TOKYO BLADE blackhearts & jaded spade 2338

Today’s entry highlights a fascinating and often debated release from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal survivors, Tokyo Blade. We are looking at the 1986 French pressing of Blackhearts & Jaded Spades, released on the New Electric Way label with the catalog number 2338.

Released in 1986, this album documents a drastic stylistic shift for the band. Moving away from the aggressive, Iron Maiden-esque dual guitar harmonies of their early days, Tokyo Blade embraced the commercial “hair metal” and sleaze rock sound that was dominating the US charts at the time. The cover art alone—neon colors and a more glam aesthetic—signals this change immediately.

The album features the lineup of founding guitarist Andy Boulton and drummer Steve Pierce, joined by bassist Andy Wrighton, guitarist John Wiggins, and vocalist Vicki James Wright. Wright’s vocal style was perfectly suited for this new direction, bringing a bluesy, rock-and-roll swagger to the music that differed significantly from previous singers.

The tracklist reflects this “party metal” vibe, with songs like Dirty Faced Angels, the groove-heavy title track Blackhearts And Jaded Spades, and the fun, raucous Monkeys Blood. While purists of their early sound were often divided on this release, it remains a high-quality snapshot of the mid-80s rock zeitgeist.

This specific French pressing (2338) was manufactured by MPO and distributed by Musidisc. It is an interesting collectible for fans tracing the evolution of British metal bands as they adapted to the changing musical landscape of the late 1980s.