LOOSELY TIGHT – Fightin’ Society (Ltd. 500 including Bonus Track)

As requested, here’s “Fightin’ Society“, the one and only album from Arizona ’80s hard rockers LOOSELY TIGHT, recently reissued for the first time on CD by No Remorse Records in a limited press plus a previously unreleased track as bonus.
Like many of their Southwest American contemporaries (like ICON, who recruited Loosely Tight drummer Pat Dixon for their stupendous 1984 self-titled album), LOOSELY TIGHT stuck to the hard rock-metal hybrid style of the early ’80s rather than delving into the glammy sounds of California or the heavier rumblings over in Texas.
Originally a private LP (1981, Star Struck Records), “Fightin’ Society” delivers classic hard rock blended with arena / stadium rock catchiness, some kind of a mix between early RIOT, TRIUMPH and also some British touches in the vein of THIN LIZZY or UFO. Just check the video-track below…

Ever wonder what would have happened if Phil Lynott’s kid brother sang on Riot’s album ‘Restless Breed’? If so, or if the previous sentence intrigues you in the least, then have I got a treat for you.
Somewhere out in the distance of Arizona, Loosely Tight recorded their one and only album back in 1981. ‘Fighting Society’ is the gem of the scene. The album obviously takes its cues from late 70s-early 80s Thin Lizzy but with a strong dose of Riot mixed in, plus Triumph’s melody on some tunes. I’d swear these guys were hooked on ‘Restless Breed’, except that album wasn’t released until the following year.

Nevertheless, Loosely Tight managed to excel at that tough, blue collar, streetwise sound that relatively few bands ever master. Songs such as ‘Fighting Society’ and ‘Bad Business’ could easily be mistaken for long-lost ‘Lizzy tunes, and ‘Off in the Distance’ and ‘Renegade’ are such dead-ringers for early ’80s Riot that it’s hard to believe Rhett Forrester isn’t the one belting these bad boys out.
You also get a few UFO power chords here and there, and some inspired melodies too.

Besides the strong songwriting & musicianship, another thing that makes this album stand out ahead of the pack is that every song has its own vibe, yet they’re all excellent. ‘Off in the Distance’ is a slow, heavy stomper, while ‘From Another Place’ absolutely sizzles, picking up the pace but without being too one-dimensional.

The highlight is undoubtedly ‘The Walls Between’. A much softer, quieter song than the rest, but this is no ballad; it is an incredibly well-crafted melodic hard rock classic that deserves to be up there alongside 70s staples such as ‘Smoke on the Water’ and ‘Stairway to Heaven’. Seriously, the song is THAT incredible, bringing to mind Triumph’s finest moments.

While production was pretty good for an indie, seems the original tapes were lost, so the source for this CD reissue are unknown, however enough in quality to enjoy this quite unknown, ‘lost’ rocking album.
Highly Recommended

 

01 – Bombs Away
02 – Fightin’ Society
03 – Renegade
04 – From Another Place
05 – Off in the Distance
06 – Bad Bizzness
07 – These Walls Between
08 – Loud N’ Restless
09 – (Let Me Go) Crazy
10 – Through Thick N’ Thin
11 – Rough N’ Tough (Bonus Track)

Dino Livingston – lead vocals, guitar
Mark Lehman – bass, backing vocals
Jr. Lomeli – guitar
Pat Dixon – drums, percussion

 

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