PAT TRAVERS – Black Pearl [Japan SHM-CD remastered] Out Of Print

The influential early albums by legendary PAT TRAVERS were requested by a fellow 0dayrox contributor in its best versions available; these remastered Japanese limited edition on high quality SHM-CD are the ones to get (unfortunately out of print).
Of my special interest are Travers ’80s recordings, all really good melodic hard rock oriented albums, some with a strong AOR feeling. “Black Pearl” is indeed a pearl from Pat Travers discography.

After his previous album, Polydor dropped Pat Travers from their roster and he in turn sued the record company on grounds that he was under contract with them to record more material. He won the lawsuit, and was able to release this “Black Pearl” in 1982.

This release also featured more mainstream melodic music rather than the hard-driving rock Travers had recorded earlier in the Seventies, and included the keyboard / synth filled hit single “I La La La Love You” featured prominently on mainstream Top 40 and FM / AOR stations, and into the 1983 movie ‘Valley Girl’ soundtrack.
Listen this track and tell me if Pat is not playing like Eddie Van Halen in the rhythm guitar parts…

“I’d Rather See You Dead” is another killer tune, slightly bluesy, but still full of keyboard use and melody, a clever combination of the opener. This one reminds me Gary Moore’s commercial side of the ’80s.
More rocking is “Stand Up”, melodic hard rocker I’d say, like a blend of Loverboy and Night Ranger (still not formed at the time of this release). This is an awesome cut full of fire.

“Who’ll Take the Fall” offers more bruising hard rock in the vein of Y & T / Meniketti. This is an utterly brilliant anthem that Travers always excelled at. Pat and his band delivers an fine instrumental inspired by Beethoven on ‘The Fifth’, before “Misty Morning” (a Bob Marley cover) offers a poppy variation with lots of classic keys.
Then “Can’t Stop The Heartaches” is another superb Melodic Rock / AOR cut delivered in a very classy way of instrumentation with vintage keyboard swirls. The disc ends with ‘Rockin’, and title says all: Pat in full guitar-fest.

“Black Pearl” is one of the best Pat Travers albums, with an early ’80s melodic feel including many tracks ready for the FM and with an AORish flair.
This remastering is clean and bright, worked from the master tapes and preserving the original vinyl LP harmonic output.
Great album, great sound quality.
Highly Recommended.

Universal Music Japan ～ 【UICY-75929】
【ＬＴＤ ＳＨＭ－ＣＤ】

01 – I La La La Love You
02 – I’d Rather See You Dead
03 – Stand Up
04 – Who’ll Take The Fall
05 – The Fifth
06 – Misty Morning
07 – Can’ Stop The Heartache
08 – Amgwanna Kick Booty
09 – Rockin’

Pat Travers – vocals, guitar, keyboards
Pete Cowling – bass
Don Harriss – piano, synthesizers
Sandy Gennaro – drums

Out Of Print
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICY-75929
.