BILLY SATELLITE – Billy Satellite [Rock Candy Remastered & Reloaded]

Originally released during the golden age of US Melodic Rock / AOR in 1984, the self-titled debut LP from curiously named Oakland based band BILLY SATELLITE may not have set the charts on fire – despite of having two moderate singles with both music videos aired on MTV – but did manage to register high on the AOR Richter scale.
This is the stupendous Remastered & Reloaded version by Rock Candy Records.

Led by the supremely talented Monty Byrom (who went on to form successful band Big House later) and featuring super hot guitarist Danny Chauncey (later to join .38 Special) the band enjoyed a moment in the spotlight when tracks such as ‘Satisfy Me’ and ‘I Wanna Go Back’ (covered successfully in 1986 by Eddie Money) achieved wide spread airplay.
Sadly, like so many other artists, the initial blast of enthusiasm was not sustainable leaving Billy Satellite floundering amidst a sea of competition, tied to a label unable to focus on their strengths and accomplishments.

Established in San Francisco, Billy Satellite rocked the Bay Area since the early ’80s, and after winning a Battle Of The Bands contest they were signed by major label Capitol Records.
Produced by Grammy nominee Don Gehman, the band’s debut “Billy Satellite” is one of the most pure ‘US AOR’ albums of all time.
Highly melodic, plenty of contagious choruses and memorable harmonies, all tracks on the album are a true representation of the genre.

Check the lovely gold AOR of opener ‘Satisfy Me’, the pumping ‘Last Call’ and the radio-friendly ‘Do Ya’. This first track-trio worth the album alone.
There’s awesome hooks in ‘Rockin’ Down The Highway’, midtempo magic in ‘Trouble’ and ‘Bye Bye Baby’, and a terrific AOR ballad in ‘I Wanna Go Back’, much more emotional than the already good cover version from Eddie Money years after.

“Billy Satellite” is one of those mandatory albums in any ’80s AOR collection, which largely deserved a proper remastering wonderfully done by Rock Candy.
A Must Have

01 – Satisfy Me
02 – Last Call
03 – Do Ya
04 – I Wanna Go Back
05 – Trouble
06 – Rockin’ Down The Highway
07 – Turning Point
08 – Bye Bye Baby
09 – Standin’ With The Kings
10 – The Lonely One

Monty Byrom – vocals, guitars, keyboards
Danny Chauncey – guitars, backing vocals, keyboards
Ira Walker – bass, backing vocals
Tom Falletti – drums

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