This is the pick of Henry Paul’s solo endeavours for me, others may prefer his earlier sets with the Southern influences. But this is where Paul let his AOR side hang out and do the talking. One listen and you’ll see why some of us are content to live in the past?
Written by: Dangerzone
ARTIST: Henry Paul
ALBUM: Henry Paul
LABEL: Atlantic
SERIAL: 7 80032-1
YEAR: 1982
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Henry Paul – vocals * Billy Crain – guitars * David Fiester – guitars * Wally Dentz – bass * Tom Capek – keyboards * Bill Hoffmann – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Nightline * 02 Hold On * 03 Don’t Leave Me This Way * 04 Kamikaze Rock * 05 Tragedy * 06 Desiree * 07 Heat Of The Night * 08 Circle Of Silence * 09 Cold War
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Henry Paul Background
A figure much admired and featured here at Glory Daze is one time perennial AOR figure Henry Paul. It would be amiss to leave this fourth HPB album unmentioned, as it is undoubtedly Paul’s most consistent AOR effort.
His solo career began after leaving The Outlaws in 1977. He mixed up a melodic rock direction that eventually moved into full tilt AOR by this albums release.
An attempt was made to rework Paul’s image into that of a serious, undercover solo artist similar to classic John O Banion. This was borne out of the cover art, with Paul’s brooding charm outside the motel room doing the trick.
The backing band featured the addition of Capek on keyboards, the only newcomer following ‘Anytime’. The remainder of the band looking cheerful on the back cover. They’re all wearing colourful polo shirts and looking more like my dad circa 1982 than a rock band.
Vintage stuff and a pertinent reminder that image wasn’t as important as the music in that era. Sometimes.
The Songs
A sterling effort we have here with Paul reaching the AOR heights that previous albums hinted at and delivered. But not to this level of execution.
Granted there were still major excursions into rock and roll areas. As witnessed by the foot stomping ‘Kamikaze Rock’ which leans towards Freddie Salem, a dead ringer in fact. Both ex Outlaws men perfecting the blend of AOR meeting Texas boogie.
Mainly it’s simmering AOR throughout, with the same sound as the ‘Anytime’ classic, taken a notch further with more keyboards, melody and layered guitars and solos.
‘Nightline’ provides as up tempo opening, rock solid riffing combined with sophisticated synth lines, very much an anthem.
‘Hold On’ is an AOR statement of breathtaking gravity. Paul very much the lover to the rescue with a chorus for the ages. You’ll come back to this time and again, assured.
Made for radio was ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’, an excellent commercial near ballad, much like ‘Tragedy’. It indicated Paul was truly on a roll with the AOR honed to staggering levels.
‘Desiree’ is the requisite ‘female named track’ that SPYS used the same year. Only ‘Carrie’ was used more? This is an abundant rocker heavy on fluent keyboard runs.
High tension ensues during ‘Circle Of Silence’, Paul playing the solo star in credible style with his heroic vocals.
Paul certainly wasn’t the only artist to explore the ‘Cold War’. The Russian cossack synth lines are apparent as Henry warns of imminent communism and nuclear war. Outlaws guitarist Hughie Thomasson adds a guitar solo here for those taking notes of such matters.
In Summary
Nothing sours ‘Henry Paul’, not a single note or track is wasted. It boggles the mind that this was Paul’s swansong as an AOR artist.
Surely he was just getting started, a 1983 or 84 release could have taken it further, something that sadly never eventuated.
This proved Paul could deliver the goods without Jim Peterik assisting him as co writer. The writing handled by himself and various band members, mostly Crain and Dentz.
This is the pick of Henry Paul’s solo endeavours for me, others may prefer his earlier sets with the Southern influences.
But this is where Paul let his AOR side hang out and do the talking. One listen and you’ll see why some of us are content to live in the past?
Henry Paul on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
