STEELE is an ’80s melodic hard rock band originally from New Jersey, now based in Los Angeles. Permanent members include founder, lead singer, guitarist & songwriter Jeff ‘Steele’ Zugale and bassist Steve Witschel (both ex- Little Sister).
The band wrote and recorded their self titled debut album between 1989/91. Steele fell afoul of the radical change in the music industry around ’92 to ’94, where anything remotely commercial was dropped in favour of a grungier and less polished rock sound.
So the album was shelved until the mid-Nineties when the now defunct Alfa Brunette label released the CD only in Japan, of which approximately only two hundred made it out of Asia, and copies of which have been seen to now sell for three figure sums on eBay, they are that rare.
But British label Z Records contacted the band and agreed to finally release these late Eighties STEELE recordings under the title “Tricks Up My Sleeve“, remastered by ‘Steele’ Zugale and with new artwork designed by himself (he is a graphic artist as well) plus 4 bonus tracks.
The album was recorded with the help from lots of friends like Ted Poley of Danger Danger, Hiro Homma (from Japan’s EZO, Loudness), and Joe Fiamingo & Irene Wohlman of New Jersey melodic rockers Xenon. So expect high quality US melodic hard rock, polished and with a glossy production.
Title track “Tricks Up My Sleeve” kicks off the album with a bang. A fantastic rockin’ tune featuring some great guitar work that will really stick with you. An air guitar-ing beauty complete with chant along chorus. Easily could have been featured on the playlist of MTV Headbangers Ball from 1990 with great success.
“Love Ain’t Gonna Change Me” is a Skid Row inspired slice of rock n roll. It’s a high energy hair / melodic hard rock song full of hooks, a killer track. “700 Miles” has an acoustic ballad style in the beginning before kicking the guitars in big and chunky blast. This song has a great feel and some top notch vocals from Mr. Steele.
The excellent “Flirtin’ With Fame” is a real gem of a track with its great hook, big monster riffs with an edge and a strong memorable chorus. “Stay” is an atmospheric power ballad, with a moving vocal performance on the dark chorus.
“Live Forever” brings back the thrill again with an urgent guitar riff and a sing along Poison / Winger style. The storming chorus of “I’ll Never Cry” has ‘that kind’ of chorus. A mesmerising melodic hard rocker with a tremendous punch.
“Only In Your Mind” has some wonderful intricate guitar work. It’s a hair metal ballad evoking Winger or Damn Yankees and I adore the six-string chords on this track. “Lead Me Over” adds some catchiness with some party vibe riding on a strong riff and a vigorous solo. The mid-tempo “Innocence” closes the album.
In hindsight it’s a real shame this debut album from Steele has not seen the light of day in the West side of the World, as I’m sure if this had surfaced around the late ’80s / early ’90s when it was recorded, would have made a real impact on the hair / melodic hard rock scene.
To sum things up, “Tricks Up My Sleeve” is a forgotten little gem of an album, an enjoyable record for fans of quality hook laden classic US Melodic Hard Rock.
Highly Recommended
1 Tricks Up My Sleeve
2 Love Aint Going To Change
3 700 Miles
4 Flirtin With Fame
5 Stay
6 Live Forever
7 I'll Never Cry
8 Only In Your Mind
9 Lead Me Over
10 Innocence
Bonus Tracks
11 Tricks Up My Sleeve (Demo)
12 Love Aint Going To Change (Demo)
13 Flirtin With Fame (Demo)
14 I'll Never Cry (Demo)
Distributed By – Plastic Head Music Distribution Ltd.
Backing Vocals – Joey Fiamingo (tracks: 3,10), Ted Poley (tracks: 8)
Bass – Irene Wohlman (tracks: 1,3,4,6,7,8), Steve Witschel (tracks: 2,5,9,10)
Drums – Dave Lewitt (tracks: 2,5,9,10), Hiro Homma* (tracks: 1,3,4,6,7,8)
Keyboards – Jody Gray (tracks: 3,10)
Vocals, Guitar – Jeff 'Steele' Zugale
Steele -Tricks Up My Sleeve 2011 Z Records + 4 bonus, CD-Rip, MP3+FLAC, Rare
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