CLIMB – Back In Action Again [digitally remastered] (2017)

We already featured on the blog few month ago (here) one of the rarest and much sought after albums by AOR collectors; CLIMB‘s ‘Take A Chance’, digitally remastered by Essential Media Group. Now it’s time for “Back In Action Again“, their second recording (1990) never officially released and now properly remastered by the same record label.

Climb was founded by drummer and songwriter Warren Cromartie, previously known for his successful baseball career as a rising young star with the Montreal Expos. 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.

But Cromartie also had another passion; music. He is 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, baptized Climb, put out its self-titled limited edition album that was released in Japan only.

The album received rave reviews in Japan and Warren slowly began work on a second record that was completed in 1990, but until now, never officially released.

Titled “Back In Action Again”, is a more tightly focused album featuring new lead singer Pete Hewlett and a core band that once again included the legendary Detroit session player and producer Bruce Nazarian who also co-produce, Mark Rivera on horns and Eddie Martinez on guitar.

The album features five Cromartie originals plus tunes from Gamble & Huff, Bernie Taupin, Michael Bolton, Stephen Dorff and other well known AOR songwriters.
Musically, some tracks are poppy oriented, but what’s of our interest are such gems like ‘Whatever It Is’ or ‘For the Love of Money’, numbers with all that late ’80s AOR magic we all love.

After nearly thirty years, this fine album is finally available to the public, newly remastered. Besides his illustrious baseball career, Warren “Cro” Cromartie now has a body of work as a musician that he can indeed be proud of.
Highly Recommended

01 – Back in Action Again
02 – Focus
03 – Climb on Up
04 – They Say
05 – Expressway to Your Heart
06 – K.D.D.
07 – Lonely in Each Other’s Arms
08 – Whatever It Is
09 – Hold Back the Night
10 – For the Love of Money

Pete Hewlett – lead vocals
Bruce Nazarian – guitar, bass, keyboards, synths
Mark Rivera – horns
Eddie Martinez – guitar
Warren Cromartie – drums, backing vocals
Produced by W. Cromartie & B. Nazarian

BUY IT !
www.aorheaven.com/index.php/englisch_b/neue-cd-s/climb-back-in-action-again-digitally-remastered.html
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