City Supporter To Launch New Album

Coventry City supporter Anthony Harty, a former member of the Style Council and currently a key figure in Pauline Black’s hugely successful Selecter comeback, will release his first album, ‘Baggage’ to coincide with a launch party at 2Tone Central in Coventry on June 3rd.

Harty, a CT Stand regular, famously kick-started his career by striding into Paul Weller’s Style Council auditions as a brash 16-year-old and landing the bass guitarist’s slot in the legend’s post-Jam incarnation. Since then, the 43-year-old multi-instrumentalist has played with an incredible who’s who of memorable line-ups, including SpecialBeat, Badfinger and The Truth.

He’s therefore been able to call in some favours and roped in some major talent to help with his eagerly-awaited solo project.

Harty has scoured the hidden corners of some of his favourite artists’ songbooks to unearth forgotten gems and some little-known trinkets.

The result is a 10-track homage, lovingly put together with the help of pals including ex-Badfinger member Bob Jackson, former King keyboard player Mike Roberts, John Henrywood, Simon ‘Honeyboy’ Hickling, Mike Haughton and Ian Wilkinson. The album has also been mastered by Jon Astley, which will strike a chord with music fans in and beyond the Midlands.

Lesser known songs from diverse artists such as Neil Finn, Cheap Trick, Joe Jackson, Thin Lizzy and Badfinger litter the work and Harty is “buzzing” with excitement as the project nears completion.

“My first memory of music was hearing Roy Orbison’s ‘Pretty Woman’ at the age of three, and since then I’ve come to think of songs as three or four minutes of joy that bring a lifetime of pleasure,” says Harty. “The idea has been with me for a long time. These are favourite songs I’ve collected over the years, little trinkets I’ve picked up along the way.

“They are examples of singer/songwriters who in some part have never had any major commercial success. Others are neglected songs from established artists – but all share the same magic for me.

“I’m hoping for a night to remember at the launch. I’ve got some pretty special musicians coming to lend a hand. I’m still finalising details at the moment but I’ll keep everyone in touch.”

By chance Harty, whose other career highlights include winning a Grammy for his work with with reggae legend, Lee Scratch Perry & The Primitives, bumped into his old Style Council gaffer in Birmingham at Christmas and told him of the project.

“Paul was in terrific form and we had a great catch-up about old times – we hadn’t met in years,” says Harty.

“I told him what I was planning and he was well up for it and asked for a copy. He’s also promised to try and find the bass that he bought for me in 1983, and give it back to me. His guitar collection is so vast, that it could take a while to locate it!”