Track Listing

1. She's So Fine
2. Dirty Love
3. Don't Wait For Me
4. Higher Ground
5. Until My Dying Day
6. Backstreet Symphony
7. Love Walked In
8. Englishman On Holiday
9. Girl's Going Out Of Her Head
10. Gimme Some Lovin'
11. Distant Thunder

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13775 in Music
• Released on: 1990-03-05
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Customer Reviews

An astonishing debut
Formed in 1989 from the ashes of pop-rock combo Terraplane, guitarist and songwriter Luke Morley and singer Danny Bowes had decided to go in a more traditional 'rock' direction than the pop path they were (reluctantly) being led down by their previous record label. Retaining drummer Harry James from the Terraplane days, bassist Mark 'Snake' Luckhurst and guitarist/keyboard player Ben Matthews were recruited and the new band entered the studio with Duran Duran's guitarist Andy Taylor producing.

What emerged was a latter day rock classic; you knew from the first listen that these songs would stand the test of time. Highlights of this terrific album are the slowburner "Don't Wait For Me"; a showcase for Danny Bowes' awesome voice, "Higher Ground", "Love Walked In", and the title track. The material drew heavily on the influences of giants such as Bad Company and the Who (to name but two), the twin guitar attack of Luke Morley and Ben Matthews allied with the rock solid rhythms of Snake and Harry were an irresistible combination. When you throw into the mix the amazingly talented Danny Bowes, a singer good enough to rank alongside the likes of Coverdale and Rodgers in my view, the whole package could not possibly fail.

And fail they did not, after having toured the UK to little response they landed a support slot with Aerosmith, which brought them to wider attention, then in 1990 they opened the Donington Monsters of Rock festival, they went down an absolute storm and it was all systems go from there.

What none of us knew was that a total sea-change was coming to the whole rock scene just a year later, coming out of Seattle the grunge wave spearheaded by Nirvana changed the landscape - not necessarily for the better in my view, but the effect was to cut the ground from underneath everything that had come before, good or bad and alas Thunder were a big casualty of this change. They survived to make more albums and tour for the next decade only because of the strength of their live show won them enough of a loyal fan base (at least in Europe and also Japan, where British bands have long been well received), to make it worthwhile.

The band did take a hiatus in 2000, during which time songwriter Luke Morley released a solo album then a follow up with Danny Bowes, in a more soulful direction than Thunder had taken. They were tempted back into action in 2002 by a prominent slot on the touring Monsters of Rock arena shows, after which they decided to give it another go. Although they went on to make several albums after this classic, all of which are worth having, the amount of songs from this album still played by the band today demonstrates the enduring quality of the material here.

For any fan of blues based rock'n'roll this album is essential - as a debut from a rock band it stands comparison with the first Bad Company album, the first Van Halen album, the debut from Montrose, Dio's "Holy Diver" and G'n'R's "Appetite for Destruction".

I recommend this album, particularly at it's now bargain price, without hesitation.

Could have been so good.
This album gave hope to many rockers who were waiting for an honest band with honest songs, uncomplicated lyrics, and a British feel to come along and pick up where Led Zep had left off years before. Great raw guitars, some of the old blues rock tricks not unlike your Free and Bad Company, soaring raspy vocals, and all pushed up to 11 live. I bought it on CD recently as originally had it on vinyl and hadn't heard it for years. Brought back some great memories; they must have supported every band I ever saw in the 80's. Listening to She's so Fine, and Till my Dieing Day I was left wondering how it could have possibly all petered out as it did. What was the first side of the album/tape (first 5/6 tunes) really get the juices flowing in an 'old skool' as they'd say now, kind of way. The press loved them, the rockers loved them, so what happened? Kirt Kobain. Grunge and indie rock blew out the cobwebs, gave us new vibrant kind of rock and handed it back to the teenagers, took most of the sentimentally away and guitar posing, which left Thunder being a great band, in teh wrong time. If you like old AC/DC, Led Zep, etc, and haven't heard this album, it'll be like you've found a new band. And they're back on tour, so the time gap won't matter a jot!

Just as good as ever.
I lost my original cd a while ago, so whilst book buying decided to order this to round the pounds up.What a purchase I`d forgotten how good these guy`s were,superb rock with catchy riffs and a good dose of humour thrown in.Thunder must have know when they recoreded this they would never top it ...they did`nt...a bit like The Black Crows and Shake Your Moneymaker....plus I remember these guys ruining Donnington...WHY?...They came on first and just rocked, after that everybody just sucked including Aerosmith.As I said one hell of a purchase