SWEET SAVAGE – S/T [Demon Doll Records remastered +8] + 0dayrox Extras *HQ*

Fronted by remembered singer Joey C. Jones (RIP) SWEET SAVAGE were a sensation from the ’80s US glam / hair metal scene. The band only officially released the mini-LP “Sweet Savage” in 1985, but recorded more material.
A cult record, for years a very hard to find vinyl, Demon Doll Records put out this remastered version of “Sweet Savage”, for the first time on CD and including a bunch of bonus tracks. Sporting all the original artwork in a 12 page booklet including never before seen photos, an in depth band biography and lyrics, this is an Eighties Glam Rock and Hair Metal treasure.
Produced & arranged by talented Dana Strum (at the time in Vinnie Vincent Invasion, later Slaughter), this is pure mid-Eighties stuff, fun, hard-hitting but melodic.
To make it more complete, there’s 0dayrox Extras for your collection.

During the height of the glam metal era on the Sunset Strip, musicians were laying more pipe than the street maintenance crews on Hollywood Blvd. For the scene as a whole, there were 3 unsigned bands that were leading the way.
For these budding rock stars, landing the dancers with the steady cash flow was just as important as landing the record deal. One was a hot body and the other was a sought after commodity.

These bands frequently sold-out live venues like the legendary Gazzarri’s, Roxy, Whiskey and The Troubadour with little or no effort at all. All had faithful followings that would impress any major label rep with the title of A&R.
Having their faces grace the cover of the weekly published Rock City News, the one stop music guide of the Hollywood scene was as common as the neon T-backs and tan lined tits of the time. One such covered featured the three front men with the appropriate caption, Three Rockers From Hell-y wood!

Two of these bands became household names at the height of Glam Rock era: Poison and Warrant. The third – Sweet Savage – was always on the verge of landing the big time record contract but for odd reasons, the signatures on the dotted line never materialized.
Sweet Savage was offered a record deal on Enigma Records but they turned it down.
Guitarist Chris Sheridan said: “Our attitude was why should we sign with an independent label when the majors were looking at us? It was the biggest mistake we made.
… Poison was then offered the deal after Savage declined.

Yeah, at the time, Sweet Savage was bigger than Poison and Warrant. They had their own P.A., lights, trucks and motor home – they were able to go to San Diego, Sacramento, etc, and play all the time. Sweet Savage wasn’t a band that needed to promote themselves with flyers. Managed by famous Riki Rachtman Sweet Savage dominated Los Angeles in the mid 80’s with their Glam Rock anthems and incredible live performances.

While shopping for labels and a major contract, Sweet Savage released a five song EP simply titled ”Sweet Savage” on Savage Tunes, the bands own label. The record released in December 1985 and produced by Dana Strum quickly gained favorable reviews worldwide. With the resulting positive feedback, the first pressing of the EP quickly sold out and another run was pressed.
For a few dollars here and there, fans could purchase shirts, buttons, promo photos and the EP at shows. In other words, standard merchandise items for the touring bands that generated cash for fuel and food. Fans would line up to get autographs, the broken drumstick, used pink imprinted guitar picks or sweat stained towels from the band after the show. It was a common sight.

The EP secured the top slots of Kerrang magazine’s import record chart for 16 weeks ahead of such acts as Poison, Bon Jovi and Cinderella. The record eventually moved 30,000 copies worldwide and Metal Forces magazine gave it a ranking of 88 out of a possible 100.

The ”Sweet Savage” EP featured four originals, “On the Rocks,” “Do Ya,” “Head over Heels,” the slower “Breakaway” and one cover, “Fox on the Run.” All the songs would become nightly favorites of the Sweet Savage set. Of the four originals, “Head over Heels” and “Do Ya” were sure bets for heavy rotation on MTV and radio airwaves if only backed by a major label.
The first song, “On the Rocks,” was more of a party ender that usually brought the Sweet Savage set to a close. The slower “Breakaway” would change the sets tempo with girls sporting tight lace and spandex outfits flocking to the dance floor.

For two years straight from 1985-1987, Savage kept seeking the recording contract. But with each deal, the offers became smaller and smaller. At the same time, other bands were landing deals and the landscape of the LA scene was changing.
The Jones-era Sweet Savage came to an end on Saturday, August 20, 1988 at a small out of the way venue called the Green Door in Montclair.  Jones continued with other music related projects creating commercial radio oriented songs in the band Shock Tu followed up Joey C. Jones and the Glory Hounds.

The master tapes of the Sweet Savage EP have been tucked away for years. Several years ago, guitarist Chris Sheridan decided to bring back to life the music that should have been exposed to thousands or perhaps millions. He obtained the master tapes as well as demos / live studio recordings and fan submitted live bootleg audiotapes.
And that’s what we have here: the original EP remastered; it’s refreshing to hear the classic club anthems in the disc format. For those who never knew the songs, now is a good time to play catch up and go back to the days when rock was fun.

The demos consists of songs recorded live into the studio with a very good sound quality. The live tracks suffer from being audience recordings, but enough to catch Sweet Savage hot performances. These were all recorded between 1987 and 1988.

But we have more Sweet Savage songs added as extras. “Summer Song” is one of those songs that should have been an instant radio hit for the summer months. The reaction of the crowd every night at the Savage show was proof, just on a smaller scale. The crowd was a great test market. The song would have stood the test of time if exposed to the masses. It could have equated to Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” That is the potential would have been no problem.
The track “Love You Hate You” comes from a 1989 rehearsal, with vocalist Rick Clark who replaced Joey C. Jones a year before.

It’s hard to believe these songs are almost 40-years old but yet remain unheard to many unless they were in attendance during the Savage years. Only the higher authority knows what could have or should have been for this hard working band. Maybe it’s best for things to remain unknown but then again it would be nice to know how many lives could have been affected in a positive manner.
For those who have memories, they have been blessed by something Sweet yet so Savage.
Highly Recommended

01 – On The Rocks
02 – Do Ya
03 – For On The Run
04 – Head Over Heels
05 – Break Away
BONUS TRACKS:
06 – Desert Rose
07 – Night Is Calling
08 – Deja Vu (Live)
09 – Cut It Out (Live)
10 – Crank It Up (Live)
11 – Shape Of Things(Live)
12 – Night Is Calling (Live)
13 – Gona Lose That Girl Tonight (Live)

0dayrox Extras: SWEET SAVAGE – Unreleased & Live:
01 – Summer Song (Unreleased)
02 – Desert Rose (Demo)
03 – Love You Hate You (Unreleased)
04 – Picture Yourself (Live)
05 – Prisoner Of Paradise (Live)
06 – Crank It Up! (Live / different date)

Joey C. Jones – Vocals
Chris Sheridan – Guitar
Laine Sheridan – Bass
Randy St. John – Drums

Produced & Arranged by Dana Strum (tracks: 1-5)

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ddrmusicgroup.com/products/sweet-savage-reissue