Description

Scotland's first heavy rock band, Nazareth were one of the leaders of the original wave of British Heavy Metal of the 1970s. After relentless touring and respectable album sales early on, Nazareth broke through in a major way with HAIR OF THE DOG in 1975, due in no small part to an unlikely--but hugely successful-- cover of the Everly Brothers' "Love Hurts."

Biography

Formed in 1968 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, Nazareth evolved out of local attractions the Shadettes. Dan McCafferty (vocals), Manny Charlton (guitar), Pete Agnew (bass) and Darrell Sweet (b. 16 May 1947, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England, d. 30 April 1999, New Albany, Indiana, USA; drums) took their new name from the opening line in "The Weight", a contemporary hit for the Band. After completing a gruelling Scottish tour, Nazareth opted to move to London. Nazareth and Exercises showed undoubted promise, while a third set, Razamanaz, spawned two UK Top 10 singles in "Broken Down Angel" and "Bad Bad Boy" (both 1973). New producer Roger Glover helped to focus the quartet's brand of melodic hard rock, and such skills were equally prevalent on Loud 'N' Proud. An unlikely rendition of Joni Mitchell's "This Flight Tonight" gave the band another major chart entry, while the Charlton-produced Hair Of The Dog confirmed Nazareth as an international attraction. Another cover version, this time of Tomorrow's "My White Bicycle", was a Top 20 entry and although Rampant did not yield a single, the custom-recorded "Love Hurts", originally a hit for the Everly Brothers, proved highly successful in the USA and Canada.
Nazareth's popularity remained undiminished throughout the 70s but, having tired of a four-piece line-up, they added guitarist Zal Cleminson, formerly of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, for No Mean City. Still desirous for change, the band invited Jeff "Skunk' Baxter, late of Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers, to produce Malice In Wonderland. While stylistically different from previous albums, the result was artistically satisfying. Contrasting ambitions then led to Cleminson's amicable departure, but the line-up was subsequently augmented by former Spirit keyboard player John Locke. Baxter also produced the experimental The Fool Circle, while the band's desire to capture their in-concert fire resulted in "Snaz. Glasgow guitarist Billy Rankin had now joined the band, but dissatisfaction with touring led to Locke's departure following 2XS. Rankin then switched to keyboards, but although Nazareth continued to enjoy popularity in the USA and Europe, their stature in the UK was receding. Bereft of a major recording contract, Nazareth suspended their career during the late 80s, leaving McCafferty free to pursue solo ambitions (he had already released a solo album in 1975). No Jive was an impressive comeback album in 1992, but the band failed to capitalize on its success. In 1999, Castle Communications reissued the band's back catalogue, complete with added bonus tracks and alternate takes.
DISCOGRAPHY: Nazareth (Mooncrest 1971)***, Exercises (Mooncrest 1972)***, Razamanaz (Mooncrest 1973)****, Loud 'N' Proud (Mooncrest 1974)***, Rampant (Mooncrest 1974)***, Hair Of The Dog (Mooncrest 1975)****, Close Enough For Rock 'N' Roll (Mountain 1976)***, Play 'N' The Game (Mountain 1976)**, Expect No Mercy (Mountain 1977)**, No Mean City (Mountain 1978)**, Malice In Wonderland (Mountain 1980)**, The Fool Circle (NEMS 1981)***, 'Snaz (NEMS 1981)**, 2XS (NEMS 1982)**, Sound Elixir (Vertigo 1983)**, The Catch (Vertigo 1984)**, Cinema (Vertigo 1986)**, Snakes & Ladders (Vertigo 1990)**, No Jive (Mainstream 1992)***, Nazareth At The Beeb (Reef 1998)***, Boogaloo (SPV 1998)***.
COMPILATIONS: Greatest Hits (Mountain 1975)***, 20 Greatest Hits: Nazareth (Sahara 1985)***, Anthology: Nazareth (Raw Power 1988)***, Greatest Hits Volume 2 (Castle 1998)***, Back To The Trenches: Live 1972-1984 (Receiver 2001)***, The Very Best Of Nazareth (Eagle 2001)****, Back To The Trenches: Live 1972-1984 (Receiver 2001)***, Love Hurts: The Rock Ballads (Music Club 2002)***, The Collection (Delta 2003)**, The River Sessions (River 2004)**.
VIDEOGRAPHY: Razamanaz (Hendring Music Video 1990).

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