JEFF PARIS – Wired Up [Rock Candy Remastered & Reloaded]

If there’s an ’80s AOR album that deserved a remastering it was JEFF PARIS‘ “Wired Up“. This terrific record always suffered of a poor mastering in my opinion, and Rock Candy specialists have done a very nice job on this essential 10-track melodic rocker.

Bck in the mid Eighties the Rock world seemed fixated on Melodic AOR singer / songwriters. Jon Bon Jovi, Richard Marx and Bryan Adams were of course leading the field, but just below the surface there were numerous contenders ready to ascend the throne.
Jeff Paris was, naturally, a prime contender, with songs and a sound that suggested success would be a sure fired certainty. That he sank without trace remains one of life’s great mysteries.

Signed to Mercury Records by the very same person who inked Bon Jovi, Cinderella and Kingdom Come, things looked very good indeed. So good in fact that, despite a lack-lustre reception to Jeff’s debut album ‘Race To Paradise’, the label dug down deep to back a follow up, this sensational “Wired Up”, a record brimming over with confidence and optimism.

Produced by Tony Platt (Foreigner, AC/DC, Krokus) and mixed by Bob Rock (Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi,) the record was infused with some of the best melodic hard rock of the era.

Issued in 1987 to gushing reviews, the album contains 10 melodic rock nuggets, garnished with razor sharp guitars performed by awesome guitar master Michael Thompson, and a souped up rhythm section part consisting of future Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum, and Night Ranger’s Gary Moon on bass, a talented lead vocalist itself.

Tracks such as “Saturday Nite”, “Heart To The Flame” (also recorded by Van Zant) “Charmed Life” and “Cryin” (later successfully covered by all female rock band Vixen) makes for an album that not only exudes excitement but showcases Paris as an exceptional songwriter. And the man proves he can sing greatly, with a swagger and feeling on par with the renowned cats of the genre.

If you never heard JEFF PARIS’ “Wired Up” you’re missing an important piece in your American AOR / Melodic Rock puzzle. If you already love it, listen this proper Rock Candy remaster.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

01 – Saturday Nite
02 – One Night Alone
03 – Trial By Fire
04 – Cryin’
05 – Wired Up
06 – Charmed Life
07 – I Can’t Let Go
08 – Heart To The Flame
09 – A Matter Of Time
10 – Illusions

Jeff Paris – vocals, guitars, keyboards
Michael Thompson – guitars
Gary Moon – bass, backing vocals
Matt Sorum – drums, backing vocals

BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/Wired-Up-Jeff-Paris/dp/B010O6BABW
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