“Barry
Goudreau” is the debut self-titled album of original Boston guitar front man, Barry Goudreau. With
the use of Boston members Brad Delp (vocals),
and Sib Hashian (drums), and future Boston
singer Fran Cosmo the album displays a sound very similar to that of Boston's first two releases Boston (1976) and Don't Look Back (1978). However,
neither this album, nor any of Goudreau's subsequent releases with other acts
(Orion The Hunter, RTZ) proved to be as large of a commercial success as his
work with Boston.
The album was released in 1980 and was Goudreau's only solo album. The song
"Dreams" was released as a single in 1980 nearly cracking Billboard's
top 100 and still receives air play today on Classic rock radio stations along
with "Mean Woman Blues". Together
with alum from the band Boston, Barry Goudreau
put together an interesting nine songs recorded in Nashville
and Los Angeles.
It's the distinctive Boston
guitar sound with more basic rock & roll. "What's a Fella to Do"
could be a sequel to "Rock and Roll Band"; "Mean Woman
Blues" goes in an almost Foghat direction. Fran Cosmo's vocals feel a bit
more British than Brad Delp, and "Leavin' Tonight" leans more toward
producer Mike Chapman and the sound of the Sweet than one would expect. Goudreau's
guitar and Syb Hashian's drums are a powerful combo no bassist is listed. The
song "Dreams" gave Goudreau's self-titled debut the radio attention
it deserved, and a bit of a following. This track definitely sounds like the
band Boston
which, rumor has it, upset Tom Scholz. In 1992 singer Delp and guitarist
Goudreau joined Brian Maes & the Memory.
They rode the Maes original
"Until Your Love Comes Back Around" into the Top 30 in America, and
the Return to Zero album was a nice reunion for the two major forces behind
this. "Life Is What We Make It" and "Cold Cold World" are
good slices of American hard rock. More refined than Grand Funk Railroad and
not as slick as the Mickey Thomas version of Starship, the Barry Goudreau album
is a fun record free from the restrictions of Scholz's meticulous production. While
"Cold Cold World" may evoke thoughts of the song "Long
Time," the string quartet on "Sailin' Away" gives the album a
depth and identity. Just a bunch of professional musicians playing what they
like and coming up with a gem.
Track listing
01. "Hard Luck"
(Barry Goudreau, Brad Delp) - 3:37
02. "Nothin' to Lose"
(Fran Cosmo) - 4:01
03. "What's a Fella to Do?"
(Goudreau, Delp) - 4:29
04. "Mean Woman Blues"
(Goudreau, Delp) - -3:53
05. "Leavin' Tonight"
(Cosmo) - 3:25
06. "Dreams"
(Goudreau) - 3:32
07. "Life Is What We Make It"
(Goudreau, Delp) - 3:11
08. "Sailin' Away"
(Goudreau) - 1:48
09. "Cold Cold World"
(Cosmo) - 4:55
Credits
Barry Goudreau - lead guitar, guitars, vocals, bass, keyboards
Brad Delp - lead vocals
Fran Cosmo - lead vocals
Sib Hashian - drums, percussion
Jesse Erlich - cello
Joy Lyle - violin
David Scwartz - viola
Sid Sharp - violin, concert master
Engineered By Paul Grupp
Assistant Engineers: Ed Cherney, Phil Jamtaas, Russ Martin
Mastering: Steve Hoffman
Producer - John Boylan and Barry Goudreau
Notes
Recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles
Genre: Rock
Length: 32:51
© 1980 Epic/Portrait Records
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