Underrated AOR/Hard Rock albums

[TribunalRecords]

Johnny Van Zant has been all over the map of music, but this early "Van Zant" album is so damn catchy. Plus their "Does A Fool Ever Learn" cover is killer.







Let's hear some your faves...

 

[Justin G]

Great album. His Brickyard Road album is another winner.

I think my favorite, most underrated AOR album is Power, by the band Atlantic. Every song on that one is gold, but coming out in the '90s didn't do them any favors.

 

[exact3]

I think Free Spirit - Pale Sister of Light and Myland - No Mans Land are really underrated:



[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnd04lm9-6g"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnd04lm9-6g[/ame]

 

[Justin G]

That Free Spirit album is one of my absolute favorites of the past decade, easily. They're working on a follow-up now.

 

[MusicQuizKing]

I remember listening to "She's Out With a Gun" over and over again when I was around 14. I was obsessed with it.

In terms of underrated AOR albums, I could go on and on, but for now I'll say Fortune's full-length. I love that record!

 

[exact3]

That Free Spirit album is one of my absolute favorites of the past decade, easily. They're working on a follow-up now.

it is outstanding. I am really looking forward to a new one!

 

[StormSpell]

HEART - Brigade would never get the praise it truly deserves.

 

[Mr. Lapin Kulta]

Despite the fact that I like a lot of AOR bands/albums I don't really know much about the "genre" itself. I recently got the Rock Candy reissue of DAKOTAs "Runaway" album though. It's apparently a true gem for AOR afficinados but I had never heard it before. Didn't take me long to become a massive fan! I absolutely LOVE the album! If it's underrated or not I don't know. Probably not

 

[Justin G]

Despite the fact that I like a lot of AOR bands/albums I don't really know much about the "genre" itself. I recently got the Rock Candy reissue of DAKOTAs "Runaway" album though. It's apparently a true gem for AOR afficinados but I had never heard it before. Didn't take me long to become a massive fan! I absolutely LOVE the album! If it's underrated or not I don't know. Probably not

Ooh, I don't know that band, but I love most Rock Candy reissues. What do they sound like?

 

[Mr. Lapin Kulta]

I'd say the album lands somewhere in the same ballpark as KANSAS' "Vinyl Confessions", SURVIVORs "Vital Signs" and TOTO in general. But I think someone with more finetuned AOR knowledge might be able to provide a more confident description

 

[Justin G]

Nice. It's going on my want list.

 

[Johnny Blade]

I could spend a week on this thread. I'll take mercy on everyone and post a couple that come to mind (and yes, the Van Zant album is great):

Outside Edge: More Edge
Should have received major radio play when it was released in 1987.

 

[Justin G]

Ooh, Outside Edge. Great choice. I picked up the reissues of their two discs a couple of years back and love them. They seemed to go back out of print in a hurry though.

 

[Johnny Blade]

Cheater- 1983 ;Another lost AOR classic that only recently has seen the light of day. Hope everyone has a great weekend:

 

[TribunalRecords]

Cheater- 1983 ;Another lost AOR classic that only recently has seen the light of day. Hope everyone has a great weekend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SG5pmFPEno

I love this disc!

 

[Johnny Blade]

I love this disc!

Oh yeah, it's excellent. How it was bypassed for so long is beyond me.

 

[kingdomgone86]

I own this on cassette. Everyone makes fun of me for liking Michael Bolton, but he rocks. Is this underrated? I don't know anyone who likes him that isn't a 50 year old lady.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHeiZlz9GUw&feature=relmfu[/ame]

 

[Johnny Blade]

I own this on cassette. Everyone makes fun of me for liking Michael Bolton, but he rocks. Is this underrated? I don't know anyone who likes him that isn't a 50 year old lady.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHeiZlz9GUw&feature=relmfu

I was just telling my wife how good this album is and she looked at me like I was fucking nuts. Michael's refusal to be invloved with the Rock Candy reissue should tell anyone that it's a rocking album.

 

[Justin G]

I'm surprised Matt hasn't come in to defend that Bolton album. It really is a good, rocking AOR disc.

 

[TribunalRecords]

Justin, you are correct, I am VERY late to this Bolton defense. His first two solo records ARE GREAT, no argument and saying otherwise will get us into fisticuffs. I had jamie king remaster his first one for me. Fools Game is early MTV for me. They used to play that video all the time. Great albums! I think it might be in the Rock Candy reissue where they discuss his departure of this style for something else just so he could keep his record deal. It's a shame this stuff never gave him the success his voice deserves.