The Sensational Alex Harvey Band was one of the most unconventional British… Read Full Bio ↴The Sensational Alex Harvey Band was one of the most unconventional British bands that were part of the 1970s glam rock era. Fronted by Alex Harvey accompanied by Zal Cleminson on guitar, bassist Chris Glen, keyboard player Hugh McKenna and drummer Ted McKenna, their music veered from progressive rock to experimental jazz, around a core of experimental and avant garde rock, dealing with themes from environmentalism to chinese take away food. While they achieved a critically acclaimed status in the UK, they struggled to make a huge impact in the USA.

Band leader Harvey was born in Glasgow, Scotland 1935. During the fifties he played in many different Jazz bands playing Dixieland Jazz and later skiffle.
In 1959 he formed the Alex Harvey Soul Band playing Blues and rock n Roll music. Although a successful stint in Hamburg completed, Harvey found it difficult finding recognition with the ‘Soul Band’ and through the second half of the sixties Alex with his brother Les Harvey moved from one group to another until 1969 when he took up as a resident musician in the stage show of ‘Hair’.

In 1972 Alex joined forces with Scottish up and coming rockers ‘Tear Gas’. The band with Alex at the helm changed names to “The Sensational Alex Harvey Band”. The Sensational Alex Harvey Shows were noted for their theatrical content and idiosyncratic style of delivery. The music influences varied greatly. From blues to music hall stage shows.
After years of a punishing stage show and never ending Gig schedules, Alex announced in 1977 that due to back problems he was to retire from the music business.

Following a rare come back tour in Europe Alex died of a heart attack in 1982.

In 1977 after the Band and Alex Harvey parted company with Alex recording the solo Album ‘Loch Ness Monster’ (NB: Not a music album, but a recorded documentary about the fabled monster !), while the band without Alex, recorded ‘Four Play’. Alex and the band came together again in 1978 for a final album 'Rock Drill'. The Band and Alex then parted company again. Alex put together a new band in 1979 to record the album ‘The Mafia Stole My Guitar’. In 1983 Alex's final recording ‘Soldier On The Wall’ (comprised mainly of recordings made pre-SAHB), was posthumously issued. The Band having separated and playing in different Bands re-united in 2004 for a final tour with spot. The band released a live recording 'Zalvation'. Through 2006 the band has continued to play live in Britain with some new dates for 2007. 2006 band members are Max Maxwell filling the vocal spot with original members Zal Cleminson; Guitar, Chris Glen; Bass, Hugh McKenna; Keyboards, and Ted McKenna; Drums

Alex Harvey and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band releases include
• 1972 Framed
• 1973 Next
• 1974 The Impossible Dream
• 1975 Tomorrow Belongs To Me
• 1976 Penthouse Tapes
• 1976 SAHB Stories
• 1978 Rock Drill

Alex Harvey Solo Releases include
• 1977 Alex Harvey Presents The Loch Ness Monster
• 1979 The Mafia Stole My Guitar
• 1983 Soldier On The Wall

Sensational Alex Harvey Band (without Alex Harvey) Include
• 1977 Four play
. 1993 Live in Glasgow (Stevie Doherty vocals)
• 2005 Zalvation

Buff's Bar Blues
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There was a man selling bayonets, a razor and a chain
Sweating all over what they've got her on the game
He had the Buff's Bar Blues
He had the Buff's Bar Blues
He had the Buff's Bar Blues, he's got nothing to lose
He's got the Buff's Bar Blues

Drinking Aspumanti, reading John McLain

His sister in the grubber and his brother was the same
He got the Buff's Bar Blues
He got the Buff's Bar Blues
He got the Buff's Bar Blues, he's got nothing to lose
He's got the Buff's Bar Blues

Hangin' out the window waving ribbons and flags
Lying in the midden, he was readin' the mags
He got the Buff's Bar Blues
He got the Buff's Bar Blues
He got the Buff's Bar Blues, he's with nothing to lose
He's got the Buff's Bar Blues

He got the Buff's Bar Blues
He got the Buff's Bar Blues
He got the Buff's Bar - wookie, wookie, wookie, wookie, wookie, wookie - Buff's Bar Blues

He got the Buff's Bar Blues with nothing to lose
He's got the Buff's Bar Blues

Overall Meaning

The song, Buff's Bar Blues, by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, is a classic example of a blues track. The lyrics describe a man who is at his wit's end, with nothing left to lose. In the first few lines of the song, the singer describes a man who is selling bayonets, a razor, and a chain. This seems to indicate that the man is someone who is struggling to make ends meet, and is resorting to selling whatever he can in order to make some money. The phrase "what they've got her on the game" is a reference to prostitution, which adds to the sense of desperation that the lyrics convey.

As the song continues, we learn more about the man's life. He drinks Aspumanti (a type of Italian sparkling wine) and reads John McLain, which suggests that he is trying to escape his situation through alcohol and literature. The singer tells us that his brother and sister are also in similarly difficult positions, which adds to the sense of hopelessness. The chorus repeats the phrase "Buff's Bar Blues" several times, which seems to refer to the name of the bar where the man spends his time. Overall, the lyrics describe a man who is lost and struggling, with no clear way out of his predicament.

Line by Line Meaning

There was a man selling bayonets, a razor and a chain
A man was selling dangerous weapons for people to buy

Sweating all over what they've got her on the game
He is anxious because he is in debt to a prostitute

He had the Buff's Bar Blues
He was suffering from Buff's Bar Blues

He got the Buff's Bar Blues
He was affected by Buff's Bar Blues

Drinking Aspumanti, reading John McLain
He was drinking an alcoholic beverage while reading a book

His sister in the grubber and his brother was the same
His siblings were also in bad situations

Hangin' out the window waving ribbons and flags
He was hanging out of the window with excitement

Lying in the midden, he was readin' the mags
He was lying down in filth while reading magazines

He got the Buff's Bar - wookie, wookie, wookie, wookie, wookie, wookie - Buff's Bar Blues
He has Buff's Bar Blues to the point of making incoherent sounds

He's got the Buff's Bar Blues with nothing to lose
He has Buff's Bar Blues and feels that he has nothing to lose

Contributed by Alexis H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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