DALTON - THE RACE IS ON (1987, EMI SWEDEN)
Bo Lindmark - lead vocals
Leif Westfahl - guitar
Ola Lindstrom - keyboards
Anders Lindmark - bass
Mats 'Dalton' Dahlberg - drums

Background
Swedish band Dalton were only around for a few years between 1986 and 1989, but caused a bit of stir along the way - leaving us with two fantastic Scandi AOR albums, of which this one 'The Race Is On' was their debut. From Stockholm, the catalyst for the band was drummer Mats Dahlberg. Formerly with fellow Swedes Treat, he left the band in 1985 after their 'Scratch And Bite' LP, being replaced by Leif Sundin. Mats bought the Lindmark brothers Bo and Anders to the band, and created a band that compares favourably with Treat, but probably a tad heavier in my estimation. Signed to EMI Sweden, Dalton released a brace of singles into the market, some sourced from this album, but it wasn't until 1987 that 'The Race Is On' was released as a 9 track album.

The Songs
As per the album cover, the opener 'Caroline' opens up with a race car sequence guaranteed to blow the cobwebs out. The keys swim everywhere on this track, though it's the cutting guitarwork which stands out a mile. More big keys from Ola Lindstrom are prominent on 'No Reason', bringing that Treat comparison into scope. The intro to 'Losing My Mind' has that Easy Action vibe to it - especially on the choruses, but moves in a different direction during the verses. Ballads come easy for Dalton, if 'Loving You' is anything to go by. It's obvious that it's been written with keyboard structures in mind, the rhythm section and guitars a mere afterthought.. lol! Yep, it's easy for the trainspotters to pinpoint the Bon Jovi/Sambora/Child written 'You're Not My Lover', perhaps better known on the 1988 Witness LP. The debate has raged for years as to which is the better version. For me, Witness wins by a shade, probably because Debbie Davis' vocals are more polished. 'We're Into Rock' is strong on guitars and a harder arrangement. In fact, this one sounds tailor made for their 'Injection' album instead! 'I Think About You' is about as pure as the white snow Scandi AOR that you'll hear this side of a Treat Album. Trust me.. Easy Action fans need to check out 'I'm On The Run'. This is doppleganger stuff from EA's fabuloso 'This Makes One' album from the year previous. Big booming Scandilicious stuff! Fire and brimstone are held back to the end as 'Gimme Gimme Gimme' pleads for your aural attention, making this 36 minute platter relatively short on time but high on quality.

In Summary
EMI continued to release singles from the album well into 1988, but by the following year, the band had new material out, ready for their 1989 'Injection' release. Both albums were impressive slices of melodic hard rock/AOR, and when one thinks of the 80's Scandi scene, then Dalton are usually one of the first bands mentioned. It seemed that between record label indifference, slow promotion and a changing musical market, Dalton the band were left stranded on the rocks, and split before the end of the decade. in 1990, Dahlberg would join the band Speedy Gonzales, who recorded some material but were never signed at the time. That band would have a remixed album released in 2006, years after they were active. The Lindmark brothers went on to form R.A.W.

Track Listing:
01 Caroline
02 No Reason
03 Losing My Mind
04 Loving You
05 You're Not My Lover (But You Were Last Night)
06 We're Into Rock
07 I Think About You
08 I'm On The Run
09 Gimme, Gimme

Related Articles:

Dalton - 1987 The Race Is On

Dalton - 1989 Injection

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Posted by gdazegod on April 03, 2009 · 1 Comment · 1810 Reads ·