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- Shawn Burns -- bass

- John DiGlullo -- drums, percussion 

- Gary Feldman -- bass

- Darren Lorenzo -- vocals 

- Xavier Paul -- vocals

- Greg Schlotthauer -- lead vocals

- Marc Silvert -- guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

- Steve Unger -- keyboards, bass, backing vocals

- Greg Aaron (aka Greg Schlotthauer )

= The Alan Milman Sect (Marc Silvert)

- Radio City (Marc Silvert)

- The Revelons (Marc Silvert)

Genre: pop

Rating: 4 stars ****

Title:  Sunrise Highway

Company: Songheads Music

Catalog: 84501 24035 2
Year: 2010

Country/State: Long Island, NY

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: CD format

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 1650

Price: $25.00

Geez, where in the world did this CD come from ?  Who would have expected a bunch of guys from Long Island (three of them veterans of the grossly overlooked Radio City), to have nailed mid-'60s sunshine pop moves with such accuracy and enthusiasm ...   I've listened to this set literally dozens of times over the last couple of weeks and just can't get over the collection's charms.  In fact, it's one of the few album's I've copied over to my iPhone in its entirety.

Can't say I know much about Sunrise Highway.  As mentioned, guitarist Marc Silvert had been a member of Radio City and The Revelons.  Part-time bassist Gary Feldman and keyboardist Steve Unger had also been in Radio City.  Lead singer/keyboardist Greg Schlotthauer had been working as a street musician and in New York clubs.

SIlvert was clearly the front man on this project.  In addition to producing "Sunrise Highway", he was responsible for writing most of the material, mixing, mastering, and even the CD design and layout.  Musically this one offered up a prime collection of '60s sunshine pop with Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys serving as a clear inspiration.  Add in touches of Curt Boettcher, "Somewhere/Anywhere" era Todd Rundgren, and Eric Carmen and the Raspberries and the set had immense appeal for anyone who enjoyed a good '60s, or '70s pop tune.  If you were slightly younger, imagine The High Llamas with better songs.   And while Silvert clearly owed a deep debt of gratitude to those afore mentioned acts, this was far from a mindless tribute collection. With a rollicking rock feel, 'Big Brown Eyes' would not have sounded out of place on the Radio city LP.  'About' found the band updating their classic pop sound for current audiences.   As if you needed anything else, how about 'Jerry In the Skies' which served as one of the sweetest tributes to Jerry Garcia you've ever heard.   So how do you pick the standout performances where virtually every tune was a winner?   Here goes - 'Life On Mars', 'Baby Be Good', and 'Magic'.   No, how about 'Roundabout', 'Lonely Day', and 'About You'?   For goodness sakes don't even try to pick a favorite. Yeah, I know you can't live in the past and nostalgia can be dangerously self-deceiving, but this album harkened back to a magic time in pop music.   All hyperbole aside, it was one of those collections that every self-respecting '60s pop fan should at least hear.    And while you're at it, check out the Radio City album.

"Sunrise Highway" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Life On Mars   (Marc Silvert) - 4:22

The lyrics were a bit on the trippy side (wish the CD included a lyric insert), but kicked along by Greg Schlotthauer warm voice, Steve Unger's mesmerizing bass line, and those Beach Boys-styled harmonies this was a perfect summer tune.    rating: **** stars

2.) Endless Summer   (Marc Silvert) - 4:21

'Endless Summer' was a glistening Beach Boys-styled ballad with the added bonus of some tasty Silvert lead guitar.   rating: **** stars

3.) Baby Be Good   (Marc Silvert - Steve Unger) - 3:48

Kicked along by Unger's percussive piano and those sweet harmony vocals, 'Baby Be Good' sounded like Todd Rundgren having stumbled across a lost Brian Wilson classic.  With a mixture of sterling pop moves and a dash of lysergic flavoring, this was easily one of the album's highlights.   rating: ***** stars

4.) Big Brown Eyes   (Marc Silvert) - 2:49

Sonically 'Big Brown Eyes' held on to Silvert's affection of '60s harmonies, but grafted the results on to a power pop tune that sounded like something Radio City might have recorded.  Another great tune.   rating: **** stars

5.) Lonely Guy   (Marc Silvert) - 2:58

Charming  mid-tempo tune with some amazing Gary Feldman bass.  This one got better every time you heard it.     rating: ***** stars

6.) Magic   (Marc Silvert) - 4:10

Silvert opened 'Magic' with some mesmerizing folk-rock guitar and the tune got even better when the top-40 melody and soothing vocals kicked in.  Another album highlight.   rating: **** stars

(side 2)
1.) Roundabout   (Marc Silvert) - 4:16

Another Brian Wilson-styled  tune built on Unger's rollicking piano and lysergic bass, 'Roundabout' was easily one of the album's best pop tunes.  One of Schlotthauer's nicest vocals.     rating: **** stars

2.) Jerry In the Skies   (Marc Silvert) -2:52

One of the album's more lysergic tunes - given the fluid lead guitar and the lyrics, it made for one of the nicer nods to the late Jerry Garcia ...  I suspect most Deadheads would approve.    rating **** stars   

3.) Just Friends   (Marc Silvert - Dave Feldman) - 4:16

'Just Friends' was the album's lone collaboration with former Radio City partner Dave Feldman.  The reflective and slightly mournful lyrics made you wonder what the back story was on this one.   rating: *** stars

4.) Alone In the City   (Marc Silvert - Steve Unger) -3:08

Another collaboration with Unger, 'Alone In the City' marked a return to Beach Boys stylings.   rating: **** stars

5.) About You   (Marc Silvert) -4:10

The only song to feature Darren Lorenzo and Xavier Paul on vocals, 'About You' was one of the album's most commercial tunes, though it was somewhat atypical in that in downplayed the Beach Boys/Rundgren feel in favor of a more modern, but no less pop, sound.   Another killer tune and personal favorite.   rating: ***** stars

6.) MIni Bar   (Marc Silvert) - 3:24

After hearing Silvert's lone lead vocal, you had to wonder why he didn't handle more of the vocal duties. Yeah, his voice may not have been as top-40ish as Lorenzo, Paul, or Schlotthauer, but he brought an interesting edge to the song and lyrics on 'Mini Bar' were simply hysterical.  Ah, the hard truths we learn on the road of life.   The belch was a nice touch.   rating: **** stars

The CD came with a bonus CD featured demo versions of four of the tunes

1.) Big Brown Eyes   (Marc Silvert) - 

"Sung by Patricia Stevens, who sang harmonies on the Sunrise Highway LP."  Musically the arrangement wasn't all that different from the album version, though Stevens' likable voice gave the song a slightly country-rock feel.   rating: *** stars

2.) Just Friends   (Marc Silvert - Dave Feldman) - 

"Sung by Marc Silvert.  Features more guitar than the version on the Sunrise Highway CD.  Marc explains: "Gives it more of a Todd Rundgren "Something/Anything" sound that I love so much."  The nod goes to the CD version.  Silvert's vocals were okay, but couldn't match Greg Schlotthauer.
3.) Lonely Guy   (Marc Silvert) - 

"Sung by Marc Silvert"

4.) Alone In the City   (Marc Silvert) - 

"Sung by Marc Silvert.  Marc explains: "Believe It or not, I was trying to get a Spiral Staircase "(I Love You More Than Yesterday") feeling to the song."