Billy Katt was riding high during 1981/1982 as the star of ‘The Greatest American Hero’. Who would’ve known he was a west coast genius?
Written by: Dangerzone
ARTIST: Billy Katt
ALBUM: Secret Smiles
LABEL: MCA
SERIAL: MCA-5346
YEAR: 1982
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: William ‘Billy’ Katt – lead and backing vocals, guitars * Guitars – Bobby Donati, John Goux, John McFee, Steve Trovato * Keyboards – Sandy Berman * Bass and backing vocals – Mark B. Murphy * Drums – Chet McCracken, David Platshon * Percussion – Tony Papa * Strings, Horns – Mike Linn * Backing Vocals – Sandy Berman, Rosemary Butler, Billy Kirkland
TRACK LISTING: 01 Sleeping Beauty * 02 A Girl Like You * 03 Secret Smiles * 04 China * 05 One Night * 06 Nobody’s Fool * 07 Winter Love * 08 Wrote A Letter * 09 By The Sea
WEBLINKS: NA
Billy Katt Background
Sometimes I think I’ve heard everything there is to hear within the AOR/west coast scene. Then something like this Billy Katt album presents itself.
Upon discovering this album on a well known AOR blog I have to admit I had no idea this existed at all. Of course William Katt was riding high during 1981 and 1982 as the star of ‘The Greatest American Hero’.
This alongside Connie Selleca, Robert Culp and Michael Pare. Pare was linked to ‘Eddie And The Cruisers’. Apparently that connection was enough to secure Katt a record deal with MCA.
This came at a time when a slew of fellow actors were trying to cross over into the pop scene. The likes of John Schneider, Adrian Zmed, Scott Baio and Jeff Conaway taking a punt with varying success.
Out of all of them, Billy Katt’s effort is by far the best, both musically and vocally. At first the inclination is to laugh at the typical album cover and Katt cutting a disc in itself. But this is prime 1982 West Coast and there’s nothing negative about that.
The Songs
Katt sets his agenda immediately with the exquisite AOR of ‘Sleeping Beauty’, a track steeped in prime 1982 West Coast elements. This could have been taken off a Nielsen-Pearson album or even a Keane Brother‘s affair. It’s enough to whet the most jaded fans appetite. Katt’s vocals rank with those artists themselves, very impressively handled.
‘A Girl Like You’ is an upbeat pop workout with a ton of horns in the mix. Still very catchy and showing plenty of variety.
The title track was a minor hit, a sentimental ballad with obligatory sax. It would please fans of lighter AOR fixtures like Paul Davis or Bertie Higgins.
It pales however with the seven minute epic ‘China’, where Katt pulls out all the stops. Beginning as an atmospheric ballad, the pace soon heats up, with surging keyboard runs.
Katt is trying to make sense of the mysterious bastion of communism. ‘China you’re political with me, don’t get political with me!’
Katt wails in a way that recalls Steve Walsh and Kansas so much that I was convinced this was a leftover from ‘Audio Visions’. A definite pomp classic.
Things get even better with the classic chorus of ‘One Night’, which has similarities to the best of England Dan and John Ford Coley. What a great song this one is, the hook is AOR royalty.
If that wasn’t enough ‘Nobody’s Fool’ is just as good, so close to Greg Guidry‘s debut it’s almost amazing.
The chorus truly had me thinking I was listening to the wrong album. Given the huge following of Guidry here at Glory Daze this should be a compulsory listen.
‘Winter Love’ does a superb job of evoking a bleak winter scene through its music. This one bringing the likes of John O’Banion to mind, only better in my opinion.
‘Wrote A Letter’ is a rocker by comparison, this one similar to David Kent or even the recently reviewed Hobin.
Katt chooses to end the album with another plaintive track, ‘By The Sea’. He throws in more horns and sweeping arrangements, to the point I feel like I’m watching the waves myself! I could imagine Peter Beckett having a stab at this one.
In Summary
What a revelation Billy Katt is here. Sadly the album was largely forgotten. Katt found himself in films like ‘House’ and ‘White Ghost’ as the ‘Greatest American Hero’ finished a three season run.
He pulls off the early 80’s AOR hero flawlessly. However, it led me to wonder what other gems are yet to be heard from other actors. Maybe albums by Perry King or Daniel J. Travanti?
Whatever the case download this one immediately for a fix of AOR brilliance.
Billy Katt on Video
Nobody’s Fool
Sleeping Beauty
