BOSS - Step On It (1984) restored audio

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

Founded at the end of the seventies in Adelaide, Australia, by Kevin Pratt (guitar) and Craig Csongrady (vocals), BOSS moved to Sydney in 1980. The band released their only album "Step On It" with RCA in 1984 which was quite successful in Germany and Japan, but the label didn't supported the guys.
Pratt & Csongrady later formed BB Steal (Beg, Borrow or Steal), a really good act produced by Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen.

BOSS were focused in catchy Hard Rock songs with a touch of rockin' AOR sporting an unmistakable British sound not far from the first Def Leppard, Led Zepp and Bad Company, also adorned with some Ratt / Krokus like crunchy riffs.
Strong vocals, sharp solos and a pounding rhythm section drive anthemic numbers like "Kick Ass (Rock N' Roll)", the fist rising "Hard N' Fast" or the groovy "That Woman". There's more melodic numbers such as "Strange Games", "Take It Or Leave It" (which reminds me Bronz), and the enjoyable midtempo "Cry Cry".



"Step On It" never was officially released on CD, and the bootlegs floating around are crap.
As requested, I did a quick clean-up of this pretty good vinyl-rip (not mine) de-clicking the whole thing for your listening pleasure.
Good stuff!


01 - Kick Ass (Rock N' Roll)
02 - That Woman
03 - Dancin' Queen
04 - Strange Games
05 - Hard N' Fast
06 - Escapee
07 - Take It Or Leave It
08 - Free Wheelin'
09 - Cry Cry
10 - Shake It

Craig Csongrady - Vocals
Kevin Pratt - Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Peter Sucliff - Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Scott Ginn - Bass
Peter Heckenburg - Drums






BOSS Step On It restored audio
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BILOXI - Checkmate... The Game's Over (1993-94) re-worked

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

BILOXI was a short-lived melodic hard rock band from the city of the same name in Mississippi, not exactly the Rock capital for this kind of music. Anyway, commanded by talented singer and bass player Clyde Holly (RIP), the group made some impact in the L.A. area during the last agonizing months of the genre (before the grunge ruined all) with their debut 'Let The Games Begin' in 1993.

But Clyde & Co. started to work together in the second half of the '80s and managed to record a professional demo in 1989.
The good sales of 'Let The Games Begin' attracted Japanese label Zero Corp Records (EMI-Toshiba) to sign Biloxi and release in Asia not only the album, but also the earlier '89 six-track recording, entitled "Checkmate... The Game's Over".



Although their full length debut is a really good melodic hard rock album with some pomp overtones, I largely prefer this "Checkmate... The Game's Over", because it owns the real US Melodic Rock / AOR sound and style from the second half of the eighties.
Somehow Biloxi reminds me here US wonders White Sister, perhaps because Clyde Holly's vocal timbre recalling Dennis Churchill. There's also some Firehouse touches in few melodies, but what steals the show are their AOR delivery in tunes like the wonderful "Listen To Your Heart". A gem if you ask me.



Despite being demos, as said, all the tracks in "Checkmate... The Game's Over" were professionally recorded, but Zero Corp Records transferred the tapes without any remastering.
Well, I did mine.
I have enhanced the overall sound, attenuated the hiss, and properly (for a home studio) mastered the chunks. I doubt you'll find a better version of "Checkmate... The Game's Over" out there.
This is pure '80s stuff, very recommended indeed.


1 - Someone To Love You
2 - Listen To Your Heart
3 - One In A Million
4 - I'll Meet You On The Other Side
5 - Love Prevails
6 - Out On The Streets Again

Clyde Holly - lead vocals, bass
Pat McNulty - guitar, backing vocals
Billy Orrico - drums, backing vocals
Rich Symons - guitar, backing vocals
Douglas R. Docker - keyboards, backing vocals




BILOXI - Checkmate... The Game's Over
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WAR PIPES - Warpipes (1991-2000)

While playing alongside other artists such as Meat Loaf and Alice Cooper during the late '70s and early '80s, underrated and terrific Scottish guitarist Davey Johnstone is mostly known for being Elton John's main six-string man.
Around 1990, Johnstone started his own band named WARPIPES together with singer & lyricist Billy Trudel (later in Public Domain featured HERE) who went on to sing backup for Elton as well, completing the line up with... two members of Elton John's band too; keyboardist Guy Babylon and bassist Bob Birch.

In 1991, WarPipes released their only album 'Holes In The Heavens' to much critical acclaim on Davey Johnstone's self-owned label Artful Balance Records. But the label folded not so long after, and the disc become almost impossible to find.
Fortunately, this great record was rescued in 2000 by Bridge Records in a revamped re-release simply entitled "War Pipes" (this time separated words). But it was really different from the original.
Three new tracks were added; "Little Persuader", "Dust On My Boots" and "One Love True", while the track "Satellite City" from the original edition was deleted. Also features a re-arranged tracklist and completely new artwork.



'Holes In The Heavens' / 'War Pipes' was the vehicle for Davey Johnstone to rock, and rock intensively. Don't expect Elton-like poppy tunes here, this is a terrific melodic hard rock album with a bluesy foundation in the vein of Walk On Fire, YA YA or Walk The Wire, this meaning: high quality AORish Melodic Rock of the highest order.
Not only Billy Trudel vocals are pure gold in a Steve Perry / Moon Calhoun style (Trudel was booked by Michael Thompson in an earlier version of MTB), also Davey Johnstone's toneful, clean, killer sound & pickin' are to die for.
I can't find a weak song of this superbly produced album, ripped at maximum quality from the reissue but also including the discarded track "Satellite City" as bonus, to treasure WarPipes' complete recordings.
Great One.


01 - Rock & Roll Condition
02 - Little Persuader (reissue only)
03 - Dust On My Boots (reissue only)
04 - Duty To Dance
05 - Mr. 2 U
06 - One Love True (reissue only)
07 - Tear Jerker
08 - Son Of A Loaded Gun
09 - Good-Bye Kemosabe
10 - Holes In The Heavens
11 - Divided Heart
12 - Back A' Ma Buick
13 - Satellite City (original release only)

Billy Trudel: lead vocals
Davey Johnstone: guitars, mandolin, backing vocals
Guy Babylon: keyboards
Bob Birch: bass, sax
Nigel Olsson: drums, backing vocals




WARPIPES full
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DEAD BEAT HONEYMOONERS (ex Orphan) - ST (1992)

After the recent Orphan post, as promised, here it is the sole album from the short-lived band DEAD BEAT HONEYMOONERS formed by singer Chris Burke-Gaffney and drummer Terry Norman Taylor.
With Toronto guitarist Barry G. Player and Blair Depape on bass, they began playing the clubs throughout mid-western Canada at the beginning of the nineties. Rush's label Anthem Records soon signed the Deadbeat Honeymooners for a self-titled debut, released in 1992.

Time's changed since the Orphan years, and Burke-Gaffney & co. not only let their hair grow, also the musical approach for Deadbeat Honeymooners was obviously the melodic hard rock in vogue in North America.
With a polished production by Tom Treumuth (Honeymoon Suite, Helix), "Deadbeat Honeymooners" is a typical recording of the era; melodic riffs, soaring choruses / harmony vocals and big drums. The disc sounds quite American, still retaining the Canuck touch.
Burke-Gaffney vocals are the driving force, but I need to remark Barry Player's toneful, dazzling guitar work, unleashing some awesome solos as well.

There's very effective, motorin' melodic hard rockers where Damn Yankees, Night Ranger, Hardline and alikes come to mind, like my favorite "Dial L.O.V.E" (also single and video), the kickin' "Mystery", "Temptation", the tongue-in-cheek "Hard To Be Humble", "Blind Faith" and the very fun vocal/guitar interplay in "Money, Money, Money".
We have bluesy midtempos on "Queen of the Renaissance" and "When The Rain Comes", acoustics in "King Of The World" and of course a very good power ballad; "Can't Live With - Can't Live Without".
Deadbeat Honeymooners toured with Kim Mitchell and Robin Trower, shared stages with Bryan Adams, Steve Miller, Extreme, etc, but the musical climate changed soon and the group broke-up. Everyone continued working in the music world in one way or another, Burke-Gaffney as producer and manager, while Barry G. Player became a highly sought-after studio musician - his is truly great on the six-strings.



"Deadbeat Honeymooners" is a quite unknown release but a really, really good album in the style of the aforementioned bands, plenty of scintillating melodious rockers perfectly executed and produced.
Very Recommended.


01 - Hard To Be Humble
02 - When The Rain Comes
03 - King Of The World
04 - Queen Of The Renaissance
05 - Foreign Legion
06 - Dial L.O.V.E.
07 - Temptation
08 - Money, Money, Money
09 - Blind Faith
10 - Can't Live With - Can't Live Without
11 - Yo Mama
12 - Mystery

Christopher Burke-Gaffney – Lead Vocals, Guitars, Strings
Terry Norman Taylor – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Barry G. Player – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Blair Depape – Bass, Backing Vocals


DEAD BEAT HONEYMOONERS 1992
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BLACK RAIN (USA) - Black Rain (1993/2003)

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

BLACK RAIN was (or are?) a Melodic Rock band with some Hard edge originating from Connecticut and not from California as many 'historians' assure. The band recorded several songs between 1990-93 before the grunge Dark Age phagocytosed them. Anyway, the group managed to release by themselves an EP in 1993 while the rest of the tracks were shelved.
Ten years after, Metal Mayhem Music rescued the tapes and finally put out the disc as it was originally intended, including 12 tracks.

"Black Rain" is very late eighties / early nineties styled, both in composition and style, influenced by the Californian sound where they used to play a lot, you know - The Roxy in Hollywood, Dream Street in San Diego and alikes.
You can hear some Warrant on "Don't Turn Away", Poison-esque midtempos in "One Chance" and "Yesterday", early Bon Jovi for "All Alone" and a little Danger Danger on the main melody of "To Live On".
Many of the tracks are really mellow, adding acoustics as on the very well arranged "I Never Wanted" (one of the highlights), but there's also uptempo rockers like "Crazy Questions", the bluesy "Sculptured Love" and the slightly Damn Yankees-like "Time", another favorite of mine.


Rather obscure and unknown, there's not a bad moment in "Black Rain", a disc featuring good songwriting, musicianship, melodies, and whilst production is
very indie (different sessions) this is a fine Melodic Rock album which gets better and better with each listen.

01 - Run
02 - Don't Turn Away
03 - One Chance
04 - To Live On
05 - Time
06 - I Never Wanted
07 - Sculptured Love
08 - Drift Away
09 - Crazy Questions
10 - All Alone
11 - Dyin' For The Cause
12 - Yesterday

Ty Christensen: vocals
Galvan Steele: guitars
Shawn Logan: guitars
Jay Linthicum: bass
Joe Bonzi: drums




BLACK RAIN (USA)
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IF LOOKS COULD KILL - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1991)

Presented here some years ago, I am reposting "If Looks Could Kill" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack because it was requested so many times, it's out of print and features songs not available elsewhere.
Loved the movie, love the OST, where most the artists involved are Melodic Rock related.
Get it while it's hot...



01 - Glenn Medeiros
If Looks Could Kill (No Turning Back)
02 - The Outfield
One Hot Country
03 - Contraband
Loud Guitars, Fast Cars & Wild, Wild Livin'
04 - Trixter
One Mo' Time
05 - Kylie Minogue
Better The Devil You Know
06 - Robin McAuley
Teach Me How To Dream
07 - The Fixx
All Is Fair
08 - The Stabilizers
Maybe This Time
09 - Bang Tango
My Saltine
10 - David Foster
Michael Corben's Adventure




IF LOOKS COULD KILL : OST
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P.M. HEAT - P.M. Heat EP (1989)

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

Today we have here an obscure, private vinyl-only EP released by Texan rockers P.M. HEAT. Founded by Mark Hybner who is a well known band-manger 'til today, there are several players listed on the back cover but not specifying which instrument.
Anyway, this is a short but meaty slice of American Melodic Hard Rock in the rocking and polished style of the late '80s, akin Autograph, King Kobra or Babe Blue (presented HERE six years ago).

"Power" is a winner; plenty of guitar / keyboard interplay, a killer chorus and slightly raspy lead vocals.
"Could It Be You" is a little harder with a Dokken-esque atmosphere, "I Wanna Rock" has driving sharp guitars and anthemic-like drumming, while closer "Never Break My Heart" is the more AOR oriented tune of the bunch, melodic and catchy.

One and only release by P.M. HEAT, a truly professional recording wrapped by a crisp production & mix. As requested in the REQUEST & FILL CORNER section, vinyl-rip cleaned and restored by me.

Rare and Good!

01 - Power
02 - Could It Be You
03 - I Wanna Rock
04 - Never Break My Heart

Personnel: Paul Hybner, Mark Hybner, David Hybner,Steve Carson, Dan Stone, Lee Anthony, Rob Wright & David Da Luna




P.M. HEAT : restored audio

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LOVELINES Soundtrack [unreleased] (1984)

More than four years ago I posted here some tracks from "Lovelines", which, despite of being a musical movie (a battle of High School bands), the soundtrack never was released.
The promotional posters and even the credits of the film state 'Soundtrack album available on MCA/Curb records and tapes', but the release was pulled off at the eleventh hour.
A reader requested an updated link, but I will do something better; to the previously presented 4 tracks, I am adding 6 more.

Got countless VHS-rips (remember those?) from '80s movies containing lovable songs from the era never released on any format. Some of them were featured in my 'AOR Treasures - The Soundtracks' series, but process these tapes becomes very time-consuming, and lots still remain untouched.
Well, "Lovelines" songs deserve to be listened; cheesy, commercial, but adorable typical radio-friendly tunes with all the '80s magic. Included as bonus is Tyson Moses' single recorded later as solo artist.
The result are pretty good soundfiles, stereo, and cleaned (discarded & edited the dialogue parts) by myself.
Enjoy!


01 - Racer: For You
02 - Souvenir: Lovelines
03 - The Firecats: Totally Gone
04 - Racer And The Firecats: Defyin' Gravity
05 - Joe Esposito: A Time Like This Again
06 - Tyson Moses & Ben Sharel: Hearts On Fire
07 - Brittany: Reflex
08 - Souvenir: Hold Me Tonight
09 - The Flying Phlegm: Ba-Ba-Baby
10 - Tyson Moses: My Heart's On Fire (Soul Desire)




LOVELINES Soundtrack [unreleased]
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ORPHAN - Lonely At Night & Salute (1983-1985)

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

Born from the ashes of the Winnipeg, Canada based band The Pumps, ORPHAN was founded by keyboardist Brent Diamond and singer / bass player Chris Burke-Gaffney. The group secured a deal with Columbia Records and soon recorded their debut "Lonely At Night" in 1983, regarded as a classic Canuck AOR album.

This pompy, keyboard filled radio-friendly beauty was recorded at the famous Power Station studios in New York and produced by the afamed Lance Quinn (Arc Angel, Bon Jovi) and Bon's second cousin Tony Bongiovi.
Catchy, plenty of harmony vocals and contagious chrouses, "Lonely At Night" is a must for fans of the genre. Title track owns that unmistakable first half of the '80s feeling akin Honeymoon Suite or Steelheart, followed by the harder and sharp "What Kind Of Love Is This" which remembers Americans Preview.
The atmospheric midtempo "Miracle" recalls the aforementioned Arc Angel, but also has a lovable new wave touch, a characteristic that made Orphan so special. Then on "She Told Me" they sound typically Canadian, ala Loverboy. Those keyboards and chunky melodic guitar riffs... Love it.
"Any Time At All" is another gem in a disc full of them: heavenly synths and vocals to die for. An AOR diamond if you ask me. On the faster "Hello" and the pompy "All Over The World" they sound more Americanized, the latter bringing to mind Giuffria's Angel or New England.



Orphan toured extensively US and Canada, and with former The Pumps bandmate Terry Norman Taylor as new drummer, the group recorded the second and final opus "Salute" in 1985, with Englishman Phil Chapman (Eric Clapton, Corey Hart) & Jon Astley behind the desk.
The style was more mid-eighties, quirky melodic rock oriented here, but still extremely melodious and radio friendly. Awesome numbers such as the ecstatic "Woman In Love" and the fighting "Stand Up" (Refugee comes to mind) are staples of the pure AOR-Rock we all love. "Old Enough To Know" is another instant favorite, just listen these quick guitars and processed drums.
The melodic rock perfection of "Lyin' To Me" combines a sultry refrain with a bombastic chorus, "Steel + Iron" is heavily guitar oriented, while the more poppy "Crazy For The Night" and "A Little Heart + Soul" adds sensibility to a very well balanced recording.

Orphan disbanded in 1986, but Burke-Gaffney and Terry Norman Taylor returned during the nineties with another band; Dead Beat Honeymooners, to be featured soon on this blog.
"Lonely At Night" & "Salute" never were officially pressed on CD until 2003 when a British label picked up both original tapes and released this great 2 in 1 gatefold digipak remastered edition. Sadly, it's out of print now, but occasionally appears on eBay at decent price.
Orphan was a unique AOR/MR act, and both records have magnificently stood the test of time still sounding fresh and vital.
A Must Have.


LONELY AT NIGHT (1983)

01 - Lonely At Night
02 - What Kind Of Love Is This
03 - Miracle
04 - She Told Me
05 - Saved By The Bell
06 - Any Time At All
07 - Hello
08 - All Over The World
09 - Night Parade


SALUTE (1985)

01 - Open Up The Skies
02 - Lyin' To Me
03 - Woman In Love
04 - Crazy For The Night
05 - Stand Up
06 - A Little Heart + Soul
07 - Old Enough To Know
08 - Uncle Sam Wants You
09 - Steel + Iron
10 - The Way It Should Be

Chris Burke-Gaffney - Bass, Lead Vocals
Steve McGovern - Guitar, Vocals
Brent Diamond - Keyboards, Vocals
Ron Boisvenue - Drums, Backing vocals on Lonely At Night
Terry Norman Taylor - Drums, Backing vocals on Salute







ORPHAN Lonely At Night & Salute 2in1
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