One Eyed Jacks was the band’s 2nd release on the major label Epic Records. For many original fans this is ‘the’ Spear of Destiny album.
Kirk Brandon has constantly held and spoken of his belief that this is a fine body of songs played by a fine bunch of musicians that was detrimentally interfered with by a record label that had no idea how to market the sound of Spear of Destiny at that time.
Strangely the label decided to proceed the album’s release by releasing the poppiest track on the recordings as the first single Prisoner of Love instead of the live and DJ favourite Liberator. Had this decision not been made perhaps One-Eyed Jacks would not have peaked at No.22 in the U.K. album charts and would have go on to become a top 10 album as SOD’s then manager had been cajoled into believing when signing the band to a major label…
35 years after releasing ‘OEJ’ Kirk Brandon and the current line-up of SOD featuring Craig Adams (The Mission/Sisters of Mercy) Adrian Portas (New Model Army/Sex Gang Children) Phil Martini (Jim Jones/Wayward Sons) were given the opportunity to re-record the album in its entirety. Brandon’s longer-term keyboard player Steve Allan Jones and current Theatre of Hate sax player Clive Osborne were drafted in to bolster the sound and the recordings are now completed and will be released on CD, Vinyl and Download in time for September 2019’s 35th Anniversary U.K. Tour. Brandon honestly believes these recordings will at last give the songs the history they deserve.
This SOD line up for this very special set of dates, will for the first time in an age, be expanded by adding both live keyboards and brass, the set will not only be highlighted by playing the full OEJ’s album and B-sides in full but a unique extended encore of fan favourites from the whole SOD catalogue will finish the shows.
The tour, which starts at the Colchester Arts Centre on Wednesday 4th September and will visit venues in cities such as Leeds, Southampton, Birmingham and Manchester, will come to Jimmy’s in Liverpool on September 15th. See the Spear of Destiny’s website for further details.