Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost Too

by Pearl Harbour, Pearl Harbor

Overview

When Pearl Harbour & the Explosions' tepid skinny-tie pop didn't stoke the public's fancy, their singer's future seemed uncertain: Who could have predicted that she'd pull off such a rowdy, confident solo album? However, that's what happened when she moved to London -- note her stage name's British spelling -- and fell into the Clash's orbit. Where the Explosions were stilted and restrained, Harbour's voice is loud and freewheeling on the rockabilly driven rumble of "Out With the Girls," "Fujiyama Mama," and "Alone in the Dark." There's not a trace of hesitation in Harbour's hiccups, whoops, and yelps; she sounds comfortable in a way that listeners simply hadn't heard before. Harbour's breezy self-assurance also extends to the campy girl group flippance of "Everybody's Boring but My Baby," reflective pop/rock of "Heaven Is Gonna Be Empty," token country weepers "Losing to You," and a tough, but affectionate cover of Ian Dury's "Rough Kids." Harbour's co-conspirators include a motley assortment from Britain's punk and neo-rockabilly scenes. Former Rich Kids guitarist Stella Nova plays gutsily throughout; so do late Whirlwind singer/guitarist Nigel Dixon, pianist Otis Watkins, bassist Barry Payne, and drummer Nick Simonon (younger brother of Clash bassist Paul Simonon). Their presence provides a dynamism sorely missing from the Explosions' album. Only the mixing prevents this coming-out party from being a perfect affair, leaving Nova's guitar to fight for breath on "Fujiyama Mama" and "At the Dentist." However, those are minor complaints for such an inspiring effort: there's nothing heavy or depressing about it. However, the public found Harbour's newly rough-hewn image as off-putting as its slicker counterpart, so the album flopped: miss out at your own peril. ~ Ralph Heibutzki

Product Details

Release Date:	03/22/2024
Label:	Liberation Hall
UPC:	0089353516826

Tracks

1. Alone in the Dark
2. Fujiyama Mama
3. Everybody's Boring But My Baby
4. You're in Trouble Again
5. Do Your Homework
6. Cowboys & Indians
7. Losing to You
8. Filipino Baby
9. Let's Go Upstairs
10. Rough Kids
11. Out With the Girls
12. Heaven Is Gonna Be Empty
13. At the Dentist
14. Nerves
15. You Got Me All Wrong
16. Voodoo Voodoo
17. You Don't Fool Me
18. What I Should Have Said
19. I Can't Tell You on the Phone

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Pearl Harbour   Primary Artist
Pearl Harbor   Primary Artist
Pearl Harbor & the Explosions   Primary Artist
John Stench   Drums
Hilary Stench   Bass
Pearly Gates   Percussion,Vocals
Peter Bilt   Guitar
Otis Watkins   Piano
Nigel Dixon   Guitar
Mick Gallagher   Keyboards
Geraint Watkins   Piano

Technical Credits

Russell Hardy   Composer
John Stench   Composer
Hilary Stench   Composer
Peter Bilt   Composer
Pearly Gates   Composer
Otis Watkins   Composer
Earl Burrows   Composer
Clark VanNess   Composer
Nigel Dixon   Composer
Mick Gallagher   Producer
Jack Hammer   Composer
Ian Dury   Composer
Billy Cox   Composer
Bill Cox   Composer