Originally released in 1994 on the Swedish independent label Empire Records, American singer/songwriter BRETT WALKER debut album “Nevertheless” impressively charted in Scandinavia’s Top 40. Walker – who was following up his chart success with his penned track ALIAS’ Top 10 smash ‘Waiting For Love’ – in “Nevertheless” delivered 12 tracks of sure fire Melodic Rock magic.
Once again flexing his own masterful writing muscle, the first single from this CD, “Lecia”, would crack the Top 10 in Europe. This track is pure gold, Melodic Rock / AOR at its finest expression, some kind of Journey hybridized with Rick Springfield. One of my favorite songs of all time in the genre.
Not content with just being an very talented singer, guitarist and songwriter, Brett has also called-in some pretty heavyweight co-writers for this album; Jonathan Cain (Journey, Bad English), Jim Peterik (Survivor, Pride Of Lions), Stan Bush, ’80s soundtrack hero Nick Gilder and Carl Dixon (Coney Hatch). Wow…
This Divebomb reissue of ”Nevertheless” not only puts this long out of print album back in fans’ hands, it gives it a nice upgrade. The reissue boasts a new remastering by Jamie King, and the results are incredible. There’s also the original Japanese edition bonus track, and the booklet features a new interview with Walker as well as behind the scenes info and rare photos. It’s a deluxe reissue all-around…
Former Survivor main-man Jim Peterik doesn’t just help anybody, does he? Jim co-writes two songs here: the killer Survivor influenced “Take me Home”, and the classy midtempo AOR “Didn’t Mean to Say Goodbye”. Journey’s Jonathan Cain co-writes and also produces “Bad Time for Goodbye”, a bouncing eighties diamond which actually sounds more like his earlier work with The Babys.
The extremely melodious “Everything I Want to Do” is co-written with Nick Gilder; Stan Bush adds his magical ‘touch’ (pun intended) in the co-penned “Hard to Find an Easy Way” (I love this one), while the soaring Melodic Rock perfection of “More Than a Memory” is co-written with former Coney Hatch man Carl Dixon.
All tracks are great (no fillers here), but I have to mention another of my all time favorites; “No Fire Without You”, a magnificent expression of melody and pulse all together into a fabulous song that makes Def Leppard envy in red.
“Nevertheless” went out of print soon in the Nineties, but fortunately this Divebomb Records remastered (great one) edition makes this gem available again. The reissue includes a brand new remixed version of the previously Japanese-only bonus track “Midnight Angel” – an awesome tune, trust me – and refreshed artwork.
Brett Walker’s “Nevertheless” is A Must Have for any AOR / Melodic Rock fan.
Period.
Tracklist:
01. Hard To Find An Easy Way (3:55)
02. Lecia (3:56)
03. Everything I Want To Do (3:16)
04. Take Me Home (4:11)
05. Never Gave Roses (3:39)
06. Quicksand (3:48)
07. Didn't Mean To Say Goodbye (4:24)
08. Bring Back The Night (4:22)
09. No Fire Without You (4:32)
10. Bad Time For Goodbye (4:04)
11. More Than A Memory (3:23)
12. Give A Little Love (4:17)
13. Midnight Angel (4:22)
Brett Walker – Nevertheless – 1994, Remaster Divebomb Records 2012 FLAC+MP3
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