PAUL JANZ - Renegade Romantic [Japanese Edition] (1990)

Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

PAUL JANZ was one of the most respected songwriters in Canada during the '80s. Also a talented vocalist and keyboard player, Janz started his career during the Seventies as part of the German-established popular Christian-oriented sextet Deliverance.
In 1980 Janz returned to Vancouver to become a jingle writer and a member of AORsters Prism briefly. A&M Records were highly interested in his musical abilities and signed Paul Janz as solo artist.
He released two records with the second spawning a single which won the Canadian PROCAN and CMPA awards, and then the label viewied a strong potential to launch Paul Janz as international artist.

Recorded in Los Angeles / Vancouver with producer Bill Drescher (the Bangles, Rick Springfield), Janz's 3rd solo album "Romantic Renegade" was released in 1990 and enjoyed a considerable success thanks to the single "Every Little Tear". Janz toured all over North America for two years.



Plenty of delicate melodies and with Janz's highly harmonized sweet vocals, "Romantic Renegade" is pure joy. His light AOR, sometimes poppy tunes easily can match Stan Meissner's work but even more keyboard oriented.
The more rocking tracks are true gems is the typical clean, polished Canadian style enhanced by the superb guitar work by Tim McKenzie, much in the vein of Dann Huff.

Tracks like the mentioned "Every Little Tear" (you can't stop singing its chorus), the catchy melodic rocker "Rocket To My Heart", the midtempo AOR heaven of "Hold Me Tender" (akin '80s Richard Marx) or the beautiful "Almost Heaven" are among the highlights.
"Stand" is the elaborated ballad, and then the excellent "One Lovin' Touch" start as another slow tune before exploding into a pumping melodic rock bliss around the 1:45 minute mark, and becomes another album highlight.



"Romantic Renegade" is a highly recommended CD for any light AOR / Melodic Rock fan with high class songwriting, arrangements, performances and a crystal clear production.
It was requested by a reader, and I don't know why I did not posted here this little gem by my own before.
This Japanese Edition sounds great, complete with full artwork.


01 - Every Little Tear
02 - Hold Me Tender
03 - Rocket To My Heart
04 - Almost Heaven
05 - Stand
06 - Stuck On You
07 - Love Walks In
08 - One Lovin' Touch
09 - Darling Drive
10 - Saddle Up

Paul Janz: vocals, keyboards, programming, synth bass
Tim McKenzie: guitars
Rob Bailey: keyboards, programming
Miles Hill: bass
Michael Root: drums
Jim McGillveray: percussion
Jim Bralower: programming
Tom Coclough: saxophone
Phil Chanel: additional keyboards




PAUL JANZ Renegade Romantic [Japanese Edition]
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