BENTWOOD ROCKER – Take Me To Heaven [digitally remastered] (2016) out of print

Not many AOR fans are aware about this underrated Canadian band BENTWOOD ROCKER which released two albums in the early Eighties. This, their second record “Take Me To Heaven” is a very fine slice of radio-friendly early ’80s AOR tunes which has been digitally remastered for all fans of the genre to enjoy.

Bentwood Rocker was founded in 1977 by a group of friends from high school. They released a first LP in a private label called Not Taken in the vein on early Prism (another highly underrated Canuck outfit) which sold pretty well, and then Quality Records singed the quintet for a new album and promises of proper distribution.

Issued in 1982, “Take Me To Heaven” is plenty of early ’80s radio friendly AOR tunes with melodies similar to the Prism gem Small Change with traces of Harlequin, Spys and why not, Loverboy.
Spiced with a touch of Pomp, this is a tour de force for lovers of polished Canadian / American AOR featuring crackers like ‘Turnin’ All The Heads’, the catchy ‘Heart Says Go’ (similar to Americans Balance), title track ‘Take Me To Heaven’ plenty of pompy analog synths, or ‘New World Coming’.

‘Throw Away Love’ delivers more stylized AOR arrangements with some classy melodies and tons of harmonies, whilst ‘You’ is a lovely mid-tempo ballad,
For more rocking pieces, look for ‘Best Man’, a muscular foot-tapping melodic rocker with sharp riffs and some early Loverboy vibe, then ‘New World Coming’ rocks even harder, and the title of “Rock ‘N’ Roll Overload” says it all.

“Take Me To Heaven” worked well in Canada with minor success in America, but sadly Quality Records broke soon after the release of the LP.
This turned the album very hard to find for ages, until some years ago the band released it by themselves on CD for first time, but only available via personal orders.

Now “Take Me To Heaven” is accessible (digitally remastered) distributed by AOR Heaven Records for all rabid AOR fans to discover Bentwood Rocker’s classic sound, a band that could have been huge with better luck.
This material is on par with the acts mentioned before and it’s utterly essential in any serious ’80s AOR collection. Even better news, as the Canadian boys are working on a new album scheduled for 2016.
HIGHLY Recommended

1 – Heart Says Go
2 – Take Me To Heaven
3 – Throw Away Love
4 – You
5 – Best Man
6 – New World Coming
7 – Turning All The Heads
8 – Too Old To Rock
9 – Rock ‘N’ Roll Overload

Dan Thompson – lead vocals, guitar
Eric Baragar – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Barry Haggarty – guitar, backing vocals
Mike Goettler – bass, backing vocals
Steve Smith – drums, backing vocals

out of print