This group are best known for their hit single "Turning Japanese" which is found on this, their debut album. That song is a great sing-a-long classic of the late 70s but the talent of the group is shown far more fully here on this album of which "Turning Japanese" is one of the weakest tracks. I read somewhere that The Vapors were discovered by Bruce Foxton, bassist with the Jam and they were promoted by him. Indeed, The Vapors supported The Jam on one of their tours (what a gig that would have been) but ultimately, the manager of The Jam, Paul Weller's father John felt that Bruce's involvement with the Vapors was detracting from his dayjob with The Jam, at the time probably the biggest band in Britain. I don't know if this is true but if it is and if it led to the band's early drift into obscurity then it is sad loss to the music of the era.
This album is relpete with excellent guitar riffs, pounding bass and drums and lyrics which mix angst and sesitivity with irony and bitterness. Although the lead singer, Dave Fenton's voice is not very powerful in the mould of say Paul Weller, Ian Dury or Morrissey, it is perfectly suited to this less angry, more melodic music. Every song is memorable and played by very accomplished musicians. Spring Collection, News At Ten, Waiting For The Weekend, Trains and Sixty-Second Interval are songs which would easily stand up against later offerings from bands like U2 (early stuff up to War), The Kaiser Chiefs, Oasis and Blur and stand way above offerings from bands like Franz Ferdinand and U2 (latter stuff from The Unforgettable Fire onwards).
Those in the know know just how good this band were, for those who don't know get this CD and listen to the band that should have been so much more than they became were it not for the fickle business of music.
