PETE WAY – Solo Albums 2000-2004 [HNE 3CD Box Set] (2022)

When PETE WAY sadly passed away in 2020, it ended a 50+ year career in rock ‘n’ roll, from founder member, bass guitarist and songwriter in UFO, followed by collaborations with Motorhead’s ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke and Ozzy Osbourne, to forming the self-explanatory Waysted, before re-joining his band-mates in UFO. During one of his occasional breaks from UFO, Pete found time to develop a solo career.
Now Hear No Evil / Cherry Red is releasing ”Solo Albums 2000-2004 [HNE 3CD Box Set]’‘ with all Pete Way solo releases, including bonus tracks.
Forming a trio with guitarist Walt James and drummer Scott Phillips, Pete Way released his solo debut in 2000. Unsurprisingly, given its title, ‘Amphetamine’ (CD1 here) partly chronicles Pete’s relationship with illicit substances.
Taking on lead vocals as well as his trademark bass guitar, the material is a major departure from the melodic rock of UFO, exchanged for a visceral hard rock with a rough swagger to it but at various times throughout it could be called pop, punkish, metal, bluesy at places. The song ‘American Kid (What a Shame)’ is a killer tune, and a personal favorite.

Pete would take these songs out on the road, recording his set at the Revolution in Cleveland, Ohio on 4th October 2002, for the (almost) Spinal Tap referencing ‘Alive In Cleveland’ (CD2 in this box), on which ‘American Kid (What A Shame)’, ‘Hangin’ Out’, ‘That’s Tuff’ and ‘Fooled Again’ from the ‘Amphetamine’ solo debut, UFO’s ‘Too Hot To Handle’ also gets a live airing.

A stripped back affair with Pete on guitar and vocals, joined by guitarist Michael Christian, ‘Acoustic Animal’ (CD3) from 2004 finds Pete bearing his soul, armed unusually with only an acoustic guitar.
Again, a departure from the more melodic hard rock of UFO, or sleazier, street sound of Waysted, there’s a more ragged vibe to the songs collected here.
Of the ten tracks, seven of which were written by Pete, there’s a return to Waysted’s ‘Heaven Tonight’, alongside covers of Fats Domino’s ‘If You Need Me’ and John Lennon’s ‘Working Class Hero’.
According to the album’s liner notes, “The Acoustic Animal is the story of the life of a true Rock-n-roll animal. Thirty years living in the limelight on major stages worldwide. Now sitting in his garden with a glass of wine and an acoustic guitar letting his soul pour out while telling a lifetime of stories.”
Highly Recommended

DISC ONE: AMPHETAMINE +3 (2000)
01 – That’s Tuff
02 – Hangin’ Out
03 – Fooled Again
04 – American Kid (What A Shame)
05 – Hole
06 – Hole 2
07 – Crazy
08 – Hand To Hold
BONUS:
09 – That’s Tuff (Demo)
10 – Fooled Again (Demo)
11 – American Kid (What A Shame) (Demo)

DISC TWO: ALIVE IN CLEVELAND +1 (2003)
01 – American Kid ( What A Shame )
02 – Hangin’ Out
03 – That’s Tuff
04 – Fooled Again
05 – Too Hot To Handle
06 – Might As Well Go Drinkin’
07 – You & Me
08 – Hole 1/Hole 2
09 – I Need Her Bad
10 – Born Again
11 – Somethin’ Else
12 – Crazy
13 – Hand To Hold
14 – Paradise (Bonus)

DISC THREE: ACOUSTIC ANIMAL (2004)
01 – Paradise (Acoustic)
02 – American Kid (Acoustic)
03 – Heaven Tonight (Acoustic)
04 – Fooled Again (Acoustic)
05 – Hole In My Heart (Acoustic)
06 – Hand To Hold (Acoustic)
07 – That’s Tuff (Acoustic)
08 – If You Need Me (Acoustic)
09 – Hangin’ Out (Acoustic)
10 – Working Class Hero (Acoustic)

Pete Way – vass, lead vocals
Scott Phillips – drums
Walt James – guitar, backing vocals
Michael Christian – guitar

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www.amazon.com/Solo-Albums-2000-2004-Pete-Way/dp/B0B5TXJYXZ