Though 1987’s achievement was geared towards West Coast listeners, ‘Full Contact’ took Tim Feehan’a music to another level – near perfect hi-tech AOR, with a cast of super-players to compliment the sound.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Tim Feehan
ALBUM: Full Contact
LABEL: MCA
SERIAL: MCAD-10069
YEAR: 1990
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada
LINEUP: Tim Feehan – vocals, guitars, keyboards, drum programming
Guests: Guitars – Bruce Gaitsch, Michael Landau, Gene Black, Brian MacLeod, Steve Lukather * Bass – Randy Jackson, Brian MacLeod, Rene Worst * Keyboards – C.J Vanston, Brian MacLeod * Drums and Percussion- Prairie Prince, Brian MacLeod, Gary Mallaber, Mike Baird * Additional Vocals – Marc LaFrance, Marc Jordan, Tommy Funderburk, David Steele, James Christian, Rick Livingstone, Brian MacLeod, Richard Marx, Timothy B Schmit
TRACK LISTING: 01 Heart In Pieces * 02 It Ain’t Easy * 03 Somebody Elses Moment * 04 Something To Hide * 05 Stand * 06 Dive! * 07 Can’t Let Go * 08 Feel It Believe It * 09 Just Like You And Me * 10 Look Before You Leap
Background
Up till this point in his career, Tim Feehan had achieved a small amount of attention among AOR fans. His 1987 self titled album was a great start, despite having two prior albums to that which started the ball rolling.
Though 1987’s achievement was geared towards West Coast listeners, ‘Full Contact’ took Tim Feehan’a music to another level – near perfect hi-tech AOR, with a cast of super-players to compliment the sound. The end-result is there for all to hear – from start to finish. Nearly every song can stand on its own merits, guitar driven, beefed up sound, and magical vocals from this Alberta raised musician.
The Songs
‘Full Contact’ shakes a leg at the likes of Chris Eaton, Robert Tepper, Robbie Nevil and Joe Pasquale, but inevitably with the David Cole production, things get a tad heavier than any of those guys.
Take a listen to opener ‘Heart In Pieces’ for instance. Aggression and melody embroiled in a tango which takes Michael Landau’s wicked guitar solo to untangle it all.
The jangly guitars from Bruce Gaitsch kick in on the infectious ‘It Ain’t Easy’, followed soon after by the smooth aural vista that is ‘Somebody Else’s Moment’ – keyboard layers to sooth, guitar plucks and phrases to offset it.
The next three tracks: ‘Something To Hide’, ‘Stand’ and ‘Dive!’ are all similar attempts at that hi-tech style Feehan is renowned for, and he doesn’t disappoint. ‘Stand’ is so hi-tech you’d swear it was C’vello!
The other major talking point is the fantastic rock-out of ‘Can’t Let Go’, again Bruce Gaitsch doing the honors here. Also worth checking out is the Steve Lukather fuelled ‘Look Before You Leap’, a great way to finish the album, reminiscent of Chris Eaton and Toto (obviously).
In Summary
Despite being on the big name label MCA, the album failed to raise interest out there in ‘listener land’. One can only suggest that MCA were trying to cash in on the singer-songwriter phenomenon being led by the likes of Sir Michael Bolton and Richard Marx who were huge at the time.
It would have been great if Feehan had found success, but as it was, the market was oversubscribed, and grunge was on the way in. Feehan went into hiding for a wee while, resurfacing again in 1996 with ‘Pray For Rain’.
Tim Feehan on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
