As requested, here’s an album considered as one of the best American Melodic Rock AOR records from the first half of the ’80s: RPM self titled from 1982. This is the MTM Classix series reissue, including 5 bonus tracks that are even better than the already great originals.
Co-produced by Brent Maher (Tygers Of Pan Tang, Blackfoot) it’s not surprising to find here songs recorded before or later by these bands: ‘Legend Never Dies’ (Blackfoot), ‘Rendezvous’ (Tygers Of Pan Tang), and with lead vocalist Robert White Johnson having worked with the Van Zant family, RPM did a verion of their awesome song ‘2+2’.
‘RPM’ is plenty of melodic rocking songs, with that 1982 magic. And things get better with this reissue including 5 previously unreleased tracks recorded later, with a more mid-80s AOR sound production.
RPM formed in the early ’80s, started with Robert (lead vocals, main co-writer) and Jimmy Lee Sloas (bass, keyboards, vocals, writer). Soon Mark Gendel from Canada (guitars, main co-writer) and Tommy Wells (drums, vocals) joined to complete the group.
Originally signed by Don Grierson, VP of EMI America Records of Los Angeles, the band enjoyed an AOR hit “A Legend Never Dies”. Their very first “real” gig was for KLOL Radio in Houston to headline for their “Rockfest” at the Astrodome Complex. 20,000 people showed up for the concert and RPM was called back for 4 encores.
Soon after, Grierson left EMI and the group lost their key man but soon found a new record deal with Warner Bros in Burbank via new manager, Jerry Schilling (Elvis, Carl Wilson, Beach Boys) and high powered LA attorney, Peter Paterno.
Their first album, simply titled “RPM” was produced by Nashville great Brent Maher who also helped the guys develop their songwriting chops. Four songs from their first record were released, in time, by other artists, including: Johnny Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad), Blackfoot and Tygers of Pan Tang.
The bonuses ‘On Again, Off Again’, ‘Oh, Oh Pamela’, ‘Every Heart You Break’ are very good too, more polished in sound with nice keyboards into the mix.
Fans of Van Stephenson, Van Zant, early Survivor, i-Ten, etc – classic American stuff, need this album in your collection.
HIGHLY Recommended
Tracklist
1 A Legend Never Dies 4:15
2 2 + 2 3:23
3 It Don't Feel The Same 4:12
4 Rendezvous 3:33
5 Envy 4:57
6 You 3:49
7 Firestarter 4:47
8 Don't Make It Hard 3:13
9 Video Games 4:27
10 I'm A Wreck 4:28
bonus
11 On Again, Off Again
12 Oh Oh Pamela
13 Deeper Than Love
14 Hands
15 Every Heart You Break
RPM – RPM 2004 Reissue [MTM Classix +5 bonus]
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