MICHAEL BOLTON - Everybody's Crazy (1985) Remastered

The great Michael Bolotin (his given name) most known as MICHAEL BOLTON wrote some classic rockin' AOR masterpieces before turning a middle-aged women oriented MOR crooner.

Of his four eighties records, undoubtedly "Everybody's Crazy" is the best of all: pulsating bass and keyboard lines, rocking guitars and catchy choruses wrapped around Bolton's powerful, emotional lead vocals.
The drums on this album are bombastic - just the way I like - performed by ex- Rainbow Chuck Burgi (uncredited on the original release, but listed on the reissue), all perfectly recorded by genius producer Neil Kernon.



This little gem was already featured at the very beginning of this blog, and now re-posted by request as incredibly, isn't that easy to find in the blogosphere. Even less in its remastered form.
One of the best '80s AOR albums.


01 - Save Our Love
02 - Everybody's Crazy
03 - Can't Turn It Off
04 - Call My Name
05 - Everytime
06 - Desperate Heart
07 - Start Breaking My Heart
08 - You Don't Want Me Bad Enough
09 - Don't Tell Me It's Over

Michael Bolton - lead vocals, guitars
Bruce Kulick - lead guitar
Dennis Feldman - bass, backing vocals
Chuck Burgi - drums
Mark Mangold, Mark Radice, Jan Mullaney - keyboards
Larry Fast - synthesizers
Schuyler Deale - additional bass
Neil Kernon and Doug Katsaros - additional keyboards
Peppy Castro, Terry Brock - backing vocals
... and many more




MICHAEL BOLTON Everybody's Crazy Remastered
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MICHAEL BOLTON - AOR Provider [unreleased]

Michael Bolotin, later known as MICHAEL BOLTON, softened his style in favor to commercial pop at the end of the eighties, but the man has a rock background.
Under his real name he did two forgettable records in the seventies, but at the beginning of the '80s he was part of Blackjack (with Bruce Kulick), a noteworthy rock ensemble.
Later in the middle of the decade, as solo artist Bolton released 3 great AOR albums with rocking guitars and catchy choruses, then was tempted by his label for the aforementioned change of style.

In the middle, still in doubt, Bolton recorded a serie of demos helped by renowned session musicians, including Neal Schon & Jonathan Cain from Journey. In fact, seems some of these tracks were planned for a future Journey release, with Bolton replacing Steve Perry.
Anyway, there are interesting tunes written by the likes of Bob Halligan Jr. or Martin Briley, still retaining the rockin' musical vibe for the most part.
Entitled "AOR Provider", the recordings have been circulating among fans for years, but aren't easy to find in the blogosphera. Except a couple of tracks, sound quality does not match this blog standards, but it was requested so insistently by many readers that I decided to post it.
Tiny myself made artwork included.



01 - Gone Too Far
02 - Believe In Each Other
03 - Bad Habit
04 - Forever Eyes
05 - Conspiracy
06 - Love Of Money
07 - I Think About You
08 - Can't Fight The Feeling
09 - Starting Over
10 - Tonight Is The Night
11 - The Way I Love You
12 - Lonely Too Long
13 - Love Get Ready
14 - Just The Thought Of Losing You
15 - Any Man's Country



MICHAEL BOLTON - AOR Provider
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STEVIE - Gypsy ! (1984)

Stevie is a french born (with a scandinavian origin) rock singer.
Under the name Stewy, she was the lead vocalist of the hard rock band Black Rats who later became Speed Queen and released in France a self titled album in 1980 and second disc for a major label in 1982. They toured with Motorhead and Lemmy appeared on the 2nd album as guest.

By 1983, pursuing a solo career, the girl changed his name to 'Stevie' and following the rule of the moment, started to record a 'Rock FM' debut album.
Her label wanted an international hit, then they hired some american musicians / songwriters.
Bruce Kulick (Kiss, Blackjack) plays guitar on most of the album and Michael Bolton did some back up vocals.
Half of the songs are sung in english and the rest in french.

As said, this is americanized radio oriented rock / AOR, with muscular guitars, tons of keyboards and super-compressed drums.
It doesn't matter that "Fils De La Nuit" is sung in french, the melody and the awesome keys / guitar solo makes this track a real good opener.
"Gypsy" and "On Oublie Tout" have some frenchy-chaisson influences, but both are good pop-rockers with big synths.

"Without You" is a real winner. This track alone worth the whole disc. Killer american AOR with a portentous riff. Michael Bolton sings the 2nd lead voice -mixed in the back- and Bruce Kulick shines on the guitar.
"Radio" is a weak poppy song in my opinion, but next track "Le Chemin En Arriere" has a very nice candy-floss keyboard arrangement and a good commercial chorus.
"Tu Me Manques Mec" is a ballad with a little bluesy touch. Cool.
American AOR returns with the radio friendly "Take Me Back", good uptempo track with a nice refrain.

"Gypsy!" never was released on CD and the vinyl is a real treat.
It's a good american FM / AOR album with an exotic touch, good production and excellent musicianship.
Very Rare.


01 - Fils De La Nuit
02 - Gypsy
03 - On Oublie Tout
04 - Without You
05 - Radio
06 - Le Chemin En Arriere
07 - Coeur Kller
08 - Tu Me Manques Mec
09 - Take Me Back


Stevie - Lead Vocals
Bruce Kulick - Guitars (except 7, 9)
Norbert Krief - Guitar (7 and 9)
Jan Mullaney - Keyboards
Michael Bolton - 2nd Lead Voice on track 4
Schuyler Deale - Bass
Michael Braun - Drums
Aganain Martin - Piano on track 8
Pierre-Jean Gidon (sax on track 8)
Rosetta Stone, Slim Batteux, Maria Popkiewicz, Jocelyn Beroard, Lloyd Landesman - Background Vocals






STEVIE - Gypsy !

MICHAEL BOLTON - Everybody's Crazy (1985) 320Kbps


The man start his career rockin' hard, and this is his best album.
Pumpin' bass and keyboard lines, strong guitars and a very powerful and emotional vocals.
The drums on this album are bombastic, just the way I like, perfectly recorded by the genius producer Neil Kernon who has worked with Queensryche, Dokken and alot more...
One of the best 80's AOR album.
If you like it, BUY IT.

1. Save Our Love
2. Everybody's Crazy
3. Can't Turn It Off
4. Call My Name
5. Everytime
6. Desperate Heart
7. Start Breaking My Heart
8. You Don't Want Me Bad Enough
9. Don't Tell Me It's Over

Michael Bolton vocals
Bruce Kulick guitar
Dennis Feldman bass
Mark Mangold keyboards
Mark Raddice keyboards
Peppy Castro backing vocals
Terry Brock backing vocals
Neil Kernon additional keyboards
Doug Katsaros add. keyboards

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