TARGET (Jimi Jamison) – In Range [The Lost Album]

Featuring legendary Jimi Jamison (Cobra / Survivor) on vocals, US quintet from Memphis, TARGET released two albums on A&M (‘Target and Captured’). However, it has come to light that a third album was recorded, entitled ‘In Range‘, but never released at the time.
Escape Music has managed to get hold of the “In Range” tapes, and releasing it in a remastered form. Note that the promo versions circulating missed the bonus track ‘Echo Tango’. This is the full CD.

While Jimi Jamison did go on to greater heights – thanks to his stints fronting Cobra and, of course, Survivor, not to mention releasing an impressive catalogue of solo records ­ Target were the band with whom he first made the progression from playing the bars and clubs to touring as a major label act opening for the likes of Black Sabbath and Styx.
However, the debut Target LP wasn’t the singer’s first album recording credit. Nor bassist Tommy Cathey’s either. Having started to work together in a band called Omaha an opportunity to hook up with another project was just too good to miss.

After the stint with Omaha, Jimi and Tommy joined the David Beaver Band. They did two records with Beaver, of which only one was released (‘Combinations’ on the TMI label in 1973). Right after the second record, both teamed up with guitarist Buddy Davis and formed Target.
They released two albums on major A&M records; ‘Target’ and ‘Captured’. Both records were quite successful, with its mix between bluesy hard rock and heavy rock and got later officially re-released on CD by Rock Candy Records including some bonus material.
Before split the band recorded this third album, but ended up somewhere on a shelf… until now.

With a bluesy foundation, ‘In Range’ overall sound is classic hard rock with melody. Next to the fine vocal harmonies, the vital component is a lively and vibrant rhythm groove found in every song. It’s the kind of groove you might both rock out to and dance to.
On this third effort Target rounds out this venerable sound with solid riffs, swirling solos, and a swollen rhythm section. The best representations of this formula come with the punchy ‘Tightwire’, mid-paced slow burner ‘Hold Tight’, the rowdy ‘Means That Much’, and the guitar-fired ‘Come On’.

Bassist Tommy Cathey says in the liner notes that this CD is by far the better of the three Target recorded; “I think what I’m most proud of with the third album is the maturity of our songs and the developing sound we were getting in the studio. This album doesn’t sound like the first two and I consider it to be the best of the three.
We produced it ourselves and I think you can tell the distinction from the first two albums. ‘In Range’ is all Target with no outside pressures”.
Jimi Jamison fans will be happy as his talent again shines on ‘In Range’.
Highly Recommended

01 – Tightwire
02 – Love Magician
03 – Too Much Good Lovin’
04 – Hold Tight
05 – Taxman
06 – Means That Much
07 – Come On
08 – A Place Called Hot
09 – Don’t You Think Its Time
10 – Echo Tango (Demo)

Jimi Jamison – lead and backing vocals
Paul Cannon – guitar
Buddy Davis – guitar
Tommy Cathey – bass, vocals
Bill Marshall – drums

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www.amazon.com/Range-Featuring-Jimi-Jamison-R-i-p/dp/B075F2TTGW