Sue Saad and The Next "Sue Saad and The Next" 1980***

Sometimes you just choose an album by its cover. At least I do - provided it comes cheap enough, and this sure did. The cover said to me: Long forgotten hopefuls. Power Pop (I'm a big fan) or New Wave (Not such a big fan, but I grew up in the 80's, so it there's a nostalgia effect). Plus visually it's worth owning - the band's pose on it is a hoot, like accidental self-parody! Oh I could write a lot about it, but I couldn't possibly outdo this blogger, who named it the worst album cover of all time! Among other comments, he has a name for this specific look: "Dance Instructors Who Are Also Portraying A Street Gang In A Shitty Movie". Ha! I swear I've seen enough such movies as a kid. We only had two TV channels, the State one and the Armed Forces one - zapping wasn't a choice! As for the content: Power Pop? Check! New Wave? Check! AOR ballads? Check! Late 70's zeitgeist? Absolutely! Think Blondie, Joan Jett, Pat Benetar, Sniff''n The Tears all rolled into one... Just not the best bits from each band. The LP reached #131 at the charts, which is no more or less than what it deserved. The band also appeared in a few B-movie soundtracks (Roadie, Looker, Radioactive Dreams, Vicious Lips), then promptly disappeared without making a second record. Which is fine, because disappearing after one record is exactly the stuff cult bands are made of, and I say these guys and girl's cult status is long overdue! The album has a lot of rockers falling halfway between classic rock and new wave, featuring clean production and great lead guitar by Tony Riparetti: "Gimme Love/Gimme Pain", "Your Lips-Hands-Kiss-Love", "Danger Love" - all nice but ultimately unexceptional, and very much of their time (think Foreigner/Heart/Survivor etc). Predictably, I prefer the faster, punkier ones "It's Gotcha" and "I I Me Me" but I also love the reggae-ish "Young Girl" with Sue Saad (improbably that's her real name) channelling Debbie Harry. There are also a couple of big ballads, "Cold Night Rain" and "Prisoner". The latter must have made an impact in its time, as it was soon covered by acts as diverse as Sheena Easton and...Uriah Heep! Most blogs report that the album has never been re-released, but discogs lists a CD reissue by the now-defunct Renaissance Records. In any case, that should be more expensive and harder to find than the original vinyl, so I suggest you dig out a copy of the LP - especially if you like good power pop and new wave and appreciate an interesting miss as much as a hit. Meanwhile, I'll seek out those B-Movies featuring Sue Saad's music: I suspect I'll be unearthing at least one "so bad it's good" cult classic.

**** for Young Girl, I I Me Me

*** for Gimme Love/Gimme Pain, It's Gotcha, Prisoner, Your Lips-Hands-Kiss-Love, Danger Love

** for I Want Him, Cold Night Rain, Won't Give It Up