Back To You, Goddess

My wonderful NWOBHM uncle Alastair bequeathed me Rock Goddess debut LP*.

I remembered him telling me, only a few years before he died, that he had picked up Rock Goddess at a market stall in Bridgwater and it was really good. He regretted not seeing them back in the day. He rarely used to buy a new LP before seeing a band, a much easier feat in the late 70s, early 80s than now.

As I slowly worked my way through his collection I got quick at assessing which pile an LP would sit in – Keep, Charity, Mates. Rock Goddess was a straight-up keeper after I’d cleaned it up. I guessed it would be as soon as I saw the song title ‘Satisfied Then Crucified’ and that it had been produced by Vic Maile, always a good sign.

Formed in Wandsworth in 1977 by sisters Jody and Julie Turner, aged 13 and 9 respectively**, with the addition of schoolmate Tracey Lamb Rock Goddess were signed by A&M Records after a few years gigging around and releasing a demo led to a Reading Festival appearance. Rock Goddess was released in 1983.

Rock Goddess is a really good heavy rock album. The band play it the way the LP cover picture looks, they’re staring you down not gussying themselves up for you. Almost every track here is absolutely laced with real energy and bite.

Opener ‘Heartache’ is a belter, coming on like Heart crossed with Girlschool^. Jody Turner’s voice is excellent, far too weathered and powerful for someone her age and it sparks perfectly off the rock solid rhythm and her own strident guitar. Like all good LP openers it is a proper statement of intent.

The second track is even better, a bolt of punky rock titled ‘Back To You’ all wrapped up in 1:53 of pure attitude, snarl and hook. I love just how fierce this is. It is a great example of Vic Maile’s raw, revved-up production technique at its finest. It is the best thing on Rock Goddess for me.

I won’t bore you with a full track-by track, but here are some of my leather-clad faves:

My Angel – a great raw-throated lust monster, or something. It’s fast and great, that’s all you need to know.

Satisfied Then Crucified – pretty much the exact same song as ‘My Angel’ but with some extra guitar and a chorus the band accelerate into.

Start Running – the band really pace themselves here to great affect, they do menacing really well.

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Rock Goddess has grown and grown on me since I discovered it, 1983 was a great year for metal and this album is right up there with the best of them.

I think it is the the sheer turbo-charged performance from the band, captured brilliantly by Vic Maile, that does it for me – all three players really nail their parts, I am especially taken by bassist Tracey Lamb and they never sound thin as trios can at times. In addition Rock Goddess is a really complete LP, sure a couple of the tracks late on aren’t quite as strong but the execution is right there, fully committed and the LP really sounds like a complete unit. A big tip of the chapeau is due to Jody Turner for writing every track here too.

Line-up changes, child labour laws, out and out sexism and an ill-advised change of musical emphasis all helped to thwart Rock Goddess getting their dues properly and despite a strong second LP they fell away after that. I really think they should be better known and more revered than they are.

Keeper!

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1241 Down.

*actually that’s slightly inaccurate, he left me a copy of their second LP Hell Hath No Fury that was in such bad condition that I had to have it humanely put to sleep. It was the kind thing to do.

**Julie Turner’s age would cause legal problems later because as a minor she could only play so many shows. Damn you Victorian child labour laws!

^trailblazers and friends from the same area of London.