Stan Meissner’s 1992 album ‘Undertow’ is the third of his solo albums out in the public domain. In true Boston tradition, the output might not be that prolific from Stan, but the quality of his music is exceptional.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Stan Meissner
ALBUM: Undertow
LABEL: Duke Street
SERIAL: DSRD 31077
YEAR: 1992
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canads
LINEUP: Stan Meissner – all instruments and vocals * Peter Cardinali – bass * Pat Perez – soprano sax solo * John Panchyshyn – saxophone solo * Carl Dixon, Terry Crawford, Lori Yates – guest backing vocals
TRACK LISTING: 01 It’s No Secret * 02 River Of Fire * 03 No Way Out * 04 Someone Like You * 05 If It Takes All Night * 06 Shelter In The Heart * 07 Day After Day * 08 When I Look In Your Eyes * 09 I Don’t Believe It’s Over * 10 The Lucky One
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
Stan Meissner is long regarded as one of Canada’s premier melodic rock solo artists. As written about elsewhere on GDM, just about everything he gets involved with musically, has a touch of class about it. Whether it be songwriting, musicianship, or even on the Music Industry side of the fence, Meissner is adept at all these things.
Stan Meissner’s 1992 album ‘Undertow’ is the third of his solo albums out in the public domain. In true Boston tradition, the output might not be that prolific from Stan, but the quality of his music is exceptional (though in Boston‘s case, the abysmal effort that was ‘Corporate America’ really put paid to their demi-god status!).
The Songs
Come 1992 and Stan is now signed to Canadian label Duke Street. Meissner has collected a set of tunes which are wonderfully understated, and would sit well on FM Rock Radio.. if only FM Rock Radio were listening though. There’s a bit of mid-80’s Bryan Adams in there, particularly on the rockier tracks, but when it comes to ballads, Stan is in a league of his own.
Gentler (if that is the appropriate word) tracks such as ‘Someone Like You’, ‘When I Look In Your Eyes’ and the pearler ‘The Lucky One’ all demonstrates Stan’s class in writing beautiful songs, for which I’m sure he could write in his sleep. Upping the tempo to harder-edged affairs such as ‘Day After Day’, ‘Its No Secret’ and the surging (literally) ‘River Of Fire’, ably sees Stan toggling between ballad and hard-edge as if changing gears in an F1 racing car. Effortless really.
In Summary
‘Undertow’ is the last of his solo albums thus far, though his collaboration with Peter Fredette on 1999’s magnificent Metropolis album ‘Power Of The Night’ ensured he was not totally lost to the public.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see Stan back in action again for a fourth solo album, considering it’s been twelve years since the last one, and five years since Metropolis. Perhaps I should contact him and ask (politely of course) if he could get a hurry-a-long!
Stan Meissner on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
