Thursday, January 25, 2018

LYNN ALLEN - Lynn Allen (1992)

LYNN ALLEN - Lynn Allen (1992)
Requested again, hard to find

LYNN ALLEN should be one of the most long lasting bands from the American melodic rock scene. Formed in the early '80s, despite the revolving door of group members but carried by singer / songwriter Billy Peiffer at front, the band continues active to this day.
Perhaps the key is that Lynn Allen always stayed independent, managing their gigs and releasing albums by their own. After some years of hiatus Lynn Allen returned in 2007 with a record edited by an European label, but retaining the entire artistic control.

Hailing from Davenport, Lynn Allen was recently inducted to the Iowa Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame. In the mid-Eighties for a brief period the group lived in Los Angeles and opened for Ratt, Great White or Warrant, with a major record deal at front of the door. But never happened and the guys returned to their hometown.

Lynn Allen's third album (self-titled), also known as 'The Pink Album', always has been their more hard to find.
Released through the small private label Red Pump, the CD virtually sold out after its release (they are very popular in US Quad Cities region) and never reissued. A shame, as "Lynn Allen" (1992) is one of their best.

Cuts like 'Surprise, Surprise', 'Drive Me Crazy', 'Once In A Lifetime' (not the Firehouse song but sounding a lot like 'em) and 'Poisoning Of The Rain' are pure American Melodic Rock bliss.
They harden the sound a bit in 'Love Slips' or 'Electric Sister' yet all the time extremely melodic and catchy. 'Pick Up The Pieces' and the strong 'Jesse' are the slow moments, being the latter a tune that easily could have been a hit on par with Poison or Tesla power ballads.

LYNN ALLEN - Lynn Allen (1992) back

With solid songs, musicianship and a really good production for an indie, "Lynn Allen" is a lovely slice of American Melodic Rock in its true essence.


01 - Surprise, Surprise
02 - Drive Me Crazy
03 - Love Slips
04 - Jesse
05 - Electric Sister
06 - Poisoning Of The Rain
07 - Once In A Lifetime
08 - Daze Gone By
09 - Pick Up The Pieces

Billy Peiffer: vocals, guitars, keyboards
Terry Murphy: guitars
Johnny Williamson: bass, backing vocals
Tommie Guild: drums, backing vocals






LYNN ALLEN - Lynn Allen (1992)
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Friday, January 05, 2018

CHET THOMPSON (Hellion) - Slamnation (1992) + bonus

CHET THOMPSON (Hellion) - Slamnation (1992) + bonus
It's time for some rock n' roll here...

A guitar student of Randy Rhoads in his teens, CHET THOMPSON is one of the most underrated (and unknown) American axe-man. He shined as main guitarist in Hellion's prime time, and recorded various solo albums.
"Slamnation" was the first under his own moniker, but in fact this is a 'real band' comprising the talents of Dave 'Animal' Spitz (Great White, Paul Sabu) on bass, Stet Howland (W.A.S.P.) and the amazing Neil Thomas at the mic.

Recorded in 1992 but released in 1996 only in Japan, "Slamnation" shows Chet Thompson's mastery on the six-strings via sharp melting riffs and stupendous solos, but this is not a 'flashy guitar man' album.
This sounds like a true, tight Classic American Hard Rock band delivering eight monster stomping rockers. Neil Thomas owns a raspy & powerful set of pipes especially designed for this type of music, and the rhythm section is a blast.

"Sweet Lil' Sister", "Don't Wanna Dance", "Rock-A-Bye Love" or "Heaven's Burnin´" will rock your socks off in the best Skid Row meets Ratt meets W.A.S.P. Californian tradition of the genre. There's no place for ballads here, this is pure hot US Hard Rock.

CHET THOMPSON (Hellion) - Slamnation (1992) + bonus back cover

I have added four tracks as bonus from Chet's second effort for you to check his incredible skills on the electric guitar, from the same school of Randy Rhoads, George Lynch, Eddie Van Halen, etc.
Top notch Classic American Hard Rock.


01 - Sweet Lil' Sister
02 - One Shot
03 - Red Hot Lover
04 - Don't Wanna Dance
05 - Time Bomb
06 - Heaven's Burnin'
07 - Fever
08 - Rock-A-Bye Love
09 - Ashes
10 - Happy Feet
11 - Tocatta
12 - Superstitious Sex Queen

Neil Thomas - vocals
Chet Thompson - guitars
Dave Spitz - bass
Stet Howland - drums





CHET THOMPSON Slamnation
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