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Jon Stevens - Jon Stevens

dangerzonedangerzone USA
edited November 2022 in Year-1982

image

ARTIST: Stevens, Jon
ALBUM: Jon Stevens
LABEL: MCA
SERIAL: MCA 5338
YEAR: 1982

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: image

LINEUP: Jon Stevens - lead and backing vocals

Musicians: John Robinson - drums * Nathan Watts - bass * Clarence McDonald, William Smith, James Newton Howard - piano * Paul Jackson Jr, Tim May, Steve Lukather - guitars * Paulinho DaCosta - percussion * Ed Walsh - synthesizer * Boby King, William Smith, Venetta Fields, Paulette Brown, Richard Page, Steve George - backing vocals

TRACK LISTING: 01 Running Away * 02 Stringin' A Line * 03 Lover My Love * 04 Come Back * 05 Crimes Of Passion * 06 Don't You Give Up * 07 Make You Mine, All Mine * 08 Every Little Bit Hurts * 09 Here To Stay * 10 How Much Love

Background

One of New Zealand's finest rock exports has to be Jon Stevens, who at the age of 16 in 1979 enjoyed massive success with his cover of 'Montego Bay', which has become quite the Kiwi staple ever since.

Stevens recorded alongside Sharon O' Neill shortly after, before heading to Australia to seek his fortune. In 1981 Stevens tried his luck in L.A. at the grand old age of 18, hooking up with luminaries like Steve Lukather and Richard Page and recorded an archetypal AOR album.

Lost in the shuffle of hundreds of other similar releases, the album went nowhere, which considering the firepower Stevens armed himself with is baffling.

The Songs

Looking at Stevens on the cover of this album you'd think he was 38, not 18, looking quite the mature, undercover lover. I had no idea this album even existed until recently and based on the music on offer here it's scandalous this isn't better known.

Every track works and if artists like John O' Banion, Franke and the Knockouts, Nielsen-Pearson, Frankie Bleu, Rick Springfield and Greg Guidry get you excited then this is right up your alley.

This is one of those rare cases where singling out songs is pointless because all feature a stunning array of melody, guitar work and keyboard excellence.

That said the most essential cuts include 'Running Away', 'Stringin' A Line', 'Come Back' and 'How Much Love' which are all definitive AOR moments able to stand tall amidst the legends of the era. Why this album sunk without trace is a mystery.

In Summary

The rest is history however and Stevens would find massive success in the 80's with Aussie rockers Noiseworks, who produced some superb melodic rock themselves.

Stevens became a superstar in Oz and joined INXS following Michael Hutchence's death, but little resulted from it.

For those who are unaware of this album then I suggest you snap it up. It's the best AOR effort from a Kiwi and an amazing acheivement from such a young talent.

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