MAX CARL – Circle [Yesterrock digitally remastered]
Requested ‘cos being related to the 38 Special remasters featured here, we have here another worthwhile Yesterrock remastered reissue; MAX CARL‘s “Circle“, a must have for AOR / Melodic Rock aficionados.
This much sought after album finally is available for the first time on CD, remastered by Robert Papst (Dominoe) from the original Universal Music / Geffen master tapes.
Formerly known as Max Gronenthal, he first came to prominence as a member of Energy and Jack Mack And The Heart Attack during the early ’70s, which also featured future Deep Purple guitarist Tommy Bolin.
Later he played and sing for 38 Special and Grand Funk Railroad, and as sessionist worked for artists including Kenny Loggins, Elton John, Don Henley, Molly Hatchet or Glenn Frey to name some.
But fundamentally, Carl was one of the most requested US songwriters during the Eighties, also remembered for his great contributions to movie soundtracks such as ‘Police Academy’, ‘Short Circuit’, ‘Grandview, U.S.A.’, ‘Doin’ Time’ and many more.
In 1985, Carl left Jack Mack and the Heart Attack to record his third solo album “Circle” on MCA Records, the first under his stage name ‘Max Carl’.
Recorded in Germany with the help of musicians from notable bands (Craaft, Tokyo, Blackjack, Planet P Project) and produced by Peter Hauke (Craaft, Karo, Tony Carey – who also does backing vocals here), “Circle” offers all trademarks a middle ’80s AOR lover is looking for: soaring vocals, catchy melodies & hooks, pumping drums, crunchy guitars and a huge amount of bombastic keyboards / synths, put together by a glossy and polished sound.
We find stellar tracks such as the uptempo-driven tunes “Radical Prodigal”, the big booming “Night Train Roll” and the rocking Toto-like “A Cold Shot”, the latter co-penned with Bill Payne (Eric Martin, Richard Marx, Bryan Adams).
The title track is an AOR cult classic (co-written with Giant’s Alan Pasqua), also featured on the soundtrack of the teen movie ‘Weird Science’ directed by legendary John Hughes. Both the single and video-clip for this song became hits in the US.
After so many years of wait and poor unofficial bootleg reissues, finally Max Carl’s “Circle” gets properly released on CD for the first time, and crystal clear remastered.
American mid-Eighties AOR / Melodic Rock suckers, this is for you.
01 – Radical Prodigal
02 – The Lion Kills The Sparrow
03 – The Circle
04 – A Cold Shot
05 – Strategic Land (A Soldier’s Song)
06 – Night Train Roll
07 – A Thousand Nights
08 – Tell Me Where Your Sister’s Hiding
09 – Curves
10 – Timing
Max Carl – Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Reinhard Besser (Craaft) – Guitars
Helmut Bibi (Planet P Project) – Guitars
Andreas Becker – Guitars
Volker Barber (Tokyo) – Synthesizers
Christian Selke, Eddie Taylor – Sax
Jimmy Haslip (Blackjack) – Bass
Eddie Zyne, Otto Fuss – Drums
Tony Carey (ex- Rainbow) – Backing Vocals
BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/Circle-Max-Carl/dp/B009WD7VOE
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