Come 1987, Lee Aaron assembled a band which resembled and sounded much like the late great Wrabit (a much loved Canadian band here among the GDM staff).
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Lee Aaron
ALBUM: Lee Aaron
LABEL: 10 Records (UK), Attic (Canada)
SERIAL: DIXCD 49, LAT-1231
YEAR: 1987
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada
LINEUP: Lee Aaron – vocals * John Albani – guitars, vocals * Chris Brockway – bass, vocals * Jimi Gelcer – keyboards * Randy Cooke – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Powerline * 02 Hands Are Tied * 03 Only Human * 04 Empty Heart * 05 Number One * 06 Don’t Rain On My Parade * 07 Goin’ Off The Deep End * 08 If This Is Love * 09 Eye For An Eye * 10 Heartbeat Of The World * 11 Dream With Me
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
I have always admired Canadian rock chick Lee Aaron. From her first nude display in Oui magazine, through to being the bonafide metal queen with an album title to boot.
During the mid-80’s, Lee Aaron released a number of great energetic albums, and easily appealed against luminaries such as the Doro Pesch fronted Warlock, singer/guitarist Lita Ford and others of that ilk.
Come 1987, Lee assembled a band which resembled and sounded much like the late great Wrabit (a much loved Canadian band here among the GDM staff). The fact that musical direction for this album came from Wrabit axe-wizard John Albani with able support from bassist Chris Brockway was half the reason why, and to my ears that is why this album had all the hallmarks of a successful release, and so it proved, or nearly.
Aaron had signed with Virgin Records subsidiary 10 Records (Gary Moore etc) for European distribution on her prior album ‘Call Of The Wild’. This self titled album followed two years later on the same label, but it was to be shortlived, as the label went belly-up not long after this release.
The Songs
Melodic maple-leaf mayhem gets us underway with the melodic romp of ‘Powerline’, followed by the strutty guitar attack of ‘Hands Are Tied’. Albani is allowed to let loose in his own understated way. The superb ballad ‘Only Human’ is one of the best you’ll hear in this genre. Beautiful stuff. The video for this song was kinda cool too! Lots of wispy white curtains etc. Lee looked like she was having fun!
‘Empty Hearts’ is fluid AOR, the melodies really flow, as do the smooth bass lines from Brockway, a standout on the track. Punchy is the best way to describe ‘Number One’. Gotta say, this is how I love my 80’s melodic hard rock!
Even the pairing of ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’ and ‘Goin’ Off The Deep End’ though mid-paced, don’t lose anything compared with the aforementioned other tracks. Another ballad ‘If This Is Love’ is kinda obligatory on an album such as this, but the standout track for me is the brooding power of ‘Eye For An Eye’. Grab a listen if you can.
If Albani and Brockway were at any stage considering a Wrabit reformation (please let that be a possibility, pleeeezzzeee!), then a track like ‘Heartbeat Of The World’ would be an ideal candidate. The album closer ‘Dream With Me’ meanders its way through a HR/AOR soundscape. Dreamy indeed!
In Summary
Lee followed this up with the equally compelling ‘Body Rock’ from 1989, and 1991’s ‘Some Girls Do’; both albums containing a wealth of excellent songs, but this self-titled effort will always be my favourite. She sort of lost her way a bit during the 90’s, with the musical climate proving to be her undoing, along with many others it must be said.
However, come the year 2000 and beyond, Lee has re-established herself in the jazz genre, and has rebased to White Rock, British Columbia to pursue her new musical direction, as well as a late stint at motherhood (now the proud parent of two young children with hubby John Cody).
Both directions by all accounts proving to be successful career choices, but by 2016 she was back in the rock chick arena, and remains there to this day.
Lee Aaron on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
