Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Between 1984 to 1989 brilliantly gifted singer/songwriter Charlie Peacock cut many demos in his effort to land a recording contract after his release from Island Records. Yet the record deal never happened and finally in 1988, to fulfil a promise he'd made to his fans at the Cornerstone Festival, Charlie released the first privately produced volume of The West Coast Diaries'. Of such things record-collecting legends are born and the album, and the two that followed, are absorbing insights into the creative development of a man who put more song writing craft and rock arrangement expertise in his pitch-for-a-deal demos than most artists managed in big budget masters. Vol 1 of West Coast Diaries' is an excellent set featuring much tasty guitar from Charlie's long-time sidekick Jimmy Abegg and the 77's Mike Roe with several songs eventually to appear on the classic '1990 album The Secret Of Time'. Volume 2 was recorded live, with the exception of two songs, with Jimmy A, Vince Ebo and Charlie performing as a raw and superbly soulful acoustic trio. Volume three are more studio demos with some curiosities too like a rendition of Simon & Garfunkle's "Mrs. Robinson". These albums, helpfully presented to a wider public through Charlie's deal with Sparrow, aren't simply collectors items for super-fans and completists. They each contain fine performances and songs from one of Christendom's richest talents