PAT TRAVERS BAND - GO FOR WHAT YOU KNOW (1979, POLYDOR)
Pat Travers - vocals, guitars
Pat Thrall - guitars, vocals
Pete 'Mars' Cowling - bass
Tommy Aldridge - drums

Background
Pat is a Canadian guitar hero, straddling the fence between heavy rock and blues. Born in Toronto and starting out by playing in a blues style, Pat took matters into his own hands by venturing over to England to commence his solo career there. Armed with a demo, an amp and an assortment of pedals, he soon caught the interest of Polydor, and not long after his first album came out. Essentially a power trio to start with (Cowling plus drummer Roy Dykes), Travers was soon making inroads throughout the UK. With live peformances and a number of albums under his belt. He moved back to North America in the late seventies upon the birth of the punk movement in the UK. By now he had Thrall and Aldridge in tow, and the sound had become commercial heavy rock.

The Songs
Playing live was seen as one of Travers strengths, which saw the live set 'Go For What You Know' released in 1979, and duly become his best selling album. Radio lapped it up during that year, and saw the track 'Boom Boom Out Go The Lights' become a station favorite. Some of Travers better known material such as 'Makin' Magic', 'Heat In The Street' and 'Stevie' get the real live and raw treatment. The combination of Travers blues rock and Thralls' fusion style worked a treat, and allowed both of them some lateral movement in a live situation.

In Summary
The pick of his albums would be this one; his second 'Makin Magic' from 1977, and 'Crash And Burn' from 1980. Though he is still occasionally playing, it is in a traditonal blues style, and a far cry from his glory days material of the seventies. Still, his albums are worth tracking down, and relatively easy to obtain too.

URL: www.pattravers.com

Track Listing:
01 Hooked On Music
02 Gettin' Betta
03 Go All Night
04 Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights)
05 Stevie
06 Makin' Magic
07 Heat In The Street
08 Makes No Difference

Related Articles:

Pat Travers - 1979 Go For What You Know (Live)

Pat Travers - 1984 Hot Shot

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