These New Jersey boys formed in 1985 with Michael Kelly Smith (guitar) from
up-and-coming band - Cinderella.
Their name came from one of singer Dizzy Dean Davison's Welsh ancestors. The
bands look and sound was VERY similar to that of Cinderella.
However, despite borrowing their sound, their theatrical/glam look, and their
guitarist, Cinderella helped hook
Britny Fox up with their first record contract. After two cds, Dizzy Dean was
forced out of the band at which time he formed Blackeyed
Susan.
Britny Fox (Columbia) 1988
1. "Girlschool"
(4:40)
2. "Long Way to Love" (4:55)
3. "Kick 'N' Fight" (3:38)
4. "Save the Weak" (5:29)
5. "Fun in Texas" (4:28)
6. "Rock Revolution" (4:43)
7. "Don't Hide" (4:50)
8. "Gudbuy T' Jane" (4:28)
9. "In America" (4:26)
10. "Hold On" (3:31)
Well it took me a couple of years to finally secure a copy of this disc, but I finally managed to get a copy in a trade on the PM Board, of all places. This disc is out of print, but it's not that rare. There are always several copies on eBay for sale, but for some reason someone was always willing to pay more than me. I always bid the minimum. Anyhow, I am still kicking myself for ignoring this band for so many years. OK, so the band looks like something the cat drug in, so what. What counts is the music. (Besides I kind of dig the whole 80's glam look. At least they put on a show.) Britny Fox's first album is an excellent '80s glam metal album. Ex-Cinderella guitarist Michael Kelly Smith has the chops and vocalist Dizzy Dean Davidson is a more than competent song writer and has a cool raspy howl that fits the bands style perfectly. Yes, I know the band was labeled a Cinderella clone, so what! As I have said before if the music is good, what do I care. The fact is that the band has been around almost as long as Cinderella anyhow. Besides with Michael Kelly Smith coming from the band, what do you expect? "Gudbuy T' Jane." is a Slade cover.
Britny Fox - Boys in Heat (Columbia) 1990
1. "In
Motion" (2:45)
2. "Standing in the Shadows" (3:48)
3. "Hair of the Dog" (4:18)
4. "Livin' in a Dream" (3:19)
5. "She's So Lonely" (4:03)
6. "Dream On" (4:52)
7. "Long Way from Home" (4:17)
8. "Plenty of Love" (4:14)
9. "Stevie" (4:27)
10. "Shine On" (3:33)
11. "Angel in My Heart" (4:24)
12. "Left Me Stray" (3:15)
13. "Longroad" (4:03)
Ya know, I don't know why I listen to reviews and people's silly opinions. I ignored these guys for years and assumed that they sucked, all based on the opinion of others without even giving them a listen. I don't know why but I picked up this disc used for $3.99. I popped it into my CD player and was more than impressed. OK, so they sound like Cinderella, so what! I like Cinderella. Everybody said Cinderella sounded like Aerosmith, so what. I like Aerosmith. Well, now I like Britny Fox as well. "Boys in Heat" is sleazy, American hard rock with more hooks than a tackle box. "Hair of the Dog" is a Nazareth cover.
Britny Fox - Dream On (Columbia) 1990
1. "Dream On" (LP Edit #2) (3:58)
2. "Dream On" (Remix Edit) (3:58)
3. "Dream On" (4:51)A promo CD single that I acquired in a trade as a deal sweetener along with the debut CD. Not really much to say about it as all the versions are pretty similar and the best is actually the album version.
Britny Fox - Bite Down Hard (EastWest Records America) 1991
1. "Six Guns Loaded"
(3:46)
2. "Louder" (3:53)
3. "Liar" (4:42)
4. "Closer To Your Love" (3:48)
5. "Over and Out" (4:45)
6. "Shot From My Gun" (4:07)
7. "Black & White" (3:35)
8. "Look My Way" (4:32)
9. "Lonely Too Long" (3:34)
10. Midnight Moses" (4:28)
Britny Fox's third and final (?) studio album came out in a time when their brand of blues based pop/glam metal was beginning to see a downslide in popularity. It would only be a year or two more before grunge would all but wipe this form of excellent hard rock off the map. For this album the band replaced vocalist Dizzy Dean Davison. I have read numerous stories and reasons for the parting of Dizzy, but the one that seems to be most accurate is that the band felt Dizzy was holding them back from breaking big. Even AMG calls Dizzy a "lagging talent." Well this be true of not, Dizzy did give the band a certain charisma that is certainly lost on this third disc, despite Tommy Paris being a very talented vocalist. Certainly the band has all but lost the earlier Cinderella comparisons, so it seems a bit odd that they would rely mostly on their new vocalist to carry the hooks of the songs. Still I find the discs to be one that should have competed with all the top acts of this genre that year. To boost marketability the band even brings in friends like Rikki Rockett (Poison) and Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne). To tell the truth, however, these contributions are hard to tell without reading the liner notes. A year after it's release the band apparently had broken up, but have recently reformed and released a 'reunion' live album called "Long Way to Live." This disc has recently been reissued by Spitfire, but as with most collector's, unless their are some critical bonus tracks or a noticable improvement in the sound quality, I prefer the original release. Special thanks to one of my newest internet friends for tracking down this cd for me. It is much appreciated.
Britny Fox - Long Way To Live (Spitfire) 2001
1. "Six Guns Loaded"
(4:20)
2. "Long Way to Love" (5:35)
3. "Lonely Too Long" (5:05)
4. "Liar" (3:56)
5. "Dream On" (4:44)
6. "Closer to Your Love" (3:51)
7. "Black and White" (3:52)
8. "Guitar Solo" (1:31)
9. "Shot From My Gun" (4:06)
10. "Louder" (4:13)
11. "Over and Out" (5:17)
12. "Turn On" (4:00)
13. "Girlschool" (5:28)
14. "Midnight Moses" (5:34)
Excellent live album and a decent career retrospective up to this point in Britny Fox's existence. I think the band could have chose a few more songs off the first two albums and a few less off of "Bite Down Hard." Otherwise I have no complaints about this platter. It's high enery, well recorded, and just plain fun. I know some peole aren't fans of live albums but I love 'em. Add this to the list of my favorites.
Britny Fox - Springhead Motorshark (Spitfire Records) 2003
1. "Pain" (2:50)
2. "Freaktown" (2:50)
3. "T.L.U.C. (For You)" (3:35)
4. "LA" (4:16)
5. "Springhead Motorshark" [instrumental] (2:49)
6. "Is it Real?" (3:58)
7. "Coup D'etat" [instrumental] (:39)
8. "Far Enough" (4:38)
9. "Lonely Ones" (4:27)
10. "Memorial" (4:08)
11. "Sri Lanka" (8:30)
I was really curious about this CD. I mean, Britny Fox hasn't recorded a studio album since 1991's "Bite Down Hard." Their East Coast glam metal style really isn't in vogue at all and I was curious to see if they would stick to their guns stylistically or if they would try to "get with the times" and completely change their sound into some modern rock band. Well, neither is true yet both are true. Their sound is still in tact and they still know how to write a good, hooky chorus and anthem, however, this is coupled with a more modern production and a bit more vicious attitude overall. One minor complaint with the overall sound is that the vocals seem a tad burried in the mix.
Plenty of standout cuts on this one "Pain" and "Freaktown" are good hard rockers. "Freaktown" in particular has a very infectious sound that has a 70's vibe. Imagine mixing AC/DC, the Beatles and a heavy helping of T.Rex and you might get an idea of the sound here. "Springhead Motorshark" will dismiss any doubts that this band has no musical talent. Michael Kelly Smith proves he is every bit the guitar shredder. "Is it Real?" is a cool acoustic jam and is probably one of my favorite tracks here. Metal purists and longtime fans may sneer a bit at this disc. I have read more than one review that stated "this sounds nothing like Britny Fox's first two albums", but what can you expect with a 12 year lapse between records? Personally I have no problem accepting the changes in sound here and quite enjoyed this disc on the very first listen. This disc was given to me as a gift from a friend. (Thanks James)
Related
Collections:
Cinderella | Blackeyed Susan