Tag: grand prix

Grand Prix are probably more famous for who has been in the band than for the albums they put out. Bernie Shaw was the original vocalist who went on to join Uriah Heep, keyboard player Phil Lanzon would also join Uriah Heep, and this album’s vocalist Robin McAuley would later join up with Michael Schenker. While most of Britains rock bands were all getting caught up with NWOBHM and getting heavier, Grand Prix were still in that late 70’s rock groove swimming against the tide.

Every song feels like they are trying to do the big show stopper centrepiece number. Check out Paradise and Keep On Believing. These are songs that bands like Kansas and Styx were coming out with at the time. My favourite on the album is the close out track Relay. A more concise and straight to the point type of song, but still with buckets of melody and more of an uptempo groove.

I haven’t heard this in ages, and I was pleasantly surprised how good it was.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

This was Grand Prix’s third studio album, released in 83. There were two albums before this which had a harder edge. The first featured Bernie Shaw on vocals, who later would join Uriah Heep, as would keys player Phil Lanzon.

This album is very AOR in style and pictures what was happening in the US at the time. Robin McAuley, who would later join MSG after the departure of Gary Barden, and his softer tones suit this style very well. But at this time in the UK, the emphasis was on harder edged metal, and this record somewhat bombed sales-wise. My favourite track is the opening track Shout, which is very similar to Billy Squiers The Stroke with the stomp beat and anthem vocals.

7/10 from The Grooveman.