Review Summary: Very underrated and you will have a blast along the way.
Bill Ward had been quiet for a while prior to the 1990 release of his debut solo album. He left Black Sabbath after the recording of 1983's Born Again album citing personal reasons for his departure. He re-emerged in 1990 with an album which i consider the third best of any solo album by the original 4 members of Sabbath, behind only Ozzy Osbourne's 'Diary of a Madman' and Tony Iommi's 'Fused'.
Ozzy sings on two tracks here, and isn't the only star name making a guest appearance. Cream's Jack Bruce sings on Light Up the Candles (Let There Be Peace Tonight) and Tall Stories while Zakk Wylde and Bob Daisley contribute guitar and bass respectively.
The album opens on a strong note with '(Mobile) Shooting Gallery'. Ward handles vocals as the song kicks into gear after a slow intro. This song is very fast, catchy and a great start to the album. After the minute long interlude 'Short stories' another excellent tracks begins with Bombers (Can Open Bomb Bays). Ozzy sings here and this track is a nice plodding song, which wouldn't have seemed out of place on Black sabbath's album Technical Ecstasy. An incredible song. Pink Clouds An Island is a slow blues jazz like song which slowly will grow on you. Maybe the slowest song on the album and a nice comedown from the two rock blasts before it.
Light Up the Candles (Let There Be Peace Tonight) is what i believe to be the weakest song here. It doesn't really go anywhere and will pretty much pass the listener by on the first few listens. The next song makes up for this though, the excellent 'Snakes and Ladders' is a fantastic track which is up there with the best of Sabbath quality wise. its doomy, its fast, its catchy and the best on the album.
Ozzy takes back the microphone for 'Jack's Land' and this basically a slightly less good version of Bombers (Can Open Bomb Bays). Which by no means equals bad, since the former is sheer class.
The next two songs pretty much drift by unnoticed until the excellent 'Tall Stories' kicks in. A nice song which is too catchy as hell. 'Sweep' is very upbeat and a great song which after it has grown in should settle as one of the better tracks here.
The album end on a cool note, with Bill whistling and whispering goodbye after the title track, and final track 'Along the Way'. This song is cool, with another jazz bluesy feel to it. A fitting finish.
Overrall, this album should have gained more recognition. Unfortunatley the albums label, Chameleon, went out of business shortly after the albums first re-issue. Very underrated and you will have a blast along the way.
