Heads Are Rolling

"Heads Are Rolling" was this great bands swan song. With a impressive catalog behind them, the band must have figured they weren't going to catch on in the States so they dissolved and went their sepaprate ways. My question - what happened to all of these talented musicians? Every City Boy fan (like myself) asks the same question ... why with all of the talent ...why didn't these guys catch on?
I believe the song "5705", off the Book Early release, was the closest they came to hitting it big. Like one other reviewer mentioned, possibly they didn't have a star frontman that the record buying public could embrace. What a shame. I've been listening to these guys for over two decades and I won't stop. Heck, I'm going to pass their music onto my two kids and let them enjoy it as well.
"Heads Are Rolling", like all City Boy albums, is tight, well produced and appealing. My favorites are Mr. Shoes (with the catchy whistling and door slam), Heads are Rolling (the title track) and Domino. Released in a time of sappy over-produced AOR glut - City Boy faded into oblivion. If you're a fan, just take the time to enjoy the fact that you were able to enjoy this great, articulate, and balanced group. One word fans: REUNION.

City Boy was one of those bands that just didn't catch on in the States. Why, is anybody's guess. They certainly weren't lacking for musical prowess or song writing ability. Maybe people couldn't respond to their bouts of humor. Maybe it was the fact that, though their singing was slick and tight, they didn't have that strong vocal frontman that helps "sell" the songs and the band. Heads are Rolling is a strong outing for City Boy. The title track has a lot of get-up-and-go. It's got muscle, but it doesn't rely on it. The track Change in the Weather is SO cool, such a great power pop tune, I'm surprized the label didn't try to push it up the charts. If strong, slick, melodic rock is your poison this band (and certainly this record) should satisfy you.

I don't recall what it was that got me turned on to the group City Boy, but I'm glad it happened. I know it wasn't the radio, today's commercial radio stations wouldn't touch City Boy with a ten foot pole. Why? Because it's over 20 years old and doesn't fit in any particular category. Were they Progressive? Pop? Hard Rock? AOR? All of the above. Today's bland formats don't know what to do with groups like this. So the casual radio listener misses out on the opportunity to hear some truly great music. The only way bands like this persist is through word of mouth.

Well now that you've read this little snippet, consider yourself enlightened. You now have the potential to join the fortunate that know about this gem of a band that released six albums of diverse, finely crafted pop music that defies categorization. Great vocals, imaginative lyrics, excellent musicianship, melodic melodies, and above all, creativity.

This album, "Heads Are Rolling" is technically the last album they released. There was one more after this one, "It's Personal" that hasn't seen the light of day on CD. This isn't my favorite CD by them; that would be "Young Men Gone West" or "Book Early." But "Heads" itself is still better than 90% of the music you'll hear out there on corporate radio, so I give it four stars. You'll get well crafted ballads, some great guitar riffs, and a variety of instrumentation -- just like all their albums. The only thing missing on this was singer/songwriter Steve Broughton. City Boy had a couple of different vocalists, and to me Steve was the best.

My plea to the music industry is to get this band's albums back in print. Music today seems to have little or no direction -- these albums were brilliant. This was a time when bands played their own songs, played their own instruments, and crafted some beautiful, melodic music. There's an audience out there for this stuff -- it just has to be available for us to buy it! Those of you reading this and wondering what the band's music sounds like, try the Anthology first. If you like what you hear, track down the rest -- it's definitly worth it.