Year : 1990 (Vogue Records Edition)
Style : Melodic Glam Hard Rock , AOR
Country : France
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 121 mb
Bio:
The band SWEET LIPS was formed in January 1987 in Paris when four musicians came together: Lee St Amour (guitar), Mike Heaven (vocals), Ed Sinclair (bass), and Raphaël Milazzo (drums).The band's musical style is similar to American productions. Rick Thyrsenn also adds some light keyboard touches.Drummer Raphaël Milazzo was replaced in the spring of 1989 by Chris ‘Sweety’ Bumper (formerly of THORONDOR, MORGOTH, VALLANCE and FIREFOX) after the members of SWEET LIPS saw him accompanying guitarist Marty Friedman in a showcase at the Gibus.The band recorded a demo containing one track. Thanks to this demo and their success with fans at a few concerts in the Paris region, SWEET LIPS was selected to record a track (‘Lady Killer’) for the compilation ‘Hard-Rock Rendez-Vous’, alongside a plethora of French bands of various styles.The compilation was recorded at Davout Studios and produced by Gary Lyons (Aerosmith, UFO, Foreigner, Grand Funk Railroad, Saxon, etc.).The compilation was recorded at Davout Studios and produced by Gary Lyons (Aerosmith, UFO, Foreigner, Grand Funk Railroad, Saxon, etc.).It was released in July 1989 and was well received by the industry and fans. From then on, ‘Lady Killer’ was a huge success and boosted SWEET LIPS' growing reputation.Buoyed by these encouraging beginnings, the quartet performed in several provincial towns while working tirelessly on their compositions.Bobbi Bruno, former manager of TRUST and main instigator of the compilation ‘Hard-Rock Rendez-Vous’, did not hesitate any longer and finally signed SWEET LIPS to produce an album.The album was recorded with the same team as the compilation, again at Davout Studios.In October 1989, singer Mike Heaven was dismissed from the band due to ‘musical differences’, as they say.He was replaced by Andy Chase, a Californian originally from San Diego who had been living in France for some time.Having found the missing link in the chain, SWEET LIPS could now aim higher and take advantage of their American singer to conquer the international market.The album ‘Xoxo’, completed in May 1990, was released on 26 November 1990. This was followed by a showcase on 4 December of the same year at ‘La Locomotive’ in Paris, and numerous promotional performances in FNAC and other NUGGETS stores, in acoustic concerts.Unfortunately, the adventure came to a definitive end in 1992, with SWEET LIPS calling it quits due to musical differences.Chris ‘Sweety’ Bumper (whose original name is Chris Caprin) lent a hand to the band RESPECT in 1994.He formed HEAVY DUTY in 2007 with the former guitarist of RESPECT. HEAVY DUTY released their first album in April 2010 on the Brennus label.Mike Heaven (vocals) was the lead singer of O.N.E from 1993 to 1996.Lee St Amour (guitar) changed his stage name to ‘Azri’ and formed the band BOOGIE BALAGAN.
Album:
The band was formed in 1987 in Paris.They had a very hot album entitled "XOXO" and released in 1990.In the past active years, Sweet Lips was in the newspaper and magazines as a French hard rock icon with popularity. If I'm not mistaken, vocalist Andy Chase is from USA and he lived in Paris. In 1992, the band split up.The song "Bette Davis Eyes" was originally written and recorded in 1974 by American singer/songwriter Jackie DeShannon, but few people know its original version, a folk song which carries the totally different taste as what we hear in our memories.Most people know a very famous cover sung by Kim Carnes in 1981. Kim Carnes made the song become a great hit. Her version is always in most of people's memories and Sweet Lips covered the song, based on Kim Carnes's version.With Andy Chase's hot voice, this song sounds very addictive and stands out from "XOXO" as the coolest version I've heard.The band worked hard, the singer seems very good, his English pronunciation is top notch.The guitarist seems excellent, his arrangements are spot on. They sound like an American band with a slight European touch. The band was very, very good. Better than Blackrain in the 2000s !! If they had been American...the band would have been more successful.Talent isn't enough...sad.When I first listened to them I didn't like it, but I have to admit that this French release REALLY grew on me. I have troubles identifying the genre though: is it GlamRock with AOR elements OR an AOR release with Glam touch? They difinitely have a somewhat unique/different sound-the drums are a little muffled and the multi-layered background vocals are simply astounding! BORN TO ROCK, BACK TO YOU, LADY KILLER (accoustic) and LOVE ME are simply to die for ! Fans of European school of AOR/Glam (Vice, Florence 99, JOJO) but with less keys and more accoustics will surely appreciate this gem which is IMPOSSIBLE to find.
Line Up:
Andy Chase - Vocals
Lee St. Amour - Guitars - See also: ex-Boogie Balagan
Ed Sinclair - Bass
Chris "Sweety" Bumper - Drums - See also: ex-Heavy Duty
Tracklist:
01. Born To Rock
02. Party Bus
03. Back To You
04. Lady Killer
05. One More Man
06. I Wish I Was
07. Love Me
08. The 14Th
09. Bette Davis Eyes
10. Sex Line
11. Wings On Fire
12. Pretty Smile
13. Stranger
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