SHANGHAI (ex Spider) – Shanghai (1982) [CD reissue] Rare *HQ*

A few days ago we featured the two albums from melodic rock/pop outfit Spider featuring females Holly Knight and Amanda Blue. Well, seems you liked these a lot, then you need to have SHANGHAI self-titled album from 1982, here in its only CD reissue not easy to find.
After the second Spider album, Holly Knight focused in songwriter duties & performing for other artists and amicably leave the band. Enter ‘bad boy’ Beau Hill but this time as musician replacing Holly on the keyboards and contributing songwriting, and the band changed its name for SHANGHAI.

The self-titled album ”Shanghai” on Chrysalis Records was produced & mixed by monsters Bob Rock and Bruce Fairbairn, and having these and Beau involved circa 1982, you can only expect that classic American AOR sound & style here.
The opening track “S.O.S.” sets the tone, reminiscent of Jefferson Starship’s “Jane”, with consistent quality throughout the album. “Born To Rock” brings a touch of hard rock influences, but overall this is AOR / Melodic Rock with the era’s ‘hero pump’. Songs full of big hooks, dynamic keyboards, and showcasing the great pipes of Amanda Blue.

Beau Hill, previously of Airborne, later became a sought-after producer for bands like Streets, Warrant, Alice Cooper, et all. Drummer Anton Fig, a respected session musician, has contributed to albums by Aldo Nova, Journey, and Madonna. Bassist Jimmy Lowell recorded with Fast Forward, known for their classic AOR album “Living In Fiction”.
And then Amanda Blue, later known as Amanda Leigh, has released solo albums with moderate success but achieving a strong fan base.

Lovers of 1980-1983 American AOR (Pat Benatar, Quarterflash, Spiders) can’t go wrong with “Shanghai”.
Be aware there’s fake versions of this Renaissance Records reissue, with replicated artwork but using a poor vinyl as source. This is the real one, only at 0dayrox.

01 – S.O.S
02 – Always a Rebel
03 – X-Ray Vision
04 – I Need Your Love
05 – Talk to Me
06 – Born to Rock
07 – Brand New Boy
08 – All of My Tears
09 – On Video
10 – Girl Who Likes to Cry

Lead Vocals – Amanda Blue
Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals – Beau Hill
Bass, Backing Vocals – Jimmy Lowell
Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Anton Fig
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Keith Lentin

Produced & mixed by Bob Rock and Bruce Fairbairn

Try Here:
www.amazon.com.be/-/en/Shanghai/dp/B002EZLPWG