Essential into any ’80s AOR collection, “Desperate Business“, the first BRIAN McDONALD GROUP album has been remastered by specialists YesterRock Records in all its glory.
Oh yeah, this gem includes in one single package all the ingredients that any fan of the genre look for; catchy as hell songs, superb choruses, tons of keys, and fantastic melodies all over.
Majestically produced by legend Beau Hill and featuring future Winger / Whitesnake guitar master Reb Beach on all songs, “Desperate Business” delivers 10 Top American AOR / Melodic Rock diamonds.
The ridiculously catchy ‘No Control’ opens the album giving a clear idea of what this album is all about: pumping bass lines, soaring vocals and a driving rhythm exploding into a fantastic chorus. You can hear Reb Beach’s touch since the song initial notes, and that’s why there’s a similarity with Winger’s first album (which would be recorded later).
More terrific melodies and layers of harmonies are spread in the following tracks such as ‘These Are The Good Times’ (featuring backing vocals by Fiona Flanagan), ‘Life Is A Desperate Business’ (some Loverboy on it), the faster melodic rocker ‘Back Home Again’ or the elegant AOR of ‘Just Imagination’ (akin Foreigner).
There’s an excellent ballad in the pure ’80s midtempo vein in ‘This Lonely Heart’, and later with the true power ballad ‘Stay With Me’.
The album ends with another pearl; the dynamic, uptempo, rhythmically rich ‘Highway Desire’, crowned by a layered chorus.
No serious AOR / Melodic Rock collection is complete if Brian McDonald Group’s “Desperate Business” is missing.
Easily among the Top-Fifty greatest albums of all time for the genre, this record has all you need to satisfy your thirst of heavenly AOR melodies.
A Must Have Classic
1. No Control
2. These Are The Good Times
3. This Lonely Heart
4. Life Is A Desperate Business
5. Back Home Again
6. Rockin With The Boys
7. Just Imagination
8. Stay With Me
9. Everynight
10. Highway Desire
BRIAN McDONALD GROUP – Desperate Business [YesterRock remaster] 2010
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