It's hard to believe that a rock and pop outfit like Tinted Windows didn't get more attention when they formed in 2009. The group consisted of members from hit-making bands Hanson (vocalist Taylor Hanson), Smashing Pumpkins (bassist James Iha), Fountains of Wayne (guitarist and more Adam Schlesinger), and Cheap Trick (drummer Bun E. Carlos). Tinted Windows ended up releasing only one album (self-titled). If the group is ever revived, it will sadly have to be without Schlesinger, who passed away from COVID-19 in 2020. The record remains a power pop fan's dream, filled with energetic and sunny tunes that have you singing along in no time.
Jim Peterik is a god in AOR circles, but most people don't know his name. He's been a driving force in hitmakers The Ides of March and Survivor, and written hit songs for other artists including .38 Special, Henry Paul Band, and Cheap Trick, yet he's never scored a chart appearance as a solo artist. Partly because he has released very few solo records. Even then, he usually has big name collaborators, as in the case of his World Stage records. The first record he released with this rotating all-star band was back in 2000, and Peterik is slated to release another long-awaited World Stage record this year (2019). Peterik's collaboration runs strong with Cheap Trick, who lent a hand to write and perform this truly great rocker called "Zig Zag" from the first World Stage record. Punching it up even more are backing vocals from Tom Keifer of Cinderella.
If Joey C. Jones and his so-called Glory Hounds had released their CD in the late 80s, they would have been huge. But their self-titled debut album arrived a day late and a dollar short in 1994. Sounding like Vince Neil fronting Cheap Trick, this band had all the ingredients for major chart success being the hairband craze. In fact, their album contains a song written by members of Cheap Trick ("Wait All Night"). Joey C. Jones was also a member of an early 80s glam band called Sweet Savage. Fondness for glam rock can also be found on his self-titled record on "Broadway," a track co-written with Poison's CC Deville. "Hello" appropriately opens this fine album of overlooked power pop and rock.
Gregg Giuffria - is he blessed or cursed? This talented musician got his start in the 70s rock band Angel, which was discovered by none other than Gene Simmons of Kiss. After a couple minor hits, the band dissolved and Giuffria started a solo band he named after himself. He scored another couple minor hits under the Giuffria banner in the early 80s, but big time commercial success remained evasive. In 1987, Giuffria started a third project that would become House of Lords. And once again it was Gene Simmons who picked up the band on his own record label. James Christian was brought on board as the powerhouse vocalist (he's married to Robin Beck, for those keeping score). The band's debut self-titled album arrived in 1988 and landed a minor hit with "I Want To Be Loved," which reached #58 in 1989. In 1991, the band followed-up with "Sahara," an album that yielded their only other charting single, "Remember My Name," which got to #72 in 1991. "Sahara" should have performed better, especially with outstanding cuts like "Heart On The Line." Do you hear Cheap Trick in this tune? That's because Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick wrote it and Robin Zander contributed backing vocals. Other guests on this overlooked record include Mike Tramp of White Lion and Steve Plunkett of Autograph. Also on this record is an excellent cover of Blind Faith's "Can't Find My Way Home." Nearly 30 years later, Cheap Trick recorded their own version of this song for their album, "Bang, Zoom, Crazy...Hello." House of Lords quickly fell off the mainstream map, like many hard rock acts in the 90s. Too bad the third time wasn't quite the charm for Gregg Giuffria, but he's got plenty to be proud of in his music career. House of Lords has continued to serve up many more hard rock releases over the years, most recently with 2017's "Saint Of The Lost Souls."
It is extremely difficult to select just one track from the prolific Cheap Trick, a melodic rock band that has been cranking out hits since the 70s - and still going strong, with their new album, "Bang, Zoom, Crazy...Hello", released just this year. The band's first charting single was "Surrender", which surprisingly only went to #62 in 1978. Given the familiarity with this now classic song, you'd think it went top 10 back in the day. But the band's first major score was "I Want You To Want Me", which soared to #6 the following year. Cheap Trick belted out a bunch of great tunes but didn't see the top 10 again until 1988 with their monster ballad, "The Flame". To satisfy label demands, the band brought in additional songwriters for "Lap of Luxury" and "The Flame", along with their cover of "Don't Be Cruel" (which went to #4), were the positive results. On the strength of these singles, the album became their second highest charting release, topping out at #16. "Let Go" is the lead-off track and helps set the tone for this outstanding record. Written by Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen and collaborator Todd Cerney, the "Rock Doctor", this song was released as the fourth single (the third was another ballad, "Ghost Town", co-written with Diane Warren, which went to #33). "Let Go" is one of my favorite Cheap Trick anthems, but it didn't chart. The fifth and final single, "Never Had A Lot To Lose", did chart however, reaching #75 in 1989. As another fun piece of "Lap of Luxury" trivia, Gregg Giuffria (Angel, Giuffria, House of Lords) co-wrote "All We Need Is A Dream".
