Rocktrospectiva: The Moderate "Getahead" Turns 35

Released on 23 October 1989 "Getahead" was the second studio album by British sophisti-pop band Curiosity Killed The Cat, the album peaked at No. 29 in the UK and produced two singles "Name And Number" the hit single and "First Place" that was a flop peaking at No. 86

Unfortunately the band found it increasingly difficult to replicate their earlier success, they decided to sack songwriter Toby Anderson and had to wait two years to release a follow-up album proved unwise then, the band was dropped by Mercury Records.

Containing 12 tracks, the album opens with the ringing phone of "Name And Number", a really nice swaggering track, but is quite verbose and sometimes forgettable in the verses. The chorus is definitely the catchy hook the track needs to lift, the single reacje the UK's top 20 "Do Your Believin", an easy swagger to it, aided by some nice bass guitar and brass interjections. The lyrics are about religion, and even a slightly catchy chorus, and a nice mid-section with female vocalists but it’s not particularly memorable. "Cascade" Ben’s vocal delivery of the chorus is really nice, and whilst we’re treated again to excellent musicianship, the track sits comfortably in a middle-of-the-road jazz bar background music.

Second single First Place is next, opening with a gentle synth pad, a slower track, "We Just Gotta Do It (For Us)" is next but it's a song seems to be almost a jam session, electric guitar leads us into Go-Go Ahead, stepping aside intermittently for the brass stabs and piano tinkling. Trees Don’t Grow On Money, which opens with a thunderstorm, which gives way to a funky bass and guitar this track has a bit more of a melody, although the environmental lyrics stumble about a little, the chorus sounds really nice. "Treat You So Well" follows this, which feels much more up-beat, this song feels much lighter and pop-ish than the other tracks here this track works really well, and gives them a nice little pop song that really should have made it as a single.

The lower vocals return for Who Are You, and returns us to the more jazzy funk songs that most of the album is full of. There’s some fantastic backing vocals here, though they remain uncredited, "Security Lady", which opens with a jumble sale of instruments before brass pierces, Something New, Something Blue, a nice upbeat song that has some really nice sounds in it from guitar and strings, and the chorus works really well, and finally the album closes with Keep On Trying which offers us a seemingly more percussive intro with an unnamed female vocalists leading us into the song. Piano takes over with a funky bass in tow. 

The album couldn't connect with a massive audience, despite it sounds great with highly skilled musician and a fine vocalist, but 12 tracks that almost sounds like a one single song were too much, certain upbeat moments with plenty of choruses and nice mid section with rich soulful tones kinda like Simply Red back then, great tracks such as "Name And Number", "Something New Something Blue" & "Treat You So Well" are the ones here but unfortunately didn't make it as a single except for the first one, instead, chose "First Place" which was fine but not enough for full expectations. 

 

Getahead Track List:  

 

1. Name And Number

2. Do Your Believin'

3. Cascade

4. First Place

5. We Just Gotta Do It (For Us)

6. Go Go Ahead

7. Trees Don't Grow On Money

8. Treat You So Well

9. Security Lady

10. Something New, Something Blue

11. Keep On Trying