This is probably an album which should’ve been highlighted years ago at GDM, considering the personnel involved with The Scream.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: The Scream
ALBUM: Let It Scream
LABEL: Hollywood Records
SERIAL: HR-60994-2
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
YEAR: 1991
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:: USA
LINEUP: John Corabi – lead vocals, acoustic guitar * Bruce Bouillet – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, lapsteel guitar * John Alderete – bass, acoustic bass, vocals * Walt Woodward III – drums, percussion, vocals
Additional Musicians: Ray Gillen, Jeff Martin – backing vocals (#11) * Jimmy Waldo – hammond B-3 (#8, #11)
TRACK LISTING: 01 Outlaw * 02 I Believe In Me * 03 Man In The Moon * 04 Father, Mother, Son * 05 Give It Up * 06 Never Loved Her Anyway * 07 Tell Me Why * 08 Love’s Got A Hold On Me * 09 I Don’t Care * 10 Every Inch A Woman * 11 You Are All I Need * 12 Catch Me If You Can * 13 Young & Dumb (Bonus Track)
WEBLINKS: NA
The Scream Background
This is probably an album which should’ve been highlighted years ago at GDM, considering the personnel involved with The Scream.
Initially formed in 1989, with the bulk of the line-up featuring Racer X members. Their second and last album (up to that point) was released the year before in 1988.
They called themselves Saints And Sinners (unrelated to the Canadian band who are well known here at GDM).
That lineup featured Scott Travis on drums, before he left to join Judas Priest for their ‘Painkiller’ album. Former Americade and Shark Island drummer – the late Walt Woodward III, came in as his replacement.
With a name change to The Scream, the band eventually landed with Hollywood Records. Their only official CD release was in 1991. And a goodie it was too.
Their sound goes from all-out hair-metal to a smokey blues hard rock delivery. It’s in the vein of Cinderella, Aerosmith, Tuff, Tesla and others of that ilk.
The Songs
Things get off to an outrageous start with the rollicking ‘Outlaw’. It really sounds like an offcut from Cinderella‘s debut LP ‘Night Songs’. A killer track and a perfect lead-in.
‘I Believe In Me’ slides into party metal mode with ease. It’s a breezy Californian party anthem from the era of big hair and loud clothes.
‘Man In The Moon’ sees the band introduce acoustic elements into their material. A common theme back in the 1989-1991 era where every up and coming rock band wanted to be cowboys. Perhaps the boys sat around and watched old Clint Eastwood movies on their ‘off-days’?
For something different, ‘Father, Mother, Son’ ventures into mellow ballad territory, treading the AOR borderline carefully. This was something that bands like Warrant made a million bucks from, but by 1991, the gravy train had dried up.
Bruce Bouillet is the star of the show on ‘Give It Up’, with his guitar antics including lapsteel, there for all to see. Corabi is also effective, vocally borrowing heavily from Tom Keifer and Steven Tyler.
Going completely off the grid, is the cowpoke meets southern blues of ‘Never Loved Her Anyway’. It’s played in a very traditional sense. No real electrics here, and certainly cool – in an unplugged way.
Gotta love the funked up ‘Tell Me Why’, which is straight out of the funk ’70’s era. It comes complete with flared trousers and high-heeled boots. By this stage of the album, The Scream could not be accused of being one-dimensional.
Keeping the 70’s theme going, ‘Love’s Got A Hold On Me’ has a Raspberries feel. It’s slightly heavier, but still played in a power-pop style. New England and Alcatrazz stalwart Jimmy Waldo puts in an appearance on this one.
‘I Don’t Care’ is one of two longer tracks at over 8 minutes. This one revives Kiss at their most anthemic, with growling riffs and staunch lyrics. I think even the Masked/Unkased Ones would be highly impressed.
The Scream return to their templated trademark with the infectious ‘Every Inch A Woman’. Bouillet sets the tone with some fantastic bluesy riffing, the chorus straight out of the Aerosmith song-book.
‘You Are All I Need’ the big team-effort ballad, includes contributions from Jeff Martin and Ray Gillen. Plus the aforementioned Jimmy Waldo. It’s the equivalent of a ‘God Gave Rock N Roll To You’ moment on the album, all of 8 minutes too.
The track ‘Catch Me If You Can’ is a bluesy steamtrain finale. It captures Van Halen‘s energy in an uptempo delivery. Choo choo cha-boogie indeed.
In Summary
As good as this album was, I reckon it was two years too late. If it had been released in 1989, it could’ve done great things.
It was comparable to other bands of that year. This includes Skid Row, Vain, Warrant and Extreme; all break-out bands from 1989.
Corabi of course would go off to join Motley Crue replacing Vince Neil. Corabi in the here and now is fronting The Dead Daisies.
There is an unreleased album’s worth of material of The Scream circa 1992 called ‘Takin’ To The Next Level’. I haven’t heard it, but apparently it’s a bit different to the stuff here.
Enjoy rediscovering this band.
The Scream on Video
Outlaw
Man In The Moon
I Believe In Me
Click to go to YTM album page.
