Fickle Heart

by Sniff 'n' the Tears

Overview

The British band Sniff 'n' the Tears' 1978 debut, Fickle Heart, is best known for containing the relentlessly catchy rocker "Driver's Seat," which became a hit in 1979 and is simply one of the greatest one-hit wonder singles of that decade, and arguably of all time. Killer keyboard and synthesizer riffs by Alan Fealdman and guest Keith Miller, piercing electric guitars by Loz Netto and Mick Dyche, solid bass by Chris Birkin, steady drums by producer Luigi Salvoni, and bandleader/songwriter Paul Roberts' incessant acoustic rhythm guitar and dramatic lead vocals are all terrific individually, but they add up to a fantastic whole. "Driver's Seat" is the leadoff track on Fickle Heart and, while it's hard to follow up a classic tune, the album does have some other good songs that are also strong, melodic rock. Sniff 'n' the Tears is sometimes classified as a new wave band, but that's not really accurate. The occasional synthesizer bits spice up Sniff 'n' the Tears' music, but they don't dominate it. "New Lines on Love" and "This Side of the Blue Horizon" are both richly textured with various keyboards and guitars. "The Thrill of It All" has a dark and mysterious feel due to Roberts' sly vocal style. "Looking for You" isn't as brooding, and the warm keyboard solos are enjoyable. Roberts, an accomplished painter, created the lifelike, photograph-quality cover painting for Fickle Heart and the band's subsequent albums. However, Roberts dissolved the Fickle Heart lineup and formed an entirely new version of Sniff 'n' the Tears for 1980s Games Up. [This edition contains bonus tracks.] ~ Bret Adams

Product Details

Release Date:	12/06/2005
Label:	Big Beat Records / Big Beat Uk
UPC:	0029667425322
Rank:	51235

Tracks

1. Driver's Seat
2. New Lines on Love
3. Carve Your Name on My Door
4. This Side of the Blues Horizon
5. Sing
6. Rock 'N' Roll Music
7. Fight For Love
8. The Thrill of It All
9. Slide Away
10. Last Dance
11. Looking For You
12. Morocco Bound
13. Rock 'N' Roll Music

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sniff 'n' the Tears   Primary Artist
Alan Fealdman   Keyboards
Paul Roberts   Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar
Ron Lawrence   Bass
Loz Netto   Guitar
Noel McCalla   Vocals (Background)
Luigi Salvoni   Drums,Percussion
Chris Birkin   Bass
Mick Dyche   Guitar
Keith Miller   Synthesizer,String Machine
Jim Nellis   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Paul Roberts   Composer,Cover Painting
Wally Bryson   Composer
Rosanne Cash   Composer
Rodney Crowell   Composer
Paul Jabara   Composer
Joe Raposo   Composer
Luigi Salvoni   Producer
Will Ackerman   Composer
Adam Skeaping   Digital Transfers
Stephen Lipson   Engineer