Quite an aptly named album, considering the history of Bad English, and events leading up to this second release by this supergroup.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Bad English
ALBUM: Backlash
LABEL: Epic
SERIAL: EK 46935
YEAR: 1991
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: John Waite – vocals * Neal Schon – guitars * Ricky Phillips – bass * Jonathan Cain – keyboards * Deen Castronovo – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 So This Eden * 02 Straight To Your Heart * 03 Time Stood Still * 04 The Time Alone With You * 05 Dancin’ Off The Edge Of The World * 06 Rebel Say A Prayer * 07 Savage Blue * 08 Pray For Rain * 09 Make Love Last * 10 Life At The Top
Bad English Background
Quite an aptly named album, considering the history of Bad English, and events leading up to this second release by this supergroup.
Bad English formed in 1988 on the back of a solo deal with Epic Records through singer John Waite. He put the band together, based on his association with ex Babys personnel Cain and Phillips.
To complete the picture was Cain’s Journey bandmate Neal Schon, while session drummer Castronovo came along for the ride.
The debut was released in June 1989. It spawned two hit singles ‘When I See You Smile’ and ‘The Price Of Love’. The album itself went platinum, not surprisingly.
The combination of the smooth radio-pop style of Waite, and the guitar aggression of Schon and heavy-handed backbeat from Castronovo proved to be a winner.
Could they maintain it for album number 2? History will say no, however, the end result was pretty stunning nonetheless.
The Songs
The album opens up with the excellent ‘So This Is Eden’, a great way to introduce Bad English Part 2.
The pairing of ‘Straight To Your Heart’ and ‘Pray For Rain’ are my personal favourites on ‘Backlash’. You can tell immediately that the indelible hand of Mark Spiro is involved here. Both have his trademark riffs and are simply taken to the higher realms with musicians of this quality playing them.
The introspective ballad ‘Time Stood Still’ is an emotive classic bar none.
It’s followed immediately by another ballad, the Diane Warren penned ‘The Time Alone With You’.
Slamming the ball for a home run is the Survivor-Journey like ‘Rebel Say A Prayer’. It wasvco-penned by gasp.. Russ Ballard , Cain’s stabbing piano lines are prominent here.
Soaring in from left field comes the melodrama of ‘Savage Blue’, the song not as brutal as the title suggests.
The funky ‘Life At The Top’ is another Mark Spiro co-write (the wacko lyrics are a giveaway). Though the track has more in common with Don Henley‘s solo material.
In Summary
For those that know their melodic rock trivia, reports of ego clashes between Waite and Schon in particular, were deemed to be the reason behind the collapse of the band during 1991.
Because the band folded not long after the release of ‘Backlash’, the album flopped. Not because it was bad (sic) or anything, it’s just that the band could not follow up on promotional opportunities.
Schon and Castronovo formed Hardline with the Gioeli brothers, while Cain and Waite went solo.
Was a pity they couldn’t keep the momentum, as this band had everything going for them. Oh well, as this album is practically forgetten about, search it out at all costs and tack it onto the collection.
Bad English on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
