Alvin Stardust

Although acts like the Sweet and Gary Glitter scored the occasional hit in the United States, several other glam groups had to stay content with moderate chart success in the U.K. A good example of a second-tier glam star who never crossed over to American fame is Alvin Stardust, whose British chart career is covered on Jealous Mind: 16 Classic Tracks. Stardust was actually Shane Fenton, a 1960s British rocker who followed Gary Glitter's lead by giving himself a new name and glamming up his old-fashioned rock with buzzing guitars and burbling synthesizers. Because of this, many reviewers were inclined to dismiss him as another trend-chaser, but a listen to Stardust's music shows that he had a knack for blending old-fashioned rock hooks with glam production tricks. Good examples include "My Coo Ca Choo," which effectively combined fuzz guitar riffs with an infectious chorus chant sung by Stardust in Elvis Presley style to become his first hit, and "Move It," a slow-burning mid-tempo track that builds from a pulsating bassline into a danceable rocker reminiscent of "Rock On" by David Essex. Other strong cuts on Jealous Mind: 16 Classic Tracks include "Heartbeat," a dramatically arranged rocker that underscores its metallic riffs with some ominous synthesizer drones, and a remake of the Everly Brothers' classic "Bye Bye Love" that transforms the song from a bouncy country-pop tune into an over-the-top, anguished power ballad where slashing guitar leads duel with swirling strings. The only uninteresting tracks are "Love Is Real" and a cover of "Jailhouse Rock": Both date from an abortive 1980s comeback and are too '80s-sterile in their production style to fit in with the other cuts. Ultimately, the music on Jealous Mind: 16 Classic Tracks is too derivative of other glam performers like David Essex and Gary Glitter to be great, but all of its songs are catchy, well-produced, and full of nifty little guitar and synthesizer hooks. In short, it's a nice little guilty pleasure for those with a soft spot in their hearts for glam rock. ~ Donald A. Guarisco, All Music Guide