Angel fans listen up.. this outfit Bluebeard should tickle your fancy big time, if you miss the Frank Dimino warbling or even the OTT keyboard work a la Gregg Giuffria then you need to be investigating this lot because they could be accused of being a tribute band!
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Bluebeard
ALBUM: Bad Dream
LABEL: Parliament
SERIAL: ST-PR-3661
YEAR: 1978
CD INFO: Discogs Info List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Barry Leech – vocals, guitars * Vincent Thomas Penny – guitars, vocals * Vincent Bitetti – guitars, vocals * Bob Campbell – keyboards * Gayle Hart – bass * Dan Bogan – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 I Know I’m In Love * 02 She Looks Like An Angel * 03 The Good Life (Turnin’ Tricks For Her Man) * 04 Sad Forgotten Song * 05 Live To Live * 06 Bad Dream * 07 Take Hold Of Yourself * 08 I’ll Give You Roses * 09 Here I Am * 10 Paint It Black
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
Angel fans listen up.. This outfit Bluebeard should tickle your fancy big time. If you miss the Frank Dimino warbling or even the OTT keyboard work a la Gregg Giuffria then you need to be investigating this lot because this is so Angel sounding that they could be accused of being a tribute band!
From California, Bluebeard’s formative days go back as early as 1972, when band members Barry Leech and Dan Bogan were playing in the Boris Peach Band. The sound you hear on this album did not eventuate until about 1977, with the arrival of keyboard maestro Bob Campbell. The resulting sound is progressive yet commercial.. a pomp lovers dream.
The Songs
The album kicks off with a track that could’ve graced the first Trillion album. ‘I Know I’m In Love’ shows similar traits, but the keyboard solo makes it even more pompier.
We get energetic hard rock fare with ‘She Looks Like An Angel’ which contains the guitar rhythms of BTO, the vocal harmonies of Starcastle and the style of Angel. Confused? You should be! Equally hard rockin’ is ‘Life To Live’, the Boston like organ work a treat to hear.
The title track ‘Bad Dream’ is a pomp classic. If just for this song, this album is a pomp collectors compulsory addition. The stabbing keys reminisce to Styx and Angel levels with ease, while guitars blaze away on the solo spots. When it is time for the synth solo by Campbell, it borders on breathtaking, and even outdoes Roadmaster‘s ‘Higher Higher’ for fave pomp synth solo ever I reckon.
On a lighter scale we get ‘I’ll Give You Roses’ which is wimphem indeed, the keyboard parts by Campbell bordering on lounge club jazz in places, while the album is completed by a cover version (albeit a pomp version) of the Rolling Stones stalwart ‘Paint It Black’.
In Summary
Probably the only let down of this album is the final production. However, that may soon be corrected as Bluebeard are re-releasing ‘Bad Dream’ on CD very very soon. The only sad thing to note is the passing of singer Barry Leech in 2004, however, the band are still in operation and that is a great tribute to him and their music.
Bluebeard on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
