I think it's instinctual to hate the guy in the suit with the cigarette-was this a great idea for an album cover?It's been awhile since I've done a Mr Mike's High School Record Collection, so here's another lost title in the AOR highway of life- Little River Band's Playing To Win (1984).
When John Farnham originally joined Little River Band, all signs pointed to the group continuing with their established soft country rock sound. They had always been the poor man's Eagles and had racked up hits like "Lonesome Loser" and "Reminiscing" following in Don Henley's footsteps. Even when Farnham took over from rough voiced Glenn Shorrock, hits like "The Other Guy" and "We Two" continued their well worn sound.
So it was a shock when I was watching the California Music Channel in 1984 and saw a new band with a powerful AOR anthem. The vocals were strong, the keyboards were hyperactive and the beat was bombastic. I quickly bought the record of the group LRB to find out it was none other than the Little River Band in disguise (like Transformers, only not robots).
The first word that came to mind when thinking about this album was EPIC. Playing To Win is overblown cheesy Album Oriented Rock at its best. The title track was like Foreigner in overkill mode, the scampering synthesizers, crashing cymbals and Farnham howling "This time I'm playing to wwwiinnnn!!!!!" was the stuff of greatness.
But there was more. The stop/start beat of "Reappear" hit hard. "One Shot In The Dark" was an edgy rocker. But what took the cake were the ballads. "Blind Eyes" was a ballad that took a whithering stare at people who witness crime and say nothing. I'll never forget those lyrics, "Blind Eyes are weak / Blind Eyes are cruel / Don't be a Blind Eeeyyeee". And you couldn't get more epic than "When Cathedrals Were White". I never knew what that song was going on about, but it was churchy and built to a huge vocal finish that would make Simon Cowell nod in approval.
And who wouldn't love that album cover? It looked like a Miami Vice coke dealer playing chess with people's lives. Too cool! Surprisingly (or not), there wasn't a lot of this album out there but You Tube did have LRB performing the second single "Don't Blame Me" from the Live Aid show. "Don't Blame Me" was a little more rhythmic like classic Little River Band but with a vampy synth line. I don't know if I'll ever see this album again, but if I do I won't turn a Blind Eeeyyeee!
LRB - "Don't Blame Me"
3 comments:
There was a time when almost anything by Little River Band was an instant favorite of mine. By the time they did this album I was more into heavy metal. I can still hear a Little River Band song, tho, and it will bring back that feeling, the smell of the ocean in the air, the feel of the breeze on my skin... (I grew up in Florida, the breeze off the beach was always part of my life.)
I don't know, but its totally 80's...
The memories of Florida sound really nice, it's easy to imagine Little River Band and the beach going well together. My mom's favorite radio station when I was growing up played a lot of Little River Band, Firefall, America, etc. so those bands always recall that time for me.
And as the other comment mentioned, Playing to Win is totally 80's. If anyone comes across this album, do not listen unless you wear sunglasses at night in the danger zone or Rod Stewart will give you his love touch. And nobody wants that!!!
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