HELIX – Wild In The Streets [Rock Candy Remaster]

These were requested several times in some post comments: HELIX ’80s most relevant albums ‘Remastered & Reloaded‘ by Rock Candy Records. Let’s go with the last reissued by the label; the rocking “Wild In The Streets“.
With the success of their previous albums and benefitting from unrelenting promotion by Capitol Records, Helix toured the world for almost 2 years establishing themselves not only in America and Canada but also in Europe, a territory that embraced the band as if they were their very own.

“Wild In The Streets” was the band’s fourth, and final, album for the major recording label. It was a record of familiar components; big hooks, teeth rattling drum ‘n’ bass, razor sharp guitar riffs and shredding solos all locked into a brace of tunes so catchy they would easily shame the likes of Kiss and Def Leppard.

Of the ten tracks on offer three were contributed by class outside sources, namely Nazareth (‘Dream On’, a killer version better that the original), FM (‘Never Gonna Stop The Rock’) and an unreleased Joe Elliott song called ‘She’s Too Tough’ – which Def Leppard eventually recorded themselves as a B-Side later – all helping to confirm that Helix were still operating at the top of their game.
The sound here is of a band getting back to their roots cultivating a far more aggressive in-your-face attitude.

Produced partly by Neil Kernon (Autograph, Dokken) but mainly by Mike Stone (Whitesnake, Journey) and recorded at Richard Branson’s Manor Studios in rural Oxfordshire, the album goes someway to reaffirming both their party-hardy roots and their ability to entertain on a spectacular level.
There were several drummers contributing on the record, due to main sticksman Greg Fritz Hinz unexplained problems: Mickey Curry (Bryan Adams), Matt Frenette (Loverboy) and even former Helix drummer Brian Doerner (Saga, Refugee), guitarist Brent’s twin brother.
The keyboards were provided by British master Don Airey.

“Wild In The Streets” might have been Helix final major label album, but they certainly went out with a bang. Certainly it’s their best produced album and rocks great.
The Rock Candy remastering gives the album some much needed bottom end, and the knowledgeable Paul Suter gives a good insight into the turmoil affecting the band at the time.
Despite good initial promotion and sales, the label soon pulled the plug on the album (they were searching for a ‘new’ Bon Jovi clone) and “Wild In The Streets” was the last record they made for Capitol US, and probably the last Helix remaster by Rock Candy too…
Highly Recommended

01 – Wild In The Streets
02 – Never Gonna Stop The Rock
03 – Dream On
04 – What Ya Bringin’ To The Party
05 – High Voltage Kicks
06 – Give ‘Em Hell
07 – Shot Full Of Love
08 – Love Hungry Eyes
09 – She’s Too Tough
10 – Kiss It Goodbye

Brian Vollmer – vocals
Brent “Doctor” Doerner – guitars
Paul Hackman – guitars
Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards
Greg “Fritz” Hinz – drums
add. personnel:
Don Airey – keyboards
Mickey Curry (Bryan Adams) – drums
Matt Frenette (Loverboy) – drums
Brian Doerner (ex-Helix Saga, Refugee) – drums

BUY
www.amazon.co.uk/Wild-Streets-Helix/dp/B005UI7CMQ