Pasadena California’s other great musical export, behind the mighty Van Halen. In fact, guitarist Steve Lynch was a good friend of EVH. This is Autograph’s debut album from ’84 and was a massive hit all over the world – it’s easy to see why. Right from the get go the emphasis is on great songs that rock, but melodies and catchy choruses are high on the list of priorities.
First song in, Send Her To Me, is catchy as hell and a great song. If that wasn’t good enough, second track Turn Up The Radio is even better – it’s big radio rock at its best. A monster tune with a huge big sing-a-long chorus, and it rocks with big guitars high in the mix. What’s not to like? No let up in the quality as Nineteen And Non Stop kicks in with an up-tempo groove and another stuck in the brain chorus and hook. Side note: Steve Lynch is a killer guitar player, and often goes unmentioned when talking about hot shot guitar players. He plays his ass off on this record! Cloud 10 has a very eighties keyboard intro and is the poppiest track on the record, but still a killer tune. Side close out track, Deep End, is a great stomper of a rock track. What a killer riff to drive it along, and again, huge chorus and melody. Phew!!! What a great first side.
Side 2 starts exactly where we left off with My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend Isn’t Me. What a killer riff to start with, and is contender for best track on the album. It’s impossible not to sing-a-long to any of these songs. The songs just keep on comin. Thrill Of Love is another great rack, superb harmonies and a great riff with a killer solo. Friday is next up, and has a very VH intro that reminds me a bit of Panama – once again, a superb melody and chorus drive the song into greatness. In The Night takes us to Journey territory, a slower paced track with yet another great hook and chorus. All I’m Gonna Take is the final track, and I have to say, every song on this album could have been a single. It’s that good! Every song has a big chorus and melody that you can’t forget.
It’s easy to see why America went nuts for this band, they were tailor made for the mid-eighties scene there. The songs are so well written and arranged. This album rightly deserves a 10/10 from the Grooveman.
