RICHARD MARX – Repeat Offender [Japan SHM-CD] Out Of Print

This one was requested by one of you and it’s ‘one of those you need in your ’80s collection’; RICHARD MARX‘s second album “Repeat Offender“. This record never has been remastered, but I think it’s so perfectly produced that it doesn’t needed to.
However, this recently released Japanese edition for the first time on SHM-CD sounds with a ‘plus’. It comes out of the speakers much more defined, definitely you can tell the difference. Of course, it went sold out in a couple of months.

After touring for fourteen months on his first album, Marx returned to the studio with a number of songs that had been written while on the road.
Anyway, there’s songwriting contributions by talented Fee Waybill with two songs, one from Oscar winner Dean Pitchford, and in the case of the Japanese bonus track here (“Wild Life”) co-written by Rick Springfield.

A true 1989 (what a year) super-production, “Repeat Offender” was recorded with the cream of the LA Session studio musicians: guitarist Bruce Gaitsch who already was part of Marx’s band, masters Steve Lukather and Michael Landau, top drummers Mike Baird, John Keane, John Robinson, bass player Randy Jackson, Bill Champlin, Bill Cuomo, C.J. Vanston, Michael Omartian and many more.

Despite of being a typically mainstream recording, “Repeat Offender” includes tremendous songs with more ‘substance’ than the regular product of this ilk.
Plenty of great guitar driven rock songs as well as several nice ballads, the LP spawned 5 hit singles. “Satisfied” which was the first hit single, reached #1 on the charts and is a great high energy rocker. “Right Here Waiting” was also a #1 hit and it’s one of Marx’s finest ballads.
The last hit to chart in the top 5 was the underrated and pretty awesome AOR gem “Angelia”. A beautiful and moving ballad that deserved more airplay than it got.

The other 2 singles were the midtempo rocker “Too Late to Say Goodbye” and the slow ballad “Children of the Night”. I personally think that the harder rocking tracks “That Was Lulu” & “If You Don’t Want My Love” would’ve made much better singles than the 2 aforementioned songs. They are both more melodic and radio friendly.

Especially “If You Don’t Want My Love” which was co-written by The Tube’s lead singer Fee Waybill is a high energy rocker with terrific guitar work by Gaitsch, and if you’ve ever had your heart broken, you’ll definitely be able to relate to the lyrics.
Waybill also co-wrote “Too Late to Say Goodbye” and sings backing vocals as well. Then there’s another song that deserved more attention, the great opener “Nothin’ You Can Do About It” where Lukather provides a free lesson on how to play rhythm guitar and a solo.

Full of fantastic rock&pop / AORish songs, “Repeat Offender” is one of the best offerings in Richard Marx’s impressive catalog. It sports that impressive ’80s production job, and as said, this Japanese SHM-CD sounds terrific.
A Must Have

You’ve seen it first here, at 0dayrox

Universal Music Japan ～ 【UICY-25491】
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01 – Nothin’ You Can Do About It
02 – Satisfied
03 – Angelia
04 – Too Late To Say Goodbye
05 – Right Here Waiting
06 – Heart On The Line
07 – Living In The Real World
08 – If You Don’t Want My Love
09 – That Was Lulu
10 – Wild Life [Japan Bonus Track]
11 – Wait For The Sunrise
12 – Children Of The Night

Richard Marx – lead vocals
Steve Lukather, Bruce Gaitsch, Michael Landau – guitar
Mike Baird, Mike Derosier, John Keane, JR Robinson – drums
Bill Champlin – Hammond B3 organ, Backing vocals
Jim Cliff, John Pierce – bass
Randy Jackson – bass, synth bass
Bill Cuomo, C.J. Vanston – keyboards
Michael Omartian – piano, keyboards
Bill Payne – Hammond B3 organ
Paulinho da Costa – percussion
Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Dave Koz – horns
Marc Russo, Tom Scott – saxophone
The Children of the Night choir on “Children of the Night”
Backing vocals: Bobby Kimball, Cynthia Rhodes, Fee Waybill, Tommy Funderburk, David Cole, Ruth Marx, Bob Coy, John Moore, Larry Gatlin, Steve Gatlin, Rudy Gatlin, Terry Williams, Shelley Cole, Don Shelton, Gene Miller, Kevin Cronin

Out Of Print
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICY-25491
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