Released in April 1974, Kamikaze represents Deke Leonard's claim to solo
career chart fame, spending a brief week at number 50 during 13-20 April
1974. It was recorded at Rockfield in a series of four-day stints between
June 1973 and January 1974, and mixed at Chipping Norton and Olympic studios.
Unlike his first solo album 'Iceberg' where he brought in numerous musicians
as the desire took him, Deke had by now settled down with a more stable
recording line up of Brian Breeze on guitar, Martin Ace on bass and Keith
Hodge on drums. Dave Charles eventually replaced Keith Hodge on the later
sessions. The approach paid off, and Deke had found a worthy sparring
partner in his old schoolmate Brian Breeze. Of the album Deke says; "I
enjoy it because there are a lot of guitar playing memories - more blowing,
less structured."
The song 'Louisiana Hoedown' was written by Memphis Bend drummer Tommy
Riley. Riley and Lincoln Carr - also from Memphis Bend - played on the
record. It was, according to Deke, written about the Manband; "Tommy
came to see us at the Paget Rooms, went home and wrote a song about going
to a Manband gig: there are references in there if you listen." Another
song, 'The Devil's Gloves', acted as an unofficial audition for the next
Manband bassist Ken Whaley who Deke had recommended to Micky Jones. He
passed the audition.
Some tracks other than those listed were also recorded at Rockfield,
but haven't yet made it into the public domain; 'Lies, Lies, Lies', which
included Memphis Bend again, 'Steel Painting Man', and 'The Four Corners
Of Hell' all remain unreleased. 'She's A Cow' was issued as the B side
to the 'Louisiana Hoedown' single, while 'I'm A Lovetaker' eventually
surfaced as a Man B side in 1976. 'Afterburner Boogie' was included on
Deke's 'Unfinished Business' collection in 1994.
The cover is again from Pierre Tubbs, and Keith Morris supplied the photo
on the front. Originally Deke had suggested reversing the Iceberg cover,
calling the new album 'Bristol Fighter' and picturing an iceberg on the
front. The next idea was for Deke to be pictured with a Jumbo jet taking
off over his head. He and Pierre set off for Luton Airport. "I don't
know whether you've ever stood behind a Jumbo jet when it takes off?"
Deke later reflected, "I lost both my eyebrows, Pierre went deaf
in one ear, and we both ran around in circles in the heat-haze, shouting
for our Mummies." The pictures that made the grade eventually were
taken in Pierre's parents back garden in Leatherhead. Not quite the Burmese
jungle but almost. Incidentally, the Japanese text on the rear cover has
been translated as; "This album, which is dedicated to lovers of
cricket all over the world was completed using the new invisible sound
process."
As soon as Kamikaze was in the can Deke rejoined the Manband. By the
time it was released their next album 'Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics' had
been recorded and would follow it onto the shelves a month later.
(www.manband-archive.com)
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