BILLY SQUIER – Don’t Say No [30th Anniversary Edition remastered & expanded]

If there was an album deserving a proper remastering, it was “Don’t Say No” by BILLY SQUIER, released on occasion of its 30th Anniversary and expanded including 2 bonus tracks.

After turning some heads with his debut, Billy Squier truly arrived into major recognition in the early ’80s with “Don’t Say No”. Queen guitarist Brian May was booked to produce the the record, but scheduling issues precluded his involvement. However, May recommended their masterful producer (Reinhold) Mack who was drafted on board in his place to helm the boards for the album.
The result of this pairing was excellent.

“Don’t Say No” kicks off in spectacular fashion with the triple-opening salvo of “In the Dark,” “The Stroke,” and “My Kinda Lover” – all released as singles that kept the record on the charts for the better part of two years – all of which become staples on Rock radio.
The album is a near-perfect example of early-’80s melodic hard rock, and even less enduring (but hardly inferior) rockers such as “You Know What I Like” and “Lonely Is the Night” keep up the intensity.
And Squier also finds time for the occasional ballad, like the disarmingly gentle “Nobody Knows”.

This 30th Anniversary Remastered edition includes two bonus tracks; live versions of “My Kinda Lover” and “The Stroke” recorded in 2009. Squier’s voice can’t quite hit the highest notes on “My Kinda Lover” but his quiet guitar intro to the song is worth hearing, as are his still-sizzling solos.
The live version of “The Stroke” approaches 15 minutes in length, with all the guitariness and excessive bombast that implies (e.g., it’s over a minute and a half before the classic drum beat begins).
One might argue, and rightfully so, that 15 minutes is too much, but the Dallas crowd is in the palm of his hand for the duration. It’s actually a good representation of the man in concert nowadays.

Thirty years on, “Don’t Say No” holds up as one of the great Rock records from the ‘80s, one that established Billy Squier as an artist who has played a seminal role in defining the American guitar rock of today.
This album, in many ways, laid the groundwork for the success of such crossover hard rock/ pop metal acts as Def Leppard and Bon Jovi.

This “Don’t Say No – 30th Anniversary Edition” it’s being reissued for the first time ever since first appearing on CD in the ’80s, and remastered for the first time. The job was handled by Jon Astley from the Rock Candy Records headquarters with stupendous results.
The sound is very crisp, clear, and loud, the stereo separation is warm and wide, with each instrument getting a voice if you care to listen for it. Everything sounds brand new.
A MUST HAVE

01 – In The Dark
02 – The Stroke
03 – My Kinda Lover
04 – You Know What I Like
05 – Too Daze Gone
06 – Lonely Is The Night
07 – Whadda You Want From Me
08 – Nobody Knows
09 – I Need You
10 – Don’t Say No
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – My Kinda Lover (Live 2009)
12 – The Stroke (Live 2009)

Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Percussion: Billy Squier
Drums: Bobby Chouinard
Bass: Mark Clarke
Keyboards, Synthesizer: Alan St. Jon
Guitar: Cary Sharaf
Background Vocals: Mark Clarke, Alan St. Jon
Produced by Mack

BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Dont-Say-No-Billy-Squier/dp/B003PTP4Z4
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