Genre: rock
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: White Hot
Company: Casablanca
Catalog: NBLP-7085
Year: 1978
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: cut top right corner; original inner sleeve
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4432
Price: $4.00
Cost: $66.00
Ah, c'mon and admit it - there's something fascinating about 1970s' pretty boy hard rockers like the criminally overlooked Angel.
As a teenager (showing my age here), I always opted for the darker side of Casablanca's recording roster - namely Kiss. In hindsight that was probably a mistake since these guys were probably the better pop band ...
In spite of (or perhaps because of) the goofy cover and the overabundance of effeminate costuming and big hair, 1978's "White Hot" is surprisingly entertaining. The pouty inner sleeve photos are simply hysterical. Produced by Eddie Leonetti, the album was billed as hard rock, but in hindsight these guys were really little more than a shrill pop band. Truth be told, there wasn't a single original note or move to be found here, but that wasn't what Angel fans were looking for. In addition to sporting the worst hair in the group, lead singer DiMino's yelping vocals were somewhat of an acquired taste. That said, original material such as ''Don't Leave Me Lonely, 'Hold Me, Squeeze Me' and 'Under Suspicion' was surprisingly tuneful (certainly better than your typical Gene Simmons sludge). Commercially this may have been their biggest hit. Released as a single 'Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore' b/w ''Flying with Broken Wings (Casablanca catalog number NB 914) actually hit the top-50 charts.
Nice Angel webpage at: http://www.grndzero.com/anghome.htm
"White Hot" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Don't Leave Me Lonely (Barry Brandt - Frank DiMino) - 4:00
2.) Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore (Burton - Sawyer) - 2:52
3.) Hold Me, Squeeze Me (Frank DiMino - Greg Giuffria - Punky Meadows) - 3:56
4.) Over Me (Frank DiMono - Greg Giuffria - Punky Meadows) - 3:01
5.) Under Suspicion (Barry Brandt - Frank DiMino - Greg Giuffria) - 4:43
(side 2)
1.) Got Love If You Want It (Frank DiMono - Greg Giuffria - Punky Meadows) -4:28
2.) Stick Like Glue (Frank DiMono - Greg Giuffria - Punky Meadows) -2:39
3.) Flying with Broken Wings (without You) (Frank DiMono - Greg Giuffria - Punky Meadows) - 3:32
4.) You Could Lose Me (Frank DiMono - Greg Giuffria - Punky Meadows) -4:54
5.) The Winter Song (Frank DiMono - Greg Giuffria - Punky Meadows) -3:44