Five Grand Stereo

Sex and Money

Everyone who is a lover of music,has a special period in their lives. This is most likely in their early teens to mid twenties. A lot of growing up is done during that period. A lot of firsts take place, first love , first date, first kiss,and first job if your lucky. Music has always there as a constant companion in the background ,it provides the soundtrack to our lives. Listening to the words of a song that tell such a familiar story that it could be anyone’s it could be yours.

Music has that ability to connect with the familiar. That’s been the case for so many of us over countless generations. Its why we identify with a certain era more than others. It’s our growing up period. Mine was the early to mid Seventies. My musical heroes were “Free,”Slade,”Mott The Hoople,”Lou Reed,”and David Bowie. “Bowie”was and still is my idol.

So when I first listened to “Five Grand Stereo”and their excellent album “Sex and Money.”All those memories came flooding back. It’s like being taken back in time. This album is embedded with the spirit of that era. Make no mistake the songs here are of the highest quality. Songs like”Boots and Leather” the piano playing sounding eerily like the genus of Mike Garson. The man who supplied the other worldly playing on “Life on Mars “Aladdin Sane,”Time,”and so many other classic Bowie compositions.

Then you have the rock n roll of “Iceberg”which could sit comfortably along with “Suffragette City,”Mainly the vocal duty is the responsibility of Chris Singleton but not exclusively.

Jane Frazer takes the lead on the track “Mr Lighter” what a beautiful song with a vocal performance that would melt the hardest of hearts. Also Jane’s impressive vocal talents are to the fore on Corinthians 1,and Corinthians 2. Her voice is simply stunning no other word can describe it.

All in all “Sex and Money”is a collection beautifully crafted songs. Designed to make you sing-a-long , smile , tap your feet and clap your hands. This album is full of feel good emotion. Now who I ask of you in this ever pressurized world, who doesn’t want an injection of happiness in their lives.

“Five Grand Stereo”is “Doctor Happiness’s,”

“Sex and Money”is the prescription that will make you feel good all over. Now isn’t that something worth experiencing.

Gerry Casey