GLASS TIGER - Diamond Sun (Released: 1988, EMI)

Strange is the musical story of Canadians Glass Tiger. These guys from Ontario started as New Wave band, their second album turn their sound into AOR/Rock while their third and last album could be described as Hard Rock.
Today we talk about their second album entitled Diamond Sun. This album is a masterpiece that should be in the top ten of any AOR fan.
It's known that second albums are always the most difficult specially if they come from a huge success with the first one. That's what happened to Glass Tiger, their debut The Thin Red Line had massive success all over the world reaching with Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone Billboard Hot 100 # 2, CAN # 1 and UK # 29 while another two singles also reached Billboard Hot 100. Despite this huge success the band decided to change direction into a more guitar driven sound, the result was an awesome album. First single released was I'm Still Searching a cut built on acustic guitars and full of energy that reached Billboard Hot 100 # 31 and CAN # 2. The following was the title track Diamond Sun, a quite different and smooth track based on keys that reached CAN #4. Two more singles were released My Song Feat. The Chieftains and probably the weakest cut from this album that only reached CAN # 19 and (Watching) Worlds Crumble CAN # 27.
A video was filmed for maybe the best song in this album Far Away From Here (this song is a gem about broken love) though it was never released as single, while Suffer in Silence is a monster ballad.
Though Diamond Sun (USA # 82) didn't reach the peak of succes of their previous effort, musically is much more interesting becoming a must have album.

Far Away From Here (official video)

I'm Still Searchin' (official video)

Diamond Sun (official video)

SAINTS & SINNERS - S/t (Released: 1992, Savage)

Canadians Saints & Sinners is one of those terrific but underrated Hard Rock bands killed by grunge. Their only album S/t was released in 1992 by indepedent label (Savage) with the help of Aldo Nova. The album didn't enjoy success so the band split only one year later.

Impressive album with anthems like Wheels Of Fire and We Belong... a must have album.











Sounds:







Walk That Walk (official video)

HSAS - Through The Fire (Released: 1984, Geffen)

HSAS (Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve) was a superband featuring Neal Schon (Journey, Bad English...), Sammy Hagar (Van Halen, Montrose...), Michael Shrieve (Santanas' drummer) and Kenny Aaronson (bass on tour with Billy Idol). The band released only this album that actually is a live album recorded from November 9, 1983 to November 21, 1983 at the Warfield Theater but the crowd noise was removed from most cuts.
Though it's a good album it failed to reach the expectations of an album with such awesome musicians so it didn't enjoy huge success reaching Billboard 200 # 42 while the only single released A Whiter Shade of Pale (Procol Harum) reached # 94 on Billboard Hot 100.





Sounds:










Missing You (video)

(Updated video ) LOVE/HATE - Wasted In America (Released: 1992, Columbia)

It's not easy to describe the style of these California guys, their sound it's a mix of Hard Rock, Prog and some Alternative. Wasted In America was their second and best album but due to poor sales and differences between the band and the label, Columbia decided to drop the guys. Two singles were released from this album Happy Hour and Wasted In America that enjoyed some airplay all over Europe reaching UK # 38.












Sounds:






Wasted In America (official video)

LEGS DIAMOND - Town Bad Girl (Released: 1990, Metal Blade)

Taking their name from the 20's gangster Jack "Legs" Diamond these L.A. guys formed back in '77 by Michael Diamond (bass) and Jeff Poole (drums). With an original sound with reminiscences from Deep Purple during the 80's the band changed their style into a more melodic and AOR vibe that led the band to release this Town Bad Girl in 1990. The album didn't enjoy any success so the band decided to split 'till 2001 when the guys joined forces once again.
Despite the bunch of good musicians involved in this band they never reached stardome status. The band is still active though keyboardist Michael Prince is working as session musician with acts like Beyonce, Usher... while other members have their own musical projects.




Sounds:








I Am For You (official video)

DIRTY WHITE BOY - Bad Reputation (Released: 1990, Polydor)

This sleaze band from Los Angeles consisted of David Glen Eisley (Giuffria), Earl Slick (David Bowie, Jim Diamond, John Lenon, Jonh White), Keni Richards (Autograph) and F. Kirk Alley. They only released an album entitled Bad Reputation on Polydor back in 1990 produced by Beau Hill. The album didn't enjoy any success, once again, due two changing times. Two singles were released Let's Spend Momma's Money and the awesome Lazy Crazy but both failed to chart. The band soon split due to poor sales and beacuse they were unhappy with the sound and production of their only effort.
Amazing album to listen with the volume up to 10







Sounds:









Lazy Crazy (official video)

ROMEO'S DAUGTHER - S/t (Released 1988, Jive Records)

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)

Sounds from their new album Rapture: