THE OUTLAWS – Soldiers Of Fortune [Rock Candy remastered]

As requested, here’s the Rock Candy Records Remastered & Reloaded release of THE OUTLAWS 1985’s album “Soldiers Of Fortune“, the band’s most AORish album ever, with that mid-Eighties radio friendly sound.

During the Seventies, The Outlaws enjoyed significant success in the US with their melodious blend of Southern Rock. They did massive tours alongside American big name acts and their records sold very well establishing the group as a reference for the genre.
By 1982 the band had left behind their glory years, operating mostly out of a sense of duty. And they chose to hang up their stetsons and kick off their muddy cowboy boots was no surprise.

Fortunately in 1985 the band reunited around the core components of Hughie Thomason and Henry Paul who returned to the group, to sign with Spencer Proffer / Pasha Records, a record label exploding with the success of a revitalised Quiet Riot.
Produced by Randy Bishop (Prophet, Kick Axe) and recorded in Los Angeles, “Soldiers Of Fortune” explores the heart of the Southern rock style, injecting it with a well executed dose of contemporary melodic hard rock bravado.

Yes, it was 1985, and you gotta sound ‘glossy’, no matter the genre.
Then, The Outlaws’ bluesy core results enhanced here by cleaner guitars, more melodic vocals / harmonies, keyboards and typically mid-80s compressed drums.
Additionally, there’s a much more commercial approach and the choruses are suited for radio.

“Soldiers Of Fortune” is some kind of a mix of .38 Special, White Heart (Dann Huff band), Van Zant, Jon Butcher (who does backing vocals here) and even Le Roux, blending bluesy roots with AOR atmospheres.
There’s also place for a track with a classic vintage The Outlaws’ sound, but also a couple with a harder edge, almost hard rock, akin Blackfoot and Molly Hatchet with the twin lead guitars working over time.

I always loved The Outlaws’ “Soldiers Of Fortune”, simply because it served a different dish of mid-80s AOR / Melodic Rock: one strongly based in Southern bluesy rock but with ‘that’ glossy production.
This is a very well achieved remaster by Rock Candy Records, punchy ‘n rockin’.
Highly Recommended

01 – One Last Ride
02 – Soldiers Of Fortune
03 – The Night Cries
04 – The Outlaw
05 – Cold Harbor
06 – Whatcha Don’t Do
07 – Just The Way I Like It
08 – Saved By The Bell
09 – Lady Luck
10 – Racin’ For The Red Light

Henry Paul – lead vocals, guitar
Hughie Thomasson – guitar, lead & background vocals
Steve Grisham – guitar, lead & background vocals
Chuck Glass – bass, keyboards, background vocals
David Dix – percussion, drums
additional musicians:
Randy Bishop – keyboards, programming, backing vocals
Buster McNeil – guitar, backing vocals
Jimmy Glenn – drums
Jon Butcher, Bart Bishop, John Townsend, Stacey Lyn Shaffer – backing vocals

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www.amazon.com/Soldiers-Fortune-OUTLAWS/dp/B00B125S7Q