AL BARTON - Precious (1991)

Requested in the Chat box...

ALAN BARTON born in Great Britain and during the seventies was part of the successful pop act Black Lace, representing the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979.
In the middle '80s, Al replaced singer Chris Norman in Smokie recording six albums with them, including the awesome 'Boulevard Of Broken Dreams' and 'All Fired Up' (I don't know why I didn't posted these very good albums here yet).
In the middle, Barton released his one and only solo album, this "Precious", in 1991.

As you can listen in the video-song below, "Precious" is Melodic Rock with an European sound and some rock&pop in between, driven by melodious guitars, nice keyboards and Al's velvety vocals.
All songs are good and easy to the ears with polished arrangements, wrapped by a pristine, crystal clear production.
Two singles were taken from "Precious"; "July 69" in 1990 as advance, and "Carry Your Heart" in 1991, a duet with Norwegian female singer Kristine Pettersen which obtained some airplay in Scandinavia. In fact, as far I know, this CD edition of "Precious" only was released in Norway.



Sadly, Barton died in '95 at the age of 41 from injuries incurred when Smokie's tour bus crashed during a storm in Germany.
"Precious" is one of these rare little gems unheard by most Melodic Rock fans and collectors, quite hard to find on CD (out of print).


01 - Being With You
02 - White Dust
03 - Precious
04 - Carry Your Heart
05 - Soakin' Up The Sun
06 - Drive, Drive, Drive
07 - These Feellings For You
08 - July '69
09 - Running Away From Heaven
10 - All Fall Down

Al Barton: Lead Vocals, Guitars
Andy Wheelan: Guitar, Mandolin, 6 string Bass
Neil Ferguson: Guitar, Keyboards
Marin Bullard: Keyboards
Marcus Cliffe: Bass
Steve Pinell: Drums
Neil Hardcastle: Percussion
Jackie Ross, Kath Parker: Backing Vocals
Kristine Pettersen: guest Lead Vocals on 4




AL BARTON Precious (1991)
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TIME GALLERY - Kaleidoscope (1992)

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

TIME GALLERY probably was the best Lite AOR coming out from Sweden. This "Kaleidoscope" is their second and last album released in 1992.
If one word define these guy's style is finesse.



Combining AOR melodies ("The Feeling Is Gone") with power pop guitar chords ala Richard Marx ("Closer To Love", "Y.B.B." -great guitar solo), heavenly harmony vocals ("Like Summerrain"), smooth WestCoast touches (the very TOTO-esque "You") and a dash of '80s Hi-Tech ("Lovesmash"), there's something for everyone here.



With a superb, crystal-clear production, "Kaleidoscope" is chock full of memorable catchy hooks and choruses in the Scandinavian style.
The CD is out of print and it isn't easy to find a HQ rip of this beauty.
Enjoy!


01 - Closer To Love
02 - Like Summerrain
03 - The Feeling Is Gone
04 - You
05 - Lovesmash
06 - Y.B.B.
07 - Merry-go-round
08 - Goodbye Molly's Angels
09 - Don't Say It's Love
10 - Julie Knows
11 - Like Summerrain (Sway mix) [bonus track]

Patrik De Vee - Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
Fredrik Bergengren - Guitar
Johan Stentorp - Keyboards, Vocals
Thomas Nyberg - Bass, Vocals
Carl Colt - Drums, Percussion




TIME GALLERY Kaleidoscope HQ
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SEVEN - Man With A Vision + extras (1990)

Re-post from years ago, because it's very rare, and very good.

Another "Request & Fill Corner" request, John Parr related.
Don't be afraid by the 'boy-band' look of this guys.
Yes, they supposed to be a chart product, but unlike that kind of monstrosity, they wrote their own songs and really play all the instruments.
And what a beautiful AOR songs!
Produced by John Parr ("Man With A Vision" tune was recorded by himself in '92), they released 2 singles on the Polydor label the same year: "Inside Love" in january and "Man With A Vision" in june, 1990.



Seven went on to tour with The Monkees, Richard Marx and Jason Donovan, and the singles sold well, but some label / management problems dissolved the project.
A shame, they were very good. There's rumours that a full album was recorded, but shelved...
If you like Parr's music and style, well done poppy AOR with class, this is for you.
Man With A Vision maxi-single is complete (4 tracks), plus Inside Love 7'' version and 2 demos (supposed to be part of the unreleased album).

01. Man With A Vision [7'' version]
02. Just Close Your Eyes
03. Man With A Vision [extended version]
04. Stranger (In The Night)
05. Inside Love [7'' version]
06. Untill Then (demo)
07. Be That Girl (demo)

Mick Devine: Lead Vocals
Keith MacFarlane: Guitar, Vocals
Pat Davey: Bass, Vocals
Simon Lefevre: Keyboards, Vocals
Austin Lane: Drums
Produced by John Parr




SEVEN - Man With A Vision
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PRINCESS PANG - Princess Pang (1989) American Edition

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

Female fronted hard rockers PRINCESS PANG were labelled as an American group, but actually, the band born in Sweden and half of the members are from this origin.
Singer Jeni Foster met bassist Ronnie Roze Johansson in New York at the middle of the '80s, but both decided to fly to Sweden and start to work on a new band there. After assembling the group with guitarist Andy Tjernon and drummer Brian Keats, they wrote a bunch of songs, recorded some demos and returned to USA when Metal Blade Records showed interest.

The self titled "Princess Pang" was recorded with Ron St. Germain (Living Colour) behind the desk and the result was a kickin', energetic slice of American Hard Rock yet not in the typical glammy style from the end of the '80s.
Sure, there's some tracks in this vein like "Trouble In Paradise", the razor "Any Way You Want It" (a highlight on the disc) and "Scream & Shout" (which reminds me Lee Aaron) driven by sharp guitar riffs and Jeni Foster's strong pipes.

But Princess Pang was a different beast - and that's perhaps the reason for their lack of commercial success - because they added to their music a strong bluesy feel like on "Find My Heart A Home" (some kind of Tesla with female vocals), the honky "No Reason To Cry", the groovy "Sympathy" or the slow burner "Baby Blue" (title says all).
Additionally on numbers such as "China Doll" they are closer to Pat Benatar than the Californian glammy hard rock of the era. I mean, the overall sound on the album is edgy & rockin' and I like it a lot, but surely not what was in the major public's mind, eager to find the new Heart, Bon Jovi or Poison.



After presenting the album on tour together with the likes of Mr. Big and Ace Frehley, "Princess Pang" disbanded and this sole CD is their legacy. And a very good one. "Princess Pang" is an album that after the second spin gets stuck in your head, because is rich in great melodies and true Rock 'n Roll substance.
Quite unknown and pretty hard to find, this a rip from the American CD edition (sounds much better than the German) at maximum quality including artwork.


01. Trouble In Paradise
02. Find My Heart A Home
03. South St. Kids
04. No Reason To Cry
05. Sympathy
06. Scream & Shout
07. China Doll
08. Baby Blue
09. Too Much, Too Soon
10. Any Way You Want It
11. I'm Not Playin'

Jeni Foster - lead vocals
Andy Tjernon - guitar, background vocals
Jay Lewis - guitar, background vocals
Ronnie Roze Johansson - bass, background vocals
Brian Keats - drums, percussion, background vocals




PRINCESS PANG real 320
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BLACKFOOT SUE - Red On Blue (1997)

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

Formed in Birmingham at beginning of the seventies, BLACKFOOT SUE scored a top 5 hit single in UK with their rock 'n roll often compared with Slade. But the band would become a reference for AOR fans during the '80s under a different moniker; Outside Edge.

Always driven by the core force of founder members and twin brothers Tom (vocals, bass) and David Farmer (drums), and after playing in different outfits between 1989-92, the guys decided to resurrect the name Blackfoot Sue after almost 20 years. Third brother Gary Farmer (guitar, backing vocals) and Steve Turner (lead guitar, keyboards) completed this new incarnation of the band.
This same line-up recorded a demo around 1990-1991, years later known as the bootleg 'Outside Edge; Call Me', but in fact that was what would go on to become the reformed Blackfoot Sue.

Blackfoot Sue recorded a new album, originally only released in Germany in 1995 as 'Talk Radio'. All these songs plus "Fall From Grace" (recorded later) were repackaged two years after by HTD Records and this time distributed all over Europe under the title "Red On Blue".



On "Red On Blue", Blackfoot Sue sounds absolutely early '90s Melodic Hard Rock more related to the American sound than British or European.
Songs like "F.O.D." or the remake of the old Blackfoot Sue song "Standing In The Road" are crafted in the Damn Yankees mould both in sound & style, the excellent "Book Of Life" akin Night Ranger, while songs such as "Fall From Grace", title track "Red On Blue" and specially the melodic "Goodbye" recall nineties Danger Danger (Paul Laine era).
Some numbers obviously have a Ouside Edge smell like the great mid-tempo / AORish "Small Town", and the pumping rocker "You're So Beautiful You're Dangerous", both filled with synths / keyboards in the background.



Blackfoot Sue's "Red On Blue" is not only quite unknown for MHR fans, but also really hard to find as went out of print many years ago. It's a good, rockin' melodic disc containing really nice songs and a fine production.
A collector's item.


01 - F.O.D.
02 - Talk Radio
03 - Standing In The Road
04 - Book Of Life
05 - Fall From Grace
06 - Small Town
07 - That's No Lie
08 - Red On Blue
09 - Goodbye
10 - You're So Beautiful You're Dangerous
11 - Better Than Being In Love

Tom Farmer: lead vocals, bass
David Farmer: drums, backing vocals
Gary Farmer: guitar, backing vocals
Steve Turner: lead guitar, keyboards




BLACKFOOT SUE Red On Blue
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REQUEST & FILL CORNER 14

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 9

ARCHIVES PART 10

ARCHIVES PART 11

ARCHIVES PART 12

ARCHIVES PART 13

take a deep look at the end of each part...
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JOHN KEANE - Straight Away (1999)

Continuing the Keane brothers saga, I wanted to present you JOHN KEANE's first solo album "Straight Away". While Tom's subsequent solo works in the music business are more widely known, this record by John Keane is quite hard to find and pretty unfamiliar to AOR aficionados.
After the Keane early '80s albums John Keane became one of the busiest session drummers from the L.A. scene. He did an instrumental LP but his true, integral first solo album was this one from 1999.

John secured some serious cats for the "Straight Away" recording sessions: Mike Landau, Tim Pierce and Buzz Feiten - probably the best guitarists around - Toto's Steve Porcaro on keys, Jason Scheff playing bass, brother Tom Keane on synthesizers, and the list continues.
Obviously what we have here is AOR with a Westcoast smell but highly tinted with a Hi-Tech colour.
Title track "Straight Away" opens the album driven by a pulsating bass line, agile drums and stylized guitar work akin Mr. Mister. John sings with aplomb helped by great harmonized backing vocals.
Then the Hi-Tech AOR appears on the uptempo "Red Raven", followed by the softer "We Love Our Fantasies".



"Venice Is Sinking" is a ballad with a smooth piano accompaniment, "She Can Not Be Denied" recalls Mr. Mister again, while the rocking "Love Is The Last Frontier" (love the guitar work here) is one of my favorites.
"Dark Side Of The Earth" has a slow, climatic atmosphere in the Richard Page solo works, "Since I Met You" is a midtempo with a nice melody, "Still" a truly elegant Westcoast number, and closer "More" ends the CD in full Hi-Tech mode, perhaps too much '90s Peter Gabriel-like for my tastes.

To sum up, if you like the lighter side of AOR with Hi-Tech and L.A. Westcoast touches, John Keane's "Straight Away" deserves a place in your collection. Of course production is impeccable and the playing precise and smooth.
Out of print.


01 - Straight Away
02 - Red Raven
03 - We Love Our Fantasies
04 - Venice Is Sinking
05 - After Dark
06 - She Can Not Be Denied
07 - Love Is The Last Frontier
08 - Headlines And Deadlines
09 - Darkside Of The Earth
10 - Since I Met You
11 - Still
12 - More

John Keane - vocals, drums, keyboards, moog bass
Mike Landau - guitars
Tim Pierce - acoustic & electric guitar
Buzz Feiten - nylon string & electric guitar
Steve Porcaro - keyboards
Tom Keane - synthesizer
Jason Scheff, Ronnie Sage, Ted Landau - bass
Jerry Scheff - acoustic & electric bass
Paulino DaCosta - percussion
Todd Taylor, Guy Thomas - background vocals




JOHN KEANE Straight Away
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KEANE - Today ,Tomorrow And Tonight (1982) [remastered]

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

After the successful self-titled debut as a band, KEANE quickly started the recording of this, their sophomore and final album "Today, Tomorrow And Tonight".
The Keane brothers turned things even more rocking for this new offering, still retaining their trademark melodies but more sharp in its delivery. The Toto influences are still here, but a more organic melodic rock vibe was thrown into the mix.

Bass player Mike Milwood was replaced by no-other than talented Jason Scheff (before joining Chicago) not only providing his deep bass lines but also enhancing even more the band's vocal harmonies.
There's a simple but catchy rocker on the commercial "Oh, Oh, Oh", a lovable melodic rock tune on "Don't Make Me Love You" (early Night Ranger-like), and a strong sharp guitar-driven track on "Tomorrow Is Today".
More AORish is the jumpin' "It's All Over", where Tom Keane's vocals gets a rougher delivery and Scheff plays a quasi-solo with his bass.

The full of bite and melody "I'm Ready Tonight" sounds again as a proto-Night Ranger, "I'm Ready Tonight" is groovy in the vein of 707, while the urgent "You Don't Have To" has some Loverboy on it.
Of course we have two fine ballads on the album; the smooth midtempo AOR of "My Kind" filled with clean guitars and a multi-part harmony chorus, and the superb closer "One Too Many Lovers", a Westcoast AOR sounding little gem.



Sadly, KEANE was a short-lived affair delivering two excellent albums, but the group disbanded because all its talented restless members were hungry for personal musical challenges.
Tom Keane become one of the best and more requested AOR songwriters in history, and together with bro John recorded in countless albums as session musicians. Mark Moulin formed the great AOR outfit Dreamer and played with Stan Bush, and Jason Scheff met stardom fronting Chicago and pursuing a successful songwriting career as well.

As far I know, "Today, Tomorrow And Tonight", this final album by KEANE, never was released in the US. Seems the master tapes were lost for many years, but fortunately, Japanese label Cool Sound reissued both records in 2001 with a superb remastering job.
A mandatory addition to any Melodic Rock / AOR collection.


01 - Oh Oh Oh
02 - My Kind
03 - Don't Make Me Love You
04 - I Can See You
05 - Tomorrow Is Today
06 - It's All Over
07 - I'm Ready Tonight
08 - Mindreader
09 - You Don't Have To
10 - One Too Many Lovers

Tom Keane - Vocals, Keyboards
John Keane - Drums & Percussion
Mark Moulin - Guitars, Backing Vocals
Jason Scheff - Bass, Backing Vocals




KEANE Today ,Tomorrow And Tonight remastered
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KEANE - Keane (1981) remastered

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

The KEANE brothers Tom & John were prodigious kids, as in the mid-seventies at the age of 11 and 12, both fronted their own musical TV show and signed a major record deal. As 'Keane Brothers' they released two LP's produced by the likes of David Foster, Lamont Dozier and David Paich.

At the beginning of the '80s, the bros. formed their own band simply called KEANE, musically oriented to the AOR / Melodic Rock waves so en vogue with a more than a passing nod to the Toto sound. Indeed Keane was called 'Little Toto' but not only for their musical similarity, but also for the quality in their compositions and performances.
Tom Keane (only 18 years old at the time of the recording) shows a remarkable maturity on his greatly harmonized vocals, while the rest of the band including brother John on drums is impeccable.



Cuts like the dynamic opener "Tryin' To Kill A Saturday Night", the muscular "Bad Little Baby Girl" or the rocking "You Got The Better Of Me" are no-brainers for any Melodic Rock / AOR aficionado.
"Baby I'm Dead" has something of REO Speedwagon, and the highlight "Kill Or Be Killed" somehow reminds me I-Ten, but the rest of the album is clearly impregnated by Lukather & Co: the sweet and melodious "Lorelei", "Anything Less Than Love" or the superb ballad "My Special Way".
Production is top notch and this remaster from the specialized Japanese label Cool Sound, pristine and clear.
Out of print.


01 - Tryin' To Kill A Saturday Night
02 - Bad Little Baby Girl
03 - You Got The Better Of Me
04 - Kill Or Be Killed
05 - My Special Way
06 - Baby I'm Dead
07 - I Love My Life
08 - Anything Less Than Love
09 - Lorelei
10 - Judy

Tom Keane - Vocals, Keyboards
John Keane - Drums & Percussion
Mike Milwood - Bass & Vocals
Mark Moulin - Guitars & Vocals
David Pearlman - Lapsteel Solo
Michael Zorro Singers - Background Vocals




UPDATED HERE
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