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Bittersweet King
This month Cherry Red records release the second King CD Bittersweet. Originally released in 1985 in vinyl form, it marked the second chapter for Coventry’s most flamboyant band. It’s a great package, with 8 bonus tracks, a full band discography, and the sleeve notes written by somebody called Pete Chambers! Yes yours truly, was more than happy to add his local knowledge to this project.
Punk author Alex Ogg contacted me in June, who was overseeing the project for Cherry Red Records, and I was more than happy to accept the commission to write the detailed sleeve notes. I also contributed to the albums cover photographs and memorabilia. King were a firm favourite of mine, I saw them countless times, and always left the gig with a smile on my face. Second albums are notoriously tricky, especially when your debut album was a cracker. Steps In Time was certainly that for King. It set the scene perfectly, containing standouts like Fish, I Kissed The Spikey Fridge, as well as the singles Won’t You Hold My Hand Now, Soul on My Boots and the unforgettable Love and Pride.
Bittersweet then would prove the ultimate test. Had they still got it? Was The momentum still there? Did they still have a fan-base? More to the point, would the music on this album cut-it with the record buying public? On it’s release I recall I wasn’t too happy with it, though in retrospect, it was the natural next step to what they had already created. There was a subtle undercurrent of maturity to this offering, though the sands of time have somewhat blurred the line between the two albums as I mention on the sleeve notes.
Countless tours and shows together had helped to cement new ideas, and after their initial foray on the charts, the second phase beginning around the summer of 1985 would provide us with the follow-up King album Bittersweet. King’s rise and fall all happened in the space of around one year, so it could be argued that many of the songs on “Steps In Time”, would not have sounded out of place on this album, and vice-versa. Whether there was any distinct musical ‘coming of age’ for the band is arguable. On Bittersweet the anthems were still evident as were the sing-along-choruses. Not forgetting the trademark ‘wounded love songs’, indeed Paul seemed even more tortured than ever and the theatrical angst continued on the bands third single “Alone Without You”.
Bittersweet seemed to win the fans over, though I recall some savagery from the press. Their debut Steps In Time had reached number six in the charts; Bittersweet would only manage a number 16 placing, read into that what you will. Music-wise, King proved they were still capable of writing some great music. This is how I put it on the sleeve notes:
“Torture” would become the bands last foray into the charts, before that though there was time for a ballad from Bittersweet’s second single offering “The Taste of Your Tears”. Probably as tender as they ever got, nice harmonies, the video showed us the new look King, less in evidence were the Doc Martens and multi-tone attire, replaced by loafers and bolero jacket, though sadly the hairstyle remained. The ability to write a good old fashion catchy tune also remained, be it a single or album track, King had the art well covered. Listen to “I Cringed, I Died,I Felt Hot”, heaving spleens aside, it’s as commerical as any single they ever release, as is the energetic “(Kings For a Day) Wait For No One”. While “These Things” was a slice of what this Coventry band could have been, I remember first hearing the track, and realising it didn’t all have to be about sing-a-long choruses. Mickey’s dramatic keyboards combined with Paul’s stark vocals created a genuinely moving musical interlude somewhat reminicent of Bryan Ferry, If “These Things” displayed Echoes of Bryan Ferry, then it was another of Paul King’s heros who would be the honeree of the track “2 MB” is dedicated and indeed about the enigmatic Marc Bolan of course.
All told, this CD is a great package, not only does it contain the original ten album tracks, but you also get eight additional tracks including a Love & Pride, I Kissed The Spikey Fridge, Torture, Crazy Party and Alone Without You remixes. The album is available on general release and from the Internet, I suggest you go buy a copy and listen to it with your Doc Martens on for the full effect.
Bittersweet Trivia
For more Backbeat information go to www.covmusic.net
Contact Pete at backbeat@covmusic.net
You can hear Pete Chambers “Backtracking” every Friday at 3.00pm on
The Bob Brolly Show on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire.
Look out for Pete’s new book “Godiva Rocked To A Backbeat”
A pictorial journey through Coventry & Warwickshire music
1960’s to the 1980’s.