The first set of 7 songs was ready for the first gig within 2 months of the finalisation of the line-up. This was achieved so quickly since 3 of the songs were virtually finished before the finalisation of the line-up, with music by Russ and lyrics from Paul and Steve - Caught in the Act, Rock Solid and Don't Fool Around With Me. Two of the songs had music and the words were supplied from Dean's already written but unused "back catalogue" of lyrics - Feel the Steel and Love Em and Leave Em. One song was inheritted virtually complete from one of Dean's previous bands Predator (with Kev Rice of Projekt) - The Smile You Hide. The final song Settle the Score, was written from scratch with the complete line-up already in place.

Songwriting went through several phases. Initially Steve and Paul were writing lyrics and Russ was providing most of the music. When Dean arrived he tidied and reorganised existing lyrics and became the only person from then on to write lyrics, this wasn't a conscious decision on anyone's part, I think Steve and Paul were relieved to no longer have the responsibility. For a while most songs were fleshed out initially by Russ and Dean and then arranged, tweaked, organised and altered by the band as a whole. It wasn't long before it was impossible to say who had and hadn't contributed to a particular song, from this point on all songs were credited to the entire band. As time progressed towards writing Head First Steve started bringing forward song ideas (The Flame of Life and Death probably being the first "biggy"). Songwriting virtually stopped during the Head First tour, but when it picked up again the majority of songs were then being prepared musically by Steve, fleshed out in song writing mini sessions with Simon and Paul and then presented, almost complete, for Russ and Dean to arrange and add lyrics to.

In an attempt to capture some of the variations in songwriting style the rereleased versions of Days of Darkness and Head First on CD have been augmented by including live versions of all of the tracks that were gigged but not recorded in the Studio.

Days of Darkness was originally released on tape in 1990. The rereleased CD also contains live versions of the very early set that was being regularly gigged.

Days of Darkness will soon be available (early 2001) on CD for the price of £5.00 (plus p+p).

 

* Previously unreleased
(Live recordings)


Can you hear me Mother ? *
Settle the Score
Days of Darkness
Out in theCold
Miss Issippi Missed
Afraid of the Dark *
Feel the Steel *
Caught in the Act *
Don't Fool Around With Me *
Rock Solid *
Take a Look Outside *
The Smile You Hide *
Now is the Time *
I Don't Need It *
Love Em and Leave Em *
Out in the Cold (Reprise) *

Head First was released in October 1991 and was promoted with a UK tour. A lot of the newer songs on the "live" portion of the rereleased Days of Darkness were considered for used on Head First - tough choices were made.

The live section of Head First are predominantly ones written after the Head First tour and show the newer technical edge that was developing in the band's writing.

Head First will soon be available on CD (early 2001) for the price of £5.00 (plus p+p).

Bring Them Back Alive
Headstrong Girl
Stand Your Ground
Prelude to a Dream *
Lady Big Dreamer
When the World Fell Down
Too Good for Lovin
The Hunger
Angel on the Run
The Flame of Life and Death
Shut Yer Gobs *
Living With the Fear *
Into the Realms of Doubt *
Sneakin Out the Back Door *
What's Mine is Mine *
Room With No Doors *

* Previously unreleased
(Live recordings)
Childhood Memories
Eastern Promise
Lust for Money
Shadow of the Dark

Alas not all songs that were written got recorded, the lyrics and notes of these few here is all that is left.

Having dug through the archives to produce this site, I'm quite amazed that only 4 of the 33 songs written by Headstrong are unavailable, and they may still turn up somewhere.

[Home] [History] [Band] [Songs] [Gigs]

 

This page has been designed and maintained by

Steamhead