ROBBIE PATTON - Orders From Headquarters (1982)

Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

English singer/songwriter ROBBIE PATTON got his career-break when he toured as a special guest of Fleetwood Mac. The relationship does not ended there, as many members from the Mac's contributed on Patton's debut album, and here, his second LP "Orders From Headquarters" as well.
Recorded in America, the record has the true US radio-friendly melodic sound the ruled the airwaves circa '82/'83.

Opener "Victim Of Your Love" is pumped by deep bass line, filled with catchy candy-floss keyboards and really good sustained guitars. Patton's vocals reminds me Robert Berry here when he used to be the singer of Hush around the same year.
Follower "Louise" is another terrific commercial upbeat AOR tune with swirling keyboards, 'that' rhythm guitars and a melodic, contagious chorus. If you don't like this track you don't like '80s AOR at all.
The midtempo "Lonely Nights" only could have been recorded in the Eighties, the atmosphere, the vibe, it's all there. All the songs on this album are firmly back-boned by an excellent guitar work by Joey Brasler (Cher). On this track and the next, the hot rocker "Feel The Flow", is particularly remarkable.

Title track has interesting twists in the song structure, again fueled by fat bass line, cool keys and a sumptuous guitar solo.
"Tell Me Goodbye" includes some vintage keyboards and a strong rhythm guitar which carries the song somehow reminding me AORsters Balance, while vocally, Rick Springfield.
"Smiling Islands" was the single, co-written and performed together with Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks. Nice and slow melodic song, not exactly the typical ballad.



"Orders From Headquarters" is one of those LP's that marked "the middle of the first half of the '80s sound"; that is radio-friendly, commercial poppy AOR melodies with a crystal clear production.
This is the kind of records that any fan of the decade love at first listen.
Robbie Patton's "Orders From Headquarters" was finally released for the first time on CD few years ago, but I am very happy with this excellent vinyl rip, cleaned and restored by me.


01 - Victim Of Your Love
02 - Louise
03 - It's Your Heart
04 - Lonely Nights
05 - Feel The Flow
06 - Orders From Headquarters
07 - Tell Me Goodbye
08 - Smiling Islands
09 - All Because Of You
10 - Look Away

Robbie Patton - lead vocals
Joey Brasler - guitars
David Adelstein - keyboards
Robin Sylvester - bass
Kirk Arthur - drums
Alex Acuna - percussion
Kurt Howell - keyboards on 5
Christine McVie - lead vocals on 10
Stevie Nicks - lead vocals on 8
Timothy B Schmit - vocals on 6




ROBBIE PATTON - Orders From Headquarters
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0 Day Rock

0day has moved to this new url:

https://0dayrox.blogspot.com/

Updated December 14, 2018

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RUBY FAITH & THE WAITING WORLD - Best Of... (2000)

RUBY FAITH & THE WAITING WORLD were one of those bands that criminally never made it big in the American scene. The core of this outfit formed by female singer Ruby Faith, guitarist Tom DaPrato and keyboard player Jay Ahl founded the group at the end of the eighties and seems they were quite popular in the New York State club circuit.
Several major labels were interested in the band's demos but a deal was never signed, and ultimately Ruby Faith & The Waiting World broke up at end of 1993. Anyway, during these years Faith & Co. professionally recorded their songs produced by themselves, and years later were available for purchase at MP3.com on CDr.

It wasn't until the end of the nineties when German label AOR Heaven contacted the band and released "Ruby Faith & The Waiting World : Best Of" in 2000, including a selection of the group's best tracks taped between 1990-93.
Why this awesome band never got signed is beyond me, as the music of Ruby Faith & The Waiting World is pure class radio friendly Melodic Rock / AOR akin Heart, Robin Beck, Witness, Patty Smyth and alikes, not only in sound & style, but also in quality.



You have here a bunch of killer - and no filler in sight - tunes plenty of hooks, melodies and catchy choruses.
Seriously, there's not a weak track on this album very well produced for an indie, and I decided to share it with you all because it's pretty unknown and really, really good material.
Taken from the original CD and ripped by my good friend SebasAOR at maximum quality (thanks mate!), "Ruby Faith & The Waiting World : Best Of" is a joyful listen for any classic late '80s American FF Melodic Rock / AOR fan.


01 - Rat Trap Town
02 - Beautiful Boy
03 - Wild Child
04 - Cry Alone
05 - Chains
06 - Fire In My Soul
07 - Hard Times
08 - White Heat
09 - The Right Move
10 - Time Flies
11 - All In The Name Of Rock

Ruby Faith: vocals
Tom DaPrato: guitars, bass
Jay Ahl: keyboards
Additional musicians:
Ronnie Fagan, Bill Funcheon: drums
Larry Roofberg, Ray Padavano, Bob Faulhaber: bass
Danny Windram: guitar
Tony Ungaro: percussion, production




RUBY FAITH & THE WAITING WORLD - HQ
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EXPORT - Living In The Fear Of The Private Eye remastered (1986)

Revamped post (as requested)

EXPORT was an obscure UK band that get signed by a major american label and released a self-titled in 1984.

For their second effort, both the label and the group decided to give the music and production an americanized sound.

"Living In The Fear Of The Private Eye" was recorded in Philadelphia during the end of 1985, with 'big name' producers/engineers Lance Quinn (Bon Jovi, Lita Ford) & Neil Dorfsman (John Farnham, Kiss) behind the desk, and top songwriting contribution by Bob Halligan Jr.

The result was a terrific collection of commercial (yet riff-driven) melodic / rockin' AOR songs, plenty of great choruses and catchy hooks, sounding american but retaining the typically british stamp.

The mastermind / guitarist of this band was no other than the talented Steve Morris, who later will enjoy success a part of HEARTLAND, SHADOWMAN, NEWMAN, GRAND ILLUSION, etc.

In the same ligue as their contemporaries STRANGEWAYS or RIO, Export never got the luck they truly deserved, being dropped by the label soon after this recording.

This vinyl is very hard to find and become a collector's item, but time makes its justice, and was recently released on a remastered cd for the first time.

That's why I am revamping this old post, don't miss this one.

Highly Recommended

1. Living In The Fear of The Private Eye

2. No Escape

3. Runnin' Back (For More)

4. Airwaves

5. You Make Me Wanna

6. Closer To You

7. Tear Me Apart

8. Summer Nights

9. Can't Say No

Harry Shaw : Lead Vocals

Steve Morris : Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Bkng Vocals

Chris Alderman : Bass, Bkng Vocals

Lou Rosenthal : Drums, , Bkng Vocals

George Wallace : Keyboards

EXPORT Living...
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ESSENCE (NY) - Essence [unreleased] (1980)

Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

ESSENCE was active in the tri-state area, NY rock scene since the half of the Seventies to 1982. This was the previous band for vocalist / guitarist Bruce "Butch" Papa, also known as "Dartanyan" before founding Cinema, the group previously featured here on the blog.

Essence's music is strongly influenced by classic progressive bands like Kansas and Styx, both at the peak of their popularity around those years. But we can hear as well a hard rock / pomp touch, a fusion that novel bands such as Journey or Roadmaster were developing at the same age.



Essence entered the studio to record their own songs in 1980, and although it is all solid material, a record deal never surfaced. The group continued playing with success but after some line-up changes, Essence split in 1982.
This is an extremely rare material from my vault, never released. The sound quality is really good, including some little artwork myself made.
RARE


1 - Child Of My Own
2 - Holdin' On
3 - Out All Night Again
4 - Pretenders
5 - Hurts From The Last Time
6 - No Warning
7 - Matty
8 - No More Rain

Bruce "Butch" Papa - lead vocals, guitar
Gary Grill - bass, vocals
George Tebbitt - guitar, vocals
Rich Bifulco - keyboards
Rich Lang - drums, vocals




ESSENCE (NY) [unreleased]
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FX (USA) - In Motion (1987) + In The Sky (1992)

Not to be confused with the Aussie band of the same name, this FX hails from the USA.
The project was founded in the mid-Eighties by keyboard players Douglas Morton and Kevin Monahan while working at E-Mu Systems in Santa Cruz, California, a pioneer Studio in the sampling industry.
Both brought home a lot of new gear - synths, mixing consoles, etc. - to experiment with while producing songs for FX, so the chosen name for the band is not a surprise.

However, their musical style is a mix of poppy Prog / lite AOR with a few Hi-Tech elements focused in an easy listening song format. Morton & Monahan recruited some session musicians and the project morphed into a stable yet 'studio band' christened FX.



The first album "In Motion" appeared in 1987 has a sound reminiscent of UK Synth Rock bands with the addition of stylized pop / new wave touches that bring to mind Canadians New Regime.
There's some sonic experimentation mostly based on rare sounds, but basically these are rock&pop songs with lots of keyboards and synths.



By the early '90s FX turned much more proggy AOR, and palatable for our melodic ears. Saga, '80s Rush, Glass Tiger or the recently featured here The Kite are good examples of FX's sound on their '92 EP "In The Sky".
As you see, the aforementioned are all Canadian acts, and the comparison arrives due the record's pristine playing and production.
This is elegant, delicate stuff with very nice melodies to enjoy.
Both CD's are impossible to find - out of print.




In Motion (1987)
01 - I Disappear
02 - Girl In A Window
03 - Reasons Keep Changing
04 - The Running Man
05 - Quasimodo Sings The Blues (feat. Evan Jiles)
06 - In Motion
07 - Future History
08 - Calling Out On You
09 - Man Or Machine
10 - Solitary Madness
11 - Phoenix Rising (feat. Kevin Monahan)
12 - Phoenix Rising Pt. III (feat. Kevin Monahan)
13 - Phoenix Rising Pt. III (feat. Dave Preshutti)


In The Sky (1992)
01 - I Think It's A Crime
02 - When Will I Sleep Again?
03 - She Loves In Colors
04 - Defenseless
05 - In The Sky

Douglas Morton - vocals, keyboards, sampling
Evan Jiles - bass
Kevin Monahan - keyboards, synths, guitar
Dave Preschutti - guitar
Dave DuCey - drums
Phil Rose - backing vocals




FX (USA) In Motion (1987) / In The Sky (1992)
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THE JAMES PROJECT - Desert Bloom (1996)

James Lawrence Berk is a gifted songwriter and arranger who has worked for numerous artists and composed music for TV / radio commercials and film soundtracks. This rich background in the music business helped James to locate top-notch musicians to crystallize his ambition: THE JAMES PROJECT, the recording of his original songs under his own musical direction.
Berk is the 'orchestrator' on "Desert Bloom", driving all these talented musicians to his vision: timeless Melodic Rock with AOR and rock&pop elements.

"Desert Bloom" is almost an 'unknown' B.E. Taylor solo album, as Taylor carries most of the lead vocals here. If you don't know B.E. Taylor, the singer and his band has released four albums during the '80s, all considered cult AOR pieces. His vocal style is an amazing cross of Michael Bolton and Steve Perry, a truly excellent voice, clear and smooth.
The personnel in the recording includes ex- members of Beau Coup, Jonah Koslen, Three Dog Night, American Noise, Michael Stanley Band, etc., so quality is guaranteed.
Opener "Love Is Forever" is a cool commercial song, a bit poppy but with a catchy chorus. "I Don't Know How" is a good mid-tempo, followed by the warm "Can You Feel It" with a very good performance by Taylor.
But the real first monster track arrives with "Take Me To The River". It sounds like a song off THE STORM's debut, and B.E. like Steve Perry. Awesome track.

"Sorrow In Disguise" seems -at first glance- out of place on this album, but it's a really, really good tune, performed by Anne Cochran. She has a deep voice, and the song wraps you into a tremendous groove.
"Tell Her I'm Home" is a pretty obvious ballad, but the unknown (to me) Gary Grimes sings quite well sporting a very nice vocal timbre.
"Mend My Broken Heart" is a Benny Mardones' type song, thus I love it. Lead singer John Salamon remembers me AORster BJ Thomas at the mic.



The following tracks are the best part of this recording: "Sooner Or Later" is a great duet, B.E. sounds almost exactly like Michael Bolton circa 1985, while "Matter Of Time" is gracious and sweet (another top vocal performance).
"Everything About You" steals the show, a brilliant AOR track, and one of the highlights here. Then we have another pearl in "Take Good Care Of Her Heart" performed by Beau Coup's leader Frank Amato. It's great to hear him again. A Beau Coup lost song! Excellent.
"Promised Land" is gorgeous, tell me if it doesn't sounds like a Pride Of Lions / Jim Peterik tune.

THE JAMES PROJECT "Desert Bloom" is a criminally unknown album appeared in a time when good music was sunken by the abhorrent 'trend of the moment', but it's one of the best Melodic Rock project albums out there, soulful, cohesive and with terrific songwriting and performances.
Highly Recommended.


01 - Love Is Forever [Long Version] (lead vocals: B.E. Taylor)
02 - I Don't Know How (lead vocals: B.E. Taylor)
03 - Can You Feel It (lead vocals: B.E. Taylor)
04 - Take Me To The River (lead vocals: B.E. Taylor)
05 - Sorrow In Diguise (lead vocals: Anne Cochran)
06 - Tell Her I'm Home (lead vocals: Gary Grimes)
07 - Mend My Broken Heart (lead vocals: John Salamon)
08 - Sooner Or Later (lead vocals: B.E. Taylor & Sasha)
09 - Matter Of Time (lead vocals: B.E. Taylor)
10 - Everything About You (lead vocals: B.E. Taylor)
11 - Take Good Care Of Her Heart (lead vocals: Frank Amato)
12 - Promised Land (lead vocals: B.E. Taylor)
13 - Love Is Forever [Single Version] (lead vocals: B.E. Taylor)

B.E. Taylor: Lead and Background Vocals
John Salamon: Lead Vocals
Gary Grimes: Lead Vocals
Kevin Raleigh: Lead and Background Vocals
Anne Cochran: Lead and Background Vocals
Frank Amato (Beau Coup): Lead Vocals
Ed Sarley: Electric and Acoustic Guitars
Robert Fraser: Acoustic Guitars
George Sipl (American Noise): Keyboards and Bass
Andy Kubiszewski: Drums and Percussion
James L. Berk: Programming
John Klayman, Mike Lee: Sax
Oliver Hairston: Background Vocals
Donnie Iris: Background Vocals
Peter Hewlett: Background Vocals
Sasha: Background Vocals

Produced by James L. Berk




THE JAMES PROJECT Desert Bloom
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REQUEST & FILL CORNER 22

From now, all request & fills goes in this post Comments.
If you need an album or a single track, request it here, if you have it, be kind with other readers, upload the file and post the link here as well.
Access to this page will be placed at the right column ------>
(the "CLICK HERE" neon sign)
It will be opened in a new window.

Check this section regularly.
You'll find many albums uploaded by readers, not present on the main blog ...

Help each other people!


and don't forget to check out ARCHIVES:


ARCHIVES PART 18

ARCHIVES PART 19

ARCHIVES PART 20

ARCHIVES PART 21

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JOHN FANNON (New England) - Demos '91 restored audio

Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

New England was one of the seminal, guitar-driven AOR acts from the US scene, however, to my ears they were heavily influenced by the British invasion, especially lead singer / guitarist John Fannon vocal style.
After the band break-up, Fannon remained in the music industry playing, composing & producing for others, and occasionally releasing solo material (there's a fresh album out, acoustic/Beatles influenced).

But at the beginning of the nineties John Fannon was planning a solo album that never get materialized.
Only two tracks in demo form surfaced from these sessions (1991), but both surely worth a listen; the AOR magic of "The Way To Your Heart" and the sweet melodic rock midtempo ballad "Your Eyes Are My Eyes".
The original tapes sound quite good, but I have enhanced & cleaned the audio, fixed the "The Way To Your Heart" intro, and did a little, tiny artwork.
Quality AOR/MR material.


1 - The Way To Your Heart
2 - Your Eyes Are My Eyes

John Fannon - Vocals, Guitar
Personnel unlisted



JOHN FANNON Demos '91 restored audio
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