"Weapons of Love" by The Truth

Song#:  3115
Date:  05/09/1987
Debut:  92
Peak:  65
Weeks:  9
Genre:  Alternative Rock



Pop Bits:  This British band was formed in 1982 by Dennis Greaves and Mick Lister. They signed on with the Warner Bros. offshoot label Formation in 1983 and released three singles for the label. Two of the a-side songs were produced by the Swain & Jolley team (Bananarama) with both making the UK Top 40. A third single didn't fare as well and it seemed that their time with WEA came to an end. In 1984, they moved over to I.R.S. Records and were able to record a debut album titled Playground. It was released in the UK and several other territories including the US, but nothing much came from it. Still, the band was given the green light to record a follow-up and in 1987 they released the LP Weapons of Love. The title track was issued out as a single. It failed to chart in the UK, but it caught on in the US on rock radio and the track cracked the Top 10 (#7) on the Rock chart. It then crossed over to Pop for a couple of months but it stopped shy of the top half of the chart. The album got to #115. The band would record one more album in 1989, but it disappeared quickly and the band then called it a day.

ReduxReview:  I'm not sure where I would have heard this song back in the day, but I recognized it. My guess is that it was featured on the MTV show 120 Minutes, which highlighted up-n-coming alt-rock artists. I liked that program as it played songs that I would not have normally been able to hear on local radio stations. I discovered quite a few bands from that show so I'm thinking that's where I would have heard this track. It was a good alt-rock track that included a little hint of blues to it (probably thanks in part to Greaves former band - see below). The production definitely had a foothold in the 80s, but it was well-done. The track was a good one for rock radio, but I don't think it had enough catchy pop/rock characteristics to get further up the Pop chart.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Prior to forming The Truth, Dennis Greaves had experienced some success with the British blues-rock band Nine Below Zero. Formed in the late 70s by Greaves, the band got signed to A&M Records and in 1980 made the unusual move of releasing a live album for their debut. The disc was well-received and it lead to a studio album follow-up with 1981's Don't Point Your Finger. Despite no charting singles, the LP did well reaching #56 on the UK chart. A third effort, 1982's Third Degree got to #38, but it wasn't as critically successful as their previous two discs and the band decided to split. Greaves then went on to form The Truth with Mick Lister.

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