Pat Travers Black Pearl Rar
After all these years, Universal Records finally did it: remasters for the first time taken from the original tapes of PAT TRAVERS most celebrated albums, all packed in a great 'fatbox’ and with an exceptional price. Titled 'Feelin’ Right: The Polydor Albums 1975-1984' contains all the studio long-players from the period (except 1980’s Crash And Burn). The approach here is to shoehorn two albums on each of the four CDs. Of my special interest are Travers '80s recordings, all really good melodic hard rock oriented albums, some with a strong AOR feeling. One of you asked for a refresh on 1982's ' Black Pearl' (more Pat Travers remasters ) After his previous album, Polydor dropped Pat Travers from their roster, and he in turn sued the record company on grounds that he was under contract with them to record more material. He won the lawsuit, and was able to release this 'Black Pearl' in 1982. This release also featured more mainstream music rather than the hard-driving rock Travers had recorded earlier in the Seventies, and included the keyboard / synth filled hit single 'I La La La Love You' featured prominently on mainstream Top 40 and FM / AOR stations, and in the 1983 movie 'Valley Girl' soundtrack.
Listen this track and tell me if Pat is not playing like Eddie Van Halen in the rhythm guitar parts. 'I'd Rather See You Dead' is another killer tune, slightly bluesy, but still full of keyboard use and melody, a clever combination of the opener. This one reminds me Gary Moore's commercial side of the '80s. More rocking is 'Stand Up', melodic hard rocker I'd say, like a blend of Loverboy and Night Ranger (still not formed at the time of this release). This is an awesome cut full of fire. 'Who'll Take the Fall' offers more bruising hard rock in the vein of Y & T / Meniketti. This is an utterly brilliant anthem that Travers always excelled.
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Pat and his band delivers an fine instrumental inspired by Beethoven on 'The Fifth', before 'Misty Morning' (a Bob Marley cover) offers a poppy variation with lots of classic keys. Then 'Can't Stop The Heartaches' is another superb Melodic Rock / AOR cut delivered in a very classy way of instrumentation with vintage keyboard swirls. Rats as pets. The disc ends with 'Rockin', and title says all: Pat in full guitar-fest. 'Black Pearl' is one of the best Pat Travers albums with an early '80s melodic feel, featuring many tracks ready for the FM and with an AORish flair. The album was reissued in 2008 by a label called Lemon but it was a transfer from vinyl to CD. This one included in 'Feelin’ Right: The Polydor Albums 1975-1984' is the first time remastered from the original tapes.
The remastering job was done by Andy Pearce from the Rock Candy headquarters, and it's truly outstanding. Plus you have a complete artwork along with new sleeve notes from specialist Malcolm Dome. Great albums, great remastering, great price: Highly Recommended. 01 - I La La La Love You 02 - I'd Rather See You Dead 03 - Stand Up 04 - Who'll Take The Fall 05 - The Fifth 06 - Misty Morning 07 - Can' Stop The Heartache 08 - Amgwanna Kick Booty 09 - Rockin' Pat Travers - vocals, guitar, keyboards Pete Cowling - bass Don Harriss - piano, synthesizers Sandy Gennaro - drums BUY IT!