Nazareth made their name with thumping hard rock but were too creative and versatile to stick to a heavy formula for any length of time. The ballsy attack and monster-mascot covers of 1977’s Expect No Mercy and 1979’s No Mean City primed them for the early 80s heavy metal boom. But while Motorhead, Saxon and the like were hammering out their leathery biker anthems, Dunfermline’s finest went soft. They teamed up with producer (and famed Steely Dan/session muso) Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter for the sun-kissed adult rock of 1980’s Malice In Wonderland. Flirting with reggae on Big Boy? Getting disco fever on Talkin’ Bout Love? You might question the band’s decision-making, but the end result was one of Nazareth’s most enjoyable albums.
Holiday and Showdown At The Border are tasty Lizzy/UFO-ish rockers with sublime hooks. Heart’s Grown Cold is a beautiful, affecting gospel-tinged ballad and Ship Of Dreams has a West Coast hippy vibe right out of Love’s Forever Changes. Baxter’s production tones down the band’s guitar heft and reduces Fast Cars to a boring plinky-plonk but the album sounds lush and the focus on song allows vocalist Dan McCafferty to shine. And guitar-lovers will enjoy the strong contribution from Zal Cleminson whose playing and writing give the album a witty, eclectic edge that is reminiscent of his work with Alex Harvey. So… no monster mascots here, but this is still killer stuff. An overlooked gem for rock fans that like it classic and classy.
HEAVY METAL OVERLOAD 
This Flight Tonight is considered Cancon so it got played a ton here. Because of it, Nazareth had a huge following. Plus they always played across Canada when many bands would not. I need to grab my vinyl copy of this one and give it a spin. I was contemplated listening to some older Naz anyway, so why not this one too.
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They always talk about how big they were in Canada. I think maybe bigger there than anywhere else? They did their first live album there too. Can’t go wrong with the old stuff but this is worth a spin.
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I still remember hearing Holiday played a ton on my local fm station.
I think this album will bring back some good memories.
Thanks and stay safe.
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You too dude!
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Snaz as you know is one of my live fav’s!
Hey Vancouver! Love McCaffery’s intro before Razmanaz.
Malice is one cool cover I have to say. Might have to start digging around for more Naz on vinyl.
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This is one you should get, it’s got a lot of tunes that appear on ‘Snaz so you’ll know a few tracks already.
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Sounds good.
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I only learned about him a few years ago, but I like Jeff Baxter’s nickname (and bass work) – I believe he had a formidable ‘stache too!
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It’s a beast!
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Another good revelation. Had no idea that Skunk had played with them, though I keep seeing his name appear on a surprising number of late-’70s/early-’80s soul and funk tracks… Not hugely into Nazareth’s singer or this song, but lovely warm early ’80s production.
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Sorry, Baxter produced this rather than played on it. Not all that clear in the post so I’ll edit that a bit… Shame you don’t like it more, I love that track!
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Ah right, that makes sense. Great production and beautifully recorded.
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I love the production but by all accounts he pissed off the guitar dept. of the band! Mind you, they used him on the next album so couldn’t have been all bad. And it does sound wonderful.
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I definitely hear the Steely Dan influence on that song. It’s still good. I have never heard this one but “Hair of the Dog” is one of my all time favourites.
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Hair Of The Dog is incredible! Thats definitely one of their best. It and Razamanaz probably…
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I strongly believe that when the Gods of Rock got together to create heavy metal, “Hair of the Dog” was used as a blueprint.
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The album cover is extremely metal too!
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I had no idea Cleminson was involved – I think he’s a massively underrated dude.
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He’s brilliant. He doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. Great player, huge tone. His Alex Harvey stuff is godly.
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You’ve sold me on a spin with this.
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Lot of great songs on this. Kinda overlooked. Wonderful ballads too.
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It’s what you said it was. I am also Zal fan.
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