IT'S PERSONAL

I first ran into City Boy-music in the late seventies when 5-7-0-5 became a hit (although I like Turn On To Jesus better!). My older brother bought The Earth caught Fire, I taped it and...was really hooked. I still play that tape in my car 25 years later (God...am I gettin' old or what..?!). All of a sudden I found It´s Personal in the local record shop (sells only second hand records) and bought it right there! It´s a really great record with fantastic work from the last remaining four-piece of the Boys'. Love them for that record and being a guitarist myself I admire Mikes work for life! His tone, phrasing, everything!

Listen and enjoy!! City Boy changed my musical directions for the better and for good :)

Found the record years after they broke up and it was like they put out a brand new record. i was delited to add some more great songs to my collection.

Its no ordinary life is a lighting bolt of upbeat music and lyrics, refreshing.

also who killed delores is typical of their off the wall style that we love so much.

Thanks again City Boy!!

Dave Splendorio

Oh boy, where do I even start commenting on this release? Well, I can start by stating that this is easily one of the best final albums that any band have ever put on tape!

It wouldn't be an understatement to say that Heads Are Rolling was a low point of the band's career which made most people assume that City Boy was over and done with. Even their label Atlantic realized that there was no more hit potential left in the band and dropped them as soon as their contract expired. The band handed in their seventh album to the label before leaving but Atlantic executives decided against releasing the record. Fortunately there was still a distribution deal with Phonogram Records (though Vertigo) that made it possible for the Scandinavian market to actually experience this gem!

I really find it hilarious that the Swedish Wikipedia page for this UK band is actually twice as long as its English counterpart! I guess that we Swedes know a quality act whenever we see one (Warning! This statement is obviously very shallow and you can probably find at least a dozen exceptions to this so called rule). Still, the fact that City Boy was a lot more popular in the Nordic regions remains a fact. I'm obliviously very happy about it since I got to grow up with City Boy.

One can only be amazed when a band actually manages to create a noteworthy album at the late stages of their career. It's Personal is even more than just a noteworthy release, it's easily one of the top two records in the band's career! Tracks like No Ordinary Life, The Police-inspired Names And Addresses are just beautiful while Exit The Heavyweight can pretty much be considered a perfect ending to a short but very memorable career. The rest of the tracks do a good job of creating atmosphere for the highlights, with a minor exception of La Guerra De Mondo since the track simply sounds out of place with the rest of these cheery pop tunes.

I would be lying if I said that It's Personal was a Progressive Rock album, but let's not forget that City Boy was never really a Prog band to begin with, hence their Prog Related-tag. If all you're after is a great rock album with a few touches of Art Rock then look no further!

***** star songs: No Ordinary Life (4:12) Names And Addresses (4:15) Exit The Heavyweight (4:34)

**** star songs: Rat Race (3:14) The Blind Leading The Blind (4:08) Lovers (4:21) It's Personal (4:33) Who Killed Dolores (4:03)

*** star songs: La Guerra De Mondo (3:51)