LAKE – Ouch! 1980 + Hot Day 1981 [BGO Records 2-in-1 remastered] *HQ*

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

This is the BGO Records remastered two-fer containing the German / British act LAKE last two studio albums for Sony from 1980 and 1981. The band achieved European and U.S. success before splitting up in the mid-80s. They reformed in the early 2000s but with a new lineup, with only guitarist Alex Conti surviving from the original personnel.
This slipcased BGO Records release is a ‘2-in-1’ two albums into one CD; LAKE’s LP’s Ouch! (1980) and Hot Day (1981). Both albums marked a drastic shift in musical direction compared to their early 1970s progressive-style records. After some line up changes, these 1980/81 albums reflect the era’s pursuit of mainstream commercial success. The BGO Records reissue offers interesting liner notes about these changes
Produced by James William Guercio (of Chicago fame), Ouch! (1980) showcases the band’s transition toward a more commercial and pop-rock sound, very American influenced with a classic FM-Rock / smooth WestCoast style, containing well-known tracks such as “Celebrate,” “Come On Home,” and “Jamaica High.”
Hot Day (1981) with songs like “Sanford And Son,” “Escape,” and “Silicone Sally,” maintains a blend of melodic pop-rock with commercial appeal, some adopting a sound closer to new wave and synth-pop influences.

LAKE? Certainly a curious, if understated, and somewhat plain name for a rock band. Formed under the more hard-hitting name Tornados in 1970 with keyboard player Detlef Peterson, Lake can hardly be mentioned in the same breath as fellow Germans Scorpions, Kraftwerk or Accept et al.
They are more of a cult band known by only a select few. The line-up of the outfit would certainly confuse even the most astute and patient rock historian; and though they originated in Germany they have British links.

Drummer Fritz “Freddy” Graack and bassist Martin Tiefensee were part of the original crew. Scottish-born singer Ian Cussick was hired in 1973 after an advertisement was placed in the UK music magazine Melody Maker. The band also recruited English keyboardist Geoffrey “Jeff” Peacey, formerly of Mott The Hoople – the great British band with links to David Bowie and Queen.
Tornados had by now changed their moniker to Lake and made plans to drift away from covers and create new material of their own.

After some singles and line up changes, Lake’s self-titled debut sold close to half a million copies, released in Germany in 1976. It was later issued in America in 1977 and peaked at Number 92 while the single ‘Time Bomb’ entered the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. They even made an appearance on the US TV show Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert.
Lake’s debut showed them in strong form doing what they do best: pop-oriented, rocking tunes. It would be a sound that would be their mainstay for their entire career. From the opening piece, ‘On The Run’, the group established themselves in the same vein as bands like Supertramp.
The band followed ‘Lake’ with the less than imaginatively titled opus ‘Lake II’, while not as immediately alluring as Lake, Lake II still has lots to offer. Tracks such as ‘Welcome To The West’, ‘Love’s A Jailer’, ‘See Them Glow’ and ‘Angel In Disguise’ show the band’s incredible musicality.
A shift in the band’s creative dynamic happened for the band’s third album when English singer Hopkins-Harrison became the chief songwriter. On Lake’s third LP Paradise Island you can hear the more melodic, radio friendly sound.

Ouch! was produced by James William Guercio (Chicago) and features nine tracks. It’s more of a soft pop-rock FM affair than the previous albums but it has some excellent tracks such as ‘Celebrate’, the reggae-tinged ‘Jamaica High’ and ‘Southern Nights’. It had a lot to live up to and the band managed to craft an enjoyable album.
The band quickly moved onto their next album with Hot Day, released in 1981. It was recorded at Russl Studios and produced by the band with Udo Arndt. Hot Day is a similar album to Ouch!, a places more new wave, but plenty od dynamics. Some standout numbers include ‘Silicone Sally’, ‘We Can Try’ and ‘Escape’. It’s a well-crafted album.

In this fist era, the band’s peak creative and commercially successful period, Lake proved themselves to be as good as any chart band. They had the talent, the memorable hooks, the right songs and incredible musicianship but they never really went beyond what was essentially cult status.
They were professional and serious musicians with a talent for powerful lyrics and often complex musical chord exchanges. They were also a superlative live band. Despite tours outside of Europe it’s a shame their name was as popular aboard as it was in Germany.

The one thing that can be best said about Lake is that they knew how to draw you in with some incredibly melodic hooks. They had a fantastic sense of melody which is represented on this two album reissue.
There’s a huge amount of luck in the music industry and in all honesty Lake did not have it. Many bands of their era are still playing and touring in good-sized venues. Lake are barely remembered.
But tastes change and Lake’s music did not fit with the changing times. Lake’s success was limited and while their first albums are almost long-forgotten gems, BGO have done an excellent job reassuring the band’s fourth and fifth albums. There’s no better time to discover (or rediscover) this interesting German band.

Ouch! (1980)
01 – Celebrate
02 – Come on Home
03 – Listen to Me
04 – Amigo
05 – Jamaica High
06 – Living for Today
07 – Something Here
08 – Hit Your Mama
09 – Southern Nights
Hot Day (1981)
10 – Sanford and Son
11 – Escape
12 – Everyone
13 – Silicone Sally
14 – Goodbye Alexander
15 – The Sound of America
16 – Cities on Fire
17 – Band at the Top
18 – We Can Try

James Hopkins-Harrison – lead vocals
Dieter Ahrendt – drums
Achim Oppermann – guitar and vocals
Alex Conti – guitar and vocals
Frank Hieber – keyboards and vocals
Heiko Effertz – bass and vocals
Erlend Krauser – lead guitar and vocals (Hot Day)
Jo Kappl – bass and vocals (Hot Day)

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