WILD FORCE - Wild Force [CD version +2] (1987)

Coming from Finland, WILD FORCE's self titled debut album from 1987 is just another amazing example of the effervescent Scandinavian melodic rock AOR scene during the second half of the Eighties. Their musical style is spread over guitar riff / keyboard driven anthemic songs in the style of Europe, Craaft, Dalton, etc.
Clean vocals, melodic riffs, catchy choruses filled with soaring harmonies and of course loads of synths - but classic organ as well are the heart of the game here.

The band has an energetic approach too on many tracks such as opener "S.O.P.H.I.A.", "Play It Loud", melodic rocker "It's Been A Hard Time" or "Don't Rush Your Fortune".
However it's on the melodious midtempo AOR numbers where Wild Force excels. "Frozen Hearts", "Take Me Far Away", slow paced "I've Been Running Away" or the classy "You Give Me More" are the kind of ivory stuff we all love, while ballad "I Want You To Stay" is plenty of atmosphere'




Bonus tracks for this CD version are worthy too, including the pumping "No Guarantee" and the great remix of "S.O.P.H.I.A." which turned the song into an almost new song.
Pretty unknown by many "Wild Force" is a very good, enjoyable slice of Scandinavian melodic rock AOR with all the magic feeling of an era.


01 - S.O.P.H.I.A.
02 - Frozen Hearts
03 - Take Me Far Away
04 - It's Been A Hard Time
05 - Holiday On The Radio
06 - Play It Loud
07 - I've Been Running Away
08 - Don't Rush Your Future
09 - You Give Me More
10 - I Want You To Stay
CD Bonus Tracks:
11 - No Guarantee
12 - S.O.P.H.I.A. (Freak Mix)

Chris R-Holm - lead vocals, guitars
Jan Stolpe - lead guitar, backing vocals
Tom Jansson - bass, keyboards
Putte Ozzie Jansson - drums





WILD FORCE - Wild Force [CD version +2] (1987) HERE
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DAVID CARL BAND - Can't Slow Down (1998)

What you got when Jim Peterik is involved into your music? Great Melodic Rock.
And that's what we find in DAVID CARL BAND's album "Can't Slow Down".
A US Midwestern-born songwriter, singer and guitar player, David Carl moved to California to make his dreams come true. He met no-other than Survivor's Jim Peterik and both started to write songs together in the early '90s.
Even more, Peterik agreed to co-produce "Can't Slow Down" and play some keyboards.

The classic '80s Survivor feel flying over the entire recording. Just check title track "Can't Slow Down", the anthemic "Insatiable", or the Jimi Jamison sounding ballad "Arms Of Love" that belongs to the '80s soundtrack movie' category.
Carl's vocals are smooth and very melodious with a Eric Martin-like color on some cuts - check "For Jackie" for proof.
There's some REO Speedwagon on the delicious "Love Is Like Heaven" (lovely chorus), a pinch of Extreme on "Crazy Love", and Loverboy on the AORish midtempo "Trapped".



David Carl Band's "Can't Slow Down" is quite unknown outside Melodic Rock circles, and one of the best recordings released in the second half of the '90s - true 'dark ages' for the genre.
It's a trademark Jim Peterik record, full of melodies and smooth choruses.
Very good one.


01 - Innocent Kiss
02 - For Jackie
03 - Trapped
04 - Arms Of Love
05 - Love Is Like Heaven
06 - Crazy Love
07 - Can't Slow Down
08 - Dreamin'
09 - Insatiable
10 - Make Love Shine
11 - Hungry Woman
12 - Cost Of High Livin'

David Carl - lead and backing vocals, guitar
Bill Ozzello - bass, backing vocals
Randy Peterson - drums, percussion
Jim Riley - guitars, backing vocals
Jim Peterik - keyboards on track 1
Barb Unger - keyboards on tracks 4, 7, 12
Lou Depasqua - keyboards on tracks 5, 6, 11
Scott May - keyboards on tracks 8, 9, 10
Mark Zelden - keyboards on tracks 2, 3
Barry Sperdy - sax on track 2




DAVID CARL BAND - Can't Slow Down (1998)
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CHRIS SUTTON - Chris Sutton (1986) RARE

CHRIS SUTTON may be a not well known name as solo artist, but this Scottish gentleman - working as multi-purpose musician hired by Polydor and other labels - has wrote and arranged music for major artists such as Starship ('Knee Deep in the Hoopla'), Paul McCartney and George Michael among others.

Primarily, at the mid-Eighties, Polydor UK intended to launch Sutton as solo artist together with Brian Spence and alike to capitalize the radio friendly melodic rock / rock&pop so 'in vogue' at the time.
Recorded in L.A., on his self-titled debut appeared in 1986 Sutton had the opportunity to show his own songs, arranged by masters Robbie Buchanan & Peter Wolf, a bunch of commercial and smooth lite AOR poppy tunes with the typical '80s atmosphere.

Chris Sutton's style is not far from the aforementioned Spence or Jack Wagner, with nuances of several other British / American artists as well. We have a sweet cover of Russ Ballard's classic "Voices", a nice ballad co-penned by Sutton with Starship's collaborator Martin Page (incorrectly credited in the booklet as 'Paige'), the lovely '80s-soundtrack-like "Don't Push Your Love", and a mix of up/midtempo tracks with different degrees of quality.



"Chris Sutton" is a very enjoyable '80s album with nice melodies, really good session musicians (genius Dann Huff plays guitar here), and a polished sound thanks to platinum awarded producer Dennis Lambert (Player, Peter Beckett and countless '80s soundtracks via TuneWorks Inc.).

This rare CD edition includes as bonus the track "The Money Ain't Worth It", originally featured as B-Side of the single "Prince Of Justice" (which extended version 'Justice Mix 7:21' I have been looking for years).
There's copies of this album floating around the web featuring many noises. This a pristine CD-rip made by my friend Alan (thanx mate!).


01 - Trouble
02 - Tell It Like It Is
03 - Prince Of Justice
04 - Voices
05 - (You Just Can't) Tear It From A Heart
06 - Don't Get Me Wrong
07 - You Worry Me
08 - Know It All
09 - That One Love Feeling
10 - Don't Push Your Love
11 - The Money Ain't Worth It [CD only bonus track]

Chris Sutton - Lead & Backing Vocals
Peter Wolf - Keys, Bass, Guitar, Programming
Dann Huff - Guitar
Neil Stubenhaus, Alphonso Johnson - Bass
Mike Baird, Chester Thompson - Drums
Larry Williams - Sax
Robbie Buchanan - Arranger
Gabe Katona - Keyboards
Dennis Lambert - Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Producer


CHRIS SUTTON 1986 HQ _ Here
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