TIM FEEHAN - Pray For Rain (1996)

Canadian TIM FEEHAN is considered by the fans one of the greatest AOR / Westcoast artists ever, but also is a highly respected person in the music industry as composer, producer and talent discover. Tim has played with all, from Steve Lukather to David Foster.
As main artist, Feehan released a bunch of mainstream albums during the '80s, but since the beginning of the Nineties concentrated his efforts into the creation of his own recording studio / company.
However, Feehan continued composing and occasionally putting on tape his own songs for a future release.

"Pray For Rain" was the result of these recording sessions which took place between 1990-95.
All along the way, some serious top class musicians were part of it: awesome guitarist Michael Thompson, Jeff Paris and talented Gene Black (Wild Blue, Device) among others.
The album only was released in Sweden in 1996 and never re-issued, becoming a collector's piece.



"Pray For Rain" is top notch in all departments, production, performances and songwriting, starting with the uptempo "Worth a Fight" (co-written by Gregg Fulkerson of Blue Tears) and the AOR gem "If Ever You Need Someone" pretty much in the Stan Bush style.
You can hear Jeff Paris' touch in the great "Lessons Of The Heart", while the atmospheric "You Should Be Mine" features the excellent backing vocals from the superb Chrissy Steele. Feehan was involved in Steele's solo album together with Brian McLeod (Chilliwack) who sadly died in 1992; the terrific ballad "When You Think Of Me" is dedicated to him.



Although not as bombastic (in terms of sound) as his '80s albums, I think this is Tim Feehan's best, mature album. You can't go wrong with Tim Feehan's "Pray For Rain", a must for any AOR fan.
Out Of Print.


01 - Worth A Fight
02 - If Ever You Need Someone
03 - When The Marnier Sails
04 - Yo Te Quiero
05 - When You Think Of Me
06 - Mother Superior
07 - You Should Be Mine
08 - Lessons Of The Heart
09 - I Don't Miss You Too
10 - Pray For Rain
11 - Do It All Over
12 - Magic Hour

Tim Feehan: vocals, keyboards, programming
Gene Black: guitars
Jeff Paris: guitars, background vocals
Michael Thompson: guitars
Louis Sedmak: guitars
Chrissy Steele: additional background vocals




TIM FEEHAN Pray For Rain 1996
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JEFF PARIS - Lucky This Time [Japan vers.] (1993)

Prodigious songwriter Geoffrey Leib aka JEFF PARIS has written songs with/for countless artists in the music business like Alias, Mr.Big, Brett Walker, Lita Ford, Vixen, Y&T, Paul Stanley, Michael Thompson, Sheena Easton, etc.
Accomplished musician as well, his opportunity as main artist came in the mid eighties with a major label deal releasing 2 superb albums; 'Race To Paradise' ('86) and 'Wired Up' ('87).
During 1987 Paris toured successfully in the States on a ‘Double Thunder’ co-headlining package with the canadian outfit REFUGEE.

But next year his label drop the contract, then Jeff settle to work on demos for a future next album, amongst them the tapes recorded with his old friend, vocalist and songwriter Moon Calhoun (Moon Over Paris demos).
Other show biz colleagues attended these sessions, guitarists Michael Thompson, Mike Gray, Bett Walker, Jan Kuehnemund, but most the instruments are performed by Paris in person.
By 1993 a now defunct small UK label offered Jeff to release these recordings under the name "Lucky This Time".

This is an awesome collection of american melodic rock / AOR tunes to die for.
"Wrong Side Of Love" and "House On Fire" were written in conjunction with the band MR. BIG.
"Jump The Gun", which sound like a mix between Def Leppard and Kiss, was co-written with Paul Stanley.
"Baby Break Mine" is a collaboration with Skin's guitar-man Mike Gray and the incredible "State Of The Heart" penned together with Vixen's Jan Kuehnemund.
The mind-blowing "Stop Playin' With My Heart" is simply one of the best MR / AOR melodies ever written / recorded.

"Lucky This Time" is pretty easy to find on the web, but not the japanese edition featuring 4 bonus tracks.
Here it is, complete with artwork.
Curiously, asians have left over 2 songs from the european edition. Both are included into the file.
As said, a Must Have.
Highly Recommended



+
Lifeline (european release only)
Gypsy Heart (european release only)


Jeff Paris : Vocals, All Instruments
Michael Thompson : Guitar
Jan Kuehnemund : Guitar
Brett Walker : Guitar
Mike Gray : Guitar
Moon Calhoun, Brett Walker : Backing Vocals



A MUST HAVE

GARY MOON - Still Moon (2002) aka The Pack

This bunch of forgotten songs were recorded in the late 80's under the name of THE PACK.
THE PACK consisted of singer and session bass player GARY MOON (later in NIGHT RANGER's "Feeding Off The Mojo" album), extraordinaire songwriter & musician JEFF PARIS, top guitarist BRAD GILLIS (NIGHT RANGER founder), and AUTOGRAPH keyboarder Steven Isham.

Gary has a great soulful voice and Gillis plays his heart out and flies over the fretboard (trust your ears to discover in which tracks he's playin').
Some songs shine, like "State Of The Heart".
Good melodies abound, wisely written tunes with sticky choruses.

Production could be better, yes, most of this material are demos, but a very good ones.
Luckily Gary Moon decided to self release this album under his moniker not so long ago, but it's very hard (if not impossible) put your hands on an original CD these days.

I love this stuff, HQ rip to you, dear readers.
Melodic rockers, don't miss this post, and if you are a Night Ranger fan, this is a mandatory download.
Recommended.

Note: the flaw in track 3 about 1;00 min. it's like it is, not a rip error or bad CD.

01 - Still
02 - Heart Of Stone
03 - State Of The Heart
04 - Alayna
05 - Music Box
06 - Call Of The Wild
07 - Queen Of The Damned
08 - Can't Help Falling In Love
09 - Angels Don't Lie
10 - One Love
11 - Love In A Wicked World

Gary Moon - vocals, bass
Brad Gillis - guitars, backing vocals
Gaylin Walker - guitars
Jeff Paris - bass, backing vocals
Pete Comita - bass, guitars
Steve Isham - keyboards
Curley Smith - drums, percussion


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