Post by dangerzone on Jun 21, 2006 16:53:19 GMT -5
Wrabit 'Tracks'
1982, MCA
Lou Nadeau- vocals
John Albani- guitar
Chris Brockway- bass
Gary McCracken- drums
Gerald O Brien- drums
A classic name from AOR yesteryear is Wrabit, a Canadian outfit who released three stunning albums in the early 80's. This was their second album and perhaps their finest. I'd heard of the name through the much worn pages of my International Encyclopedia of Hard Rock And Metal, but it wasn't until 2003 that I stumbled across a cassette copy of 'Tracks' at a dusty second hand record store. The tape was an original 1982 sealed copy that once placed in my tape deck was instantly chewed up. I drove back to the record store, knocked out the owner, stole some CD's and was on my way. The tape worked sporadically enough, becoming an instant classic in my mind and apparently many others also. The death knell came for the tape one day when driving to work it malfunctioned one time too many and I smashed it against the dashboard knowing I could download it anytime.
A melodic effort up there with 'Frank Stallone', this is actually quite heavy, as the band had toughened up their sound from their 1981 debut 'Wrough And Wready'. Catch a blast of 'Unsung Hero' and the metallic riff for an indication of what Wrabit were capable of. I recall sitting mesmerised by 'Run For Cover' and the keyboard run halfway in, not to mention the made for 1982 chorus. If anything this album sums up that year perfectly. All the guitar solos are passionate making me wish it still was that year. The way the band build up to the hook for 'Soldier Of Fortune' is genius, keeping you waiting until it knocks you for a Lance Cairns six. 'Bareknuckler' is the bands tribute to Charles Bronson in 'Street Fighter' (or 'Hard Times') and melodically as tough as one of Bronson's fists of fury. The AOR of 'Don't Lose That Feeling' will have you sitting by the creek and looking at your face in the waters reflection wondering where it all went wrong. It did for me. The epic pomp of 'There Once Was A Time' is nothing short of amazing, with a keyboard solo I can see Glenn Tipton playing with the same look on his face he did in the live version of 'Heading To The Highway' from the 1983 Memphis gig.
Wrabit made one further album, 1983's 'West Side Kid' before splitting. The statement they made with 'Tracks' was ample enough.( I downloaded the album a few months back from a character called MUSCLE, a man who knows a thing or two about sitting by the creek in a trance. I don't recommend anyone else trying to accost him for this album either. )
1982, MCA
Lou Nadeau- vocals
John Albani- guitar
Chris Brockway- bass
Gary McCracken- drums
Gerald O Brien- drums
A classic name from AOR yesteryear is Wrabit, a Canadian outfit who released three stunning albums in the early 80's. This was their second album and perhaps their finest. I'd heard of the name through the much worn pages of my International Encyclopedia of Hard Rock And Metal, but it wasn't until 2003 that I stumbled across a cassette copy of 'Tracks' at a dusty second hand record store. The tape was an original 1982 sealed copy that once placed in my tape deck was instantly chewed up. I drove back to the record store, knocked out the owner, stole some CD's and was on my way. The tape worked sporadically enough, becoming an instant classic in my mind and apparently many others also. The death knell came for the tape one day when driving to work it malfunctioned one time too many and I smashed it against the dashboard knowing I could download it anytime.
A melodic effort up there with 'Frank Stallone', this is actually quite heavy, as the band had toughened up their sound from their 1981 debut 'Wrough And Wready'. Catch a blast of 'Unsung Hero' and the metallic riff for an indication of what Wrabit were capable of. I recall sitting mesmerised by 'Run For Cover' and the keyboard run halfway in, not to mention the made for 1982 chorus. If anything this album sums up that year perfectly. All the guitar solos are passionate making me wish it still was that year. The way the band build up to the hook for 'Soldier Of Fortune' is genius, keeping you waiting until it knocks you for a Lance Cairns six. 'Bareknuckler' is the bands tribute to Charles Bronson in 'Street Fighter' (or 'Hard Times') and melodically as tough as one of Bronson's fists of fury. The AOR of 'Don't Lose That Feeling' will have you sitting by the creek and looking at your face in the waters reflection wondering where it all went wrong. It did for me. The epic pomp of 'There Once Was A Time' is nothing short of amazing, with a keyboard solo I can see Glenn Tipton playing with the same look on his face he did in the live version of 'Heading To The Highway' from the 1983 Memphis gig.
Wrabit made one further album, 1983's 'West Side Kid' before splitting. The statement they made with 'Tracks' was ample enough.( I downloaded the album a few months back from a character called MUSCLE, a man who knows a thing or two about sitting by the creek in a trance. I don't recommend anyone else trying to accost him for this album either. )