Artist:     Be-Bop Deluxe

Album:     Be-Bop Deluxe Sunburst Finish (Deluxe Edition)

Label:     Esoteric Recordings

Release Date:     11.16.2018

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Though designated a prog band, don’t let this misnomer fool you about Be-Bop Deluxe. With their whimsical lyrics and pure musical chops, the quartet should be considered a worthy companion to acts like 10cc.

It would be the group’s third masterwork, 1976’s Sunburst Finish, that would prove the charm for the band. Led by guitar whiz Bill Nelson, the album is a hearty dose of art rock, glam rock, hard rock, and genuine talent as musicians Charles Tumahai (bass), Simon Fox (drums), and Andrew Clark (keyboards) bring Nelson’s unique compositions to life—all driven by humor, emotion, and good old-fashioned fun.

For those unaware of either the band or the album, Sunburst Finish is now back in deluxe form. In the 2-CD version, you get the original release, a remastered version of the album and a series of previously unreleased bonus tracks. Like another underrated favorite, Sparks, the band here can be irreverent at times yet wholly accessible just the same. It can also be argued that an album like this sets the precedent for future bands like FM (of Black Noise fame) to come to fruition.

Nelson is largely the driving force on Sunburst, offering a fast-paced rock romp on “Fair Exchange,” a reggae-esque frolic with “Ships in the Night,” and a guitar wailing highlight with “Crying to the Sky.” “Sleep That Burns” is arguably the album’s best track as its spacey-themes are underscored by a rolling keyboard memory reminiscent of Yes’ “Yours is No Disgrace.” Where there’s no “jazz” on the album to speak of (contrary to the group’s name), somehow members, through all their musical twists and turns here, know when to uniquely improvise and then come back to original hooks and themes at the right moments.

Considering that other tracks like “Beauty Secrets” and “Crystal Gazing” are catchy listens, it’s great to hear their origins thanks to this expanded edition. “Ships in the Night,” the group’s biggest hit, is also showcased in all its individual, multi-faceted forms. Though never a household act, this set is a strong reminder of the power of a band that never quite “made it” on our shores yet could have, if we had just paid more attention to them when they hit the scene.

—Ira Kantor