Song#: 3759
Date: 01/07/1988
Debut: 97
Peak: 58
Weeks: 7
Genre: Hard Rock
Pop Bits: The rock band Giuffria, formed by keyboardist Gregg Giuffria, had a promising start with their self-titled 1984 album reaching #26 and generating the #15 Pop/#3 Rock single "Call to the Heart." Their second album, '86's Silk + Steel saw less promotion from their label (MCA) and the results were not nearly as good as their debut. The band left MCA and began recording demos to shop around for another deal. Unfortunately, during the process the band decided to split. Undeterred, Gregg Giuffria set out to find another deal with the demos. One person who liked what he heard was Gene Simmons of Kiss. Simmons was just setting out to start his own label, Simmons Records (via RCA), and chose to sign Giuffria as his first artist. Giuffria wanted to get his former band back together for the venture, but Simmons required Giuffria to hire a new lead singer and change the name. Giuffria agreed and House of Lords was born. Work began on a self-titled debut album and when finished this first single was issued out. It didn't get very far peaking at #43 Rock and stalled in the bottom half of the Pop chart. With that result, the album could only reach #78.
ReduxReview: This hard rock/glam metal tune was more or less on par with others by similar bands of the day. It was a good track that was nicely produced, but there was really nothing special about it that could have taken it further. To keep up with the likes of Poison, Def Leppard, and Mötley Crüe, they needed something better than this. The talent was there, but to break out wide, they needed stronger material.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: The band's second album, 1990's Sahara, wouldn't do much to advance their career (#121). However, it did result in their lone Rock Top 10 hit. For the LP, the band chose to cover the 1969 Blind Faith classic "Can't Find My Way Home" (written and originally sung by band member Steve Winwood). The House of Lord's cover version would make its way to #10 at Rock. It did not chart at Pop. A second single, "Remember My Name," would get to #20 Rock while becoming a minor chart entry at Pop (#72). After that LP, the band left Simmons and moved over to Polygram for 1992's Demons Down. It would come and go quickly. The band would split up a year later. Like many bands, they would reform down the road. They got back together in 2000 and through various lineups have recorded and toured over the years.
_________________________________________________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment