Salford Jets - Manchester Boys (2022)

Punk outfit the Salford Jets formed in Salford, England, in 1976. Singer Mike Sweeney, who previously served in a late incarnation of mutant blues-rockers Stackwaddy, founded the original lineup with guitarist Don McKintyre, bassist Diccon Hubbard, and drummer Dave Morris. Guitarist Rod Gerrard replaced McKintyre in late 1977, and after adding keyboardist Geoff Kerry, the Salford Jets cut their debut single, "Looking at the Squares," issued via WEA in 1978. After moving to EMI for the follow-up, 1979's "Manchester Boys," the band landed at a third major label, RCA, for a four-song EP, Gina. Their next effort, "Who You Lookin' At?" reached as high as number 72 on the U.K. pop chart in 1980, becoming the Salford Jets' biggest hit. That same year, they also recorded a pair of Radio 1 sessions with DJ Mike Read. After one final RCA release, "She's Gonna Break Your Heart," the band signed to indie imprint Lunar for "City Youth," although 1981's "Soldier of Fortune" appeared on yet another major, Polydor. McKintyre returned to the lineup in place of Kerry in 1982, but after releasing "Pain in My Heart" the following March, the Salford Jets dissolved. Sweeney later resurfaced in the Thunderbyrds, which spent a time backing Wayne Fontana of "The Game of Love" fame, in addition to enjoying a successful career as a radio personality on Britain's Capital Gold network. He and Hubbard revived the Salford Jets once in 1996, re-recording "Who You Lookin' At?" with the aid of the Inspiral Carpets' Clint Boon, and again in the summer of 2003 in support of Adventures in Lo-Fi, a self-released, three-disc retrospective including virtually every note the band recorded between 1977 and 1982. ~ Jason Ankeny