In classic two-album-only syndrome, Breathless delivered two LP’s between 1979 and 1980. Here’s the second.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Breathless
ALBUM: Nobody Leaves This Song Alive
LABEL: EMI America
SERIAL: SW-17041
YEAR: 1980
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Jonah Koslen – vocals, guitars * Alan Greene – guitars * Mark Avsec – keyboards, vocals * Bob Benjamin – bass, vocals * Rodney Psyka – percussion, vocals * Kevin Valentine – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Hearts In Hiding * 02 Hardest Part Of Lovin’ You * 03 Wild Weekend * 04 You Ought To Be In The Videos * 05 Back Of My Mind * 06 Crawl In Thru Shadows * 07 Can You Feel It * 08 Nobody Leaves This Song Alive * 09 Happy Ending
Background
I’ve never quite worked out the album cover for this one. It looks like a collection of bit-part actors from the first Star Wars movie. A gathering of galctic misfits perhaps. What is easier to work out is the midwest brilliance of the band Breathless, the brainchild of Jonah Koslen, the former right-hand man for the 70’s version of the Michael Stanley Band.
In classic two-album-only syndrome, Breathless delivered two LP’s between 1979 and 1980. At this point along the timeline, I think I much preferred Koslen’s brand of melodic rock than Stanley’s, though MSB would turn things around as they progressed into the 80’s.
The Songs
Still, for ‘No One Leaves This Song Alive’, Breathless would lean to a heavier brand of pop/rock, the band keeping the legacy of Cleveland power-pop intact but 1st album producer Don Gehman would make way for Michael Verdick (Storm) for this second effort.
There’s some guitar toughness to be found throughout (‘Hearts In Hiding’, ‘Wild Weekend’ Can You Feel It’) plus the aforementioned power-pop presence on tunes such as ‘Hardest Part Of Lovin’ You’, ‘You Ought To Be In The Videos’, while the band toss in a few slower tempo efforts such as ‘Back Of My Mind’ and ‘Happy Ending’. The latter is very cool with some nice synths and guitar melodies.
In Summary
As written earlier, Breathless only lasted these two albums, though a compilation CD was released in 1993. Koslen would create his new band The Heroes for their 1983 album ‘Aces’, before departing Cleveland for Los Angeles in the mid-late 80’s for a decade or so.
Video
Hearts In Hiding
Hardest Part Of Loving You
