HUSTLER – Play Loud [digitally remastered] (2021)

HUSTLER enjoyed success in the Seventies with their cool mixture of hard rock with a slice of boogie rock and lots of melody, they were signed to A&M Records in 1974 and went on to record two cult classic albums, High Street (1974) and Play Loud (1975).

The London based band were known for their energetic live performances, they toured the UK and Europe extensively and made numerous TV and Radio appearances. Hustler were privileged to be Queen’s support band on their first major UK tour, followed by a European tour as the support band for Status Quo. After being on the road they were always excited to return home and play at the famous Marquee Club in London’s West End where they were credited as the band that had played there the most between 1973 and 1974.
Having toured with Queen in the Autumn of 1974, for their second album Hustler wanted Queen’s producer Roy Thomas Baker to help them with their new project. Two weeks in the Welsh countryside without the distractions of the big city set the scene for the album “Play Loud” with a sophisticated approach to production by Mr. Baker, and mixed by expert Gary Lyons.
As requested, here’s Hustler’s second album “Play Loud” in its fresh remastered version supervised by the band themselves.

”Play Loud” was released in 1975 by A&M Records on the Firefly Label. It contains nine classic rock songs that has helped the band sustain a lasting reputation for over 45 years. No fillers, just killers. The album sound & production was ahead of its time, in fact ”Play Loud” sounds like recorded 1977/78 when this type of rocking bands turned much more melodic, polished, and ready for FM radio.

There were no obvious singles on this album but A&M Records released ‘Little People’, ‘Going Home’ and ‘Money Maker’ in reasonably quick succession and whilst non of them made it into the Top 10 Singles Charts they opened the doors to Television (e.g. The Geordie Scene and 45) and radio (e.g. the BBCs In Concert).
Hustler had enormous potential to make it big but sadly in 1976, due to the pressures of touring, the band split.

”Play Loud” is a top notch Seventies hard rock album which is all killer and no filler from a time when Britain really did have talent as did the mighty Hustler.
There were a previous remaster but the band wasn’t happy with the results so they did their own remaster last year and it sound wonderful, warm. Great to have this remastered CD – still sounding so good: real rock ‘n roll played by real musicians.

01 – Money Maker (Remastered 2021)
02 – You Had It Coming To You (Remastered 2021)
03 – Boogie Man (Remastered 2021)
04 – Break Of Day (Remastered 2021)
05 – Who D’Yer Think Yer Foolin’ (Remastered 2021)
06 – Goin’ Home (Remastered 2021)
07 – Strange Love (Remastered 2021)
08 – Little People (Remastered 2021)
09 – Night Creeper (Remastered 2021)

Steve Haynes – Lead Vocals
Micky Llewellyn – Guitars & Vocals
Tigger Lyons – Bass Guitar & Vocals
Tony Beard – Henry Spinetti
Kenny Daughters – Keyboards
Roy Thomas Baker – Castanets (track 5), Producer

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