Universal Music Japan did it again, a new campaign of their ‘HR/HM 1000‘ series – the Limited Release reissue of long time out of print albums from their Hard Rock / Heavy Metal catalog at the price of 1000 Yen = about 8 USD.
Now it’s time for the second 2022 batch, ”HR-HM 1000 Vol.5”, and as part of these there’s the very good, criminally underrated “Go All The Way“, the third studio album from Swiss melodic hard rockers CHINA.
For this 1991 album CHINA changed the lead vocalist – enter Eric St. Michaels – but what a great improvement. While the previous two albums from this group are awesome, “Go All The Way” is the most ‘American melodic rock’ ever from the band, and St. Michaels’ voice shine all over the record.
Recorded in the USA with producer Stephan Galfas (Cher, Meat Loaf, Stryper) songs like ‘Slow Dancing in Hell’, ‘She Did a Real Good Job’, ‘Life Keeps Moving On’, ‘In Trouble With Angels’ or ‘Pictures Of You’ could have been written or recorded by the likes of Winger, Warrant or Steelheart.
A band from Switzerland? If none tells you that, “Go All The Way” pass as one the most ‘American melodic rock sounding’ records appeared in 1991.
This is polished, smoothly produced melodic stuff from a band that deserved stardom. There’s 15 songs in the tracklist but all are good and entertaining, so if you dig this genre then “Go All The Way” is a joy from start to finish.
01. Pictures Of You
02. Medicine Man (Intro)
03. Medicine Man
04. Slow Dancing In Hell
05. She Did A Real Good Job
06. So Damn Easy
07. Lost Gardens
08. Shake Your Cages
09. Go All The Way
10. Don’t Let In The Night
11. In Love Again
12. Face To The Wind
13. In Trouble With Angels
14. Life Keeps Moving On
15. You’ve Got Me
Eric St. Michaels – Vocals
Claudio Matteo – Guitars
Freddy Laurence – Guitars
Brian Kofmehl – Bass
John Dommen – Drums