In 1991, singer and multi-instrumentalist Bruce Turgon joined forces with Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm and future Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell to form the short-lived band Shadow King. Turgon co-wrote nine of the 10 melodic hard rock tracks on the band's self-titled debut album (including the memorable "What Would It Take" and "Anytime, Anywhere"), but it's appearance at the dawn of grunge ensured a quick demise. Now Turgon returns on Italy's Frontiers Records with a solo album that sounds as if it could almost be the follow-up to Shadow King. In other words: slick, catchy, melodic and hopelessly dated. (Just look at the cover.)
Yet Turgon's writing chops remain sharp — after Shadow King, he replaced bassist Rick Wills in Foreigner and co-wrote that band's last single, "Until the End of Time," for 1995's little-heard Mr. Moonlight. Outside Looking In overflows with the kind of anthems and ballads that once made boys and girls giddy: "Living A Lie," "On A Wing and A Prayer," "The Last Time," "Where Do We Go From Here" and the title track. Turgon's voice, which sounds like Gramm's with a more limited range, lends some of these songs a breathy arena vibe, and he's backed by established musicians (guitarist Ronnie Montrose and Foreigner/Whitesnake drummer Denny Carmassi) and vocalists (Gramm and Styx's Ricky Phillips). But Outside Looking In is bound to find only a limited audience consisting primarily of people who loved this kind of stuff in their care-free days, diehard Foreigner fans and younger listeners who may want a taste of what they missed.
Track Listing:
1) Living A Lie
2) Any Other Time
3) Outside Looking In
4) Walk Thru Fire
5) Faith
6) Pleasure Dome
7) These Tears Must Fall
8) Weapons of Love
9) On A Wing and A Prayer
10) Heart So Strong
11) The Last Time
12) Where Do We Go From Here
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
