I don’t dislike ‘Fortune 410’. Donnie Iris gives us loads of melodies. But somehow, it doesn’t sound like a good AOR album should.
Written by: Dangerzone
ARTIST: Donnie Iris
ALBUM: Fortune 410
LABEL: MCA
SERIAL: MCA 5427
YEAR: 1983
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Donnie Iris – vocals * Mark Avsec – keyboards * Marty Lee – guitars * Albritton Mc Lain – bass * Kevin Valentine – drums * Rick Bell – sax * Dan McCarthy – trumpet
TRACK LISTING: 01 Human Evolution * 02 Stagedoor Johnny * 03 Cry If You Want To * 04 Tell Me What You Want * 05 I Belong * 06 She’s So Suburban * 07 I’m A User * 08 Never Did I * 09 Somebody * 10 Do You Compute?
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Donnie Iris Background
According to our trusty editor this is a highly sought album for AOR fanatics. Mainly because at the time of writing it has never seen the light of day on CD. I have owned it for several years and on first impression it appeared more as a new wave recording.
Years later further listens reveal this not to be the case but there are definite fiddlings with the style. Donnie Iris was at the crossroads of his career here and it was his final album for MCA.
This was probably due to the years of critical acclaim, and bare sales of subsequent albums. All of which followed the 1980 hit ‘Ah Leah’, causing an impasse with Iris and co.
The Songs
The accusations of new wave are to do with the synthesizers. They are similar to all those English bands like Simple Minds or Haircut 100.
There are also smatterings of drum machines creating an artificial pop feel at various moments. A minor detail as the melodies are so well realised that it banishes the negative aspects.
‘Stagedoor Johnny’ has an unforgettable chorus that infiltrates the mind at will! ‘Human Evolution’ is a modern-synth rocker that borders on Tubes avant-garde AOR. Strange subject matter and outlandish passages are the norm here.
‘Tell Me What You Want’ is big on horn and keyboard interaction. It’s similar to the bonus cuts of the Steeplechase CD reissue a few years back e.g. ‘Hard To Believe’.
‘Never Did I’ is nearly AOR. Nearly because the verses promise much, with good harmonies, but the chorus lapses into a new wavish rut. Too bouncy and crass synth overkill. Frustrating.
‘Somebody’ is a balladish escapade but the guitars are almost absent. It’s hard to admit but the keyboards are too dominant.
The saving grace is ‘Do I Compute’. Finally a real slice of pure AOR, saved until very last. Melodic riffs a plenty and a churning solo set the record straight. A shame this direction was not explored further.
In Summary
I don’t dislike ‘Fortune 410’, not at all. It’s hard to argue against Donnie Iris with the strength of his melodies. Somehow though it does not sound like a good AOR album should.
Some may disagree but when put next to Journey‘s ‘Frontiers’, the differences are impossible to ignore, minus ‘Do I Compute’. If this qualifies as an AOR classic then it’s for that song alone. Otherwise, it should be collected as a piece of fine music that almost defiesainst Donnie Iris categorization.
Donnie Iris on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
