Thursday, 1 January 2009

LANCE POWERS-UNKNOWN

















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(12-TRACKS)
1-COME BACK WITH MY HEART
2-TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT
3-OPEN YOUR HEART
4-HEADED FOR A FALL
5-DO YOU STILL LOVE ME
6-THAT GIRL GET'S AROUND
7-STRANGE KIND OF LOVE
8-THIS TIME IT'S GOODBYE
9-GOOD GIRL GONE BAD
10-LOVE'S JUST THAT WAY
11-BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
12-MY MISCHELE
CREDIT:
Lance Powers-lead vocals, keyboards
Rick Marine-bass
David Eichman-bass
Doug Bugner-guitar
Kyle Kraft-guitar
Bill Belknap-drums
Gib Fagan-drums
Buddy Truesdell-drums.
LANCE POWERS-STRANGE FROM THE HEART-199
















THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(16-TRACKS)
1-WON'T YOU STAY TONIGHT
2-IN HEAVEN ABOVE
3-WAITING FOR AN ANGEL
4-I WILL FOLLOW
5-FOREVER
6-LOVE ON THE LINE
7-CLOSE YOUR EYES
8-SILENT DREAMS
9-I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU
10-HEAVENS ON OUR SIDE
11-YOU ARE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
12-BABY I AM NOT THE ONE
13-I AM WAITING FOR YOU
14-FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN
15-NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD END THIS WAY
16-ESSENCE OF LIFE
CREDIT:
Lance Powers-lead vocals, keyboards
Dann Huff-lead guitar
Michael Landau-lead guitar
Scott Reed-lead guitar
Robbie Springfield-lead guitar
Pat Savage-lead guitar
Doug Bugner-lead guitar
David Eichman-bass
John Pierce-bass
David Lynn Jones-bass
Jim Strader-bass
Buddy Truesdell-drums
Billy Belknap-drums
Jeff Snyder-drums
Greg Morrow-drums.
LANCE POWERS-LANCE POWERS-2000
















THIS COMPILLATION CONTAIN(15-TRACKS)
1-IN HEAVEN ABOVE
2-I WILL FOLLOW
3-FOREVER
4-HEAVEN'S ON YOUR SIDE
5-YOU ARE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
6-BABY I AM NOT THE ONE
7-NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD END ON THIS WAY
8-COME BACK WITH MY HEART
9-TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT
10-DO YOU STILL LOVE ME
11-THIS TIME IT'S GOODBYE
12-GOOD GIRL GONE BAD
13-MY MISCHELE
14-I WANT YOUR LOVE
15-DON'T TELL ME THAT BROKEN HEART MEND
Lance Powers-lead vocals, keyboards, producer
Dann Huff-guitars
Michael Landau-guitars
Kyle Kraft-guitars
Pat Savage-guitars
David Eichman-bass
John Pierce-bass
Rick Marine-bass
Jim Strader-bass
Buddy Truesdell-drums
Bill Belknap-drums
Jeff Snyder-drums
Gregg Morrow-drums
would call this an incomplete reissue of his debut album rather than a comprehensive summary of his music to date. On the plus side: i do agree with the emphasis being put on his first effort, because i think it is the stronger of the two, be it by a narrow margin. Whereas "Straight from the heart" focuses on the lighter side of the AOR spectrum, its refreshingly accessible sound firmly rooted in the 80's when keys were not yet a four letter word, his second 1997 outing is a bolder, less polished, more guitar oriented and modern sounding affair.Within the
hierarchy of the genre, if such a thing exists, Lance Powers is a solid contender showing a fair bit of potential, but i would surmise lacking the right stuff (meaning the raw talent and sheer class) to one day be counted among the genuine greats. Besides having a cool name and the looks of a renegade
Chippendale (the male stripper type, not the 18th century English cabinet), this Kansas based artist knows how to tickle the ivories. While his piano and keyboard playing leaves little to be desired, his somewhat strained voice is one of the dime-a-dozen variety, though adequate in the fulfilment of its task. On those songs
taken from his debut album, guitars are capably handled by high-profile workaholics Dan Huff and Michael Landau. None of the other guest musicians' names ring a bell with yours truly, apart from Bill Belknap, co-producer, engineer and drummer on both albums.

That Powers is a good songwriter is obvious from each of the 10 tracks, which are typified by catchy hooks and fetching keyboard intro's. On the whole his selection of songs from the "Straight from the heart" album is right on the money. Nearly all of its finest cuts can be found on this "anthology", although personally i would have liked to see an additional ballad ("You are the love of my life") and the suspenseful "I am waiting for you" included. Then again, the "Best of" album that lives up to everyone's expectations is yet to be released... Why only 2 tracks were selected from "Destination unknown" is likely to remain an unsolved mystery.AOR fans who are into artists like Robert Tepper, Jimmy Harnen and Lance Matthew or your basic quality Scandinavian melodic rock act (Dalton, Treat, Da Vinci, Stage Dolls a.o.) and are not bothered by its excessive import price can't go wrong with this release. Unless you are intent on tracking down the originals instead, in which case you may wanna try contacting Lance Powers at Total Access in Arkansas City, Kansas.

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