Fallen Angels "Fallen Angels" 1978(orig) 1995(reissue)***

So let me jump the gun and say right away that this band deserved better than the complete anonymity surrounding it. One of many (mostly unknown) bands to sport the name Fallen Angels, it was founded by guitarist Mickey Finn after he left Steve Marriot's All Stars - not Marriot's former band Humble Pie as stated on the cover, who the hell writes this stuff? Further confusion ensues because other ignoramus (e.g Allmusic.com) mix guitarist Mickey Finn with the same-named drummer, wrongly crediting the former T-Rex member with playing on the All Stars' "Marriott". So Mickey Waller (AKA Finn) is erroneously credited with being in Humble Pie, while deprived of credit for the album he really did play in. His legacy isn't well served, to say the least. To make matters worse, when the Fallen Angels' sole LP did get a limited (originally only in Holland) release it was as Phil May (big letters) and The Fallen Angels (smaller ones), presumeably because singer May's name was slightly familiar, him being an ex-Pretty Thing and all. This CD reissue is actually the only version of this album presented as a collaborative effort instead of a -more or less solo- Phil May record. Of course many members came and went, while Finn himself isn't present on "Shine On Baby" and "California". In total, 11 musicians can be heard in these recordings while a lot more passed from the band without recording anything. The music isn't anything revolutionary, just typical 70's classic rock. But neither is it in any way inferior to contemporary albums by famous groups of the era. The band seem to have American FM radio in mind, adopting a commercial rock sound a la Eagles, at least for the first couple of songs "Fallen Angels" and "California". "13 1/2 Floor Suicide" is closer to "Finn's former band" Humble Pie with its hard rock riff and bluesy piano. "Shine On Baby" has a very funky -almost disco- beat and vocal, jazzy sax and rocking guitar. "Dance Again" is a nice ballad, while "My Good Friend" (another ballad) and rocker "Cold Wind" are saturated with violin. I love them both as I'm a sucker for rock songs with violin - for example Pavlov's Dog, Dylan's Desire LP, and Edgar Broughton's "Evening over Rooftops". "I Keep On" has an almost Aerosmith feel, while "Dogs Of War" and "Girl Like You" remind me of Mott The Hoople's laddish glam rock. This CD reissue appends 3 previously unreleased tracks recorded -without Phil May- in 1978: "When The Russians Came Back" is an interesting guitar instrumental, "Chance" an indifferent rocker and "Lazy Days" an equally blunt laid-back instumental. All in all a good album, but I can't help but feel it doesn't belong on CD. Had I discovered it by chance at a vinyl sale, it would have immediately fallen into my "Buried Treasure" category, now it's just an agreeable classic rock CD in a collection full of those.

**** for Fallen Angels, California, 13 1/2 Floor Suicide, Cold Wind

*** for Dance Again, Shine On Baby, My Good Friend, I Keep On, Dogs Of War, Girl Like You,When The Russians Came Back 

** for Chance, Lazy Days