Customer Reviews

Fastway/All Fired Up

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a remastered packaging of Fastway's first two albums. Fastway was formed by "Fast" Eddie Clark after he left Motorhead. The debut album was released around '83 or so, as I recall (during my high school days), with "All Fired Up" coming within a few years of that one.

To sum up these two records, it's a basic guitar-bass-drum line-up with a pretty high-powered vocalist. The songs show a strong blues-rock background though kicked up with a more hard rock sound and edge. The big single from the debut disc was "Say What You Will", which featured a nifty pull-off guitar lick over a steady, driving bass and drum groove. Fast Eddie wasn't the most technical guitarist around, but he played great riffs and usually dropped in solos that nicely complimented the tunes.

In some ways, I think "All Fired Up" was Fastway's crowning achievement. The songs build on the direction set by the debut, but the songwriting and production are more focused. And you don't have to worry about sappy keyboards, which would partially mar the next Fastway album, "Waiting for the Roar".

All in all, this package represents a good buy for fans of '80's hard rock (not pop-metal). One other very good album from Fastway is the soundtrack to "Trick or Treat". That album pulls a few tracks from this 2-disc set.

Fastway.

The first two albums are almost out of place in the early 1980s. They aren't slickly produced or the made for MTV fodder that dominated the decade. Instead, you get a great ballsy rock effort that still stands the test of time.

Fast Eddie Clark after departing Motorhead decided to form a new band. Eddie took some cues from the first two Zep albums. The end result is great bluesy licks, excellent drumming courtesy of Jerry Shirley and hair raising vocals from David King. These lads accomplished what few rock bands could've in the 80s - they swung like a [monkey]. Seldom the power, the soul and the tastiness converge in a band.

The first half of the CD, is great. However on the second part of the disc (the "All Fired Up" selections) is where you feel the depth coming on. "Hurtin Me" is Fastway's version of Zep's "Since I've been loving you," while "Telephone" is fun hard rock. David King feels himself out in these songs. I think King is one of the forgotten rock vocalists. I would've loved to see him dual Messrs Plant himself.

Overall, this is more of a throwback approach which works. Sadly, after "All Fired Up" the band embraced synthesizers and lost their blues based hard rock which ended up just making them another cheesy 80s band. I'd like to seen them evolve the blues thing farther.

If your a fan of early 70s blues rock in the vein of Zep 1 and Zep 2. You'll love this. Shame its been forgotten.

Now lets hear of a Fastway reunion!

An essential 2-on-1 UK import of Fastway's first two lp's remastered onto one CD. Their self-titled, ('83) debut and 'All Fired Up' ('84). As always tunes here that are the most memorable include "Easy Living", their first single "We Become One", "Steal The Show", "Tell Me" and "Stranger". Even better than this I heard that Fast Eddie Clarke had recently reunited Fastway. Believe he's the sole original member. Need to get vocalist Dave King back in there.

So sad that this Fastway lineup could not have last longer.
These two recordings were performed in 1983 & 1984, in that
time I owned the records and turned me into Hard Rock. The
style is similar to Led Zeppelin since David King (voc.)sounds
so much like Robert Plant. I already have the first Fastway CD,
but could not be able to find "All fired up", now I got two
copies from the first one (though the first includes "Far
far from home" as bonus track, not included on this one).

I seriously considered purchasing the "Fastwat Collection" but I
couldn't understand why does that not include the song "Tell
me" from All fired up, this song is something else, is a
killer, really. Jerry Shirley sounds perfect on drums (former
Humble Pie) and so does Charlie McKraken on bass (former of
Taste-Rory Gallagher), obviously Fast Eddie Clarke's riffs
and solos are the trademark of Fastway's sound. In spite the
short life of this band, they created great music, great

hard rock that is worth to have it (even more if you're a
Zeppelin fan).

I really can't add much that hasn't already been hashed without admitting that I'm older than dirt and my most commonly used word is "What"! But I want to add that Pete Way (UFO) played the Bass on the first LP (I bought it the day after it hit the shelves) hense the name: "FASTWAY" Git It, no really Git IT!!!


Real Metal is On It's Way Back, So if You Do Not Like LEAD GUITAR mixed with you bloody grooves - YOU LOOSE!!!!!

JRK

Fastway was formed in the early 80's by former Motorhead guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke and former UFO bassist Pete Way (hence the name Fastway), along with vocalist Dave King, who is now (much) better known for fronting Irish punk act Flogging Molly. The band didn't really sound much like Motorhead or UFO, but was still a pretty good hard rock act. Musically they played workmanlike British hard rock, and Dave King's over the top vocals gave Fastway a bit of hair metal flair.

BGO Records reissued Fastway's 1983 self-titled debut and 1984's All Fired Up as a 2-on-1 CD in 2000. It says both albums have been remastered, and Fastway in particular does sound like it's been cleaned up a bit, but the audio quality is a far cry from the excellent UFO, Saxon, MSG and Scorpions reissues by EMI. Still, it's a good way to grab both albums in one shot and for a reasonable price.

I wouldn't call either album essential, but anyone who is seriously into the 80's hard rock sound should definitely check out some Fastway, and the Fastway/All Fired Up 2-on-1 reissue is a great way to do so.

I got this cuz it's got "Fast" Eddie from Motorhead on guitar. This sounds NOTHING like Motorhead. More of a classic rock, Led Zeppelin-type feel to it. Not bad, though. I'd say the only thing I'm really not crazy about on this CD is the vocalist. Kinda sounds like Ronnie James Dio, but not as good. I won't complain about the music. It's very clean rockin'.

the 80's was my decade,and I am a big metal fan.this cd has probably the bands best work. If you're a fan of led zeppelin, you'll enjoy this cd!

The first Fastway album is a classic. High-energy, fast paced mayhem. Hadn't heard any tracks from their second album after the initial release. Other reviews led me to believe it was a great album too. It is not. It is ok, don't get me wrong, but it lacks the energy of the first album. No song that really grabs your attention. I rated this album an average of 4 stars: five stars for Fastway, and three stars for All Fired Up. If you're looking to replace your tired old LP or cassette, just stick with the Fastway CD, don't bother with the combination.

Since the early 1980s, I got into hard rock and heavy metal music. As "Hair Bands" started coming out of the woodwork non-stop by the mid 1980s. A friend got me into listening to Fastway, through his brother's music collection. Who just happened to be a Motorhead fan. You know that guitarist Fast Eddie Clark ripped on the Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" 1980 album. That song alone is still one of the heaviest rock jams of today.
When the band Fastway was formed in 1982, they weren't really known yet. It wasn't until their first self entitled EP album "Fastway" with the song "Say what you will" got major radio airplay. This 2-CD compilation set; their original EP album and with "All Fired Up" is worth having and hearing; if you're a Fastway fan. I like the songs from the "All Fired Up" cd album a little more. With tracks like "All Fired Up, Misunderstood, and Non Stop Love" the jamming continues. With guitarist Fast Eddie Clark, singer David King, bass player Charlie McCracken, and Jerry Shirley on drums.
I'm sure many Fastway fans were created when the movie "Trick or Treat" came out in the mid 1980s when Fastway jammed the soundtrack. It's still a classic movie. Cheers to all you rockers out there! Lantz in AZ