Music on Both Sides

Music on Both Sides is the third album by the English band the Records, released on 11 March 1982.^[1][2] They broke up after its release, although some lineups reunited a few times before John Wicks's death.^[3]

The songs were written by Will Birch and Wicks.^[4] Chris Gent, on vocals, and Dave Whelan, on guitar, joined the band prior to the recording sessions.^[1]Paul Carrack contributed to two of the tracks.^[5] "Cheap Detective Music" is an instrumental.^[6]

The Boston Globe called the album "an appealing and distinctively British pop record, reminiscent of the Hollies in their harder-edged moments."^[15] The Omaha World-Herald said that the songs are bright but "the sound is occasionally too thin and spare."^[14]Ethlie Ann Vare likewise opined that the "biggest flaw ... is the band's mushy production values ... what the band really needs is the crisp, clean attack of a Mike Chapman or Dave Edmunds at the controls."^[5]

El Duluth News Tribune concluyó: «Cada banda alcanza un nivel de competencia más allá del cual no necesita intentar llegar, y, como los Beatles de 1966... ​​los Records están ahí ahora». ^{[ 8 ]} El Houston Chronicle dijo: «Las melodías son poco inspiradas, las estructuras insulsas». ^{[ 12 ]} El Fresno Bee calificó a Music on Both Sides como una «imprescindible» para los fanáticos del power pop . ^{[ 10 ]} El Detroit Free Press lo consideró «pop rock perfecto para la radio». ^{[ 16 ]}