NIGHT RANGER – Dawn Patrol [Japan remaster SHM-CD] [Limited Release]

After several requests, here we have the Japanese High Quality SHM-CD remasters of NIGHT RANGER ’80s albums (sadly, all out of print), here we go… first with “Dawn Patrol“, Night Ranger’s debut studio album.
The group’s origins can be traced to Rubicon, a pop/funk group including bassist Jack Blades, drummer Kelly Keagy and guitarist Brad Gillis. Whe Rubicon disbanded, the 3 started to perform under the name ‘Stereo’, later adding keyboardist Alan Fitzgerald, a former member of Montrose, in 1980.
Fitzgerald soon recommended enlisting a second virtuoso guitarist, so Jeff Watson, who led his own band in Northern California. The seeds were sown for a new Melodic Hard Rock band, initially called simply ‘Ranger’.

In 1982 the band changed its name to Night Ranger after a country band, The Rangers, claimed a trademark. By this point, they had recorded “Dawn Patrol” for Boardwalk Records. The first issues of the album were printed but the record company destroyed the copies with the band name Ranger on it.
After Boardwalk folded, producer Bruce Bird secured Night Ranger a deal with MCA on their Camel subsidiary in 1983.

“Dawn Patrol” is awesome in many aspects. With this first work Night Ranger were ahead of their time in the Melodic Hard Rock field in terms of arrangements, musicianship and production.
The aim was to sound potent and rocking, but at the same time extremely melodic.
You have two fantastic lead singers in Jack Blades and drummer Kelly Keagy providing variation, the guitarists are virtuosos but at the service of the song, and drums are thundering and heavy yet very dynamic.

One of the most notable ‘new thing’ in Night Ranger was the use of the keyboards: Fitzgerald was one of the first using digital synths in a Melodic Hard Rock in America. His parping infusions are present on all songs, at places really taken a center role for great effect.

Dripping with killer hooks and irresistible choruses “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me,” “Sing Me Away,” and “Young Girl in Love” are simply outstanding songs. Anyone doubting the band’s ability to Rock out need only listen to the vicious bursts of “Eddie’s Comin’ Out Tonight” and “Play Rough”.

“Dawn Patrol” is pure gold, and this Japanese remaster on SHM-CD sounds incredible.
One of the greatest Melodic Hard Rock albums ever made.
A MUST HAVE

ＵＮＩＶＥＲＳＡＬ ＭＵＳＩＣ ＪＡＰＡＮ ～ UICY-94146【SHM-CD/非再販商品】

01 – Don’t Tell Me You Love Me
02 – Sing Me Away
03 – At Night She Sleeps
04 – Call My Name
05 – Eddie’s Comin’ Out Tonight
06 – Can’t Find Me A Thrill
07 – Young Girl In Love
08 – Play Rough
09 – Penny
10 – Night Ranger

Jack Blades – bass, lead vocals
Jeff Watson – guitars
Brad Gillis – guitars
Alan Fitzgerald – keyboards
Kelly Keagy – drums, lead vocals
Mike Beard – effects

Out Of Print, try it here:
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICY-94146
.