BILLY THE KID – Sworn To Fun ’85 [Bad Reputation remaster / first time on CD] (2025) *HQ*

320_1 /// 320_2 /// HQ 1 /// HQ 2

No matter how much you scour the internet, it’s always hard to find information on bands like BILLY THE KID. Back in the mid-80s, we used to take risks and buy music we’d never heard before. We were keen to find out more. We couldn’t get enough.
BILLY THE KID 1985’s album “Sworn To Fun” was one of those opportunities. It ended up having a big impact, which lasted for years. What stands out most about this album is Billy L’Kidd’s guitar work. Mention should also be made of Jeffrey Velvet, who did a great job on bass to complement L’Kidd’s fast rhythms. ‘Rock You Up’ is a perfect example of this superb collaboration, with its lovely fat bass and guitar passages.
Now Bad Reputation Records dust-off this U.S. Melodic Rock album reissuing / remastering “Sworn To Fun” and releasing it for the first time on CD. At places, the music brings to mind early Fastway.
Another interesting fact about this album is the guest appearance of Pat Regan (Fake I.D., KISS) on keyboards. The album was produced by Duane Baron (Cheap Trick, Dany Spanos, Quiet Riot, Motley Crue) who also contributed backing vocals.
Randy Delay, the band’s drummer, later resurfaced with the Kentucky Headhunters and Drivin’ n’ Cryin’. Lead vocalist Stephen Fredrick later resurfaced in the band KenZiner, then Firewind. And Jude Cole provide backing vocals. All talented dudes.

Unfortunately, this album was never sufficiently promoted.
The band did manage to make a name for themselves with ”Sworn to Fun”, but eventually had to break up.
Highlights include the opening track ‘When Hell Freezes Over’, which sticks in your brain for days. ‘Rock You Up’, as already mentioned, ‘Go For Your Guns’, ‘Heart of Steel’ and ‘Plenty’ are all equally catchy.
The album ends with a final blast, ‘Off With Her Head’.

Billy The Kid had hit the ground running with their first album. It’s a shame the story stopped there. So it’s really nice to have this album reissued to enjoy its 34 minutes of melodic rock n’ roll.
Highly Recommended

01 – When Hell Freezes Over
02 – Rock You Up
03 – Fear No Evil
04 – Prelude
05 – Go For Your Guns
06 – Even The Score
07 – Heart Of Steel
08 – Woman Of Sin
09 – Plenty
10 – Off With Her Head

Lead and Backing Vocals – Stephen Fredrick
Guitar – Billy L’Kidd
Keyboards – Pat Regan
Bass, Backing Vocals – Jeffrey Velvet
Drums, Backing Vocals – Randy Delay
Backing Vocals – Bob Gianetti, Jude Cole
Backing Vocals, Tambourine – Llord Nakcor
Backing Vocals, Producer, Engineer – Duane Baron

BUY
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