1984 Stephen Crane – Kicks
Stephen Crane used to play in a band called Baby at the end of the seventies but his opportunity as solo artist arrived in 1984 by the hand of the major MCA label.
Stephen’s debut “Kicks” was produced by Jai Winding (Le Roux) who also played keys, and no-other than the great Steve Lukather. In fact, all TOTO guys were involved in the recording including groove master Jeff Porcaro on drums. We also find Richard Page (Mr. Mister, Pages) and AOR guru Tom Kelly (I-Ten, Van Stephenson, Survivor) doing backing vocals, together with brilliant session guitar players such as Duane Sciacqua, Joey Brasler and Ray Pannell.
The multitude of guitarists has an explanation; “Kicks” for the most part is a guitar driven AOR / Melodic Rock album with a 1984’s radio friendly sound. And on most tracks, we found three different six-string axeman playing together in the same song. Crane’s pumping bass lines add even more muscle to the tunes, and his sometimes raspy but melodic vocals reminds you a cross of a young Brock Walsh, Van Stephenson on the calmer moments and Paul Sabu on the edgy. There’s not a single weak track here, going from hooky and catchy numbers like “Headed For A Heartbreak”, “Joanne” or the urgent “Victims Of Love”, to more AORish cuts such as the Toto-esque “Back On My Feet Again” (featuring a killer Lukather solo) and the Van Stephenson sounding “I’ll Take Care Of You”. (Source: http://hardrockaorheaven.blogspot.nl)
Tracks
1 Headed For A Heartbreak (Stephen Crane, Duane Sciacqua, Luis Castro) 4:01
2 Joanne (Stephen Crane) 3:50
3 Kicks (Duane Sciacqua, Tom Berger) 3:37
4 All My Love (Stephen Crane, Duane Sciacqua) 4:19
5 Victims Of Love (Stephen Crane, Joey Brasler) 4:41
6 I Can’t Wait (Stephen Crane, Duane Sciacqua) 3:44
7 Back On My Feet Again (Stephen Crane, Jai Winding, Steve Lukather) 3:57
8 I’ll Take Care Of You (Stephen Crane, Duane Sciacqua) 4:01
9 Sooner Or Later (Stephen Crane, Joey Brasler) 3:44
10 Crying Don’t Look Good On You (Stephen Crane, Joey Brasler) 4:51
Musicians
1 Headed For A Heartbreak
Bass | Stephan Crane |
Drums | Jody Cortez |
Guitar | Steve Lukather |
Guitar (solo) | Duane Sciacqua |
Guitar | Ray Pannell |
Keyboards | Jai Winding |
Synthesizer | Steve Porcaro |
Background Vocals | Richard Page |
Background Vocals | Tom Kelly |
2 Joanne
Bass | Stephan Crane |
Drums | Jeffrey Porcaro |
Guitar | Steve Lukather |
Guitar (solo) | Duane Sciacqua |
3 Kicks
Bass | Stephan Crane |
Drums | Jeffrey Porcaro |
Guitar | Steve Lukather |
Guitar (solo) | Duane Sciacqua |
Keyboards | Jai Winding |
Synthesizer | Steve Porcaro |
Sax | Steve Tavaglioni |
4 All My Love
Bass | Steve Lukather |
Drums | Jody Cortez |
Guitar (solo) | Steve Lukather |
Guitar | Duane Sciacqua |
Guitar | Ray Pannell |
Keyboards | Jai Winding |
Background Vocals | Steve Lukather |
5 Victims Of Love
Bass | Stephan Crane |
Drums | Jody Cortez |
Guitar (solo) | Joey Brasler |
Guitar | Duane Sciacqua |
Keyboards | Jai Winding |
Organ | Steve Lukather |
Background Vocals | Steve Lukather |
6 I Can’t Wait
Bass | Stephan Crane |
Drums | Jody Cortez |
Guitar | Steve Lukather |
Guitar | Ray Pannell |
Guitar (solo) | Duane Sciacqua |
Keyboards | Jai Winding |
Background Vocals | Steve Lukather |
Background Vocals | Duane Sciacqua |
7 Back On My Feet Again
Bass | Stephan Crane |
Drums | Jody Cortez |
Guitar (solo) | Steve Lukather |
Guitar | Ray Pannell |
Guitar | Duane Sciacqua |
Keyboards | Jai Winding |
Keyboards | James Newton Howard |
Synthesizer | Steve Porcaro |
8 I’ll Take Care Of You
Bass | Stephan Crane |
Drums | Jody Cortez |
Guitar | Duane Sciacqua |
Guitar | Ray Pannell |
Keyboards | Jai Winding |
Background Vocals | Tom Kelly |
Background Vocals | Richard Page |
9 Sooner Or Later
Bass | Stephan Crane |
Drums | Jody Cortez |
Guitar | Steve Lukather |
Guitar | Ray Pannell |
Guitar (solo) | Duane Sciacqua |
Keyboards | Jai Winding |
Synthesizer | Steve Porcaro |
10 Crying Don’t Look Good On You
Bass | Stephan Crane |
Drums | David Crockett |
Guitar | Steve Lukather |
Guitar (solo) | Ray Pannell |
Guitar | Duane Sciacqua |
Keyboards | James Newton Howard |
Background Vocals | Steve Lukather |
Background Vocals | Tom Kelly |
Background Vocals | Richard Page |
Liner Notes
Producer – Jai Winding, Steve Lukather
Coordinator – Ivy Skoff
Engineer – Shep Lonsdale, Stuart Furusho, Stephen Shelton, Terry Christian
Mastered By – Ron Lewter
Mixed By – Jai Winding, Steve Lukather, Shep Lonsdale, Stephen Crane
Art Direction, Design – George Osaki, Kathe Schreyer
Illustration – Mikc Haggerty
Photography – Jim Shea
Mastered At The Mastering Lab, LA
Recorded At Sunset Studio, LA
Recorded At The Lighthouse, LA
Recorded At The Villa, LA
Phonographic Copyright MCA Records Inc
Copyright MCA Records Inc