- Label: 'Think Like A Key Music'
- Genre: 'Seventies'
- Release Date: '12.12.25.'- Catalogue No: 'TLAK1223'
Our Rating:
This is the first re-issue for John Weiders 1976 debut solo album, for this guitarist who is best known for playing in The Animals, Family and Moonrider and on one Rolling Stones song. The album was originally produced by Phil McDonald and Engineered by Roger A Bechirian, his band features Pierce Kelly and Charlie McKraken and special guest Charlie Whitney. John Weider sadly passed away last year, so didn't get to see his debut solo album re-issued.
The album opens with Promises that is full of John's apologies for all the things he has done to ruin his relationship with you, with light strings and a rather easy going backing, its hard to figure out how sincere he is, or if he just wants to spend a little more time with you, before going off again.
Distance has laid back vocals and guitars for the Distance that has grown between them, while he is out on tour, up to all sorts and you're at home minding the fort. Don't Give Up On Me seems an apposite title considering it came out in 1976, when soft rock like this was distinctly out of fashion, no matter how well constructed it might be, this lacks the energy and anger that was rife in 1976.
Say So go on tell him exactly what you think and he'll help you through the night so to speak, but if you want to move on he'll let you go, he isn't in the slightest bit possessive of your love, with some florid guitar that has a very calm edge, despite the turmoil in the lyrics. Prelude II is a gorgeous classical guitar figure and stand out track on the album.
Ambush Alice is the sort of lady that will make you do what she wants, this is soft core words of love and lust for this frisbee playing lady with some delightful, detailed guitar under the laid-back bass and drums. What You Want is probably a far livelier record than this, its so laid back it's a shock that they thought this would work to Melt those ladies' hearts.
I Found Love is not the best song of this title, this is gentle soft rock imprecations of love for the special one he has finally found and fallen for. Never Give Up On Love has some great squiggly guitar lines and driving rhythm, that could with the right promotion have turned this into a drive time hit, this is a song that is ripe to be re-worked as a soulful belter. The album closes with Poor Boy a blues rocker that fades in, for the hard scrabble tale that has the best guitar solos on the album, on a song that sounds like it would really work well live with the guitars battling away with each other.
Find out more at https://www.thinklikeakey.com/release/548369-john-weider-john-weider-50th-anniversary-edition
