1. "Fair Exchange" (4:49) 2. "Heavenly Homes" (3:36) 3. "Ships in the Night "(4:03) 4. "Crying to the Sky" (3:57) 5. "Sleep That Burns" (5:16) 6. "Beauty Secrets" (2:47) 7. "Life in the Air Age" (3:59) 8. "Like an Old Blues" (3:27) 9. "Crystal Gazing" (3:24) 10. "Blazing Apostles" (4:29) BONUS TRACKS 11. "Shine" (7:48) 12. "Speed of the Wind" (4:20) 13. "Blue as a Jewel" (5:11)
"Sunburst Finish", with it's bizarre cover art, is held by many fan's as the band's best album. This is a solid, progressive rock album that is hard to categorize. There are some comparison's to Queen that can be made, although Be-Bop Deluxe are hardly a Queen clone. At times I am also reminded of bands like Gentle Giant, King Crimson and David Bowie. As usual the songs are all written by Bill Nelson. Nelson is a charismatic talent and his guitar work is exemplary. His guitar work is the center of most of these songs. Just check out the guitar solo in "Crying to the Sky". However, Nelson isn't the whole band. Rather, he is ably and capably backed by Charlie Tumahai on bass, Andy Clarke on keyboard and Simon Fox on drums. (Charlie Tumahai has since passed away.) "Sunburst Finish" was actually the band's first U.S. release, although it didn't do quite as well as it did overseas. The album entered the UK charts at No. 35. "Ships in the Night" was a minor hit in February 1976 and made the British Top, however, Be-Bop Deluxe were just never able to completely break into the mainstream. A good number of these tracks turned up on the band's excellent live album "Live in the Air Age." I own the 1990 reissue on Harvest/ EMI of their 1976 album with three bonus tracks. Also contains a 12-page booklet with photos, lyrics and a short biography.