Description
The self-titled and debut full-length album by the British hard rock band 100% Proof was released on Myrrh Records in 1981, a division of Word. The album was recorded and mixed in seven days at Smile Studios in Manchester, England; with Norman Barratt of Barratt Band and Gravy Train fame producing.
The self-titled debut album helped establish the band on the UK scene after their previous EP had acted as a suitable introduction. Formed in 1978 in Stockport, the peak of the band’s live achievements was as a headline act at Greenbelt ’83. In the mainstream they held their own in a national battle of the bands competition and became known as the UK’s finest Christian exponents of metal. This 1981 set is produced by Norman Barratt who did a good job capturing the band’s best songs. It’s obvious from the opener «Back Street Driver» that these guys were hugely influenced by early AC/DC riffing rock. There’s even a tribute song to the band’s late singer Bon Scott called «The Loner». 100% Proof acquit themselves pretty well here and in Charlie Wilson’s lead guitar work, solid rhythm section and unashamedly Christian songwriting, the whole package was pretty powerful! Highlights include the rocking wig-out «Freedom» and the bouncy «Mid Morning Blues». This album was built so strongly on the AC/DC template that the guys could have made a good living on the side as a tribute band! For its era, this is a seminal piece of early ’80s rock from a band unafraid to nail their colours to the mast and ROCK! [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, August 2010]
Get your air guitars in position and gear up for some first-rate loud-and-cheesy bar-band hard rock with riffs all over the place. UK’s 100% Proof never cease to put a smile on my face with their raw trashy blues based rip-off of AC/DC, strutting through head-bangers like «Back Seat Driver» and «No Good Trusting In Money», or jamming to fast-paced rock-and-rollers like «Tight Rope», «Freedom» and «Rock & Roll». Speaking of the «Highway To Hell» boys, there’s a song about their late lead singer Bon Scott («The Loner»), one of the lines being “somebody should have told him hell’s a bad place to be.” Best at maximum volume. Produced by Norman Barratt. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Back Seat Driver” – 6:31
A2. “Mid Morning Blues” – 3:50
A3. “Tight Rope” – 4:17
A4. “Rock ‘n’ Roll” – 3:47
Side Two
B1. “Freedom” – 5:05
B2. “It’s No Good Trusting In Money” – 4:17
B3. “The Loner (Bon Scott)” – 5:27
B4. “To Be Someone” – 4:20
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Myrrh Records. Track B3 appear as “The Loner (Bon Scott)” on the back sleeve and as “The Loner” on the center label.
Live at Greenbelt, August 1981
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