The Henry Paul Band scored one minor hit in the early 80s with "Keeping Our Love Alive." With a sound reminiscent of the Eagles brand of country rock, the song deserved better than stalling at #50. The song also features Richard Paige (Mr. Mister) and Bill Champlin (Chicago) on backing vocals. The Henry Paul Band also had some pretty incredible guitar playing for a group that was considered soft rock. Some of their solos and riffs would have a home in shredding metal songs - seriously! Henry Paul was in a Southern rock band called The Outlaws before and after this venture, and formed the country band BlackHawk in 1991. By 1998, he was back on the charts with "There You Have It," which reached #41. "Longshot" preceded the arrival of "Keeping Our Love Alive" but it bubbled under in 1980. It was another single that should have brought this talented band some wider recognition. Fun fact: both of these songs (and many others in the band's catalogue) were co-written with Jim Peterik, a co-founder of Survivor.
Out of the ashes of their band Pages, singer and bassist Richard Page and keyboardist Steve George regrouped to form a new pop rock band called Mr. Mister. Yes, the band referenced in the 2009 hit "Hey, Soul Sister," by Train. Mr. Mister was on a hot streak in the mid-80s. After warming up audiences in 1984 with "Hunters Of The Night," which reached #57, the band released their masterpiece record, "Welcome To The Real World." The album spawned two consecutive #1 hits with "Broken Wings" and "Kyrie," and the third single, "Is It Love" went to #8. With a big success like that, you'd think the band would have a pretty secure future, but they cooled off quickly. Their next release, 1987's "Go On," lacked the punch and radio-friendly melodies that earned them fans. After "Something Real (Inside Me/Inside You)" reached a disappointing #29, the band was ignored and broke up in 1990. Page would later release a solo record and write/play for many other artists. He was also a member of Ringo Starr's 12th All-Starr Band. "Uniform Of Youth" is another great cut from "Welcome To The Real World" that sees the band at its best, combining the synth rock with powerful guitars and an anthem-worthy chorus.
