Michael Morales - Michael Morales

1989 was a huge year for AOR, and many of the great recordings of that year are mentioned here. One that isn’t is the debut CD from San Antonio’s finest: Michael Morales.

Written by: gdmonline

ARTIST: Michael Morales
ALBUM: Michael Morales
LABEL: Wing Records
SERIAL: 835 810-2
YEAR: 1989
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

LINEUP: Michael Morales – everything

Guests: Elliott Easton – guitars (‘Cry, Cry, Cry’ and ‘I Only Want To Look In Your Eyes’)

TRACK LISTING: 01 I Don’t Want You No More * 02 Who Do You Give Your Love To? * 03 Eighteen * 04 I Don’t Know * 05 Cry, Cry, Cry * 06 Romeo * 07 What I Like About You * 08 I Only Want To Look In Your Eyes * 09 Hey Lori * 10 Way To Go Baby * 11 Wo’t You Come Home

Table of Contents

Background

1989 was a huge year for AOR, and many of the great recordings of that year are mentioned here. One that isn’t is the debut CD from San Antonio’s finest: Michael Morales.

An exponent of hi-tech AOR, this album was one of the best of that genre, which captured the prevailing trend of studio trickery, synth overload and huge drum machines.

Produced by Roy Thomas Baker, he would add in some of his trademark production, the wind-tunnel stacked vocal, plus some ideas stolen from the debut Cars album. It’s a massive production actually, and an easy sound to fall in love with if you’re an AOR or hi-tech fan.

The Songs

The stand-out hit from the album was ‘Who Do You Give Your Love To’, which has a heap of Rick Springfield influences among others. I remember this on radio, but listening to it clsoe up at FLAC quality, this thing sounds like a million bucks. It was’t just this song which attracted attention..

The fast paced pairing of ‘Eightee’ and ‘Romeo’ are instant attention grabbers, the latter track is where Morales sounds like Brett Williams of In Reach.

‘I Don’t Know’ and ‘Cry Cry Cry’ are amazing songs, a pair that requires a face-palm on my part for not reviewing this album years ago! The latter song features some stunning keyboard sequencing/arpeggios, plus The Cars Elliott Easton guests on guitar. One of the coolest tracks on the CD, even if if it nicks a part of The Cars classic ‘Hello Again’. You just gotta hear it!

‘What I Like About You’ is something different altogether, a mid 80’s pop/rock jangle, while ‘Hey Lori’ and ‘Won’ t You Come Home’ also appeal with its Outfield like approach.

In Summary

This one has been spending a bit of time in all my music players; so everywhere I go, It’s Michael Morales time! We should all re-familiarise ourselves with all three Michael Morales albums, as they really are an AOR treat for the ears!