Gary O' - s/t

Name: Gary O' (Connor)
Album: s/t
Year: 1981
Style: Singer Songwriter Power Pop
Similar Bands: Steve Perry, Billy Joel, Foreigner, Nick Gilder
"One-Word" Review: Dollar Store 80's Rocker
Based Out Of: Ontario, Canada
Label: Capitol, EMI

 Cover, Record

Record, Back

Gary O' (1981)

1. All the Young Heroes 3:40
2. Pay You Back With Interest 2:50 (Hollies cover)
3. California Goodbye 5:43
4. I Believe In You 3:50 (Cats Cover) /
5. Suzanne 2:59
6. The Way You Look Tonight 3:47
7. Just A Little Love 3:25
8. Nightrider 4:12
9. Been A Long Time 4:16 

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Richard Landis - Producer, Keys
• Charlie Calello - String Arrangement & Conducting (Four Seasons, Four Lovers, Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond, Bruce Springsteen, Laura Nyro, Barbara Streisand, Ray Charles)
• Gary O'(Connor) - Vox, Guitar, Words & Music (Synics, Spasstiks, Cat, Liverpool, Aerial, Kid Rainbow)
• David Landau - Guitars (Clarence Clemons & The Red Bank Rockers, Warren Zevon, Carolyne Mas, Desmond Child)
• George Doering - Guitars (Don Ellis & Survical, Brenton Wood, Finished Touch, Brian Auger, Geno Washington, Syl Johnson, Mike Love, Swing, Roger Voudouris, Red Rider, Juice Newton, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Air Supply, Vince Gill, 
• Peter Wolf - Keys, Synth (Frank Zappa, Fatty George Crew, Gipsy Love, Music and Fun is All, Objective truth Orchestra, Mothers, Reform Art Unit, Vienna, Group 87 )
• Jai Winding - Keys (Yesca, Warren Zevon, The Simpsons, Stevie Nicks, Jackson Browne, Riot, Bonnie Raitt, Dave Mason, Mr. Big, Paul Williams, Boz Scaggs)
• Bryan Garofolo - Bass (America, Bernie Leadon Michael Georgiades Band, Hate Boys, Things to Come, John Stewart, Joe Walsh, Kim Carnes, BB King, Dory Previn, Joan Amratrading, Steve Perry,  Motels)
• Craig Krampf - Drums (Billy & the American Suns, Cherokee, Robert Bradleu's Blackwater Surprise, Skatt Bros. Hate Boys, Robbs, Nick Gilder, Kim Carnes, Alice Cooper, Kenny Rogers)
• Jim Haas - Backing Vox (Discos JJS, Eleventh Hour, Roger Waters & Bleeding Heart Band,  Ron Hicklin Singers, Frantics, Jackson Browne, Barry Manilow, Paul Williams, Vince Gill, Eric Carmen, America, Lauren Branigan, Rick Springfield
• Stan Farber - Backing Vox (Disco JJS, Hollywood Film Chorale, Bob Alcivar Singers, California Dreamers, Eligibles, Zip-Codes, Ralph Carmichael & Young People, Partidge Family, Sparks, Tubes, Leif Garrett)
• Jon Joyce - Backing Vox (Disco JJS, Eleventh Hour, Hollywood Film Chrale, Paul Johnston Voices, Roger Waters & Bleeding Heart Band, Paul Williams, Helen Reddy, Pink Floyd)
• Joe Chiccarelli - Recording
• Mitchell Gibson - Asst. Recording
• Hugh Davies - Asst. Recording
• Dana Bisbee - Asst. Recording
• Ruth Burghardt - Production Coordinator
• Les Cooper - Asst. Mixing
• Wally Traugott - Mastering
• Ken Young - Art Direction Design
• Stephen Glass - Mgmt

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this artist, assuming it is basically a singer / songwriter. The bubble-font of his name reminds me of either 10cc or Spanky & Our Gang, and Gary O' resembles Andy Partridge a little. I've seen the graphing pattern overlay design used on a bunch of softer new wave bands. The light above Gary as the frame repeats back slightly psychedelically actually makes me think that this may be religious-tinged.

Album Review: Son to a jazz musician, Gary played with many bands before he went solo with this record. He has also had popularity writing hits for other folks & bands, like 38 Special, Molly Hatchet and Eddie Money. The album is full of light, breezy & tame pop numbers with 80's dated synth production.

Stand Out Track: All the Young Heroes

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