line up 1 (1977-81)

- Amanda Blue (Mandy Cohen, aka Amanda Blue Leigh) --

   vocals

- Anton Fig (aka Anton Zip) -- drums, percussion, backing vocals

- Keith Lentin -- lead guitar, backing vocals

- Jimmy Lowell -- bass, backing vocals

- Holly Knight -- keyboards, backing vocals

- Blue.Fig

- Device (Holly Knight)

- Fast Forward (Jimmy Lowell)

- H.A.M.M.A.K. (Amanda Blue, Anton Fig, and Keith Lentin) 

- Nativeland (Amanda Blue)

- Shanghai (Anton Fig, Keith Lentin, Holly Knight, and Jimmy Lowell)

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Between the Lines

Company: Dreamland

Catalog: CDL 1 5007
Year: 1981

Country/State: South Africa / US

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: still in shrink wrap (opened)

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 840

Price: $20.00

Spider's second album ...   Interesting back story.   

right to left:  Holly Knight  - Anton Figg - Amanda Blue - Keith Lentin -  Jimmy Lowell

Singer Amanda Blue (then know as Mandy Cohen), drummer Anton Fig, and guitarist Keith Lentin had been members of the Capetown, South African based jazz-rock band H.A.M.M.A.K..  After H.A.M.M.A.K broke up, the three relocated to the UK where Cohen recorded an early-'70s solo album ("Medusa") for Warner Brothers.   Returning to South Africa Cohen and Lentin married and then head for Boston where he'd enrolled in college.  Fig was also in Boston studying music at the New England Conservatory of Music and the three continued their collaborations.   In 1977 they decided to move to New York City where they began writing and recording demos first as Siren and then as Spider.  keyboardist Holly Knight and bassist Jimmy Lowell subsequently joined the line-up.  Ironically, as Spider the group's initial break came when Fig was hired to play on Ace Frehley's solo album.   Impressed by Fig and Spider, Frehley hooked them up with manager Bill Aucoin who helped them sign a recording deal with Nikki chinn and Michael Chapman's Dreamland Records label.  

Working separately with producers Mike Chapman and Peter Coleman, 1981's "Between the Lines" wasn't a major change from the debut.  Like 1980's "Spider", the album showcased a mixture of jittery new-wave, power-pop, and AOR moves.   Perhaps not quite as radio friendly as the debut, but the follow-up set was still enjoyable in a calculated, hyper-'80s fashion.   The spotlight was clearly on lead singer Blue, whose powerful, but quirky voice (image a tougher version of Patty Smyth, or Dale Bozzio (who ripped off Blue's weird little squeaks).  Blue's vocals managed to make all\ but the most pedestrian of these tunes worth hearing. That said, the creative power behind the band was keyboardist Holly Knight who was responsible for writing, or co-writing a disproportionate number of the songs.  There wasn't anything particularly original, or ground breaking across these grooves and if you're allergic to '80s new wave/pop, then you'll want to keep your distance.  That said, the band played with considerable energy and enthusiasm and you could certainly do worse than checking into either of their studio sets.   Personal favorites were 'Change' and the original version of 'Better Be Good To Me'.

"Between the Lines" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Change    (Holly Knight) - 3:16

In spite of the extreme '80s sound, 'Change' was a nice showcase for Blue's crystalline voice.   The songs itself was a hyper-commercial slice of jittery, new-wave/power pop with a nice hook and all the required ' instrumentation (syn-drums, Farfisa organ, etc.), and production affairs.   John Waite covered the track (though this version is superior).   rating: *** stars 

2.) I Think I Like It   (Anton Fig - Amanda Blue - Keith Lentin) - 3:30

;I Think I Like It' seemed intent on showing the band could compete with harder rocking "hair bands'.  With Blue unleashing her "rock" voice all over the pedestrian lyric, imagine the Wilson sisters after an all night bender with a band like Warrant and you'll have a feel for this one.  Very AOR-ish.   rating: *** stars

3.) Between the Lines   (Anton Fig - Keith Lentin)  4:43

Nice edgy AOR ballad with the band providing surprisingly sweet backing vocals.  Surprising this one wasn't tapped as a single as it would have certainly garnered the band some airplay.   rating: *** stars

4.) It Didn't Take Long   (Holly Knight) - 3:52

'It Didn't Take Long' was a slow, bluesy ballad that actually made some noise on the singles chart.  Nice harmony vocals and  Lentin turned in a couple of nice solos, but to my ears it was actually one of the duller tunes on the set.    rating: *** stars

5.) Going By   (Anton Fig - Amanda Blue) - 4:14

Back to jittery new wave, but with an engaging melody and some nice Fig percussion breaks, 'Going By' had one of the album's most catchy choruses and considerable commercial potential.  rating: *** stars

(side 2)
1.) Better Be Good To Me   (Mike Chapman - Nicky Chinn - Holly Knight) - 72:23

How many folks know they wrote and recorded it before Tina Turner turned it into a massive hit ?   Penned by Knight who must have gotten wealthy off this one, Spider's version was far jittery/new wave-ish than Turner's cover, but I actually like the original better (just by a touch - Turner also did the song proud).  For anyone interested, YouTube has a clip of the band lip synching the edited single version of the track on German television: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVEdkOKkbwI   rating: **** stars

2.) Can't Live this Way Anymore   (Kevin Lentin - Holly Knight) - 4:04

Carried by Blue's nifty voice, 'Can't Live this Way Anymore' was a nice example of the band's ability to blend new wave and AOR moves into a highly commercial, if slightly anonymous blend.   Could have been a hit single with a bit of support.   rating: *** stars

3.) Faces Are Changing   (Kevin Lentin) - 4:38

Written and sung by guitarist Lentin (his only vocal on the album), 'Faces Are Changing' was a plodding AOR ballad.  Lentin didn't have a bad voice, but it lacked the power and appeal of Blue's performances.   Ultimately kind of boring, though I could easily imagine it as an MTV video ...   rating: ** stars

4.) Go and Run    (Holly Knight) - 4:40

Blue's quirky voice (the unexpected little squeaks always made me laugh), seldom sounded as good as on this mid-tempo rocker.  The funny thing is you could almost picture Knight writing it with an ear to radio play.   rating: *** stars

5.) I Love   (Anton Fig) - 3:10

Unfortunately 'I Love' ended the album with what was probably the most formulaic and dullest performance on the album ...   rating: ** stars

As mentioned, Dreamland tapped the album for a single in the form of:

- 1981's 'It Didn't Take Long' b/w 'I Love' (Dreamland catalog number  111)

A different single was released in the UK:

- 1981's 'Better Be Good To Me' b/w I Love'  (Dreamland catalog number DLSP 11)

The band toured a bit before Knight decided to head off on her own, briefly reappearing in the band Device, before turning into a hired-gun songwriter.  The rest of the band decided to stick together, recruiting former Airborne keyboard player Beau Hill as a replacement for Knight and releasing a 1982 album under the name Shanghai.

There's a nice Blue website at: www.amandablueleigh.com  

Fig's website is at: http://www.antonfig.com/  

Similarly, Knight has a web presence at: http://www.hollyknight.com/

Lentin became and in-demand sessions player and then turned his attention to production work:  http://keithlentin.com/

Lowell briefly played in Ian Lloyd's band Fast Forward.