The Windows
Band members Related acts
|
line up 1 (1980-85) - Larry Brewer -- lead vocals, guitar - Paul Cooper -- drums, percussion - Paul Doege -- bass, backing vocals - Lowell Wiley -- guitar
line up 2 (1985-87) NEW - Alan Brewer -- drums, percussion, vocals (replaced Paul Cooper) - Larry Brewer -- lead vocals, guitar - Paul Doege -- bass, backing vocals NEW- Kirby Jackson (RIP 1987) -- keyboards, backing vocals
line up 3 (1987-92) - Alam Brewer -- drums, percussion, vocals - Larry Brewer -- lead vocals, guitar - Paul Doege -- bass,backing vocals NEW - Roger Elmore -- keyboards, backing vocals (replaced Kirby Jackson)
line up 3 (1992-95) - Alam Brewer -- drums, percussion, backing vocals - Larry Brewer -- lead vocals, guitar NEW - Dale Leftwich -- lead guitar, backing vocals NEW - Kevin Synan -- bass, backing vocals
|
- Larry Brewer (solo efforts) - The Rainmakers (Larry Brewer) - Raisin' Kane
|
|
Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Runnin' Alone Company: Window Catalog: WR
002 Country/State: Martin, Tennessee Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: original pressing Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1828 Price: $40.00
|
So if you're of that demographic where you were buying albums, cassettes, and CDs in the mid-'80s and had an affinity for AOR bands like The Hooters, Loverboy, Pablo Cruise, REO Speedwagon, then The Windows were liable to be up your musical alley.
Led by brothers Alan (drums) and Larry (vocals and guitar) Brewer, The Windows spent almost a decade becoming popular on the mid-'80s mid-West club and college circuit. Hard work in the form of near continuous playing saw them reach a point where they began opening for a slew of national bands including The Beach Boys, Peter Frampton, Hall & Oates, and Jefferson Starship. In spite of the resulting exposure, they never found a inside sponsor, or the opportunity they needed to break nationally.
In 1987 Atlantic Records seemed ready to sign the group, but passed on the band when keyboardist Kirby Jackson was killed in an August 1987 car crash. (The album's back cover included a nice tribute to Jackson.) With no other labels stepping up to the plate the quartet went the independent route, released their self-titled 1987 debut on their own Windows label. Recorded in Memphis' Ardent Studios with John Hampton and the band co-producing, "Runnin' Alone" may have been a bit short in the originality department, but showcasing Larry's material and his highlly commercial voice (he's always reminded me a bit of The Cars' Benjamin Orr), there wasn't a single bad tune on the album. The album's biggest shortcoming may simply have been its' length. Showcasing eight tunes and clocking in at less than thirty minutes, it almost qualified as an EP. The band reportedly ran out of money required to finish the project and settled for the eight tracks. That was ironic since several of their best tunes, including Jackson's 'Oh Renee' and the rocker 'Never Let You Go' didn;t make the final cut. (Both tunes appeared on a 2001 reissue.) As mentioned earlier, this was prime mid-'80s AOR fodder which meant it wasn't going to be for everyone. Still, if that was part of your musical youth, tunes like the title track, 'Motorcar', 'Big 'Enuff' and 'The Pain of a Broken Heart ' were likely to strike a chord. For me it's become one of those albums that gets better every time I play it.
For a self-financed project the album sold well, but once again no major labels cam knocking. With various line-up changes the Brewers continued the band through the mid-'90s. At that point Larry embarked on a solo career. He has a website at: http://www2.netdoor.com/~brewers/index.htm
"Runnin'
Alone" track listing: 1.) Photograph (Larry Brewer) - 3:17 'Photograph'
opened the album with a surprisingly likeable mix of AOR and edgy new
wave. Perhaps not the most original melody you've ever encountered,
but the tune underscored the band's tight harmony vocals. YouTube has
a clip of a live 1988 performance at Kentucky's Murray State University
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAZnenigoqw
rating: *** stars The
album's most AOR-ish and conventional tune, the title track probably had the
best shot at commercial success. A shimmering melody and nice
top-40-ish harmonies would have sounded dandy on the radio.
Taken from the same 1988 performance, YouTube has a performance clip of this
one as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqtQdsLFbT8
rating: **** stars Probably
my pick for the album's standout tune - nice hard rocking AOR tune that
would have given Loverboy and company a run for their corporate rock
money. rating:
**** stars 'Runaway' found the band trying to get a bit funky - well as funky as a bunch of AOR-oriented rockers could get. The song sported one of Larry Brewer's best solos. Here's the Murray State performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fJNfvjNQD8 Almost as impressive, YouTube has a 2014 Larry Brewer solo performance of the tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Or9jdXP28g rating: **** stars
(side 2) 1.) Big 'Enuff (Roger Elmore) - 3:33 The
line lone non-Brewer original, 'Big 'Enuff' found the band jumping back into
AOR-styled pop-rock with impressive, radio friendly results.
Roger Elmore's lyrics were hysterical (nice girlfriend their
buddy). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8DPILSgZ_s
rating: **** stars The
most new-wave-ish tune, but those harmonies ... rating:
*** stars Another
AOR tune with high radio potential. Probably should have been
tapped as a single. The song reappeared in the 2013 movie
"Standing Up". rating:
**** stars Built on a great little guitar riff, 'Voices; was the album's most pop oriented tune ... rating: **** stars
The album was reissued by Larry Brewer on the Raisin' Kane label in 2001 with two bonus tracks: 1.) Oh Renee (Kirby Jackson) 2.)
Never Let You Go
|
BACK TO BADCAT PAYMENT INFORMATION
