WILDLIFE: Wildlife [TAPE cassette. mint] 1983 FM (Overland brothers) + Bad Company members. Killer A.O.R. Check audio

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Steve Overland (FM): vocals, guitars
Chris Overland (FM): guitars
Mark Booty: keyboards
Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne, Steve Lukather, MSG, Dio, Billy Idol, Beggars & Thieves, Vince Neil Band etc): bass
Simon Kirke (Free, Bad Company): drums

Side 1 : Somewhere in the night / Just a friend / Surrender / Charity / One last chance
Side 2 : Taking a chance / Haven’t you heard the news / Midnight stranger / Rock & roll dreams / Downtown heartbreak
Label : Swan Song
Year : 1983
tape Condition : Mint, unplaid
Cover : Very good

 


Kerrang! Issue 46 – July 1983

HEY! THE debut album by Simon Kirke’s new band – what’s it like? Well, the first and most obvious thing to say is how much better it is than Bad Company’s last effort. It’s spirited, energetic, exciting and incisive. Which is perhaps a little surprising when you consider that both albums were produced by the same man – Mick Ralphs – in the same studio – Ridge Farm – and, of course, feature the same drummer at the core of a similarly full but empty sound.

But then Wildlife’s other members- Overland brothers Chris and Steve, bass player Philip Soussan and keyboardsman Mark Booty-are uniformly young and hungry and out to prove their point. Hardly well- heeled, well-oiled and well-padded like their venerable Swansong label mates. And so Wildlife snarl and snap and sink their teeth into their ten songs like their lives depended on it. Which is how it should be. Anything less than 100% commitment and who would take ‘em seriously?

Nevertheless Wildlife won’t find it an easy ride. Uphill struggle and bloody baffles lie between them and real success. It’s one thing, you see, to be a good band with tight arrangements, explosive guitars and great vocals – but it’s quite another to be special when you sound just a Little too much like Free and Bad Company. Mind you, I do feel a little guilty making these criticisms, since the Overland brothers have come up with some very fine material. Side two is masterful and pleasantly varied too. As a first tilt at the big time, this album augers well for Wildlife’s future. The crunch will come with the next one.


Its not FM, but songs like “Somewhere in the night” rock. In addition to featuring Bad Company’s Simon Kirke on drums, this was produced by Mick Ralphs. Really good stuff too. ‘Just a Friend’ and ‘Rock and Roll Dreams’ are my favorites, but really all the songs are great. Steve Overland, as always, does an excellent job on vocals. If you can imagine an earthy version of FM crossed with Bad Company’s AOR material, then you’d be halfway there. An unusual coupling, but not surprising considering who’s involved.
This, the second release from Wildlife is for me the best one. On this the music is much more AOR oriented. My favourite singer of all time Steve Overland sings as always great. Songs like somewhere In The Night’ and ‘One Last Chance’ is just pure AOR heaven!It is well worth owning.
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A classic on it´s own. Very melodic and a hint of what may come with FM. Highlights somewhere In The Night’ and ‘Just A Friend’ among other classy tunes.To not have this should be considered a crime.
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A great album with the magic voice of Steve ‘Bolton’ Overland !!! Actually we can consider this album as the construction of FM . In the line of ‘indiscreet’ : Excellent!!!!! Brilliant songs, laid out well, and a forerunner to FM. What more do you need to know?
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Yep, this is a classic AOR album and as good as anything that FM produced afterwards! If not better. AND YES (JUST LIKE THE DEBUT SOLO FROM GREGG ROLIE) IT IS CRIMINAL THAT THIS WAS NEVER RELEASED ON CD…All tracks here are timeless and should not be ignored by any AOR fan. 10/10
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This really is a very good album indeed & one of Steve Overland’s best vocally. Not surprisingly, considering the lineup and producer, Wildlife come across as a mix between a less polished FM and a more commercial Bad Co. & you can hear loads of FM influences across this album, due of course to Steve Overland’s fantastic voice, which is so unmistakable & Chris Overland’s guitar sounds. A very high standard of songs feature as well, with the up tempo opener somewhere In The Night’ with its stabbing piano fills & great Chris Overland solo, through to the heartfelt ballad ‘Charity’, the very Bad Co. sounding ‘Just A Friend’ & excellent AOR of surrender’ & ‘One Last Chance’. There maybe a couple of more average tunes towards the end & this isn’t better than the first 2 FM albums as a whole, but if you haven’t heard it, it is essential for all AOR lists.

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Category: AOR
Year: 1983
Label: Swan Song

Steve Overland vocals, guitars
Chris Overland guitars
Mark Booty keyboards
Phil Soussan bass
Simon Kirke drums
Tracks
1. Somewhere In The Night
2. Just A Friend
3. Surrender
4. Charity
5. One Last Chance
6. Taking A Chance
7. Haven’t You Heard The News
8. Midnight Stranger
9. Rock And Roll Dreams
10. Downtown Heartbreak

The band featured the Overland brothers, Steve and Chris, a little while before they went to form FM and the influences on FM are clear to see. If you like 80s AOR with a British tint to it, then I guarantee that you will like this. Very similar sounding to the first FM album, both in terms of production and song-writing.

Additional information

Weight 0.1 kg

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