British Lions - Trouble With Women (2025 Remaster)

British Lions were formed in 1977 from the remnants Mott (the renamed Mott The Hoople after Ian Hunter's departure) when lead singer Nigel Benjamin left the band and the remaining four members (Morgan Fisher, Dale Griffin, Ray Majors and Pete Overend Watts) teamed up with ex-Medicine Head vocalist John Fiddler. After releasing an eponymous debut in 1978 and touring with the likes of Status Quo, AC/DC and Blue Oyster Cult, they recorded the follow-up Trouble With Women the following year.  It was recorded with their American audience in mind, but their American label RSO rejected the album and a short time later their UK label, Vertigo, did the same.  While these rejections led to the band’s demise, the album was finally released by Cherry Red Records in 1980.  Now, following the successful reissue of their debut, Think Like A Key has released a newly remastered and expanded version of Trouble With Women.  The album opens with the quirky, slightly funky swagger of the title track, a catchy rocker that, after some old school electronic blips at the beginning, is punctuated with somewhat psychedelic keys and even a little harmonica.  The straight-ahead rock of “Any Port In A Storm” mixes in some piano with the keys and has a hint of Mott The Hoople.  Somewhat a change in direction, “Lady Don’t Fall Backwards” moves in more of a new wave direction and even has some farfisa to add to the fun.  “High Noon” shows the band’s heavier side and really highlights the guitar work, while “Lay Down Your Love” is a rollicking, upbeat tune with some killer piano.  The bluesy rock of “Waves Of Love” often brings to mind Bad Company, but with more emphasis on the organ and some T Rex-like glam vocals in the chorus.  By far my favorite track on the album, “Electric Chair” is another heavier, hard-hitting track that at times reminds me of Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy.  Closing the album out is their cover of “(Won’t You Give Him) One More Chance”, which had previously been recorded by Solomon Burke. It’s a very poppy song with a strong glam influence, along with a hint of ELO, that’s probably the weakest track on the album.  The nine bonus tracks kick off with the Status Quo demo of “Eat The Rich,” a fun, rollicking, bluesy take on the song, the home demo of “One More Chance To Run” (the studio versions of these tracks was on their debut), and the home demo of a slower ballad, “But The Night Is Young.”  “The Studio Song” is a goofy little “joke” song recorded at Mickie Most’s RAK Studios and highlights their recording session there as well as paying tribute to the people involved in the recording process.  The final four bonus tracks are all live recordings and includes a solid, straight-ahead, hard-driving take on the Medicine Head song “Rising Sun,” a punky pub rock cover of Chuck Berry’s “Come On,” “My Life’s In Your Hands,” from their debut, and “Wild One,” which would later become “Lay Down Your Love” on the second album, although it’s a little grittier here.  Trouble With Women is a sadly underappreciated album that shows a band embracing their past as well as the changes that were taking place in the music scene at that time.  

(Think Like A Key Music)