and lifeless.
Just wait to hear this vital remastering, with all instruments / vocals coming out clear and huge.

After left Motorhead in 1982, guitarist ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke started conversations with longtime UFO bassist Pete Way to form a new group, but he dropped out of the picture almost immediately to join Ozzy Osbourne’s band, leaving Clarke to carry the load himself.
But carry the load he did, churning out an impressive array of heavy rockers with the help of erstwhile Humble Pie drummer Jerry Shirley ex-Taste bassist Charlie McCracken and, sparkling new discovery, Irish vocalist Dave King.

For Fastway, Clarke and his band immersed themselves in blues rock but with a contemporary edge. It was a sound that won much respect and fitted in nicely with the emerging commercial interest in hard rock, which self-titled debut LP actually ventured into the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, certified gold in the USA.

Continuing their progress they recorded second album ‘All Fired Up’ in 1984, a LP that stylistically mirrored the band’s debut and was produced once again by industry legend Eddie Kramer (Kiss, Hendrix, Humble Pie) who had so successfully guided the previous.

With a more commercial and sheen production according to 1984, “All Fired Up” saw Fastway delivering a beyond-solid slate of tough-but-accessible hard rockers, among which the memorable title track, “Misunderstood” and a slow-burning blues beast named “Hurtin’ Me” channeled the spirit of Led Zeppelin for the ‘80s.
There’s a catchy riff driving the infectious “Hung Up on Love”, easy rockers with radio potential such as ‘Steal the Show’ or ‘Non-Stop Love’, and a top class ballad in “If You Could See”.

Another highlight, ‘Tell Me,’ seemed even more guaranteed to hit with its passing resemblance to first album standout, ‘Say What You Will’ (both were built around ‘Fast’ Eddie’s deft fretboard fingerwork), but, inexplicably, it did not, joining the remainder of ‘All Fired Up’ in falling short of commercial expectations.
And yet, although Fastway’s career prospects would carry on sinking, steadily lower and lower from this point forward, ‘All Fired Up’ remains a staunch favorite of ‘80s heavy rock enthusiasts, for obvious reasons.

While Fastway’s debut is darn great slice of ’80s hard rock and their most successful LP, I seem to be in a minority group that actually prefers this second album.
Songwriting wise and musically both are at the same (high) level, however I like “All Fired Up” production better, with more emphasis in the melody / polish somehow akin – to my ears – Survivor’s sound of the era.

As we would expect, the Rock Candy techs have showcased their remastering mastery (and indeed, mystery) on this reissue, and while the BGO Records 90s-style remastered version from almost two decades ago is nice, this 2019 release is awesome.
HIGHLY Recommended

Only at 0dayrox

01 – All Fired Up
02 – Misunderstood
03 – Steal The Show
04 – Station
05 – Non Stop Love
06 – Hurtin’ Me
07 – Tell Me
08 – Hung Up On Love
09 – The Stranger
10 – Telephone
11 – If You Could See

Dave King – lead and backing vocals
‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke – guitars
Charlie McCracken – bass
Jerry Shirley – drums, percussion

BUY IT
www.amazon.de/All-Fired-Up-CollectorS-Fastway/dp/B07WLBT1VG