Reviews
Artist: Cry No More
Album: Live In Germany
Label: Deepdene
Website:www.myspace.com/crynomoremusic
When Roy Hill and Chas Cronk released their first single as a duo they realised that the design of the sleeve only included the title of the song, "Cry No More", and had omitted their names, so they decided to name themselves Cry No More.
All the Cry No More albums have recently been re-released on the Deepdene label. Prior to that, each CD you bought was hand printed by Roy, with the title hand written on the CD in Roy's inimitable script. Every disc was unique, so in a way, it's a bit of a shame that the albums now look professional.
In addition to the re-releases, two new albums have been unleashed: "Live in Germany", and "Temptations" (a studio album, recorded back in the eighties, and then subsequently overlooked until now).
"Live in Germany" is their fourth live album, the others being "Live at the Mulberry Tree", "Live at the Cry No More Social Club" and "Brown Paper Bag". Unlike the others, all of the songs on "Live in Germany" appear on other albums, but don't let that put you off. Indeed, if you don't yet own any of their albums, this would be a good first one to add to your collection, as it is almost their 'greatest hits'.
It was recorded during a tour of Germany in 1990, when Cry No More were supporting Marillion. The duo were exceptionally well received by the Marillion fans, and in fact, if you attend a Cry No More concert even today, there is a very strong probability that there will be people in the audience who will have made a pilgrimage from Germany specifically to see them again as a direct result of this tour.
This is the only album in which you'll find my top two all time favourite Cry No More tracks, "Landslide" and "I Love Roxy" together, so I heartily recommend it. In addition, although "Nevada" appears on their "Social Club" album, I found this version magical, and can't get the song out of my head now. Like many of their songs, it paints a picture, telling part of a story and leaving you to fill in the rest. "Nevada" is sung as if by a young man, fleeing with his pregnant girlfriend from some unnamed trouble. He is offering words of encouragement: everything will be alright once they reach the sanctuary of Nevada, but you know, and you know that he knows, that the trouble will find them. Why Nevada? Perhaps because the word is quasi-homophonic with that other Utopia, Nirvana, (Sorry, Roy. I said 'homophonic', with an N). or perhaps it is because of the slightly laxer laws in Arizona, leading me to wonder whether this is actually a song about childhood desires to break free from parental rules and attain the goal of adulthood. Either way, a wonderful version of a wonderful song.
Many Cry No More tracks involve audience participation. In the UK, over the years CNM have built up a strong following of die-hard fans, (referred to as the 'Mulberry Tree choir') who know the songs intimately, so it is fascinating to hear the songs played to an audience who are new to the material. In songs like "First Kiss" and "I Love Roxy" the audience parts are taken by the band.
Roy is a complete showman, and delights in teasing both the audience and Chas. He is always attempting to throw the unflappable Chas from his stride by last minute alterations to the set list or unexpected key changes. On this album, this is evidenced by the final track "Hit The Big Drum". The song comes to a suitable end, but Roy carries on, then stops in mid sentence and waits just that little big too long before a final crescendo. The audience went wild with appreciation, but you can sense their panic (along with Chas's and the roadies) moments before when they were all unsure as to whether the song had ended.
Pete Bradley