🎸 Nazareth – No Mean City (1979)
📀 Album Overview
No Mean City is the tenth studio album by Nazareth, released in 1979. The album represents a heavier, darker, and more polished direction, combining hard rock with early heavy metal elements as the band entered the end of the 1970s.
It also introduces guitarist Zal Cleminson (formerly of Sensational Alex Harvey Band), whose flashy and theatrical style added a new dimension to Nazareth’s sound.
🎵 Tracklist
- Just to Get Into It
- May the Sunshine
- Simple Solution (Parts 1 & 2)
- Star
- Claim to Fame
- Whatever You Want Babe
- What’s in It for Me
- No Mean City (Parts 1 & 2)
🎶 Music Genre
- Hard Rock
- Heavy Rock
- Early Heavy Metal
The album blends heavy riffs, darker atmospheres, and more complex arrangements, reflecting the transition into late-70s heavier rock styles.
👥 Credits
Band Members:
- Dan McCafferty – vocals
- Zal Cleminson – guitar
- Pete Agnew – bass
- Darryl Sweet – drums
Production:
- Produced by Jeff Baxter
- Recorded in the United States
🎸 Musical Direction & Sound
No Mean City showcases a more polished yet heavier Nazareth, with extended compositions and dramatic flair:
- “Just to Get Into It” – energetic opener with a driving groove
- “Star” – one of the standout tracks, featuring catchy hooks and strong guitar work
- “Simple Solution (Parts 1 & 2)” – multi-part composition with dynamic shifts
- “No Mean City (Parts 1 & 2)” – epic, atmospheric title track with darker tones
- “Claim to Fame” – melodic rock track with commercial appeal
The album balances accessible rock songs with longer, more ambitious pieces, highlighting musical growth.
🤓 Fun Facts & Trivia
- This is the only Nazareth album to feature Zal Cleminson.
- The album title is derived from a novel about the darker side of Glasgow life.
- It marked a stylistic shift toward more polished production.
- The band experimented with longer, multi-part compositions.
🧠 Did You Know?
- Zal Cleminson was known for performing in clown makeup with his previous band.
- The album’s darker tone reflects the influence of late-70s rock trends moving toward heavy metal.
- Dan McCafferty delivers a powerful and theatrical vocal performance throughout the album.
- The title track is considered one of the band’s most ambitious compositions.
- It was one of the last albums before lineup changes and stylistic shifts in the 1980s.
