Player - Spies Of Life (1982)

Player is an American rock band that made their mark during the late 1970s.

Player were formed in Los Angeles in 1977 by singer/guitarist Peter Beckett (formerly of the U.K. group Skyband), bassist Ronn Moss, and guitarist/keyboardist J.C. Crowley. After adding drummer John Friesen, Player signed to impresario Robert Stigwood's RSO label and issued "Baby Come Back," which sat atop the pop singles chart for three weeks in early 1978; their self-titled debut LP appeared that same year, as did the follow-up, "Danger Zone". Crowley exited Player soon after, later enjoying a solo career as a country artist; the remaining trio issued "Room With A View" in 1980 before Moss and Friesen both departed as well. Beckett, the lone remaining founding member, continued the group for one final LP, 1982's "Spies Of Life", One should never try to compare one album with another, for it can't work that way. Every work should be good, yet different, as is the case with "Spies Of Life". "If Looks Could Kill" starts the album off and is very good with powerfull vocals, Should have been a single in my book. "My Minds Made Up" is another catchy tune with strong vocals in the Player style. The album ends with a diddy type of song called "In Like Flynn" poking at Errol Flynn, an old movie star many might not remember. This song is actually quite cute in lyrics: "I wanna be like Errol Flynn, I'd wear a thin mustache, and wavy hair, I'd face the world without a care" and the tune is catchy. Before retiring the Player name to mount a career as a songwriter and solo performer. Moss, meanwhile, joined the cast of the daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful in 1987; he and Beckett re-formed Player in 1995, soon thereafter issuing the reunion LP "Lost in Reality".

 

01.  "If Looks Could Kill"  (Dennis Lambert, Peter Beckett)  - 3:36  

02.  "Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid"  (Dennis Lambert, Peter Beckett)  - 3:25  

03.  "Thank You For The Use Of Your Love"  (Dennis Lambert, Peter Beckett)  - 3:59  

04.  "It Only Hurts When I Breathe"  (Dennis Lambert, Peter Beckett)  - 3:32  

05.  "My Mind's Made Up"  (Dennis Lambert, Peter Beckett)  - 4:08  

06.  "I'd Rather Be Gone"  (Dennis Lambert, J.C. Crowley)  - 2:55  

07.  "Take Me Back"  (Peter Beckett)  - 3:51   

08.  "My Survival"  (Peter Beckett)  - 4:36  

09.  "Born To Be With You"  (Dennis Lambert, Peter Beckett)  - 3:48  

10.  "In Like Flynn"  (Peter Beckett)  - 2:54

Release:  1982

Label:  RCA

Genre:  Soft Rock

Length:  36:39

Producer:  Dennis Lambert

Mixed By:  Jay Lewis

Credits

Peter Beckett - Guitar, Vocals

Rusty Buchanan - Bass, Vocals

Steve Forman - Percussion

John Friesen - Drums

Tommy Funderburk - Vocals

Miles Joseph - Guitar, Vocals

Gabriel Katona - Synthesizer, Keyboards

Tom Kelly - Vocals

Dennis Lambert - Synthesizer

Jay Lewis - Guitar, Guitar (Steel)

Gary Wright - Synthesizer