Holy Water The Collected Sessions
by Derric Miller
Staff Writer
Back in the late ’80s, members of bands like Doro, Quiet Riot, Widowmaker, Saraya, etc. joined forces to record an AOR classic, under the project name Holy Water. Obviously, Holy Water never became that classic, but they have achieved cult status. Having Foreigner’s Al Greenword produce and mix your release certainly adds to their Classic Rock/AOR legend. Out now on Perris Records, you can pick up The Collected Sessions and hear exactly what the hubbub was all about.
The band consists of David Knight (vocals), Thomas Jude (guitar), Freddy Villano (bass) and Tony Galtieri (drums).
When the band first got together, they recorded three songs known as “The Green Sessions,” and the song that easily could have catapulted them into Top 10 status is the opening song, “I’m Not Worried Anymore.” It will remind you of Foreigner, maybe Alias, even perchance Bad Company (with Brian Howe, not Paul Rodgers). Knight sings much like Lou Gramm used to, with a soaring higher range that owns a bit of an edge when he wants it to. The chorus is sheer melody, just and Jude’s guitar solo is a bit more talented than you would have expected. Each of these musicians are talented; even the backing vocals are impressive.
“Some Things Have to Happen” thumps along with Villano thrumming a deep, steady bass line and Jude tearing into a noisy riff. It’s frankly amazing that Knight hasn’t fronted some larger bands; this guy can wail. The thing about Holy Water is that you would have sworn you’ve heard these songs before, but chances are you haven’t. This should have been another hit for Holy Water.
Jude’s quirky riff on “Once is Not Enough” will remind many of Paul Gilbert’s work in Mr. Big, and of course, so does the overall song. Knight certainly sings with a bluesy edge to his vocals during the verses. It’s also an anthem for summer, with lines like, “Once is not enough; does this have to be a one night stand?”
“If I Knew Then” keeps the pedal to the floor, but still under the speed limit. It may be the heaviest song on The Collected Sessions.
The tracks that don’t really work are covers, “Crocodile Rock” and the overdone and “Living for the City.” At least Holy Water mixes up the arrangement on “Crocodile Rock,” especially at the beginning, and you won’t even know what song it is at first. Still, it is not a memorable cover. “Living for the City” is arguably worse; the best part of the track is listening to Villano’s bass expertise.
Holy Water is/was an intriguing band. Songs like “I’m Not Worried Anymore” “If I Knew Then” and “Some Things Have to Happen” reveal a glimmer of what they could have been had they kept things going. Of course, that’s about the time Grunge took everyone’s birthday away for a decade, so it’s no surprise Holy Water was a one-off project. That being said, if you are a fan of Foreigner and Howe-era Bad Company, The Collected Sessions is more diamond than rough.
Label: Perris Records
Track listing:
1. I’m Not Worried Anymore
2. No More Heartache
3. Some Things Have To Happen
4. Once Is Not Enough
5. If I Knew Then
6. MonsteR Iff
7. Crocodile Rock
8. Living For The City
9. All I Need
HRH Rating: 7.5/10