Band: Hi-Fi (feat. the singers of Pavlov’s Dog and Fairport Convention)
Album: The Complete Collection
Format: CD+DVD, 8-pages, digifile cardboard
Release date: 17.02.2012
Label: Rockville Music
PR: info@germusica.com

David Surkamp (of Pavlov's Dog) and Ian Matthews (of Fairport Convention) came across each other in Seattle in 1979. Surkamp had moved from St. Louis to Seattle, quite frustrated after Pavlov's Dog disbanded. Matthews had achiefed several chart hits with Fairport Convention, Matthews Southern Comfort and as solo artist. He was ready to meet new challenges. Both mutually were tired of being reduced to singers, as they saw themselfes equally as guitar players. Consequently, they founded a new band „Hi-Fi“, for having fun with no less than 3 guitar players, and shared lead vocals.
Hi-Fi released two albums: „Demonstration Record“ from 1981 was recorded live, and „Moods for Mallards“ was a regular studioalbum released in 1982. „The Complete Collection“ includes both albums, plus 5 bonus tracks, remastered, plus a DVD with original footage of the „Demonstration Record“ recording sessions & interviews. The release comes in precious 8-page Digifile cardboard. It includes the original vinyl artworks and the story of Hi-Fi by David Surkamp.
Listening to „Demonstration Record“ (and watching the DVD), you immediately get Surkamp's & Matthews' joy playing, free from musts & expectations of their previous bands, just fun rockin'. „Demonstration Record“ is literally Hi-Fi's „big bang“: Original, live, unmasked. On „Moods For Mallards“ some keyboards were added, and a bit of early 80ies Wave, Pop and even Punk can be heard.
After two albums, a winking Christmas single and a supporttour with the Beach Boys, Hi-Fi disbanded. Surkamp owed another single to the record company and delivered „Summertime / Louie, Louie“ - which was more about playing a trick on them than being serious. He returned to St. Louis, quit music for many years and became a music journalist. After he - as rumor has it - „died“ in the 80ies, he successfully reformed Pavlov's Dog in 2005. Their 2011 album „Live & Unleashed“ includes Hi-Fi's „Heart Of Mine“. Matthews as well quit music for a while. In 1986 he joined in a short Fairport Convention reunion. Since the 90ies he released several solo albums. Today he performs live in seated acoustic concerts.
Stylistically, Hi-Fi is nothing close to Pavlov's Dog or Fairport Convention. Anyway Hi-Fi is an important and for a long time unavailable piece of the musical history of the protagonists. Fans of well-done 80ies Rockmusic should have a listen!

CD Tracks :
Tracks 1-5: Album „Demonstration Record“ (1981)
Tracks 6-15: Album „Moods For Mallards“ (1982)
Bonus tracks 16/17: Hi-Fi Christmas single (1981)
Bonus track 18: Studio outtake of „Demonstration Record“ (1981)
Bonus tracks 19/20: David Surkamp single (1983)

Tracklist:
01 Savage
02 Heart Of Mine
03 I Can't Fade Away
04 9 o'Clock
05 Man In A Station
06 Walk Away
07 Blue Shirt
08 Holding Out For Rain
09 Throw A Line
10 S.O.S
11 Knocking On Your Door
12 Desire
13 Time After Time
14 When You Were Mine
15 Alcohol
16 It's Almost Christmas
17 Winter Wonderland
18 She May Call You Up Tonight
19 Summertime
20 Louie, Louie

c&p Rockville Music 2011