The GREG LEON INVASION – Guitars, Cars and Women ’83 [FnA Records remaster] *HQ*

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

Raised in the Los Angeles suburb Glendale, Greg Leon focused his love of rock guitar to develop and hone his own unique passionate approach to the instrument at a truly amazing time in the Hollywood music scene. As a teen, Greg teamed up with future Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee in their band Suite 19. Back in the 80’s Greg was a wonder-kid guitar slinger on the Sunset Strip, and made his mark while rubbing elbows and trading licks with Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads at the legendary Starwood club. Greg Leon replaced Randy Rhoads in Quiet Riot when Randy left to join Ozzy Osbourne’s band, and also was the lead guitarist in Dokken prior to George Lynch. This dude can play the guitar!
Primarily playing guitar and handling lead vocals, Leon formed his own outfit GREG LEON INVASION with bassist Joey Vera (later of Armored Saint, Fates Warning and Anthrax fame) and drummer Carl Elizondo (later of Jag Wire, and playing under the stage name Carl James). In 1983 GREG LEON INVASION released their self-titled debut album via a small label Azra Records, amazingly, a picture disc LP, a rare thing for a novel band.

FnA Records did the remaster of the original tapes and reissued for the first time on CD that 1983 album, re-titled “Guitars, Cars and Women“, with a new cover art as well. The music lives up to the new album title: this is guitar driven U.S. hard rock with melody. Opener ‘I’m Leaving You’ is straight ahead 80s Heavy Rock very well produced and sets the bar for the record. Greg Leon has a good voice and is also a skilled songwriter – listen to the melody in ‘Follow the Sun’. His guitar playing just underlines why there was such strong demand for Leon back in the day.

Other album highlights are ‘Nothing to Lose’ and ‘Born to Die’. Both have a vintage Motley Crue sound but without Vince Neil’s high pitched vocals. ‘Born to Die’ also changes pace and becomes an epic song like Rainbow’s Dio era.
GREG LEON INVASION also deliver radio friendly tunes with a more melodic rock feel in ‘Dreamer’ and ‘Stay with Me Tonight’. As bonus, we find the 2-sided single released in 1982, a very cool addition.

GREG LEON INVASION ‘Guitars, Cars and Women’ is a wonderful slice of first half of the Eighties American hard rock, guitar driven and catchy rockin’ akin early MOTLEY CRUE, DOKKEN, QUIET RIOT, the first WHITE LION, etc.
Highly Recommended

01 – I’m Leaving You
02 – Follow the Sun
03 – Nothing to Lose
04 – Out On the Streets
05 – Guitars, Cars and Women
06 – Born to Die
07 – Feels Like I’m Losing
08 – Dreamer
09 – Stay With Me Tonight
BONUS TRACKS / 1982 single:
10 – Every Time (45” Version)
11 – Stay With Me Tonight (45” Version)

Greg Leon – Vocals, Guitars
Joey Vera – Bass, Backing Vocals
Carl James – Drums, Backing Vocals

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