POWERGLIDE – Glide On ’82 [First time reissue] (2024) *HQ*

Featuring future SHOOTING STAR keyboardist & songwriter Dennis Laffoon, POWERGLIDE released this obscure / hard to find private LP “Glide On” in 1982. Not to be confused with other American band of the same name, this POWERGLIDE hailed from Cincinnati, Ohio.
The vinyl became a collectors item and while there was a CD bootleg floating around, 2024 sees the first time “Glide On” being officially reissued.
The musical style of POWERGLIDE is late Seventies – early Eighties American AOR / Pomp Rock with that magic, mysterious atmospheres, vintage synths and melodic vocals. Despite its indie nature and produced by themselves, “Glide On” is really consistent and well played, with interesting arrangements all the way.
A pure delight for Pomp/AOR aficionados – a glorious sound impossible to replicate today – for fans of Styx, Trillion, Roadmaster, Angel, Shooting Star, etc.

Opener “Takin’ My Chances on a Winner” is winner indeed, an uptempo joyful AOR rocker reminsicent of pompsters HEAD EAST. Next track “Lonely One” is a classic early ’80s AOR song that sounds like the perfect cross between LE ROUX, SPYS (first) and THRILLS (third).
“If You’re Leaving Me Behind” has some beautiful piano-AOR keys at the start. The song itself is a strong ballad like SURVIVOR circa 1981. The lead vocals of Bill Parish are the highlight, in asong with that first half of the eighties magic. “Turn me On” gets back dynamics, rocker with melody like early AXE mixed with STYX.

”Back in My Heart Again” has a great early 80s AOR sound, not unlike SHERIFF. Next track “Escape from Hollywood” is heavy Pomp-rock and sounds a lot like ROADMASTER (circa ‘Sweet music’), especially the keyboard flurry.
More commercial and with some FM radio appeal is “Doin’ up the Town Tonight”, a song that has a late 70s groove like REO SPEEDWAGON, still melodic enough for the AOR fan. Closer “Mama Sweet” is another pomprocker in the American style driven by guitar-synths interplay.

“Glide On” is a really good American Pomp AOR album from an era when this type of music graced the fans ears with stupendous songs. The LP turned a cult classic for the sub-genre, very hard to find for decades.
Now it’s finally available, and if you are a true ’80s maniac, you need to hear POWERGLIDE’s “Glide On”
Pomp rules!
Highly Recommended

01 – Takin’ My Chances on a Winner
02 – Lonely One
03 – If You’re Leaving Me Behind
04 – Turn Me On
05 – Back in My Heart Again
06 – Escape from Hollywood
07 – Doin’ up the Town Tonight
08 – Mama Sweet

Lead and Backing Vocals – Bill Parish
Guitar – Cliff Eveland
Keyboards, Synthesizer, Bass, Backing Vocals – Dennis Laffoon
Drums, Percussion – Kim Philhour

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www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1TDYZ2S