THE FORM - Informal (1989)

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

Austrian Hi-Tech / Light AOR / Synth Rock&Pop band THE FORM was founded by keyboard player and singer Wolfgang Marc Berry, who studied and worked in the USA. But Marc developed his musical career in his homeland, mostly as songwriter / producer.
In the second half of the eighties, Berry started a partnership with David Bronner, another Austrian musician specialized in modern recording techniques.

Both secured a deal with Viena CBS Schallplatten Cesmbll, and recruited some of Austria's best studio musicians to record their one and only album "Informal", released in 1989 over fourteen European countries.
This was one of the most expensive albums ever produced in Austria, as the aim was to conquer the international market. So expect a top notch sound, excellent mix and mastering here.

The style of The Form is not far from their countryman Andy Baum, yet more stylized and ascetic: all, every note was arranged and played with attention to minimum detail. At places they even sound kinda sinister, reminding me the great group Shriekback (Manhunter soundtrack).
Anyway, the overall approach by The Form is easy to the ears as heard on the breezy "Save Me", the elegant "Land Of Mystery" or the jumping "Talk To Me" where they recall Opus and '80s Germans Lake.



There's a sumptuous midtempo in "Ocean Of Love" with some Red 7 (underrated band) atmosphere written over it, a more energetic delivery and very nice guitars on "Falling Back On You", while "Far Away" is a light AOR affair quite Canadian-sounding in the Boulevard mould.
"Love In A Dark Room" goes pure hi-tech with a lot of synths, same the with fun cover of The Police's "Walking On The Moon".
We find some kind of a buried gem on "Jaimie", one of my favourites. It sounds completely different to the rest of the material: it's a sweet, lullaby ballad and tells a nice story with superb lyrics.

Apart from the great production and musicianship, "Informal" features excellent songcraft as well. It's strange that being charted reasonably well in Sweden, Switzerland and Austria, this record is not better known outside of central Europe.
Out of print and very hard to find, "Informal" represents in great form the clean, pristine Hi-Tech / Light AOR / Synth Rock&Pop sound of the '80s in the old continent.
As requested, it's presented here ripped at maximum quality from the original CD.
A very recommended listen.


01 - Colours Of Ever
02 - Save Me
03 - Land Of Mystery
04 - Talk To Me
05 - Jaimie
06 - Ocean Of Love
07 - Walking On The Moon
08 - Love In A Dark Room
09 - Far Away
10 - Falling Back On You

Marc Berry - vocals, keyboards
David Bronner - keyboards, programming
Bernhard Locker - guitar
Andreas Tieber - bass
Heribert Metzker - drums
Leo Bei - acoustic guitar on 3
Frankie Mitschitczek - percussion on 3
Kathi Gabler, Susanne Kreuzberger, Karin Raab, Ina Sieber - backing vocals




THE FORM Informal - CDrip
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REQUEST & FILL CORNER 13

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, or clicking here in Comments)-
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 8

ARCHIVES PART 9

ARCHIVES PART 10

ARCHIVES PART 11

ARCHIVES PART 12

take a deep look at the end of each part...
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BULLSEYE - On Target (1979)

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

Despite the fact that New York based BULLSEYE only album "On Target" was launched through a big label (Columbia / CBS), this only-vinyl record is an obscure rarity, as the band split soon after its release.
Combining a late seventies AOR feeling with radio friendly rock&pop typical of the era, this quintet's music is quite varied and entertaining.

To give you an idea about Bullseye's versatility, opener "Treat Me Right" (later covered by Pat Benatar) attacks from the start with stabbing pianos and clean melodic guitar riffs reminding the very early TOTO, followed by "Seventh Heaven" which wouldn't be out of place in Loverboy's debut.
The melodic nuances of "I've Changed (Never Want To See You Again)" has some Survivor touches, then "Moonwalk" adds a southern flavor in the vein of Moxy, and "My Old Car" goes poppy ala The Kinks.



The keyboards / guitar lines on "Don't Lose A Day" brings to mind some Giuffria's Angel, while "In The Heat Of Summer" and the highly harmonic "March On, Time" offer lots of lovable AOR melodies.

With a track featured on the legendary Munich City Nights compilation series, Bullseye received some airplay on European radio years later, but "On Target" remains as a true rarity as a whole.
Very well recorded, played and produced, this is a quite enjoyable record - as mentioned above, only released on vinyl.
Requested by a reader, I have restored & cleaned this good sounding LP rip including artwork.




01 - Treat Me Right
02 - Seventh Heaven
03 - I've Changed (Never Want To See You Again)
04 - Moonwalk
05 - In The Heat Of Summer
06 - My Old Car
07 - Don't Let Him Know
08 - What Can I Say
09 - Don't Lose A Day
10 - March On, Time

Manny De Magistris - vocals, guitar
Tom Ferrara - guitars
Tom Graves - keyboards
Kevin Clougherty - bass
Alan Childs - drums, percussion




BULLSEYE On Target
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MICHAEL FURLONG - Breakaway (1987) restored audio

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

Mr. MICHAEL FURLONG released his debut on a major record company (Atlantic) in 1985 but soon was dropped by the label. The now legendary Music For Nations pick up Michael for a second offering, almost entirely recorded by himself.
"Breakaway" is pure Melodic Rock with the classic American AOR sound & style from the second half of the eighties plenty of hook laden songs, ear-catchy melodies and keyboards galore.
To my ears Furlong brings to mind Steve Perry solo works, just check the soaring "Steal The Night Away". Also traces of Benny Mardones - both in songwriting and vocal color - can be clearly appreciated on the wonderful semi-ballad "Savin' The Best For You", the radio-rocker "Walkin' The Streets Again" and the Michel Bolton-like "You Better Watch Your Step".
Another favorite is the pumping and more guitar oriented "Turn The World Around", always retaining the melody and keyboard layers.



"Breakaway" was the last album from Michael Furlong as since the beginning of the nineties he is dedicated to tribute Tom Petty coast to coast across the US in Festivals and Casinos.
This is not the quite bad vinyl-rip floating around, nor the Retrospect CD release (which has been poorly taken from vinyl btw).
This file is a fresh LP capture, de-crackled and cleaned by myself. However, I have maintained the re-arranged Retrospect song sequence as it works better than the original vinyl, and added a couple of bonus, one of them the b-side from the only single of the album.
Really enjoyable American Melodic Rock / AOR stuff.


01 - Turn The World Around
02 - Steal The Night Away
03 - Savin' The Best For You
04 - Walkin' The Streets Again
05 - Breakaway
06 - You Better Watch Your Step
07 - Thru My Eyes
08 - San Francisco
09 - When Will I See You Again
10 - True Fine Mama (Bonus Track)
11 - Cold Eyes (Bonus Track)

Michael Furlong: vocals, guitars, bass, drums & percussion
Lener Gousetis: synthesizers
Rich Haines: electric piano, synths
Rick Keefer, Kit Ebersbach: additional keyboards
Chuck Ruff: additional drums
Terry Petersen: additional bass
Rich & Dan Haines, Neil Delaforce, Angelo Jensen: backing vocals






MICHAEL FURLONG Breakaway
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VAN STEPHENSON - Found In A Drawer (1990) [unreleased]

What can I add about the great VAN STEPHENSON? Gifted voice and senior master in songwriting.
This is another bunch of demos circa 1990. The original tape sound is pretty bad, so I tried to restore the audio by myself in my little home studio.
As requested, this is a revamped post from years ago.
Get it while it's hot.

01 - Above Suspicion
02 - Little White Truth
03 - Castles In The Air
04 - Bone Deep
05 - Grand Illusion
06 - Wish It Away
07 - Physician Heal Thyself
08 - Pipes Of Peace
09 - Midnight TV
10 - Never In A Million Years




VAN STEPHENSON Found In A Drawer
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TANDYM - 2F2G (2000)

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

TANDYM hails from Atlanta, Georgia, where started as a trio at the beginning of the nineties. Their first self-released album with strong '80s influences received positive reviews, followed by this "2F2G" (Too Far Too Gone) in the year 2000.

Still retaining the classic melodies from debut, Tandym's "2F2G" is more melodic rock / radio rock oriented with cleaner guitars. There's nice choruses and easy to the ear arrangements sometimes recalling the late eighties Canadian scene.
To me their first CD is better in terms of musicality and retro-stylings, but "2F2G" is the one requested by a reader, and I decided to post it because it's extremely rare.
Decently recorded, produced & released by the band through their own label, "2F2G" is not essential at all, just a nice listening and one more for the rarities collection.


01 - What You Feel
02 - Too Far Too Gone
03 - Worry About You
04 - Living On The Edge
05 - Holed My Hand
06 - My Eyes
07 - No Reason
08 - Understanding
09 - Out Of The Blue
10 - Battlelines
11 - Feels Like Summer

Jay Saffold - Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards
Scott Goodfellow - Vocals, Keyboards
Jimmy Baughman - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Additional Musicians:
Rob Peterson - Bass
David Brown - Backup Vocals on 1, 7
Thomas Journey (TJ) - Acoustic Guitar on 3




TANDYM 2F2G
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MANITO PARK - Manito Park (1991)

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

Based in Spokane, Washington state, quartet MANITO PARK took their name from the recreation park located in their city. The band toured the area since the late eighties and recorded & released independently this rich in harmonies self-titled CD in 1991.

MANITO PARK's music is American AOR but in its more Melodic Rock side akin Nelson, Bystander, Beau Coup, Biloxi, Roxanne and many more.
There's hook-laden catchy cuts like "Surrender", "Fool For Yesterday", "Bridges Burning", and lovable rockin' AOR cuts in "Like Forever", "Ariel" and the keyboard-filled mid-tempo "Daydreamer", all adorned with huge harmony vocals.
On the balladry side, we have two top class AOR gems in "One Last Look", a wonderful tune complete with pianos & acoustics, and the Elefante brothers-like "Send A Miracle". Three of the tracks are short intros/interludes, and there's also two acoustic-only songs; the melodic vocally layered "Oh Father" and the fun "Idaho Eyes".



Although the indie production is clearly low budget, the songcraft in Manito Park is excellent which turned this album a much sought after piece by AOR / Melodic Rock fans and collectors.
This is not the bad-tracked rip floating the web, it's taken from the original gold-plated CD including artwork.
Rare & Good.


01 - Bridges Prelude
02 - Girl In Green
03 - Surrender
04 - One Last Look
05 - Like Forever
06 - Idaho Eyes
07 - Daydreamer
08 - Fool For Yesterday
09 - Oh Father
10 - Ariel
11 - Duet
12 - Down On Sunday
13 - Stumpy's Choice
14 - Send A Miracle
15 - Bridges Burning

Dave Dupree - lead vocals, keyboards
Bob Burdett - guitars, backing vocals
Lars Ziemba - bass, backing vocals
Rusty Knorr - drums






MANITO PARK (1991)
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THE LIMIT - Dysfunction (1999)

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

Today I bring to you a true rarity requested by a reader; the Maryland indie outfit THE LIMIT and their only (?) album "Dysfunction".
The band was formed in the nineties recording and releasing the album independently at the end of the decade, being promoted at the now legendary (and extinct) mp3.com site, one of the first places where you were able to find music on this format at the very beginning of the internet. Also served as an important platform for indie acts like The Limit to sell their CD's.

The Limit's style is strongly inspired by the '80s commercial US Melodic Rock sound and AORish radio friendly tunes with nice harmonies and very melodious arrangements. The dynamic catchy opener "Rejecting Healthy" reminds me US cult rockers Neverland (Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey soundtrack), followed by the slang-named "Schweet Thang" driven by jumpin' rhythm guitars in the vein of Canadians The Works.
"Keep My Heart Open" is the first ballad and one of the highlights, with a graceful melodic line like Passion Street (UK band), a simple but rewarding slow tune with pianos and synths in the background. Then the light melodic rocker "What If" adds some Boston (Tom Scholz) feel specially on the guitar arrangements and during the harmonized choruses.

"Waiting For Goodbye" is another favourite, a midtempo stylized AOR number where the guitar lines and keyboard fills brings to mind Journey and even Scottish Strangeways. Uptempo rocker "Wrestle The Wind" has some early Night Ranger written over it, same later on "Regret", where the melodic guitar hooks takes the centre scene.
A new highlight arrives with the midtempo AOR of "Leah's Lie", where Freddy Curci's Alias meets Mark Free's solo albums, followed by the other ballad on the CD, the very good "Heaven Doesn't Want Me" mixing acoustic guitars with keys ala Sheriff (again, Freddy Curci) and some REO Speedwagon.
The album ends full on rockin' AOR / Melodic Rock style with "We All Fall Down", once again with a Night Ranger touch and perhaps some Loverboy.

With a more than a decent production for an indie, The Limit blends all the classic influences mentioned above with their own personal stamp resulting in the really enjoyable album that is "Dysfunction".
Rare as a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model photo shoot in Alaska, The Limit's "Dysfunction" is a really nice addition to your Melodic Rock rarities collection.


01 - Rejecting Healthy
02 - Schweet Thang
03 - Keep My Heart Open
04 - What If
05 - Waiting For Goodbye
06 - Wrestle The Wind
07 - Leah's Lie
08 - Heaven Doesn't Want Me
09 - Regret
10 - We All Fall Down

Jim House Jr. - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Tim Haines - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Mike Duncan - Bass, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Kent Beeghly - Drums, Percussion




THE LIMIT - Dysfunction 1999
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JON BUTCHER - Pictures From The Front (1989)

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

Guitarist, singer & songwriter JON BUTCHER born in Alaska, but he started making some noise in the Boston area at the beginning of the eighties. His six-string style was often compared to Jimi Hendrix, not only for his playing, but also for being a young afro-american musician naming his group Axis, a reference to a Hendrix album title.
However, at the middle of the decade Butcher was signed by Capitol and he and the label decided to change the musical approach to the polished Melodic Rock so in vogue in the US.
By the time of this "Pictures From The Front" - Butcher's fifth album and the third for Capitol - there was not traces of Hendrix, not even on the moniker, as it was released under the 'Jon Butcher' name.

Although not 'strictly' Melodic Rock (as it fuses some bluesy overtones) "Pictures From The Front" is a rock album with a strong AOR feel as well mainly due to the glossy production courtesy of the team Spencer Proffer (Cheap Trick, Heart, Eddie Money) and Glenn Ballard (Jack Wagner, Aerosmith, Toto) who also arranged the whole thing and co-wrote some songs.
The new Jon Butcher band for this album - and successful tours to come - included talented bassist Jaimie Carter, solid drummer Ronnie Lee Sage and complete musician Thom Gimbel (later in Foreigner) who provides a solid foundation of keyboards and rhythm guitars.
Butcher sings with emotion and style (sometimes remembering Robin Trower) but what shines on this record is his terrific, tasteful guitar playing sporting a monster typical '80s tone and a lot of high gain in his set-up sound.



All songs are good, being my favorites the urgent, Foreigner-like "Might As Well Be Free" driven by sharp riffs, a thunderous rhythm section and crowned by a crazy solo, and the anthemic "Live Or Die", recalling Kane Roberts solo albums.
Out of print and not so-easy-to-find at good quality out there, this is a "Pictures From The Front" rip taken from my own collection.


01 - I'm Only Dreaming
02 - Might As Well Be Free
03 - Live Or Die
04 - 99 (May Be All You Need)
05 - Beating Drum
06 - The Mission
07 - Send Me Somebody
08 - Division Street
09 - Come And Get It
10 - Waiting For A Miracle

Guitar, Lead & Backing Vocals – Jon Butcher
Keyboards, Guitar & Backing Vocals – Thom Gimbel
Bass – Jamie Carter, Jamie Hunting
Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Ronnie Lee Sage
Additional Keyboards – Glen Ballard
Backing Vocals – Jamie Carter, Timothy B. Schmit




JON BUTCHER Pictures From The Front
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