PITTSBURG ISN'T a town you would normally associate with the beating heart of American rock 'n roll. Sure, it's had its moments, mainly back in the 1960s, and it was also the home of white funk outfit Wild Cherry, but the only real fistin-your-face hard rock act to blow their way out of Steeltown during the 1970s was four piece riff kings Diamond REO. 'Dirty Diamonds' was the band's second, and compared to their debut altogether far more explosive, studio album originally issued in 1976 on Buddah Records spin-off label Kama Sutra. Led by feisty vocalist Frank Czuri and featuring the amazing guitar pyrotechnics of Warren King (together with rock solid drummer Robert Johns and Pittsburg music legend, bassist, Norman Nardini), the album registered massively on the earth shaking rock 'n roll seismograph, enough in fact to count Aerosmith as confirmed admirers. This is the birth of modern arena rock as we know it, with songs that are reminiscent, but not derivative, of the sort of hard rock assault pioneered by Aerosmith, Montrose, Starz and Kiss. However, the most impressive factor must surely be the punishing guitar work of Warren King, a man who evokes the spirit of Jimi Hendrix yet invokes the low slung swagger of Joe Perry and Jimi Page. Obscure, for sure, but highly recommended for those with a penchant for loud, mean, heavy rock. Special Deluxe Collector's Edition, fully remastered sound shaped from 24 BIT digital technology, 12 page full colour booklet, 3,500 word essay, enhanced artwork, photos and new interview with Norman Nardini. TRACK LISTING: 1. ALL OVER YOU 2. IT AIN'T WHAT YOU SAY IT'S WHAT YOU DO 3. SCRATCH MY BACK 4. MAMA LET YOUR LOVE 5. IT'S A JUNGLE OUT THERE 6. LOVER BOY 7. POWER 8. BAD NEWS 9. BOYS WILL BE BOYS 10. HELTER SKELTER
