BERNIE CHIARAVALLE’s lengthy association with Michael McDonald goes back to the late Eighties – Bernie is the guitarist since 1988 – but he’s also fashioned an intriguing solo career away from the Doobie Brothers legend. They initially met through Chiaravalle’s work with Ambrosia’s David Pack, and Chiaravalle then contributed extensively on McDonald’s Blue Obsession and subsequent albums.
Like many artists Chiaravalle had plenty of time during the pandemic to not only write new music, but also explore the past. Bernie dug through old recordings and re-recorded about 25 of them, from which he then chose 17 for this very nice new solo album titled ”Long Before I Knew You”.
Bernie is actually playing all instruments himself on these re-recordings which is impressive in itself. The songs were written in the very early 80’s to the early 90’s, so expect classic smooth AOR / Westcoast here.
One of my absolute fave songs on this album is ”Swear Your Love” with a lovely Toto beat and a touch of early 1980’s! Funny, even the title has Toto connections considering the Steve Lukather tune by the same title from his ‘Lukather’ album.
Bernie has managed to create a production that sounds like the good old days – and this is positively meant. Furthermore, in spite of doing everything himself, it sounds like a band. Well done, to say the least!
”Lover’s Dream” is another one of a large bunch of good tunes. Some Michael Ruff but in a melodic rock overcoat of Paul Bliss. The material is varied, yet cohesive. I hear a lovely Electric Light Orchestra touch in the chorus of ”Dear To Me” for example.
The catchy ”Leave It To You” is one of many other goodies too, with an ’80s radio-friendly vein to meet the soft AOR and westcoast.
With the songs being collected all the way from the 80’s onwards, there are a few that step a bit outside of the expected Westcoast / AOR genre. Like ”Dear To Me”, which has vibes of The Beatles. There’s one or two more with the same kind of influences, still Chiaravalle adds his own touch which takes it a little more into the 80’s sound.
The perfect ending song is ”Your Love Shines”, a soft wonderful song. But it is actually not the last song of the album! Instead it is all finished by ”Hell Of A Fight”, a rocker that is also a good that is proof of the fine variation in styles here.
An album like this also raises more questions: what about all the other musicians and record labels who are sitting on shelved recordings? There must be hundreds and hundreds of non-released good AOR, westcoast and melodic hard rock songs and albums out there.
If you’re looking for good musicianship & singing, catchy melodies and late 70’s / 80’s sounding smooth AOR / Westcoast songs mixed with some rockers, Bernie Chiaravalle’s ”Long Before I Knew You” is a must.
01 – I Try To Please You
02 – Long Before I Knew You
03 – Could You Believe
04 – It’s Your World
05 – Give Your Love To Me
06 – Somebody Show Me
07 – You And Me
08 – Swear Your Love
09 – Love Has Left You Alone
10 – Lover’s Dream
11 – Dear To Me
12 – Don’t Know Where To Begin
13 – Leave It To You
14 – If We Try
15 – Your Baby’s Gone
16 – Your Love Shines
17 – Hell Of A Fight
BERNIE CHIARAVALLE – Long Before I Knew You (2022)
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