Loverboy

• Artist: Loverboy
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1980
• Total Time: 39:39
• Genre: Rock

Review

Although their later albums produced better-known hits, this debut offering from Loverboy is one of their best albums. Despite their later reputation as AOR hitmakers, Loverboy was marketed as a new wave group early on and this album makes it easy to see why: plenty of the songs feature the herky-jerky yet dance-friendly tempo associated with many new wave groups and sleek synthesizer textures form a central part of the group's sound. The most impressive songs are the ones that earned the band their early airplay: "The Kid Is Hot Tonite" is a radio-ready rocker that slickly balances mid-tempo guitar riffs with surging synthesizer lines, and "Turn Me Loose" is a clever multi-genre hybrid that blends hard rock guitar, a disco-ready beat, and new wave keyboard flourishes into a final product with across-the-board appeal. The remaining songs are just as interesting as the hits because they hop from genre to genre with style and energy: "Teenage Overdose" blends gritty heavy metal guitar riffs with snarling punk-style lyrics and a pop melody, while "Little Girl" filters rockabilly through new wave sonic techniques to create a retro-styled power pop tune worthy of Cheap Trick. These ambitious hybrids are performed with style and economy by the band, and special note should also be taken of Mike Reno's vocals: whether he's paying tribute to Elvis Presley on "Little Girl" or hitting the peak of his falsetto range in "Turn Me Loose," he tackles every number with energy and verve. The end result may be kitschy, but it is undeniably well crafted and makes perfect car stereo listening (the ultimate compliment for an AOR record). In short, Loverboy is a must for the group's fans and an excellent pick for anyone who enjoys the pop/rock of the 1980s. ~ Donald A. Guarisco, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
The Kid Is Hot Tonite	Paul Dean, Bernie Aubin	Loverboy	(4:24)
Turn Me Loose (Lyrics)	Paul Dean, Mike Reno	Loverboy	(5:35)
Always on My Mind (Lyrics)	Paul Dean, Mike Reno	Loverboy	(3:31)
Lady of the 80's (Lyrics)	Paul Dean, Viola Wills, Doug Johnson, Mike Reno	Loverboy	(5:05)
Little Girl	Paul Dean	Loverboy	(3:55)
Prissy Prissy	Paul Dean, Matthew Frenette	Loverboy	(4:21)
Teenage Overdose	Paul Dean, Doug Johnson, Mike Reno	Loverboy	(4:14)
D.O.A.	David Lee Roth, Paul Dean, Michael Anthony, Doug Johnson, Mike Reno, Eddie Van Halen	Loverboy	(3:38)
It Don't Matter	Ted Nugent, Paul Dean, Mike Reno	Loverboy	(4:56)

Credits

Matthew Frenette (Drums), Bruce Fairbairn (Producer), Nancy Nash (Vocals (Background)), Scott Smith (Vocals), Paul Dean (Vocals), Doug Johnson (Keyboards), Mike Reno (Vocals), Nancy Nash (Vocals), Scott Smith (Bass), Bob Rock (Engineer), Paul Dean (Guitar), Mike Fraser (Assistant Engineer), Wayne Kozak (Saxophone)

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