The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Also known as SAHB
Genres Rock, hard rock, glam rock
Years active 1972 (1972)–1978 (1978)
Labels Vertigo, Universal International
Associated acts Tear Gas, SAHB ... without Alex
Website sahbofficial.co.uk
Past members Alex Harvey
Zal Cleminson
Chris Glen
Hugh McKenna
Ted McKenna

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band was one of the most unconventional bands that were part of the 1970s glam rock era.[1] Fronted by Alex Harvey accompanied by Zal Cleminson on guitar, bassist Chris Glen, keyboard player Hugh McKenna and drummer Ted McKenna their music veered from progressive rock to experimental jazz, around a core of experimental and avant garde rock, dealing with themes from environmentalism to chinese take away food. While they achieved an almost legendary status in the UK,[2] they struggled to make a huge impact in the USA.

Band history

In 1972, Alex Harvey formed the Sensational Alex Harvey Band (often shortened to SAHB) with guitarist Zal Cleminson, bassist Chris Glen, and cousins Hugh and Ted McKenna on keyboards and drums respectively, all previous members of progressive rock act Tear Gas. SAHB produced a succession of highly regarded albums and tours throughout the 1970s. The band never achieved acclaim in the United States the way it did in Great Britain, but it had a cult following in certain US cities, especially Cleveland, where the group first played at the Agora Ballroom in December 1974. Thanks to airplay from WMMS, songs like "Next" and "The Faith Healer" became very popular. Cleveland remained a city where the Sensational Alex Harvey Band had a devoted following.[3] However, they were unable to replicate that popularity in most other US cities.[4]

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band had Top 40 hits in Britain with the single "Delilah", a cover version of the Tom Jones hit, which reached number seven in 1975, and also with "The Boston Tea Party" in June 1976. After Harvey left the group later that year, the other members continued as "SAHB... without Alex". Harvey re-joined the group for 1978's Rock Drill, but they disbanded shortly afterwards.

Harvey died of heart failure on 4 February 1982.

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

  • Live (1975)
  • Alex Harvey Presents: The Loch Ness Monster (1977)
  • BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert (1991)
  • Live in Glasgow 1993 (1994)
  • Live on the Test (1995)
  • The Gospel According to Alex Harvey (1998)
  • British Tour '76 (2004)
  • Zalvation aka. Zalvation (21st Century Live Recording (2006) (with Max Maxwell on vocals)
  • Live at the BBC (Spectrum/Universal 2009) [1972-1977]

Compilations/other records

  • Hot City: The 1974 Unreleased Album (2008)[5] (an earlier version of The Impossible Dream, unreleased at the time)
  • ... Delilah, (Spectrum 1994)
  • Considering the Situation (Universal 2003)
  • Hot City (2009)
  • Big Hits and Close Shaves (1977)
  • The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (Old Gold 1997)
  • Teenage A Go Go (Alchemy Entertainment 2003)
  • All Sensations (Vertigo 1992)
  • The Best of the Sensational (UK chart peak: No. 148)[6]
  • The Sensational Alex Harvey Band Collection [CD Castle Communications 1986]
  • Last of the Teenage Idols a 14-CD / 217-track box set including 21 previously unreleased songs, 59 songs on cd for the 1st time and a number of rare recordings plus a hardback book of photographs (2016)
  • Faith Healer - An Introduction (Mercury Records 2002)

References

  1. ↑ "The Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  2. ↑ "SAHB Stories: Everything you need to know about The Sensational Alex Harvey Band". 11 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  3. ↑ Jane Scott. "Alex Harvey Dies on Boat." Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 12, 1982, p. T-23.
  4. ↑ Anastasia Pantsios. "Rock Beat." Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 25, 1980, p. T-34.
  5. ↑ "Hot City: The 1974 Unreleased Album – Alex Harvey". allmusic.com. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  6. ↑ "CHART LOG UK: NEW ENTRIES UPDATE : Chart Date: 06.08.2011". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
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