CLIMB – Take A Chance [digitally remastered +1] (2016)

One of the rarest and much sought after AOR albums by collectors is without a doubt “Take A Chance“, the one and only CD by CLIMB. Now it has been digitally remastered by Essential Media Group with a bonus track.

Best remembered for his successful baseball career as a rising young star with the Montreal Expos, Warren Cromartie earned the affectionate nickname “Cro” and even had a candy bar named after him, a la Babe Ruth. After ten years in the major leagues, at only 30 years old, Cromartie became the first prominent American player still in his prime to sign with a Japanese baseball team.
In Japan, Cromartie became a star winning the coveted MVP award in 1989 and led his team to the Japan Series championship.

What most people didn’t know was the fact that Cromartie was an accomplished drummer who befriended and jammed with the Canadian rock band Rush – Cromartie’s name appears on the back cover of Rush’s 1982 album Signals and he is also thanked in the liner notes.
While in Japan, Cro formed an AOR band with Austrian-born lead vocalist Joe Hamilton. In 1988, the group put out this limited edition album that was released in Japan only.

The project was baptized CLIMB, and for the recording of “Take A Chance” Cro enlisted a veritable all-star lineup for the Steve Klein produced album, including Rush lead singer Geddy Lee, legendary Detroit session player / producer Bruce Nazarian, Foreigner’s lead singer Lou Gramm, maestro keyboard palyer & arranger David Rosenthal (Rainbow, Red Dawn), and award-winning veteran industry vocalist Mitch Malloy.
Hit songwriter Russ Ballard contributed a track (“Caught In A Crossfire”) as did the magical duo i-Ten of Billy Steinberg & Tom Kelly with “Lonely In Each Other’s Arms”.

The overall “Take A Chance” sound is a super cool Hi-tech meets poppy AOR like Think Out Loud, and the already featured here Bridge 2 Far or i-TEN.
The AORish opener ‘Girl Like You’ is one of the highlights, the upbeat ‘Who’s Missing Who’ features Geddy Lee as guest and very nice guitar work, while the aforemetioned i-Ten ‘Lonely In Each Others Arms’ is done in a pumping ’80s fashion plenty of synths.
Then ‘Thinking Of You’ go for a stylized moderm Westc Coast midtempo pace (some Mr. Mister here) where you must check David Rosenthal’s killer bass playing.
Ballard’s ‘Caught In A Crossfire’ is another cool AORish tune, and on the melodic semi-ballad ‘Try On’ Lou Gramm duets with Hamilton.

For years CLIMB’s “Take A Chance” was only available at eBay and alike for silly prices, so it’s nice to see this reissue.
It must be said the album it’s officially re-released but manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media… there’s a bonus track, an instrumental version of the single ‘Girl Like You’ originally the B-Side of the 45 RPM single of the same name. It’s obviously taken from vinyl and the sound quality is not the best.
Anyway, the main album has been pretty well remastered with nice bass presence.

This is really good Lite AOR album, much better than many ‘major’ releases of the era, plenty of great melodies / harmonies, strong songs and a pristine, crystal clear production.
Highly Recommended

01 – Girl Like You
02 – Adult Situations
03 – Lonely In Each Others Arms
04 – Who’s Missing Who (feat. Geddy Lee)
05 – Thinking Of You
06 – Caught In A Crossfire
07 – Rock An A Stone
08 – Try On (feat. Lou Gramm)
09 – Chance
10 – Girl Like You (Instrumental) [bonus track]

Joe Hamilton: lead vocals
Warren Cromartie: drums
George Terry: guitar
David Rosenthal: bass, keyboards
Geddy Lee: guest vocals
Lou Gramm: guest vocals
Mitch Malloy: guest vocals

BUY IT !
www.aorheaven.com/index.php/englisch_b/climb-take-a-chance-digitally-remastered.html
www.amazon.com/Take-Chance-Digitally-Remastered-Climb/dp/B01ACNB5ZI
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