Bad Reputation has remastered / reissued the only album from Californian outfit OUTLAW BLOOD, their major label self titled 1991 “Outlaw Blood“. This band arrived too late into the scene, but they had quality from every corner. Songwriter, guitarist and producer Marti Frederiksen would later write hit songs Aerosmith, Scorpions, Foreigner, Def Leppard, Ozzy and more.
Alongside Frederiksen, “Outlaw Blood” was co-produced by Jeff Paris, who also play keyboards, backing vocals and helped with arrangements. So you can’t go wrong with this album: early ’90s American hard rock with a little AOR edge and polished ‘raspy’ vocals from the late Marc McCoy.
This is a terrific rocking melodic album unheard by many, which with this punchy remaster sounds better than never.
Outlaw Blood is a lethal dose of high-energy rock’n’roll, and lurking beneath the heavy guitar and bluesy rhythm section of Outlaw Blood lies a band with imagination and heart. It was just that musical integrity and power that helped the California-based group ink a deal after a mere six shows.
At a time when the L.A club scene demanded bands pay-to-play, Outlaw Blood spent their time writing, rehearsing, and making an 8-track demo in Frederiksen’s living room studio. It was the strength of that tape, which included the album track “Red, Hot and Blue,” that led Outlaw Blood to sign with ATCO – but not before a slew of other labels put in their unsuccessful bids for the band.
Their story begins about two years ago, when Marti Frederiksen and McCoy were working with former Sex Pistol Steve Jones. The duo’s musical upbringings were different: McCoy’s grandfather played sax with Benny Goodman, and growing up, he listened to everything from Big Band music to Iggy and the Stooges to Steppenwolf. Marti, originally a drummer, now a guitar slinger, came from The Who/AC/DC school of hard rock, found a musical soulmate in McCoy.
The influence brought in by the rest of the members solidifies the band’s musical approach. Guitarist Rick Harchol brings his bluesy rock swank, while bassist Nick Parise, who hails from Seattle, provides the in-the-pocket bass lines. Rounding out the band’s line-up is well-respected New York-based drummer Larry Aberman who has recorded with such luminaries as Stevie Ray Vauhgn, Ric Ocasek, as well as other Nile Rodgers productions.
It took about three months of work, at L.A’s Cherokee and Vancouver’s Little Mountain studios, to complete Outlaw Blood’s premiere effort. Co-produced by the Blood Brothers (Frederiksen and McCoy) and Jeff Paris, the record is sure to cut a swath through the rock jungle.
Musically ”Outlaw Blood” has some elements of Cinderella and Bang Tango. The band offers up a nice mixture of songs with hard rockers like “Tower of Love” and “I’m In Shock”, bluesy numbers like “Last Act” and obligatory ballads, “Every Day I Die”.
A really good album, energetic, melodic, rockin’ and fun.
Highly Recommended
01 – Tower Of Love
02 – Body And Soul
03 – Last Act
04 – Sink My Teeth
05 – Every Day I Die
06 – Sould Revival
07 – I’m In Shock
08 – Red Hot ‘n’ Blue
09 – Slave to Love
10 – Fall Thru The Cracks
11 – Hollywood Babylon
Vocals, Producer – Marc McCoy
Vocals, Guitar, Producer – Marti Frederiksen
Lead Guitar – Rick Harchol
Bass – Nick ‘The Hammer’ Parise
Drums – Larry Aberman
Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Producer – Jeff Paris
OUTLAW BLOOD – Outlaw Blood [Bad Reputation remaster] (2024), MP3+FLAC,
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