MADCATS – Street Game ’81 [Unidisc remastered reissue] *HQ*

320_1 /// 320_2 /// HQ 1 /// HQ 2

Here’s another band from the fantastic late ’70s / early ’80s Canadian Rock scene, the not so well known MADCATS and their second and final album, 1981’s “Street Game“, in its remastered reissue by local label Unidisc Music Inc.
Toronto’s MADCATS were formed in 1977 by guitarist Grant Fullerton (ex Lighthouse) and keyboardist Brad MacDonald, after their previous group failed to make an impact on the charts after an album and a couple of singles. They added former vocalist from The Mike McKenna Band, Bobby Blake, John Erdman on bass, and drummer Glen Gratto, and began playing the circuit while working on some material. Their self-titled debut album sold well and was distribured in the US by Buddah / Arista.
By 1981 MADCATS were signed to a new deal with legendary Domenic Troiano‘s Freedom Records. For the sophomore LP the band was looking for a polished sound, and Jack Richardson (Straight Lines, Max Webster) was chosen as producer – the man would produce Coney Hatch awesome album the next year.
Titled “Street Game”, MADCATS delivers here a wonderful mix of melodic rock, radio friendly rock&pop, and… Pomp AOR. Yeah, that classic pomp, with parping analog synths ala Roadmaster, Styx, Harlequin, New England, etc.

With a more refined overall sound than their debut, the cover of The Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Summer In The City” was close to crack the top 40.
The title track, ”Young Man’s World” (with its awesome Styx feeling), the melodic rocker ”More You Than Me’, the almost proggy ‘Execution’ is pure Pomp (love the key / guitar interplay). Even the poppy ‘I Like It’ has those infectious pompy keys in the background.
The follow-up single “Call It Quits” (with some REO to it) with the non-album b-side “Young Man’s World” also did reasonably well on the Canadian charts, and the band toured all over the country and some U.S. areas.

But by ’82 the band found itself again without a record label. MADCATS continued touring for another year or so while looking for a new deal, but eventually disbanded. Everyone went on to their own individual projects, or got out of the business all together.
Melodic, with a pristine crystal clear production, “Street Game” is an album that you need to discover.
Highly Recommended

01 – Streetgame
02 – Call It Quits
03 – Long Distance Callin’
04 – Save Me
05 – Young Man’s World
06 – More You Than Me
07 – Brown Baggin’
08 – Execution
09 – I Like It
10 – Summer in the City
11 – My Baby

Grant Fullerton: lead vocals, lead guitar
Bobby Blake: guitar, lead vocals
Brad MacDonald: keyboards, vocals
Glen Gratto: drums, vocals
Charlie Towers: bass

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