GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY - “GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY” (1986/G.T.R. RECORDS/USA)

After doing a research on the internet I found out that this band from Pennsylvania, USA have released 6 more albums after this debut LP in 1986, and they are still touring through the USA. They are compared to ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, so a Southern Rockband, but let's not forget about their 1986 debut LP, because this album is filled with some high class AOR. Not the whole CD is pure AOR, but the first 2 songs ("Bring back the love" and "Julie") are lovely high class AOR songs in the style of FORTUNE, JOURNEY, SURVIVOR... The other 2 songs on side-A are a let-down, because they are both quite average rockers, but side-B starts with another great AOR tune titled "Your days are numbered", this time very much like DUKE JUPITER.

The band featured 2 guitarists in their line-up, who gave the AOR sound on this album a twin-guitarsound, and on side-B we can happily find some more Classic AOR type of songs, such as "Right here in my heart", with it's beautiful harmonyvocals during the chorus, basically a dead ringer for fans of the typical mid 80s AOR sound of bands like AGENT, AVIATOR, PREVIEW...

Unfortunately the band isn't able to make more AOR songs, because side-B ends with a bunch of average Southern Rockers like very early 38 SPECIAL meets LYNYRD SKYNYRD, including a honky-tonk piano of keyboardplayer Duffy Morehead, who now is playing in a Countryband. Also the band itself (GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY) is now more in a Southern Rockstyle, so not that interesting anymore. However, their debut contains about 4 fantastic Classic AOR songs, while the rest is more Southern Rock, kinda like DUKE JUPITER, 38 SPECIAL...

Rating: 8.0 out of 10