PARIS – Paris [Rock Candy Remastered & Reloaded] 2012

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As requested, here’s PARIS self-titled album for the first time on CD Remastered & Reloaded by Rock Candy Records. Created by Californian Bob Welch, better known for the wistful romanticism of such songs as ‘Sentimental Lady’ with Fleetwood Mac, he shattered any stereotyping by composing all of the hard-rocking tunes performed on the debut album by the short-lived power trio PARIS.
In many aspects PARIS can be labelled as a mini super-group. Together with Welch was former Jethro Tull bassist Glenn Cornick and drummer Thom Mooney from Nazz (one of the American responses to The Monkees).
Signed to Capitol records and put into the studio with seasoned producer & engineer Jimmy Robinson (Detective), the recording took nearly a year. Unashamedly reminiscent of Led Zeppelin, the band’s style focussed on powerful, crunchy riffs, laced with a funky undertow.

But it wasn’t all about the music as Bob Welch’s bizarre, some might say, spooky lyrics provided yet another murky depth to the package. With references to both religion and metaphysical inspiration, the songs make for curious listening.
Check out “Black Book”, “Beautiful Youth”, “Rock Of Ages” and album centre piece “Narrow Gate (La Porte Etroite)” for some of the best examples of mid-seventies hard rock crafted in the Zepp style, but also in the vein of a rising English / Irish band; Thin Lizzy.

“Paris” is a rare piece rescued from the vaults by Rock Candy Records.
The music on this album is unlike anything Bob Welch did with Fleetwood Mac or his later solo works. Paris delivered a kind of pretty raw hard rock with the typical trio fuel, and although not all the tracks hit the mark, it’s a clear testimony of these crazy years when Rock was much more than a prefabricated product.

01 - Black Book
02 - Religion
03 - Starcage
04 - Beautiful Youth
05 - Nazarene
06 - Narrow Gate (La Porte Etroite)
07 - Solitare
08 - Breathless
09 - Rock Of Ages
10 - Red Rain

Robert Welch (Fleetwood Mac) - Guitar, Vocals
Glenn Cornick (Jethro Tull) - Bass, Keyboards
Thom Mooney (Nazz) - Drums

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