'Loverboy - Origins (2010)'!

'Loverboy - Origins (2010)' Review!



Happy Mother's Day! It should be said right off the bat, that this 'new' release from "Loverboy" is more appropriately a collection of songs from two key albums that members of the band worked on before forming "Loverboy".  Of course, I am referring to "Meanwhile, Back In Paris..." by seminal Canadian Rockers, "Streetheart" which features a burgeoning songsmith Paul Dean on lead guitar along with Matt Frenette on drums together with future and current "Loverboy" bassist, Kevin "Spider" Sinnaeve; and, "Under The Lights" aka "Thinking About You" from "Moxy" (aka Moxy with Mike Reno), both released in that disco-bearing year of 1978.  There is one tune with Matt on drums from "Streetheart's '79 release "Under Heaver, Over Hell", as well.  So, what this amounts to is simply a compilation of the two albums with "Under My Thumb" thrown in for good measure.  What it adds up to is, now with this release, any "Loverboy" fan who was in the closet still about the band's members previous lives can now relish in past glories like "Action", "Look At Me" and "Easy Come, Easy Go".  That may be self-serving in and of itself, not asking Kenny Shields what he thinks of it all, but don't expect to see any of these tunes in a "Loverboy" setlist any time soon.  Nonetheless, one can enjoy the remastered quality, and check out the two bands on offer in more detail after giving this one a good listen.  So, 'nuff said, it's clobberin' time, Spidey!  - Rick Wilson, former Rock Radio Journalist with Radio Canale Grandé.



01) Action [Streetheart] 1978 ***** Truly the origins of "Loverboy" Hits like "Turn Me Loose" can be heard here!

02) Pressure [Streetheart] 1978 ***** Great rockin' tune!

03) Can You Feel It? [Streetheart] 1978 ***** I actually liked this one more than "Action" back in the day!

04) Move On Over [Streetheart] 1978 ***** Nice road tribute!

05) Look At Me [Streetheart] 1978 ***** Another classic that Kenny Shields milks for all it's worth!

06) Captain Rhythm [Streetheart] 1978 **** Not much lyrically, but a nice nod to typical '70s sounding Clavitrons!

07) Streetwalker [Streetheart] 1978 ***** Ode to call-girls of many kinds!

08) People (Takin' Pieces Of Me) [Streetheart] 1978 **** Aside from the slasher-film titel, the usual fare!

09) Just For You [Streetheart] 1978 ***** Better than average Rocker that lingers, and not just for YOU!

10) High-School Queen [Moxy] 1978 **** Mike Reno has the pipes no doubt, and musically not bad, but too repetitive!

11) Under The Lights [Moxy] 1978 *** Not much for a titel track, for certain!

12) Maybe, I'm A Dreamer [Moxy] 1978 **** I like the sentiment, surely, but I think that more could have been done!

13) Sing To Me [Moxy] 1978 **** The whole background vocal thing carries this one, but in the big picture sounds contrived!

14) Sailor's Delight [Moxy] 1978 **** Some great "Aerosmith"-sounding riffs caught in a quagmire of mediocre lyrics, vocals, etc.!

15) Thinkin' About You [Moxy] 1978 *** Again, extremely weak for an additional titel track years later!

16) Easy Come, Easy Go [Moxy] 1978 ***** Easily (Pun intended, of course!) the best cut from "Moxy" with Mike!

17) Livin' & Learnin' [Moxy] 1978 *** Lacklustre closer with a meaningful message!

18) Under My Thumb [Streetheart] 1979 ***** Excellent reworking of a, in my humble opinion, middle of the road "Rolling Stones" song that Matt Frenette drummed into the charts with some excellent supporting vocals from Kenny!



Demonoid Bonus Tracks

19) Edmonton Rain [Scrubbaloe Caine - Round One] 1973 ***** One of Paul Dean's first bands, and a minor Hit in Canuckland; by the way, this has to be W. Axl Rose's favourite band, by far!  lol

20) Do I Love You? [Scrubbaloe Caine - Round One] 1973 ***** Earliest signs of promise from Paul Dean on lead guitar!

21) Ooh, Mama-Mama [Brutus - Brutus] 1976 ***** Paul played with "Brutus" before joining "Streetheart", but I cannot honestly say whether or not he had a hand in writing this one or if he even played on it!  lol

22) Who Wants To Buy A Song? [Brutus - Brutus] 1976 **** Another unique, rare single from the band!