mosvalve

I pulled up the myspace tracks. COMPLETELY enjoyed "Fine Line" and liked 'Heaven" pretty well, too. Couldn't get the other track to load. The sounds and production are great ! I have been doing a little recording myself and got a serious case of envy for the sound quality you guys got going on there ! I think I will buy this soon... good work !

Where can I hear it?

If not for "Lovin Touchin Sqeezin" it would certainly be my favorite ,too. That song triggers my 'search button' reflex... as it is, Infinity is my fave among the Journey albums.

Being the guitar nut that I am, I just cant go with Mick Mars over DiMartini / Crosby... gotta give my overall nod to the Ratt gang.

love me some Mindcrime ! The one time I saw them, Tate was having an off night but the band was super tight

I only got some of the later stuff quite recently ('Ain't Misbehavin'' was my cut off point) but I thought 'You Are Here' was ok without being mindblowing. I really like 'Monkey Puzzle' though and it is definitely the best thing they have done since 'Walk On Water' - I know Nick C was a big fan aswell. I haven't heard anything of 'The Visitor' but my hopes are quite high. Is Vinnie still the guitarist on this one ? I met him once & he seemed like a real personable kind of guy. Mind - blowing on guitar as well !

If you are looking for value , I think Ibanez offers pretty good choices as even their cheapest line is not junk. If your finances are unlimited, the PRS is a mighty nice axe.

No one else likes the Lynch Mob s/t ? I actually prefer it.

Yep, agreed. I was the same way with Paul Rodgers and Bad Co. Not saying Brian Howe didnt have a great voice - he did; it just wasn't Bad Company anymore.

Yeah. when I read my own post, I realized how preposterous it was to bring them up in this thread; but down here in stars 'n bars country, its pretty hard to avoid - even if your roots aren't here ! Looking through some of my collection, I realized how cool the '73 Montrose s/t debut is, and couldn't help thinking that some bands were probably influenced by it as well.

Geoff, I'm on board with you on Rory Cathey's talent. Of guys not listed in the poll, however, I still must go with Harnell...

Honestly, I think the answer to this depends on how wide a net you cast in defining AOR, and how far back you are willing to go. Was Lynyrd Skynyrd AOR ? They influnenced the So. Rock movement of the late '70s / early '80s (Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, Point Blank, .38 Special), and the ENTIRE "Crossover Country" genre that is still going on today. How about Beatles , Zeppelin , or The Who? Was Fleetwood Mac "Rumours" or Eagles' "Hotel California" AOR ? Influential or just huge - selling ? Just random thoughts to open up the discussion a little...or a lot. but anyway, from a partially - graying guy who heard it all when it first came out: Journey - "infinity" "Boston" "Foreigner" "The Cars" Eagles' - "Hotel California" at least give me a head start before you start shooting !

couldve been a lady (very early) roller all over town their cover of 21st century schizoid man is a good cover of a tough tune !

LOVE Steve Walsh's voice ! (the handstands on the keyboard are cool too !) it is really hard to go against Plant , Mercury, Delp, or ...Tony Harnell !

"Into the Fire" , but "Don't Close Your Eyes" a close 2nd

Too Late Comin' Under Fire Photograph

Debut easily, for me anyway.

I just picked up "Sun Red Sun" - does anyone like it ? In NO WAY does it rival the Badlands material but it interests me from a historical angle as they are Ray's last recordings. There is a 30 - plus minute interview with Al Romano and Bobby Rondinelli as track 9 - and the last thing on the interview is a message Ray left on someone's anwering machine telling about a bleeding ulcer he had been having and the message ends up with "but I'm back" ... it's pretty eerie

Rush - Obviously Triumph - You gotta love a lefty who plays righty (I dont know why; you just gotta !) Coney Hatch - Super melodic , tight band You know I gotta throw in some love for I Mother Earth as well ! Also... Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush !

Nothing even close to being a clunker on this disc for me ! It is sky - high on ebay every time!

Journey; even though they really dropped off for me from "Raised on Radio" on Boston ; the debut is one of the greatest ever! Foreigner; debut also a great one! Going with Journey based on their whole body of work and the great players that have been in the band ; Neal Schon, Greg Rolie, Aynsley Dunbar, Steve Smith ,Steve Perry. I love Steve Lukather's guitar awesomeness and Jeff Porcaro's drumming, but not enough to push them up in the running...

Definately Badlands ; R.I.P. Ray

A few others I thought of, just for the heck of it: Edie - Cult Chloe Dancer - Mother Love Bone Evie - Pat Travers Have you seen Mary - Sponge Jane Says Magnolia Layla

A second vote for "jennifer" ... I love "offering" Couldnt help but notice "my Michelle" by G'NR absent. Probably 'Melissa" by the Allmann Bros. is my fave song in the category though not hard rock per se. As for Starship songs , I would take "Jane" over "Sara" for sure. JMO anyway...

Has it ever really been about the singer here ? JLT and JSS even up !