LILLIAN AXE ‘S/T' CANDY296
THE LATE 80S were a golden time for hard rock. Bands were getting signed by the bucket load. Radio and MTV was full of the sound of a musical revolution whilst concert halls were packed to the rafters with fans who just couldn’t get enough of wild guitars, wailing vocals and shout-it-out-loud songs. On paper, Lillian Axe had everything going for them – hooks, looks and enough energy to power a nation. Why they didn’t become a household name remains a mystery.
Formed in New Orleans, and establishing themselves as local heroes, the band went through a variety of line ups, before settling on the Lillian Axe moniker and being spotted and courted by RATT’s manager Marshall Berle, who brokered a recording deal with MCA. Part of the arrangement was that RATT guitarist Robbin Crosby would produce the album, a situation that worked out well for everyone involved.
Recorded in Los Angeles and released in early 1988, the record sat proud alongside other releases of the time, boasting material that went hand in glove with the prevailing zeitgeist. Tracks such as ‘Dream Of A Lifetime’, ‘Vision In The Night’ and ‘The More That You Get’, demonstrate just how accomplished their song writing was. Sadly, however, due to a regime change at their label, the record was cast aside with the new powers, strangely, insisting that they record a follow-up record rather than work the existing release. Sadly this release never got its deserved day in the sun.
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED SOUND, 16 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 4,000 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE ALBUM, NEW INTERVIEW AND ENHANCED ARTWORK
TRACK LISTING: 1. DREAM OF A LIFETIME 2. INSIDE OUT 3. VISION IN THE NIGHT 4. PICTURE PERFECT 5. THE MORE THAT YOU GET 6. MISERY LOVES COMPANY 7. NOBODY KNOWS 8. HARD LUCK 9. WAITING IN THE DARK 10. LAUGHING IN YOUR FACE
LILLIAN AXE ‘LOVE + WAR’ CANDY297
FOR LILLIAN AXE, the commercial under achievement of their debut album was a bitter pill to swallow. Yet it wasn’t anywhere near as disappointing as the lacklustre performance of their second album ‘Love + War’, a record that has gone on to be regarded by many as one of the most accomplished and best loved records from the late 80s. Somehow they managed to achieve creative heaven with this release, a record that demonstrated an ability to write and perform courageous songs, elevating their reputation above the expectations normally associated with the sort of generic hard rock they had been lumped in with.
‘Love + War’ showcases a decidedly edgy band, one keen to explore and experiment with arrangements and performances that are light years ahead of the competition. In addition, the production, courtesy of British engineer Tony Platt (Def Leppard, AC/DC, Krokus) presented the band and their songs in a wide screen style, accentuating every twist and turn with pin-point accuracy. High points are many, but ‘The World Stopped Turning’, ‘Show A Little Love’ and ‘She Likes It On Top’ indicate the first rate quality. Listen out too for a choice cover of Girl’s ‘My Number’.
Issued in mid 1999, the record registered barely a blip on the radar. Both management and label inexplicitly backing off when they were needed most. And that’s a crying shame as this album is truly one of the most sensational records of the era, a buried treasure waiting to be rediscovered.
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED SOUND, 16 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 4,000 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE ALBUM, NEW INTERVIEW AND ENHANCED ARTWORK
TRACK LISTING: 1. ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR 2. SHE LIKES IT ON TOP 3. DIANA 4. DOWN ON YOU 5. THE WORLD STOPPED TURNING 6. GHOST OF WINTER 7. MY NUMBER 8. SHOW A LITTLE LOVE 9. FOOL’S PARADISE 10. LETTERS IN THE RAIN
