Genre: rock
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Airborne
Company: Tiger LIly
Catalog: TL
14045
Year: 1976
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: signed by Kevin McCabe and Barry Fields on front cover; cut out hole top right corner
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5721
Price: $125.00
There are at least a half dozen bands with the Airborne nameplate and I own music from a couple of them. This particular Airborne isn't the best, or the worst of the group. Released on the tax scam Tiger Lily label, one of the things this one has going for it is mystery. Curiously 1977's "Airborne" actually has considerably more bibliographical info than you standard tax scam release. The liner notes tell you:
- Who the band members were: lead guitarist Ed Bobrowski, bass player Barry Fields, singer/multi-instrumentalist Kevin McCabe, and drummer Dave 'Ski' Sulewski
- Who the songwriter(s) were: McCabe, with the exception of one Kinks cover
- Who the producers were: Fields and McCabe
So right off the bat you've got way more data than on your typical Tiger Lily album.
Musically the album featured some surprisingly enjoyable radio-friendly AOR. McCabe had a likeable voice with a chameleon-like ability that allowed him to adapt to a myriad of styles including country-flavored ballad ('Woman'), conventional rock ('Give Us a Kiss'), and even a left fielded stab at reggae ('Reggae No More'). Not a perfect comparison, but if you could get your arms around an American version of 10cc you'd be in the right aural neighborhood. The performances weren't hurt by the additional of lead guitarist Ed Bobrowski and drummer Dave 'Ski' Sulewski (the latter was particularly good). These guys certainly didn't score any points for creativity or originality, but by the same token their performances were never less than enjoyable and they managed to turn even pedestrian tunes into something worth hearing. Best of the lot were their nifty cover of 'Lola', 'Rocky Starr', and the closing rocker 'Circle of Life'. Bet they would have been fun to see in a niteclub.
"Airborne" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Stop Before You Break My Heart (Kevin McCabe)
2.) Reggae No More (Kevin McCabe)
3.) Wheel of Fortune (Kevin McCabe)
4.) Don't Stay Out All Night (Kevin McCabe)
5.) Chay Marie (Kevin McCabe)
(side
2)
1.) Rocky Starr (Kevin McCabe)
2.) Lola (Ray Davies) -
3.) Woman (Kevin McCabe)
4.) Give Us a Kiss (Kevin McCabe)
5.) Circle of Life (Kevin McCabe)