Steve Hunter - Swept Away (1977)

(U.S 1971 - Present)

Steve "The Deacon" Hunter, born 1948 in Decatur, Illinois, is an American guitarist best known for his collaborations with Lou Reed and Alice Cooper. He first played with Mitch Ryder's Detroit, beginning a long association with record producer Bob Ezrin.

In the 1970s, he appeared on five Alice Cooper albums, four of which were produced by Ezrin. In 1973, he was on the final two albums recorded by the Alice Cooper group, Billion Dollar Babies and Muscle of Love.

When Alice Cooper became a solo artist, Hunter followed and appeared on the 1975 groundbreaking album and live show Welcome to My Nightmare alongside guitarist Dick Wagner, with whom Hunter had already formed a formidable guitar team, as can be heard on the Lou Reed live album Rock 'n' Roll Animal and further demonstrated on the film 'Welcome To My Nightmare', released on home video in 1976 featuring the celebrated guitar battle between Hunter and Wagner that formed part of the Alice Cooper 1975 live show.

Steve Hunter & Dick Wagner with Alice Cooper

 He and Wagner also played on Peter Gabriel's self-titled first solo album, which was likewise produced by Ezrin, in 1976.

The following year, Ezrin produced and played on Hunter's solo album 'Swept Away'. It is predominantly instrumental and a guitar show.

His first collaboration with Lou Reed was for the Berlin album. He also played in the live band captured on Reed's live albums, the aforementioned Rock 'n' Roll Animal and Lou Reed Live. 

Steve Hunter with Lou Reed

Other artists Hunter has worked with include David Lee Roth (in the mid-1990s), and Tracy Chapman. He also contributed music to and is featured on the soundtrack of the film "The Rose", starring Bette Midler.

A documentary about the guitar partnership of Hunter and Wagner entitled Rock 'n' Roll Animals is currently available HERE.

Welcome To My Nightmare Credits

Album Review

After the 'Welcome To My Nightmare' tour Steve Hunter released his debut solo album "Swept Away." The album was recorded over a two year period whilst Steve toured with Alice Cooper. In Toronto on Aug 18-28, Oct 24-29, Nov 24-28 in 1976. Then in L.A. on Dec 17-19 in 1976 and Jan 8-10 1977. Released on the Atlantic label, it was produced by Rob Ezrin who also produced Alice's Welcome To My Nighmare album.

Hunter's backing band was pretty much the same people who work on 'Welcome To My Nighmare' and 'Go To Hell' albums. Steve Hunter on all guitars and vocals, Prakash John on bass, Jim Gordon on drums and Bob Ezrin on keyboards, percussion, and vocals. In fact, Bob Ezrin actually produced this album along with Brian Christian. Some other guest artists include Jim Malen on percussion and Jozef Chirowski plays Fender Rhodes on "Eldorado Street".

Steve covers an instrumental version of "Eight Miles High" by The Byrds which is amazing and I particularly like the drums by Jim Gordon. Another cover is "Sail On Sailor" (a Beach Boys song), a huge favourite of mine which I first heard on the Beach Boy's double live album. Steve's cover of the song is both controlled and impressive.

I also like "Sea Sonata" and "Deep Blue" which close the album and were written by Hunter.

My only criticism of the album is the short opener on side 2 "Jasper...Rag" which sounds like it has a timing issue (maybe it was done on purpose) but it doesn't really sound great.

Nevertheless, Hunter shows off his guitar work on this album and demonstrates a wide range of skill sets both on acoustic and electric guitar. Overall, the album has a predominantly laid back sound and with the help of the picture on the cover, it reminds me of being on a tropical island, and hence the title "Swept Away".

This post consists of FLACs ripped from my near mint vinyl which I purchased from the Melbourne University Bookstore back in 1977, during my Uni years.  Strangely enough, they tended to stock the more 'non- commercial' releases, and Steve's debut album was one of them. I was already familar with the brilliant guitar work by Hunter and Wagner through 'Rock And Roll Animal Live'  and was therefore drawn to this album when I spotted it in the racks, along with it's eye catching cover.

Full album artwork and label scans are also included. 

 

If you haven't heard this album, then I guarantee you will be drawn in immediately with the opening track. The rest of the album is just icing on the cake.

Track Listing

01   Eight Miles High [Byrds]  5:02

02   Eldorado Street  4:59

03   Goin' Down [traditional]  2:33

04   Rubber Man  2:53

05   Of All Times To Leave  1:42

06   Jasper St. Viaduct Gitar Rag  1:44

07   Sail On Sailor [Beach Boys]  4:29

08   Swept Away  4:33

09   Sea Sonata  4:54

10   Deep Blue  2:56

Band Members:

Steve Hunter - guitars, vocalBob Ezrin - keyboards, vocals, percussion

Jozef Chirowski - piano Fender Rhodes

Carol Pope, Joanne Brooks, Tony D'Amico - backing vocal

Prakash John (Parliament) - bass

Jim Gordon (Derek & The Dominos) - drums

Jim Maelen - percussion

Steve Hunter Link (198Mb)