1983 saw another album from possibly the best band that nobody's ever heard of. Hopefully, this might jog a few memories. Back in the year, on several occasions, I saw the video for the Michael Stanley Band's only top 40 hit, "My Town." This song was a very good rock anthem and while I don't lament its lack of chart success because that was the direction music was heading then, I did think that more rockers and metalheads would have been singing along to its very cool chorus, especially with the way this song rocks!
"Oh, and this town
Is my town, alright?
Love or hate it, it don't matter
'Cause I'm gonna stand and fight
This town, is my town
She's got her ups and downs
But love or hate it, it don't matter
'Cause this is my town"
Does anybody remember now?
"You Can't Fight Fashion" has been considered the Michael Stanley Band's best album and I won't argue the fact. The album starts out more progressive with the first three songs. When I listened to it the other night, I just wanted to sit back and soak those songs in. None of those songs are ballads but they aren't very hard rockers but all done very well. What stands out in those tracks and even more in the fourth track, "Highlife" is the superb sax playing by Rick Bell. Put it this way, after hearing his sax rip on those tracks, I will never question the idea of horns in rock ever again, provided those horns are played well to complement the song.
The other thing that "Highlife" does for the album is provide a brilliant point for the change of tempo in the album. Things start to rock with said song and then with the "My Town" coming right on the heels of "Highlife," things get interesting indeed. Even though the next track, "The Damage is Done" is a ballad, it is a very good power ballad with just the right combination of piano and guitar power chords. Then, "Fire in the Hole" is just as powerful rocker as "My Town" and I think it would sound rather good metalized. It also sets the pace for the album to go out on a real rocking feel, a duty which the closing song, "Just How Good (A Bad Woman Feels) preforms outstandingly.
Track Listing:
- Hard Times
- Just Give Me Tonight
- Someone Like You
- Highlife
- My Town
- The Damage is Done
- Fire in the Hole
- How Can You Call This Love
- Just How Good (A Bad Woman Feels)
Michael Stanley Band[/caption]
Michael Stanley- guitar, vocals
Tommy Dobeck- drums
Bob Pelander- keyboards
Greg Markasky- lead guitar
Kevin Raleigh- keyboards, vocals
Michael Gismondi- bass
Rick Bell- saxophone
If you didn't do my homework assignment when I posted about the 1982 "MSB" album, you should definitely do it now and listen to "You Can't Fight Fashion." I'm sure at least one person will remember hearing "My Town" and then you can listen to the rest of this fine album.
Next post: Men At Work- Cargo
To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
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