Genre: rock
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Pat Travers' Black Pearl
Company: Polydor
Catalog: PD-1-6131
Year: 1982
Country/State: Toronto, Canada
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: minor ring wear; cut out notch lower left corner
Available: SOLD
GEMM catalog ID: SOLD
Price: SOLD $9.00
When I was in college Pat Travers was the man ... He may not have had the history, or name recognition of an Eric Clapton, but if you listened to FM rock stations, he was a staple. That said, by the mid-1980s he'd essentially disappeared. He was still out there, but popular tastes had shifted, leaving him behind.
Against that backdrop 1982's "Pat Travers' Black Pearl" was what you'd have to call a difficult project. His previous album "Radio Active" hit the top-40, but label Polydor wasn't impressed with sales and dropped him. Travers turned around and filed suit against the company claiming his contract allowed him to record more material. He won; the result being 1982's "Black Pearl". (The liner notes included a special thanks to his legal team.) Needless to say, it proved somewhat of an empty victory. Polydor released the album, but did virtually nothing to promote it. That was unfortunate since musically the album was a return to a more conventional and commercial rock sound. Backed by the band Black Pearl featuring long time bassist Peter Cowling, drummer Sandy Gennaro, and keyboardist Don Harriss, the set was considerably more accessible than "Radio Active" had been.
- Perhaps intended as an effort to make peace with Polydor management, 'I La La Love You' was the most commercial track Travers had recorded in years. A crushing combination of his instantly recognizable guitar, then-cutting edge synthesizers (today they sound gloriously cheesy) and a pounding hook that wouldn't let go of you, it should have been a massive radio hit. rating: ***** stars
- With the focus squarely on Travers guitar 'I'd Rather See You Dead' was a nice rocker with considerable commercial potential. It also served to showcase what a great bluesy voice Travers had. rating: *** stars
- 'Stand Up' was the first disappointment. As a conventional rocker it wasn't that the song was bad, rather it sounded like something written to order. Seriously, the anthem feel sounded like something that had been written to spec - perhaps to slot into a movie soundtrack. And what was with the spoken word section? Maybe it was intended for a Western? rating: ** stars
- 'Who'll Take the Fall' was a nice return to form, only slightly marred by needless synthesizers. Kudos to Gennero for his frenetic drums. Anyone who could keep up with Travers deserved notice. Elsewhere was it just my ears, or was there a refrain in here that sounded like something borrowed from an Elton John song? Other than the synthesizers, my only complaint was that the song faded out just as Travers was starting to warm up. rating: **** stars
- I remember head 'The Fifth' played on my local hard rock station and being appalled by it. I guess it was kind of cute for Travers to take on Beethoven's Fifth, but what was the real point? Unless you've had a ton of beer, suggest you simply stick with a more original rendition. rating: **** stars
- Side two started with the quirky reggae-flavored 'Misty Morning'. Different, and other than the chorus, really not that great. Bob Marley didn't have to worry about his position in the hierarchy. rating: ** stars
- 'Can't Stop the Heartache' was the contractually mandated AOR hit ... two parts Heart, one part Journey. Okay, I liked the harmonica solo. rating: ** stars
- 'Amhewamma Kick Booty' was the track that seemed to attract the most attention from folks, which is kind of funny since I found it to be a fairly pedestrian mixture of boogie rock with a touch of fusion in it. Regardless, I must have missed the point. rating: ** stars
- 'Rockin'' was a return to early Travers - straight ahead, no-frills guitar rock. Nice brainless way to end the album. rating: *** stars
Not my favorite Travers album, but a nice mid-inning return to form and shame on Polydor for not doing more with it.
"Pat
Travers' Black Pearl" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) I La La Love You (Pat Travers) - 3:40
2.) I'd Rather See You Dead (Pat Travers - E. Alonso Travers - Don Harriss) - 4:14
3.) Stand Up (G. Wallace) - 4:30
4.) Who'll Take the Fall (Pat Travers) - 4:17
5.) The Fifth (instrumental) (Ludwig Van Beethoven) - 3:27
(side
2)
1.) Misty Morning (Bob Marley) - 3:06
2.) Can't Stop the Heartache (Pat Travers) - 5:11
3.) Amhewamma Kick Booty (instrumental) (Pat Travers Peter Cowling - Don Harriss - Sandy Gennaro) - 3:27)
4.) Rockin' (Pat Travers) - 5:36
For anyone's interested, Travers has a nice website at:
http://www.pattravers.com/pt/discog/discog2004.htm