ADRENALIN - TWENTY FIVE YEARS : 1977-2002 (2002, SELF RELEASED)
Joey Bowen - vocals
Marc Gilbert - vocals
David Larson - vocals
Michael 'Flash ' Haggerty - guitars
Michael Romeo - guitars
Bruce Schafer - bass
Doug Kahan - bass
Brian Pastoria - drums
Mark Pastoria - keyboards
Jimmy Romeo - sax

Background
Interest in Adrenalin has been rising since their reunion gigs earlier this year and to mark their 25th Anniversary they have finally released a compilation of their better known tracks. This 18 song set (17 omitting the Kiss interview opening) is slightly deceptive as nine cuts are of the offshoot band DC Drive who released a single album in 1992. For Adrenalin fans this might be a slight disappointment as they may have expected to hear more of Detroit's favourite sons. The disc covers Adrenalin's first single, 1979's 'Gimme Gimme Good Lovin' up until 1999's unreleased 'Let Me Be Your Car' (written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin). The running order is off putting - with Adrenalin tracks alternating with DC Drive tracks every other song.

The Songs
Of the nine DC Drive selections two are unreleased, 1993's 'All Day Sucka' and 'Let There Be You'. The latter is the superior song, mid tempo AOR with an easy listening feel and breezy chorus, a simple extension of Adrenalin's 80's sound. The plethora of numbers culled from DC's lone album almost ensures you own the album proper, with the inclusion of 'U Need Love', 'Outtabounds', 'All I Want', 'Get Up And Dance', 'Obsession', 'Streetcar Named Desire' and 'Into U'. The quality doesn't quite match the standards of Adrenalin, but there are standout moments. 'Outtabound' raises the hard rock with some steely riffs and 'Get Up And Dance' is a fine romp with the addition of the horns courtesy The Uptown Horns. 'Obsession' is by-the-numbers melodic rock with a charmless chorus but is obliterated by the fierce AOR of 'Streetcar Named Desire', which adds some synths and a hot sax solo. The main reason to own this CD is for the mere eight Adrenalin choices, of far reaching excellence. The late David Larson, Adrenalin's first vocalist, is represented by the crunching 'Gimme Gimme Good Lovin', rock and roll to the bone with no hints of the future AOR direction. Larson contributes some textbook vocals, raw and cool, and aided by a dangerous combination of the dual guitars and sax, this is true Detroit rock. The quality is not quite there however, with the aged tapes showing their age with a host of crackles and hisses. Elsewhere you get 1983's 'Don't Be Looking Back', strangely unimpressive compared to 'Faraway Eyes', 'Northern Shores', 'The Kids Gotta Will To Live' and 'Photograph'. Except for 'The Kids..' all are classic AOR, although the non-inclusion of 'The Pressures On' and 'Freedom Road' is a major letdown. The other notable inclusion is the 'Iron Eagle' anthem 'Road Of The Gypsy', a minor hit in 1985.

In Summary
For newcomers to Adrenalin and DC Drive, you cannot go wrong with this. For those expecting more of Adrenalin, there may be cause for concern. As a time capsule it's fascinating to hear the bands evolution from a bar room type set of rockers, into smooth melodic rockers, while retaining the homegrown midwest feel. Hopefully this set will get proper distribution to present it to a larger audience who may have heard the names but never heard the bands. All that's left now is for a proper CD release of 'American Heart'. Surely some time soon guys?

URL: www.adrenalin-dcdrive.com

Track Listing:
01 U Need Love
02 Road Of The Gypsy
03 Outtabounds
04 Don't Be Looking Back
05 All I Want
06 Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'
07 Get Up And Dance
08 Faraway Eyes
09 Obsession
10 Northern Shores
11 All Day Sucka
12 The Kid's Gotta Will To Live
13 Streetgirl Named Desire
14 Let Me Be Your Car
15 Let There Be You
16 Photograph
17 Into U

Related Articles:

Adrenalin - 1984 American Heart

Adrenalin - 2002 Twenty Five Years: 1977-2002

Adrenalin - Interview with Brian Pastoria (Aug 2002)

All written content on this website is copyrighted.
Copying of material without permission is not permitted.

Posted by dangerzone on August 13, 2003 · 1 Comment · 1455 Reads ·