TEXAS : SOUTHSIDE

  1. I Don't Want A Lover
  2. Tell Me Why
  3. Everyday Now
  4. Southside
  5. Prayer For You
  6. Faith
  7. Thrill Has Gone
  8. Fight The Feeling
  9. Fool For Love
  10. One Choice
  11. Future Is Promises

Label : Mercury

Time : 44:53

Released : March 13, 1989

Review (Wikipedia) : Southside is the debut album of the Scottish rock band Texas. It was released on 13 March 1989, and peaked at no. 3 in the UK. Within three weeks of release, the album was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 100,000 copies. The album's first single "I Don't Want a Lover" was released on 23 January 1989 and peaked at no. 8 in the UK. Following the release of the album in March, which entered the UK Album Chart at no.3, further singles from the album were less successful. The second single, "Thrill Has Gone", peaked at no. 60, while a third single, "Everyday Now", fared little better at no. 44. Despite this, a fourth single, "Prayer for You", was released on 13 November but stalled at no. 73 in the UK. Despite only one hit single, the album spent 29 weeks on the charts. The album cover art was derived from the poster art for the film Paris, Texas, which inspired the band name.

Review (Amazon) : Led by the belting voice of Sharleen Spiteri, this Scottish foursome took their love of Ry Cooder western style guitar and a penchant for writing big, bold songs, and made "Southside" the closest album they had to an American success. I saw them in 1990 at Philadelphia's legendary Trocadero and became an instant fan. (Sharleen even signed my CD.) One listen to the enigmatic "I Don't Want a Lover" and you'll wonder why these folks couldn't break it big. They were huge in Europe, enough so that you can find a full greatest hits CD. "Southide" has several good tracks on it, like "Tell Me Why" and "Faith." Imagine the Cowboy Junkies trying to mate with Simple Minds or U2, and you'll get a feel for what Texas was trying to accomplish. But it was the guitar of Ally McErlaine that help set Texas apart from most other bands (listen to the way he slides his notes on the instrumental title track). Or perhaps the mock-Edge guitar introduction to "Fool For Love." "Southside" may not be a great album, but it does show that Texas deserved better than their American obscurity.