finetune artist: Del Fuegos

Roots rock 'n' roll revivalists from Boston, Massachusetts, USA, whose early 80s recordings stand as a fine testament to their influences, even if some of their later output was dulled by commercial considerations. The band, led by vocalist Dan Zanes (b. 1 July 1961, Exeter, New Hampshire, USA) and guitarist brother Warren, with Tom Lloyd (bass) and Brent "Woody' Giessmann (drums), was formally introduced to its public on a 1984 debut album for Slash Records. A winning collection of rounded songs drawing principally from the 60s beat boom, it explored a full complement of moods with energy and belief. The follow-up, 1985"s Boston, Mass., a eulogy to their working-class origins, was a more commercially orientated affair, though it lacked something of the sparkle of their debut. If this set had mapped out the possibility of future indulgence, that fear was confirmed with the arrival of Stand Up. With numerous guest appearances (including Tom Petty and James Burton), neither the songwriting nor performances possessed the same spirit or character of old. It was universally panned by reviewers. Presumably as a result, drummer Giessmann (who had formerly worked with the underrated Embarrassment) and Warren Zanes departed. The new line-up's Smoking In The Fields marked a partial return to form. With the addition of harp player Magic Dick (ex-J. Geils Band), the band's sound had now soothed to a classy R&B/soul timbre. Producer David Thoener gave the new dynamic a sympathetic treatment and restored the Del Fuegos to critical favour. The band fizzled out in 1990, however, with Dan Zanes going on to record as a solo artist.

Listen to Del Fuegos at Finetune.

I Always Call Her Back

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