DANNY WILDE – The Boyfriend [Bad Reputation Records remastered] (2022) HQ *Exclusive*

Bad Reputation Records has just reissued / remastered for the first time ”The Boyfriend”, the 1986’s solo debut album from DANNY WILDE, later widely known as member of pop-masters The Rembrandts.
Wilde began his career during the mid-70s in Los Angeles as a founding member, songwriter and lead vocalist of power pop band The Quick which only released one album ‘Mondo Deco’ (1976). Short after Danny landed in another Californian outfit called Great Buildings, where he first met his later Rembrandts partner Phil Solem, releasing two albums 1981-1982, before splitting up.
Then in 1985 Danny got signed by Island Records for this solo debut LP ”The Boyfriend”, a superb slice of classy mid-Eighties AOR / radio friendly rock&pop next to Bryan Adams, Glen Burtnick and Jude Cole, produced with ‘that sound’ and featuring at the time Mr. Mister (another fine comparison) drummer Pat Mastelotto.
First time ever on CD this is very good 80s album that will be a great discovery for many, and eyes-closed purchase for every serious AOR collector.

After Great Buildings broke up in 1982, Wilde started working on solo material and writing for others as well (including songs for Robert Palmer, Charlie Sexton, Peter Frampton and many more).
That’s when a friend invited him to a Christmas party at Island Records in Hollywood. He had a cassette of his first collection of solo demo material on him, which he gave to label executive Chris Blackwell. About a week later he got a call from Island saying they would like to sign him.
Sessions started soon with Peter Coleman (Pat Benatar, Suzi Quatro) at the producer’s chair.

”The Boyfriend” was released in America, Europe and Japan, and things looked very promising for Danny Wilde. But a couple of weeks after ”The Boyfriend” was released the president and the promotion team of Island Records were fired. As result, only a first batch of cassette and vinyl LP were made.
Danny Wilde’s manager, George Ghiz, thought Island was too artsy and more of a boutique outfit, and that Danny needed to be on a label that had bags of money to throw at promotion. They made an arrangement, and Island sold the deal to Geffen, on where Wilde will release to albums before joining The Rembrandts.

It’s a shame that Danny Wilde did not become a superstar as solo artist but he found recognition later with hit-makers The Rembrandts. ”The Boyfriend” is a very good mid-Eighties American rock album. It’s poppy, it’s AOR, it’s radio-friendly.
Since its original release in 1986 there were a lot of legal troubles for a reissue, and the album became a rare piece. Now thanks to Bad Reputation we have the change to get ”The Boyfriend” with a pristine remastered sound.

Only at 0dayrox

01 – Isn’t It Enough
02 – Body To Body
03 – Restless Heart
04 – Angel (This Must Be Heaven)
05 – Hold Out For Me
06 – The Sound Of My Heart Breaking
07 – Katherine
08 – He Can Have You
09 – Criminal Mind
10 – The Boyfriend

Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica – Danny Wilde
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Phil Solem (The Rembrandts)
Bass – Sig Emerson
Drums – Pat Mastelotto

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