Customer Reviews

It's Personal

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

 

 

This is truly great stuff. It brings back memories of the 80's. I never understood why City Boy wasn't a bigger succes then.

The harmonies and melodies are just fab.

This is an amazing discovery for all City Boy fans. This 1981 album is from the same time period as "Heads Are Rolling". Same line up; Roy Ward on drums, Mike Slamer on guitars, Max Thomas on keyboards and Lol Mason on vocals. And the songs are all very good. Great song-writing, great production. What a treat!

It's Personal, City Boy's second post Mutt Lange produced release, has one of my favorite bands taking their final curtain call. Recorded at Battery Studios, The Farmyard and Rockfield Studios (per their official website) It's Personal flows quickly song to song. I've looked high and low for this release for years, only to find out it would be available before Christmas this year.
My review of City Boy's album Heads Are Rolling had me thinking that was their last album - I was wrong. It's Personal was their last and it's good time rock. The band sounds quite stripped down with the four members, not six. I would compare the majority of the songs on par with the ones on City Boy's release, Young Men Gone West, which was recorded with a first time American tour in mind. I would rate it about the same as YMGW, but it lacks the depth and punch of say .... Dinner At The Ritz or The Day The Earth Caught Fire. The wait is over and I feel somewhat saddened that there's no new music available from these guys.

This was the last album recorded by the band City Boy. It was released in 1981 over in Europe, but never released in the US. Anyway, when I finally got it I was NOT disappointed. This is a terrific album, and well worth the price.

Vocals are handled by Lol Mason and Roy Ward (mostly Roy) and are not as complicated as the older City Boy albums (with Steve Broughton) were.

As with all City Boy albums, Mike Slamer's guitar work is excellent. His playing is both powerful and tasteful, depending on the song.

Max Thomas is terrific as always; his piano is front and center on "Exit the Heavyweight."

My favorite tracks are No Ordinary Life, Rat Race, Lovers, It's Personal and Exit the Heavyweight.

Bottom line: While not as strong as their previous effort, "Heads are Rolling," this is still a great album. How this band never made it big, I'll never know!

This CD is great, smokin' guitar work and the usual clever City Boy lyrics. Some talk of the band getting back together. Awesome! Come on Mike, Lol and Steve it wont be the same without you guys.