DAN HILL – Love In The Shadows [rare only CD version made in Japan] (1984)

Alongside the requested new DAN HILL album, you asked for his 1984 album “Love In The Shadows“. This is Hill’s most ‘AOR’ sounding album, never released in America due some legal troubles. And we have the only CD pressing ever appeared, this German release but the disc manufactured in Japan.
Renowned singer-songwriter Daniel Hill born in Ontario, Canada, of US parents. Throughout his career has won a Grammy, five Canadian Junos, five SOCAN Awards for outstanding radio airplay, six ASCAP Awards and one BMI Award for airplay in the USA.
As solo artist is mostly known by smooth L.A WestCoast hits, but around 1983 he couldn’t resist the sound that was ruling the airwaves: “Love In The Shadows” is his more AOR, ‘hip’ album to date, with that classy keyboards, reverb drums and pristine production sound.

The title track is a nifty, radiable poppish AOR tune with clean guitars and compressed drums. “Helpless” is another AORish tune adorned with quirky keyboards, a true ’84 ‘soundtrack – type’ song. You can’t deny the quality of the ballad “In Your Eyes”, cheesy, yes, but awesome in execution.
Next, “Just In Time” is an infectious pop in the Alan Gorrie or Adrian Gurvits mood, while the WestCoast / AOR ballad “You Pulled Me Through” contains the greatest Hill vocal performance on this album. Deep and emotional.

The Adult Contemporary / AOR tune “Where You Gonna Run To” is pure class, followed by “Something Ain’t Right” were Dan sounds like AOR masters Maxus. “Don’t Know Where It Comes From” is a wonderful and inspired ballad focused on electric piano and filled with ethereal synth orchestrations.
“Thru To You” turn thing upbeat again, a great keyboard-driven AOR track, simple but effective. Last track, the slow “Old Lady Song” features another inspired performance by Hill, with real strings in the background.

“Love In The Shadows”, obviously, it’s on the lightweight side of the AOR genre. Production as usual on Dan Hill albums is top notch, and the musicians involved done their job with class.
“Love In The Shadows” is real hard to find, never has been released in the USA on any format. Even more rare is this Japan-made only CD version.
A collector’s item

01 – Love In The Shadows
02 – Helpless
03 – In Your Eyes
04 – Just In Time
05 – You Pulled Me Through
06 – Where You Gonna Run To
07 – Something Ain’t Right
08 – Don’t Know Where It Comes From
09 – Thru To You
10 – Old Lady Song

Lead and Backing Vocals, Keyboards – Dan Hill
Guitar – Neil Chapman, Mike Francis
Guitar, Keyboards – John Lewis Parker
Keyboards – John Sheard
Bass – Tom Sczcesniak
Drums – Jørn Anderson
Drums [Steel], Percussion – Dick Smith
Strings – Dick Armin
Backing Vocals, Piano – John Sheard

Out of print