RON BOLTON BAND - review added 15th September 2009
Album Review: Ron Bolton Band (self-titled) (1983 - re-released 2009)
For fans of: Rock... and Westcoast pop
Ron Bolton Band's self-titled debut (still as far as I can tell their only album) was originally recorded over 25 years ago and never had a full commercial release. The band themselves paid for the vinyl pressing and sold copies at their well-regarded live gigs and at the local Tower Records store. Copies have popped up on eBay now and then but that's about all.
Avenue Of Allies have gained rights to the record by this San Diego band and now, finally,they have put it out for the world at large to listen to and enjoy.
Fans of Toto, Balance and 38 Special should find plenty to enjoy here. Ron Bolton (vocals / guitar), George Kosta (drums) and Robin Henkel (bass) - later replaced by Dean Schulenberg - and Mike Peters (keyboards) have a sweet soft sound that's as AOR as going home early and drinking hot chocolate before taking an early night.
The opening track 'Maybe I'm Dreamin'' is a proper stunner of it's genre. It's a tad wishy-washy in the general scheme of things, but you can't help but adore it. The keyboard led 'Do It All for Love' is even more nice-with-a-capital-N, but again sounds wonderful. 'Friends' sounds near identical to The Sweet's 'Love Is Like Oxygen', 'Livin' On the Line' gets gnarly with a beautifully raucous guitar riff and an excellent take on the early Survivor sound.
This isn't the best album of all time, but it certainly deserves a full release. There's enough good stuff to appeal to fans of the lighter side of rock, and it may well leave some of them wishing the Ron Bolton Band had recorded a few more cuts.
Check out... 'Maybe I'm Dreamin''
Track List:
1. Maybe I'm Dreamin'
2. Do It All for Love
3. Friends
4. Search of the Kind
5. 21
6. Livin' On the Line
7. Midnight Lover
8. Little Girl
9. Play Your Game
10. We're Gonna Make It
Label: Avenue Of Allies
