DELIVERANCE - Tightrope (Global / A&M 1979)

Line - up:

Paul Janz - keys and vocals
Dave McSparren - drums
Guy Roellinger - bass
Jacques Emanuel Belzung - guitars
Danny & Ken Janz - vocals
+ several additional musicians

Songtitles:

Foolish Hearts
Tightrope
Farewell
Prince of the Galaxies
Leaving LA
Back seat rider
Can you survive ?
Face the lady
Re-creation

This Canadian band released 3 albums in the late seventies. TIGHTROPE was their third and most interesting. The 2 previous ones, GIVE IT A TRY (1976 Newpax) and CASTING IMPRESSIONS ( 1978 A&M) are of no interest to AOR lovers. Main man behind this band was Paul Janz and probalby most
of you already know him for his solo carreer. He wrote and produced the entire album. Together with 2 brothers, some Canadians and a few German session musicians ( the album was recorded in the Union Studios in Munich), he delivered an album with a rather diverse mix of styles and moods and I'm sure not everyone likes it. You'll like or hate is, is my opinion. For me, the first is suitable.

Musicially their style is comparable with acts like PAGES ( the pre MISTER MISTER band), NETWORK ( 2 albums on CBS in 1977 & 78), TYCOON (especially their first) and PLAYER. But, also early TOTO comes to mind. The singing is not high, but very very high, almost BEE GEES- like and they use horns in some songs. The entire album never gets to heavy and contains some great moments, but also some minor ones. Their best song by far is the opening tune FOOLISH HEARTS. A killer song with pompous overtones, plenty of keys and wonderful vocals (if you like them ...). One of the better pompsongs I've heard.

Next up, the stitlesong, continues in the same style but is spoiled by some subtle saxtones. FAREWEL is almost jazz but has a very smooth chorus. With LEAVING LA, the band had a minor hit with this song in the US. BACK SEAT RIDER is very NETWORK like, like on their second album. The only song I don't like is FACE THE LADY, because it contains to many horns for my taste. But all the others are nice easy listening songs with a blended mix of late seventies Westcoast and pomprock. Not bad in my personal opinion, but like I wrote before, not everybody with join me with this statement. Anyway, after this album, Paul Janz started a fairly succesfull solo carreer and released several albums off which, I think, ELECTRICITY
( 1987 A&M) is his best.

Rating: 7/Review by Willy van Buel