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Date d'inscription : 20/05/2012
Localisation : saint céré
 | Sujet: Le Roux 'So Fired Up' 'Last Safe Place'  Mar 5 Fév - 20:41 | |
| Le Roux 'Last Safe Place'
CANDY170 / Baton rouge isn't exactly the first port of call when
talking AOR. The area is primarily known for cajun and zydeco music, so
it may surprise you to know that early 80s melodic rockers Le Roux and
Toto both had their roots in Louisiana. Toto's lead vocalist Bobby
Kimball was born and raised there and, coincidently, had sung in an
early formation of Le Roux before departing for the west coast.
Originally going under the rather cumbersome handle of Louisiana's Le
Roux, the band cut two exploratory albums, very much in the style that
you might expect any band to have sounded like coming from that region.
However, by their classic 'Up' album their style had changed radically.
Taking its cue from the great melodic rock bands of the day, such as
Journey, Foreigner and Styx, the album showcased a keen love of melodic
hard rock. Originally issued in 1982, 'Last Safe Place', produced
in-house by bassist Leon Medica, took the template and moved it one
stage closer towards AOR nirvana. Recorded for their new label RCA, the
album satisfied on a number of levels, and is packed out with
sophisticated, memorable songs, and killer hooks. Indeed, the track
'Nobody Said It Was Easy' became something of a hit, reaching #18 on the
Billboard charts and establishing the band as supreme contenders for
the AOR crown.
24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 3,500 word essay about
the making of the album, new interview and enhanced artwork as all
spread out over a 12 page full colour booklet.
Track Listing: 1. Addicted 2. It Doesn't Matter 3.
Nobody Said It Was Easy 4. The Last Safe Place On Earth 5. Inspiration
6. You Know How Those Boys Are 7. Midnight Summer Dream 8. Rock 'N' Roll
Woman 9. Long Distance Lover 10. Make Believe.
Le Roux 'So Fired Up'
CANDY171 / Four albums into their career and Le Roux were edging ever
closer to scoring success on a national and, indeed, international
level. This was back in the days when record companies would give
artists enough creative lee-way to develop their craft and build a
committed fan following. 'So Fired Up' was, then, the band's fifth album
and is largely regarded as one of their finest, erupting with the sort
of energy and sophistication that rivals the great melodic rock
champions of the day such as Foreigner and Journey.
Originally released in 1983 and once again produced in-house by bassist
and founder member Leon Medica, the record featured two new member;
that's guitarist Jim Odon and vocalist Fergie Frederiksen, formerly of
lauded pomp rockers Trillion. With the new material highlighted by
Frederiksen's captivating vocals and the tough-guy guitar playing of
Odon, the band found a new lease of life, constructing a record to rival
their previous masterpiece 'Up'. Sadly, despite the quality of 'So
Fired Up' and the momentum built with their preceding releases, the
record commercially underachieved, leaving the band exposed to label
politics. So, when a change of regime occurred at RCA, Le Roux where
summarily dismissed along with several other promising acts on the cusp
of success. Holed beneath the waterline, the band fell apart, unable to
sustain such a body blow. Thank heaven we still have their musical
legacy to cherish.
24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 3,500 word essay about
the making of the album, new interview and enhanced artwork as all
spread out over a 12 page full colour booklet.
Track Listing: 1. So Fired Up 2. Lifeline 3. Let
Me In 4. Yours Tonight 5. Line On Love 6. Carrie's Gone 7. Wait One
Minute 8. Turning Point 9. Don't Take It Away 10.Look Out.
 xx | |
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