GREG GUIDRY - Private Session (2000)

Requested again by one of you..

St. Louis born GREG GUIDRY signed a deal with CBS Records at the end of the seventies as songwriter artist, providing songs for many acts such as Climax Blues Band, Robbie Dupree, Exile, Reba McEntire, etc.
Greg also did backing vocals as session musician until Columbia offered him the opportunity to record his first own LP entitled Over The Line, featuring David Hungate (Toto), Dan Huff, Bobby LaKind, David Sanborn and other great L.A. recording studio cats.

Despite the good sales and a respectable #17 Billboard single, there was not second album. But Guidry continued recording material which remained unreleased for almost twenty years, when in 2000 finally saw the light of day.
"Private Session" is a professionally recorded, mixed and produced bunch of wonderful tunes with all the AOR / Westcoast magic from the '80s.
Some cuts are stylized, smooth L.A. sounding songs akin Chicago, Robbie Dupree, John O'Banion, while the more radio friendly AOR compositions, Brock Walsh, Tommy Funderburk, Tom Keane, etc.



Released by Japanese label Cool Sound but now out of print, Greg Guidry's "Private Session" is a delicious slice of pure '80s spell.


01 - You're Good For Me
02 - I Got This Thing
03 - I Believe
04 - Heart To Heart
05 - Don't Let Go
06 - It Happens Everytime
07 - I Get High
08 - It's Only Love
09 - Say When
10 - First Time
11 - Think About It
12 - Suspicious Heart

Greg Guidry: vocals, keyboards
Dann Huff, Jon Goin, Tom Hemby: guitars
Keith Thomas, Phil Naish: keyboards
Mike Brignardello, Keith Thomas, Gary Lunn: bass
Mark Hammond: drums
Mark Hammond, Keith Thomas: programming
Sam Levine, Mark Douthit: sax
Cathy Guidry, Sandra Guidry, Denny Henson, Joe Hogue: background vocals




GREG GUIDRY Private Session
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THE BRAVE - Battle Cries [CD edition +2] (1992)

THE BRAVE was one of the most complete Melodic Hard Rock bands appeared in the L.A. scene during the late '80s. Perhaps due their Christian origins they weren't more massive, and the band's debut, this superb "Battle Cries", arrived too late.
The Brave recorded ten tracks of pure golden Melodic Hard Rock with Hair Metal and AOR touches, plenty of big hooks, terrific harmonies and memorable choruses mixed by guru Neil Kernon and produced by the talented duo John & Dino Elefante with a crisp, slick sound. The record was released via the brothers own label Pakaderm / Word in 1992.

You can't find a weak song here, all are killers in their own right.
There's outstanding gems in "All Together Now" and "The Waiting", more edgy rockers on the melodic "Tears Of A Broken Heart" or " Little Love", sublime AORish midtempos like "Never Live Without Your Love" and "Running All My Life", and a perfect ballad in "Just A Man".
This CD edition of the album includes two extra tracks as bonus (not present in the LP / cassette) and really worth the addition: a completely different, AOR versions of "All Together Now" and "Running All My Life" without drums, added keyboards / orchestrations and multi-part vocal harmonies galore.



Often compared with the awesome Dann Huff's Giant, I am posting "Battle Cries" because at this point, the first album by The Brave should be considered a Melodic Hard Rock classic. It's that good and consistent in all departments.
You never get tired of listening "Battle Cries", and now, while precisely I am giving it a new spin, decided to share it here because it must be part of hardrockaorheaven.blogspot.com.
A highly recommended addition to your collection.


01 - All Together Now
02 - The Waiting
03 - If That Ain't Love
04 - Running All My Life
05 - Tears Of A Broken Heart
06 - Little Love
07 - Never Live Without Your Love
08 - Big World
09 - Ride With The Rhythm
10 - Just A Man
11 - All Together Now (Studio Mix) [bonus track]
12 - Running All My Life (Studio Mix) [bonus track]

James Salters - lead and harmony vocals
Freddie Tierra - guitars, harmony vocals
Stayce Roberts - guitars, harmony vocals
Malcolm Paris - bass, harmony vocals
Randy Roberts - drums, harmony vocals
John and Dino Elefante - keyboards, orchestrations




THE BRAVE - Battle Cries [CD edition +2] HQ
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