The band known as Nazareth had some high profile moments but – in my eyes – were not as well-loved as they should have been by the general populace during the ’70s. Their music, including releases prior to the breakout album, Hair Of The Dog (1975), which produced “Love Hurts”. But Canada sure loved the band (thank you, Canada!) as Canada had consistently charted and elevated Nazareth into high sales. With 25 studio sets (12 in the peak era) in the library, Nazareth maintained for well over 50 years. From the unique vocals of Dan McCafferty, to the guitars of Manny Charlton, and to the instruments of Darrell Sweet (Drums), and Pete Agnew (Bass), the peak era of Nazareth was a tough band to follow on the concert circuit.
On June 26, HNE Recordings (Cherry Red UK) will issue a 5CD Boxed set to be titled Born Under The Wrong Sign: 1976-1979. This set will pay respects to the band’s 4 albums from this selected period with A&M Records that include Close Enough For Rock ‘N’ Roll (1976), Play “N’ The Game (1976), Expect No Mercy (1977), and No Mean City (1979). Along with those four titles will be an alternate version of Expect No Mercy (which was originally rejected by the label). In addition, there will be made available in this collection 24 bonus tracks including outtakes, single edits, and alternate versions of songs.
Born Under The Wrong Sign 1976-1979 will be issued in the 5CD box and DD.
CD1 (Close Enough For Rock´N´Roll – 1976)
01 Telegram (Parts 1 – 4)
02 Vicki
03 Homesick Again
04 Vancouver Shakedown
05 Born Under The Wrong Sign
06 Loretta
07 Carry Out Feelings
08 Lift The Lid
09 You’re The Violin
Bonus Tracks
10 My White Bicycle (Single)
11 You’re The Violin (Edited A-Side)
12 Loretta (Alternate Single Version)
13 Carry Out Feelings (US Single Edit)
14 Lift The Lid (Alternate Single Version)
15 My White Bicycle (Original Version)
16 Telegram (Edited Version)
17 On Your Way
18 So You Want To Be A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star
CD2 (Play ´N´ The Game – 1976)
01 Somebody To Roll
02 Down Home Girl
03 Flying
04 Waiting For The Man
05 Born To Love
06 I Want To Do Everything For You
07 I Don’t Want To Go On Without You
08 Wild Honey
09 L.A. Girls
Bonus Tracks
10 Good Love (B-Side)
11 I Don’t Want To Go On Without You (Alternate Edit)
12 Waiting For The Man (Alternate Edit)
13 Somebody To Roll (Edit)
14 Born To Love (Edited Version)
CD3 (Expect No Mercy – 1977)
01 Expect No Mercy
02 Gone Dead Train
03 Shot Me Down
04 Revenge Is Sweet
05 Gimme What’s Mine
06 Kentucky Fried Blues
07 New York Broken Toy
08 Busted
09 Place In Your Heart
10 All The King’s Horses
Bonus Tracks
11 Greens (B-Side)
12 Desolation Road (B-Side)
13 Gone Dead Train (Edited Version)
14 Expect No Mercy (Alternate Version)
15 Place In Your Heart (Alternate Edited Version)
16 Kentucky Fried Blues (Edited Version)
17 Expect No Mercy (Live)
CD4 (Expect No Mercy – Originally Delivered Album To Label – Rejected)
01 Kentucky Fried Blues
02 Gone Dead Train
03 Shot Me Down
04 Greens
05 Life Of A Dog
06 New York Broken Toy
07 Revenge Is Sweet
08 Desolation Road
09 Can’t Keep A Good Man Down
10 Moonlight Eyes
CD5 (No Mean City – 1979)
01 Just To Get Into It
02 May The Sunshine
03 Simple Solution (Parts 1 & 2)
04 Star
05 Claim To Fame
06 Whatever You Want Babe
07 What’s In It For Me
08 No Mean City (Parts 1 & 2)
Bonus Tracks
09 Snaefell (No Mean City Outtake, 1979, Instrumental) 10 May The Sunshine (Single Edit)
11 Whatever You Want Babe (Single Edit)
12 Star (US Version)
13 No Mean City (Alternate Edit)
14 Simple Solution (Edit)