Having already left Generation X in 1980, in order to form Empire, guitarist Bob Andrews teamed up with American singer Elizabeth Westwood and drummer Nick Burton to form Westworld in 1987. Apparently named after the Michael Crichton novel (and that film with Yul Bryner, but also possibly inspired by their perky singer’s surname), the band’s appealing blend of stripped-back 50s-style guitars, firmly 80s-sounding drums, synth backing and powerful vocals was a winner.
Westworld had a No 11 hit in February 1987 with debut single Sonic Boom Boy (recently used in a Sony TV advert), but it was their only biggie. Follow-up Ba-Na-Na-Bam-Boo went to No 37, but their other singles stalled outside the Top 40. Released in September the same year, the Where The Action Is album only made it to No 54.
Continuing into the 90s, Westworld amassed a catalogue of seven singles and three albums. Though they never again achieved the chart success of Sonic Boom Boy, this reissue of the 1997 Camden/ BMG collection, which comprises Where The Action Is, along with tracks from an unreleased second album, is great fun and well worth checking out.
