Nowadays, you don't hear that name rolling around in teenage conversations. You mention the name Eddy Grant and you get looks of skepticism and disbelief, which makes me weep for the future generations.
I'm here to talk about one of his big hits from 1983 and hopefully encourage the youth to listen to good music.
"Electric Avenue" is the first track off of the album "Killer On The Rampage" released in 1982, and it was very popular then. It reached #2 in the US Billboards for five weeks and #2 in the UK Singles Charts. It even hit #1 in Cash Box magazine later.
The lyrics in this song refer to the 1981 Brixton riot where Electric Ave. is a market street in London.
When this song starts, you immediately recognize that drum beat, that moving beat, along with that little sharp key part. The undistorted, filtered guitar riff that pops in just perfectly compliments that song that's moving. It's a song you have get up and start moving to, it's too great a feeling that this song gives off to just ignore. Once the chorus comes around, everyone's got to sing along. It is one of those you cannot help but singing along to. You just have to. "We're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue, and then we'll take it higher". It is just an amazing single that is so very moving and emotionally lifting, and it will for sure live on.
This song has been covered many times, including by bands such as Tait, Anal Cunt, Velvet, Skindred, and even Powerman 5000. Weird Al even made a parody entitled "Flatbush Avenue". Also, not too recently, the track was featured on the film "Pineapple Express", which is where a lot of people I know first discovered it.
However you discovered this song, whether it be from the original record, radio, "Pineapple Express", or The Skeptics Review this is one song you cannot hate. It's that amazing.
-Cerpin Taxt