Borrowed Time

Borrowed Time is a recording by Diamond Head. This is Diamond Head's fourth recording, their second on the MCA label. The album was recorded in 1981 and released in 1982, reaching Number 24 on the UK album chart.

Borrowed Time

This was the band's first major label released after being signed to MCA Records in 1981. The cover featured a lavish Rodney Matthews illustrated gatefold sleeve, based on the album's Elric theme, which was the most expensive sleeve commissioned by MCA at the time. The investment paid off as it was very well received and it managed to get to #24 in the UK album charts, enabling the band to perform a full scale UK arena tour, performing large venues such as London's Hammersmith Apollo.

This album also saw the band move away from all out heavy riffs and towards softer and more progressive songs, such as In the Heat of the Night and Don't You Ever Leave Me, which was well received by fans, as the former has remained a regular in the live set list to this day. As this was their first album under a major label, the album was much cleaner and better produced. However, some now say that MCA were the wrong label for Diamond Head, which is one of the contributions to their downfall. Some have also questioned the necessity for "Am I Evil?" and "Lighning To The Nations" to be included on the album, since they had already appeared on the bands debut album, Lightning to the Nations. Although the reason for this was that their first album was only meant as a demo with the idea of Borrowed Time being their first official album. However, things have not quite worked out that way with the former becoming their most notable work to date.

This album was only released on CD in Japan making it a highly collectible item. Although on October 15th 2007 it was released by Metal Mind Productions on CD format, with bonus tracks. However, this was limited to 2000 copies. The release contained B-Sides, such as Dead Reckoning, which were previously unavailable on CD. However, Geffen Records have now issued the album on general release.

In a recent interview guitarist Brian Tater announced that this was his favourite period with Diamond Head and that the band "seemed to be getting somewhere after six years of building.

Track listing

1. "In the Heat of the Night" - 4:57
2. "To Heaven from Hell" - 6:14
3. "Call Me" - 3:54
4. "Lightning to the Nations" - 4:09
5. "Borrowed Time" - 7:39
6. "Don't You Ever Leave Me" - 7:56
7. "Am I Evil?" - 7:21

Bonus tracks on 2007 release

1. "Trick or Treat"
2. "Dead Reckoning" (B-Side to Call Me)
3. "Shoot Out the Lights"
4. "In The Heat of the Night "
5. "Play It Loud" (live)
6. "Sweet and Innocent" (live)
7. Interview with Sean Harris and Colin Kimberley by Tommy Vance recorded in June 1982 (B-Side on In the Heat of the Night single)

Line Up

• Sean Harris - voice, backing vocals, percussion, vocoder
• Brian Tatler - guitars, backing vocals
• Colin Kimberley - bass, tarus bass pedals, backing vocals
• Duncan Scott - drums, percussion

References