Mama’s Boys – Runaway Dreams 1980-1992 (5CD Box Set)
Northern Irish rock brothers Mama’s Boys – songwriter Pat "The Professor" McManus (guitars, fiddle, electric violin, backing vocals), John McManus (vocals, bass, Uilleann pipes, low whistle), Tommy McManus (drums, percussion, backing vocals) – made their mark in the burgeoning days of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal and on through to the early 90s.
5CD anthology Runaway Dreams 1980-1992 covers the best of that aforementioned period in well documented fashion (a 20 page booklet is also included).
Those thirteen years would see Mama’s Boys release 6 studio albums, a compilation and a live album; they also toured or performed shows with, among others, Hawkwind, Thin Lizzy, Bon Jovi, and Iron Maiden. Further, they became the first unsigned band to play the Reading Festival, were part of Deep Purple’s reunion show at Knebworth, and garnered success in the USA off the back of a fortuitously timed Slade cover (more on which later).
1981’s Official Bootleg (a re-release of 1980’s Official Album, which had a limited pressing of 1000 vinyl copies) is as rough and raw as you would expect from what is essentially a demo from a very young band, especially when you consider it was laid down live, in a matter of hours, not days.
Featuring the band’s enthusiastic and insistent mix of riffage, 70s rock and Horslips influences (the Irish Celtic-rockers were a major inspiration in the early going) Official Bootleg sports such rough-around-the edges gems as rock and raw roller 'Down And Out,' the charm of 'Belfast City Blues,' the heavy jig-rock of 'Demon' and the pensive 'Without You,' which owes much to 'Parents by Budgie' (another band who were clearly an early influence). The latter also features some great guitar solo play from Pat McManus.
While that first album marked an arrival of sorts (fitting, given it was recorded at the Crofton Airport Hotel) there’s no question Mama’s Boys announced themselves fully on Plug It In (1982) and Turn It Up (1983).
Plug It In, produced by Horslips front man Barry Devlin along with Tony Wilson, included reworked & improved versions of debut album tracks 'Belfast City Blues' and the rockin' 'Record Machine,' as well as singles 'In The Heat Of The Night' (punchy NWOBHM with legs on) and the bluesy pop-rock of fan favourite 'Needle in the Groove.'
Turn It Up, again produced by Barry Devlin, was a mix of hard-edged, melodic rock (typified by 'Midnight Promises' and 'Loose Living') and the NWOBHM sound of Plug It In (prime examples being 'Shake My Bones' and 'Face To Face.').
5CD anthology Runaway Dreams 1980-1992 covers the best of that aforementioned period in well documented fashion (a 20 page booklet is also included).
Those thirteen years would see Mama’s Boys release 6 studio albums, a compilation and a live album; they also toured or performed shows with, among others, Hawkwind, Thin Lizzy, Bon Jovi, and Iron Maiden. Further, they became the first unsigned band to play the Reading Festival, were part of Deep Purple’s reunion show at Knebworth, and garnered success in the USA off the back of a fortuitously timed Slade cover (more on which later).
1981’s Official Bootleg (a re-release of 1980’s Official Album, which had a limited pressing of 1000 vinyl copies) is as rough and raw as you would expect from what is essentially a demo from a very young band, especially when you consider it was laid down live, in a matter of hours, not days.
Featuring the band’s enthusiastic and insistent mix of riffage, 70s rock and Horslips influences (the Irish Celtic-rockers were a major inspiration in the early going) Official Bootleg sports such rough-around-the edges gems as rock and raw roller 'Down And Out,' the charm of 'Belfast City Blues,' the heavy jig-rock of 'Demon' and the pensive 'Without You,' which owes much to 'Parents by Budgie' (another band who were clearly an early influence). The latter also features some great guitar solo play from Pat McManus.
While that first album marked an arrival of sorts (fitting, given it was recorded at the Crofton Airport Hotel) there’s no question Mama’s Boys announced themselves fully on Plug It In (1982) and Turn It Up (1983).
Plug It In, produced by Horslips front man Barry Devlin along with Tony Wilson, included reworked & improved versions of debut album tracks 'Belfast City Blues' and the rockin' 'Record Machine,' as well as singles 'In The Heat Of The Night' (punchy NWOBHM with legs on) and the bluesy pop-rock of fan favourite 'Needle in the Groove.'
Turn It Up, again produced by Barry Devlin, was a mix of hard-edged, melodic rock (typified by 'Midnight Promises' and 'Loose Living') and the NWOBHM sound of Plug It In (prime examples being 'Shake My Bones' and 'Face To Face.').
The Chris Tsangarides produced Power And Passion (1985) and Growing Up The Hard Way (1987), released on Jive Records, are not included here, but to be musically frank both are diluted Mama’s Boys, not the 100-proof version (the former was aimed four-square at the American rock market, particularly in production sound; the AOR orientated latter, featuring ex Airrace vocalist Keith Murell, was a label forced decision).
Just prior to Power And Passion, however, Mama’s Boys recorded and released their version of Slade’s 'Mama Weer All Crazee Now,' which coincidentally came out around the same time as US metal band Riot’s version (Riot’s cover got more airplay while the Mama’s Boys version got solid MTV rotation; both also benefited from becoming a "which is your favourite?" talking point).
1992’s Relativity, featuring bluesy styled vocalist Mike Wilson (John McManus had taken vocal time out since the late 80s due to stress on his vocal cords), is the band’s finest offering.
Carrying a vibrant 90s rock sound and incorporating keyboards, the band shine on Relativity by sounding like a blues-rock version of an edgier Foreigner (Wilson has a very Lou Gramm-esque vocality).
Gritty guitar-led highlights include 'What You See Is What You Get,' 'My Way Home' and the tempo-changing 'Rescue Me.' The down tempo 'Don’t Look Back In Anger' and atmospheric Celtic light and rock shade of 'Cardboard City' also impress (five live tracks are also included, from 1991's Live Tonite album).
The fifth CD is a Singles, B-Sides & Rarities collection; choice cuts include the instrumental 'Time Warp,' a bluesier, slower acoustic take of Joni Mitchell's 'This Flight Tonight' and a live version of 'Mama Weer All Crazee Now' from 1992.
After a final gig as the original trio in 1993, and with the grungier musical times to consider, the band changed tack with a new approach and a new name, The Government.
Tragically, Tommy McManus passed away at the end of 1994 at only 28 years old (he had battled recurring leukaemia since he was a child).
Pat and John McManus reshaped themselves in 1999 as Celtic/ new age group Celtus, continuing successfully until 2001.
Since 2007 Pat McManus has championed the cause as the Pat McManus Band, delivering a clutch of strong rock & blues infused albums.
Live, however, Pat continues to nod to his brotherly past, when three boys had Runaway Dreams – most of which were deservedly realised.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Just prior to Power And Passion, however, Mama’s Boys recorded and released their version of Slade’s 'Mama Weer All Crazee Now,' which coincidentally came out around the same time as US metal band Riot’s version (Riot’s cover got more airplay while the Mama’s Boys version got solid MTV rotation; both also benefited from becoming a "which is your favourite?" talking point).
1992’s Relativity, featuring bluesy styled vocalist Mike Wilson (John McManus had taken vocal time out since the late 80s due to stress on his vocal cords), is the band’s finest offering.
Carrying a vibrant 90s rock sound and incorporating keyboards, the band shine on Relativity by sounding like a blues-rock version of an edgier Foreigner (Wilson has a very Lou Gramm-esque vocality).
Gritty guitar-led highlights include 'What You See Is What You Get,' 'My Way Home' and the tempo-changing 'Rescue Me.' The down tempo 'Don’t Look Back In Anger' and atmospheric Celtic light and rock shade of 'Cardboard City' also impress (five live tracks are also included, from 1991's Live Tonite album).
The fifth CD is a Singles, B-Sides & Rarities collection; choice cuts include the instrumental 'Time Warp,' a bluesier, slower acoustic take of Joni Mitchell's 'This Flight Tonight' and a live version of 'Mama Weer All Crazee Now' from 1992.
After a final gig as the original trio in 1993, and with the grungier musical times to consider, the band changed tack with a new approach and a new name, The Government.
Tragically, Tommy McManus passed away at the end of 1994 at only 28 years old (he had battled recurring leukaemia since he was a child).
Pat and John McManus reshaped themselves in 1999 as Celtic/ new age group Celtus, continuing successfully until 2001.
Since 2007 Pat McManus has championed the cause as the Pat McManus Band, delivering a clutch of strong rock & blues infused albums.
Live, however, Pat continues to nod to his brotherly past, when three boys had Runaway Dreams – most of which were deservedly realised.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ