Welcome to the Club is the second studio album by Canadian heavy metal band, Kick Axe. The album was released at the end of 1985 on Pasha Records/CBS Records in the format of vinyl and cassette album.
Welcome to the Club | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 29 November 1985 [1] | |||
Recorded | Metal Works Studios, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Pasha Music House, Hollywood, California, USA, 1985 | |||
Genre | Heavy metal, Glam metal | |||
Length | 40:05 | |||
Label | Pasha Records/CBS Records | |||
Producer | Randy Bishop, Spencer Proffer | |||
Kick Axe chronology | ||||
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Singles from Welcome to the Club | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [2] |
Kerrang! | [3] |
In 2000 was the album remastered and reissued, for the first time on CD, as part of the "Sony Rewind" series.
In 2016, a UK label Rock Candy remastered and reissued the album on CD in a "De Luxe" version comprising a comprehensive booklet loaded with vintage photos and a very detailed band history by Malcolm Dome.
Recorded in the Metal Works Studios, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada (owned by a Canadian band Triumph), mixed in the Pasha Music House, Hollywood, California, USA and produced by Randy Bishop with a final touch of Spencer Proffer. Welcome to the Club sees Kick Axe veer into more commercial area with a smoother, more melodic and sophisticated collection of songs. Still an anthemic/arena metal, brash and bold, but more polished, with a more radio friendly production and smoother commercial touch that makes this album attractive to a wider audience.
The cover of Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends" has been released not only as a single but also as a video with an ensemble chorus featuring Lee Aaron & John Albani (Lee Aaron Band), Rik Emmett (Triumph), Brian Allen & Sheron Alton (Toronto), Bob Segarini, Alfie Zappacosta, Cameron Hawkins (FM), Cindy Valentine, Paris, Ava Cherry, Andy Curran (Coney Hatch). It reached #79 on the Canadian RPM Top 100 Singles.[4]
In Canada the album reached #93, February 8, 1986 at the RPM Top 100 Albums.[5]
This album has never made it into Billboard 200 album chart.
Track listing edit
- "Welcome to the Club" (Kick Axe) - 4:47
- "Feels Good - Don't Stop" (Kick Axe/R.Bishop) - 3:22
- "Comin' After You" (Kick Axe/R.Bishop) - 4:56
- "Make Your Move" (Kick Axe/R.Bishop) - 3:51
- "Never Let Go" (Kick Axe) - 5:13
- "Hellraisers" (Kick Axe) - 4:17
- "Can't Take It with You" (Kick Axe/R.Bishop) - 3:42
- "Too Loud... Too Old" (Kick Axe) - 2:51
- "Feel the Power" (Kick Axe/R.Bishop) - 3:47
- "With a Little Help from My Friends" (J.Lennon/P.McCartney) - 4:19
Personnel edit
Band members edit
- George Criston - lead vocals
- Larry Gillstrom - guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
- Raymond Harvey - guitars, backing vocals
- Victor Langen - bass guitar, backing vocals
- Brian Gillstrom - drums, backing vocals
Additional musicians edit
- Randy Bishop - percussion, keyboards
- Spencer Proffer - percussion, keyboards
- Rik Emmett, Alfie Zappacosta, Lee Aaron, John Albani, Andy Curran, Sharon Alton, Cindy Valentine, Brian Allen, Ava Cherry, Paris, Bob Segarini, Cameron Hawkins - vocals on track 10
Production edit
- Randy Bishop, Spencer Proffer - producer
- Suzanne DuBarry - producer assistant
- Hanspeter Huber, Ed Stone - engineers
- Alex Woltman, Kevin Arst, Noel Golden - engineering assistants
- Steve Hall - mastering
- Carol Peters, Karen Chamberlain, Gail Lee - coordination
- Dimo Safari - photographs
- Hugh Syme - art direction and design
- Garry M. Stratychuk - manager
- Joe Cardosi, Dean Zurowski, Mike Martin, Dwayne Fynn - tour personnel
References edit
- ^ "RPM, 30 November 1985, Vol. 43, No. 12, p. 8: Name Cancon acts give boost Kick Axe session". 30 November 1985.
- ^ Huey, Steve. "Kick Axe Welcome to the Club review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
- ^ Oliver, Derek (29 May 1986). "Kick Axe 'Welcome to the Club'". Kerrang!. Vol. 121. London, UK: United Magazines Ltd. p. 16.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - January 18, 1986".
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums - February 8, 1986".