Originally released in 1988, DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH and its self-titled album resulted a one-off project, but a what a great one. This album comprises all the best from second half of the ’80s Canadian AOR; that meaning class, gusto, smoothness and clinical production.
Now AOR Heaven Records is reissuing this little gem (only 500 copies).With TRIUMPH’s Rik Emmett dropping a guest solo on the awesome opener ‘Walk On The Wire’ you get an idea of what this is musically. But David Buckthorpe (DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH’s mastermind, singer & songwriter) also adds a radio-friendly, rock&pop energy to many tracks, resulting in a terrific collection of pure Eighties stuff akin GLASS TIGER, TOTO, etc.
Signed and released by major label Virgin Records, ”DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH” initially did it quite well in sales, but inexplicably something went wrong when the time to promote the album in the USA arrived.
This project had everything second half of the 80s rock music needed to make it big: catchiness, radio-friendly appeal, and a wide range of potential listeners ranging from classic AOR to elaborated rock&pop from the era.
It’s incredible this band / album didn’t had major exposure given the quality of tracks like the aforementioned “Walk On The Wire“, “I Believe in This Love”, “Run From The Dark“ or Tell Me”.
All songs are good, buy our favorite should be the pumping midtempo AOR of “When It’s All Said and Done”, a wonderful piece that worth the disc alone.
DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH – st +2 [AOR Heaven Limited Reissue / 500 copies]
Thanks to AOR Heaven we can enjoy this lovely ’80s ‘diamond in the rough’ indeed. The sound quality is much better than the previous Long Island Rec reissue, fuller.
Hurry up, it’s limited to 500.
01. Walk On The Wire
02. Where Is Love
03. Ain’t Good Lovin’
04. I Wish There Was A Way
05. When It’s All Said And Done
06. Stand And Deliver
07. Sultry Lady
08. Run From The Dark
09. Thief In The Night
10. Young Of Heart
BONUS TRACKS:
11. Tell Me
12. I Believe In This Love
Vocals – David Buckthorpe
Guitar – Kim Kayzer
Guitar – R. Marsland
Guitar – Ray Roper
Guitar – Rik Emmett (Triumph)
Guitar – Scotty Hall
Keyboards – Lewis Nitikman
Bass – Tom Christianson
Drums – Daryl Burgess
Drums – Geoff Eyre
Drums – Phil Robertson
Horns – B. Nicholson, F. Gass, Gabriel Hasselbach
Saxophone – Tom Keenlyside