After an advert placed in Melody Maker this british guys decided to enroll Leigh Matty as lead singer back in '85 but it wasn't 'till '87 when the band signed a deal for their first release. Was '88 when Romeo's Daugther released their debut S/t album with the help in producing and songwriting by Robert John "Mutt" Lange (Def Leppard, Bryan Adams, AC/DC, Shania Twain...). Though the album didn't enjoy much success is full of good tracks and prove to this is that none less than three cut has been covered by important artists, Wild Child covered by Heart, Heaven In The Back Seat covered by Eddie Money and Cry Myself To Sleep At Night covered by Chrissy Steele and by Bonnie Tyler. The album reached a sad USA # 191 while their fisrt single Don't Break My Heart reached Billboard Hot 100 # 73.
The band released a second album in 1993 entitled Delectable and almost 20 years later (March 27, 2012) they've just release a new album called Rapture. This new album is full of good and elegant melodies while the sound it's in a more pop/rock vein with some acoustical touches and even some raw guitars... very interesting return by this band.
Cry Myself To Sleep At Night (official video)
Heaven In The Back Seat (official video)
Don't Break My Heart (official video)
ROMEO'S DAUGTHER - Rapture (Released: March 27, 2012, RD Records)
This guy from New York is one of the most interesting Rock guitarrist of all times. His first band was Fine Maribus but the guys never released and album so he started to play as session musician playing on Peter Criss' Let Me Rock You album. Same year Stevens joined forces with Billy Idol playing on his S/t album back in '82. The combo extended during two more Idol's albums enjoying massive success (Rebel Yell (1983) and Wiskplash Smile (1986)) and that helped Steven to be guested by such artist as Robert Palmer, Thompson Twins or Michael Jackson (Dirty Diana) and to play the Top Gun Anthem.
After separating ways with Idol, Stevens decided to pursue his own solo carrer releasing this first solo effort in 1989 under the name Steve Steven's Atomic Playboys. The album didn't enjoy much success reaching a disappointing USA # 119. Two singles were released Atomic Playboys and Action (Sweet's cover) but both failed to chart while the cut Power of Suggestion was featured in Jim Carrey's 1994 film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
Due to poor sales Stevens decided to join Michael Monroe to form Jerusalem Slim and in 1993 he played on Vince Neil's Exposed. In 1997 he started a Progressive project with Tony Levin and Terry Bozzio (Bozzio Levin Stevens) releasing two albums and in 2005 he joined forces again with Billy Idol for the album Devil's Playground.
Two more albums were released by Steve Stevens as solo artist Flamenco A Go-Go (1999) and Memory Crash (2008)
Produced by Ted Templeman and Beau Hill, mastering by Ted Jensen and with vocals by Perry McCarthy (Warrior's vocalist) Atomic Playboys is an amazing Hard Rock album full of virtuosity and very good and catchy tunes... a must have.
Today we start a new way in this blog we will remember artists, albums and songs that enjoyed much success in the 80's late 70's and early 90's but somehow after all these years are forgotten... so this is going to be a tribute to all that amazing music. 38 Special took their name from a rimmed centerfire cartridge by Smith & Wesson. From Jacksonville, Florida these guys started as a Southern Rock band but soon they turned into a more Melodic Rock sound. This change of direction help the band to enjoy biggest success. Original line-up consisting in Donnie Van Zant (vocals), Jeff Carlisi (guitar), Don Barnes (guitar, vocals), Ken Lyons (bass), Jack Grondin (drums), and Steve Brookins (drums) suffered many changes but probably the most important was the adition of Danny Chauncey and Max Carl in 1987 that led 38 special to release two of their most impressive albums. Rock & Roll Strategy (1988) is a Melodic Rock album with some Southern blinks and full of catchy tunes. The album was produced by Rodney Mills and enjoyed huge success specially because of the monster ballad Second Chance. The song became 38 Special biggest hit reaching USA # 6 and # 1 Billboard's Adult Contemporary. This built on keys track is one of the most beautiful and sentimental ballads ever recorded. Three other singles were released from this album Little Sheba wich failed to chart, Rock & Roll Strategy USA # 61 and Comin' Down Tonight USA # 67. But more memorable tracks from this album are Midnight Magic and Never Be Lonely.
1991 saw the release of Bones Against Steel. The album followed the same vibe than its predecessor but didn't enjoy much success reaching only Billboard 200 # 170 though the single The Sound Of Your Voice became a hit reaching USA # 33. I've been listening to this song for more than 20 years and still sounds to me as fresh as the very first time, it's a shot of energy that makes worth waking up every single day. The other single released from this album was Rebel To Rebel but failed to reach Billboard Hot 100. Another impressive tracks that sadly never were released as single are You Be the Dam, I'll Be the Water and Signs of Love. Bones Against Steel was the swan song for 38 Special that after the departure of Max Carl in 1991 released three more studio albums that didn't enjoy any success.
