In the mid-80s LAURENCE ARCHER (UFO, STAMPEDE, Phil Lynott’s GRAND SLAM) began the recording of a solo album. Dedicated to the memory of Phil Lynott who passed away just a few months ago, LAURENCE ARCHER’s solo album titled “L.A.” was released in 1986.
In the ’80s Laurence Archer was one of the most respected hard rock guitarists in UK, having the chance as well to release a solo album. Including a bunch of mid-Eighties AOR / melodic rock oriented songs, “L.A.” only was released in Japan in limited quantities, becoming a much sought after collectible.
On “L.A.” Archer performed the lead vocals, but essentially being a guitarist, he wanted a more trained, smooth singer to re-record these songs and shop a record deal in Europe / America. Scottish singer Peter Scallan (MORITZ, SAMSON) joined Archer for that matter, and he put his voice to that initial Archer songs like ‘Can’t Get Away’, ‘Two Hearts’, ‘When We Were Young’, ‘Claudiette’, plus a generous dose of classic ’80s keyboards / synths were added to the mix. Additionally, newly composed songs were taped, such as ‘One Way Love’ and the awesome ‘Don’t Leave Me Lonely’.
Now Rubicon Records Japan is reissuing “L.A.” in remastered form and with a bonus disc including the ARCHER / SCALLAN recordings. The latter were released some time ago as part of the great “Lost UK Jewels Collectors Series”, but here we find 2 extra tracks, previously unreleased.
This is harmony-gold classy UK ’80s AOR next to STRANGEWAYS, FM, AIRRACE, etc, filled with superb melodies, slick guitar work, lovely keyboards and smooth vocals.
HIGHLY Recommended
L.A.
1-1 Can't Get Away = キャント・ゲット・アウェイ 4:02
1-2 Hard Fight = ハード・ファイト 4:18
1-3 One Time = ワン・タイム 4:43
1-4 Hiding Away = ハイディング・アウェイ 3:51
1-5 Two Hearts = トゥー・ハーツ 4:41
1-6 When You Were Young = ホエン・ユー・ワー・ヤング 7:01
1-7 Claudiette = 噂のクロゥディエット 3:42
1-8 Surrender = サレンダー 3:52
1-9 Shades Of Blue (Instrumental) = シェイズ・オブ・ブルー ~フィル・ライノットに捧ぐ~ 3:48
Archer / Scallan "L.A. Secrets" + Bonus
2-1 Gone Are The Days = ゴーン・アー・ザ・デイズ 3:18
2-2 Can't Get Away = キャント・ゲット・アウェイ 4:09
2-3 Shake Me Up = シェイク・ミー・アップ 4:12
2-4 Claudiette = 噂のクロゥディエット 3:32
2-5 Discretion = ディスクレッション 2:36
2-6 One Time = ワン・タイム 3:59
2-7 Two Hearts = トゥー・ハーツ 5:06
2-8 When We Were Young = ホエン・ユー・ワー・ヤング 4:06
2-9 Don't Leave Me Lonely = ドント・リーヴ・ミー・ロンリー 3:58
2-10 One Way Love = ワン・ウェイ・ラヴ 4:20
2-11 Rage (Instrumental) (Bonus Track) = レイジ 4:52
2-12 March In Winter (Instrumental) (Bonus Track) = マーチ・イン・ウィンター 4:39
Unreleased master recorded November 1986 - March 1987
Tracks "Rage" and "March In Winter" are bonus tracks for Japan, Laurence plays all the instruments on both of these tracks.
"Can't Get Away", "Claudiette", "One Time", "Two Hearts" and "When We Were Young" we originally recorded by Laurence Archer and released on his solo studio album L.A. in 1986. The versions here are re-recordings.
"Gone Are The Days" was re-arranged, re-recorded and released by the reformed Grand Slam on the studio album Hit The Ground, a band Laurence Archer played in from 1984 to 1985 and since 2016.
Laurence Archer – L.A. (L.A. Secrets) – 1986/2025 Japan Edition, FLAC+MP3, CD-Rip w/ Scans
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