Pele’s 2nd album was originally released in December 1993, this version I have is a 2018 25th Anniversary release. It will forever stun me that I hadn’t heard them before the mid 2000’s. The opening four songs are all absolute belters, “Beside The Fields”, “Don’t Worship Me”, “Hey America” and particularly “Fat Black Heart (Natural Born Enemy)” are songs anyone would be proud of and many would give up a limb to have written. They convincingly demonstrate what a great songwriter Ian Prowse is. Considering it’s 30 years old now “Fat Black Heart…” is as relevant today as it was back then

“How can you close your eyes to the pain, Of someone's loss helping your gain

Greed and jealousy apart, What beats in your fat black heart”

and finishing on the almost spoken lines “As far as I’m concerned the rich should not even be spoken to, These are your natural born enemies” #fuckthetories indeed.

“Understanding Sadness” is an utterly beautiful ballad, the closing title track is another Republican anthem we should all take to heart. We’ve seen Ian Prowse play countless times in recent years and he’s still playing the Celtic rave-up that is “Name And Number”. How did this record/band/songwriter go so under the radar for all that time ?

But never fear there’s still time to get on board the good ship Prowsey. He’s still making great records, we’ll get into some of those shortly, and he’s touring the UK in March 2024 (tickets for his Shrewsbury show available from the White Rabbit Records Facebook page BTW). Jump in anywhere, Pele, Amsterdam or his solo records, they’re all great. And if you find that you don’t get it then maybe check your pulse and see a doctor…

Fat Black Heart (Natural Born Enemy) - https://youtu.be/C_sSY-4Csuk

I’ve only discovered Pele in relatively recent years. I first encountered Ian Prowse nearly 20 years ago when his then band, Amsterdam, opened for The Wonder Stuff at Wolverhampton Civic Hall and it’s been an unfolding story ever since. Considering Pele were signed to the same record label group as the band I was working for in the early 90’s and both bands were making music not a million miles different from each other I still can’t fathom out why our paths didn’t cross much earlier but here we are.

I may have said this here before but…Ian Prowse has gotta be Liverpools best kept secret. A songwriter every bit as talented as Liverpools greats (I happily include him in a list featuring Elvis Costello, Ian’s McCulloch, McNabb and Broudie among many others) and a band leader of great skill, to see the full 10+ piece Celtic-Soul juggernaut that is Pele/Amsterdam (the lines between the two bands have become very blurred over the years) in full flow is something to behold. Pele were a big live draw in the early 90’s and with songs like these it’s no surprise. Pele had tunes as big as Liverpool (“Fair Blows The Wind For France”) and more social commentary/conscience than many a Punk Rocker (“Raid The Palace”). 

It has always struck me since discovering these records over the last 15 years or so that their record company (yes that’s ultimately you Polydor) must have been working extra specially hard too ensure this album was as ignored as it was at the time. I was working for a band on the same label and knew nothing about them ! “Fireworks” was released in 1992 to almost universal apathy, except in South Africa where single “Megalomania” was a number one hit at the time of the cultural boycott. To hear Prowsey tell the story of how he wrestled with his conscience over whether or not to go promote his number one single (he didn’t of course) tells you a lot about the person Ian Prowse is. 

Thankfully time has been kind to Pele and these songs. Ian Prowse is reaping some reward for these records that should have been his back in the 90’s. I’ll keep banging this drum but if you have not yet been seduced by the music of Ian Prowse you are really missing out on something. 

Fair Blows The Wind For France - https://youtu.be/ARZJulLzVIQ

Following the release of “GP” Gram needed to tour his album. He assembled a band, The Fallen Angels, which included Emmylou Harris, pedal steel traditionalist Neil Flanz, drummer ND Smart II, bassist Kyle Tullis and guitarist Jock Bartley. Neil Flanz has said that the rehearsals, which were held at road manager Phil Kaufman's house were a disaster: "We weren't serious enough about the rehearsals. It was just wild. Everyone was playing music and having a good time but we weren't taking care of business". Kaufman said "We had a big party…We had a tour bus. Gram brought along Gretchen (his wife) and we left my house and went on our tour, and the tour was just disaster after disaster". It’s reported that it was only Emmylou Harris' determination that disciplined the band and ensured the shows even happened.

“Live 1973” was recorded in Long Island, New York on March 13, 1973 during a live radio broadcast for WLIR-FM but wasn’t released on record until 1982. It’s 12 songs include 6 from “GP” along with “Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man” which he’d recorded with The Byrds on “Sweetheart Of the Rodeo”, Boudleaux Bryant’s gorgeous “Love Hurts” which would appear on Gram’s next album “Grievous Angel”, some Country classics in Jim Shumate’s country/gospel “Country Baptizing”, Merle Haggard’s “California Cotton Fields”, the truck drivers anthem “Six Days On The Road” and they round the set out with a rock ’n’ roll medley !

As it is a radio broadcast it’s fairly well recorded and is a fantastic document of a period in Gram’s musical life that was thankfully captured. There are brief interactions between Gram, band, presenter and audience, band introductions etc. nothing earth shattering but an opportunity to briefly hear Gram speak. The show itself is a mostly gentle affair, although Gram is credited with being the first Country Rocker this show is far more country than rock. The duet between Gram and Emmylou on “The New Soft Shoe” is quite beautiful with great slide work by Neil Flanz. The unquestionable pearl on this album however is the take of “Love Hurts”, Gram and Emmylou at their duetting best with the band just leaning back and letting those two voices carry the load on a truly superb song.

This isn’t by any means where you should start if you decide to investigate the world of Gram Parsons (if you decide to do that Elvis Costello complied a best of simply titled “Gram Parsons” in 1982, hunt that down). It’s another of those records for the smitten completist of which I am unashamedly one when it comes to Gram. But if, like me, you catch the bug this is somewhere you will inevitably arrive.

Love Hurts - https://youtu.be/Tw-5dYVgUno?si=IcjyPiFW6yH_MQ_4