If Only | No Bed of Roses
by Nikiforos Skoumas
Staff Writer
Having released the debut album of British AOR group Moritz, the band put together by AOR-visionary Greg Hart, Avenue of Allies records currently markets No Bed of Roses by If Only an album of Hart’s back-catalog. Hart, a guitar hero in his own right had put together a good number of AOR projects during the 80s with most suffering lack of contract, indefinite shelving and overdue release dates.
If Only was arguably the most ambitious and costly of those projects being essentially a female fronted AOR/melodic rock group with similar style and band format to US legends Heart. With an album that features no less than 17 songs (that would have been enough to fill two albums) No Bed of Roses is an exemplary reissue track-by-track. The sound of If only features up front electric guitars complemented by their acoustic counterparts, thick-yet-subtle rhythm section, catchy keyboards and incredible female vocals full of rock-star attitude. For that matter it has to be addressed that the singers are capable of handling just about any vocal melody whether that being groovy hard rock or a harmony-driven ballad; it would be no exaggeration to claim that there is vocal AOR magic to be enjoyed here, particularly on the slower songs.
Having mentioned the singers, it has to be clear that the original singer Jackie Bodimead left shortly after the completion of the recordings in 1988 which pushed the band a step backwards; subsequently new singer Tina Egan re-recorded the vocals on most songs as well as adding a few tunes of her own. This Avenue of Allies reissue features the final 12-song version of the album with Egan on vocals plus another four songs with Bodimead singing. The rest of the line up is consistent on all songs featuring female keyboardist Judit Armstrong, guitarist Nobby Styles drummer Andy Elphic and Moritz members bassist Ian Edwards and mastermind guitarist Greg Hart.
Originally released in 1992 in Japan and 1994 in Europe, If only receives an overdue, much deserved release in 2011. No Bed of Roses has the musical quality, the length and the production to stand up to current releases of the genres as well as generate demand for a follow-up. If melodic rock and female fronted AOR is your cup of tea then you will probably make the most of this should-have-been classic album.
Genre: AOR / Melodic Hard Rock / Glam Metal
Line-up:
Tina Egan – Lead vocals (tracks 1 – 12, 17)
Ian Edwards – Bass, keyboards
Greg Hart – Guitars, acoustic 6 & 12 string guitars, mandolin, keyboards
Nobby Styles – Guitars
Judit Armstrong – Keyboards
Andy Elphick – Drums, percussion
Jackie Bodimead – Lead vocals (tracks 13 – 16)
Track List:
1. Loaded Gun (5:29)
2. Tumblin’ Dice
3. If Love Could Last Forever
4. I’m No Angel
5. No Bed Of Roses
6. Easy Lay
7. Rock And A Hard Place
8. Red Hot Heaven
9. Ghost of You
10. Forever My Love
11. Long Way From Home
12. Man Against The World
13. All Over
14. Stand Like A Stone
15. Don’t Let Go
16. Shotdown
17. Tight Jeans (live)
Band website: http://www.myspace.com/moritzblitz
Label website: http://www.avenue-of-allies.com/
Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10