Glad you did 'Shooting Star'! WNEW-FM in NYC used to play some cuts off of 'Hang On For Your Life' way back in the day, and i've been a fan since. What a fantastic band!
When I was 11 or 12 I remember grabbing my tape recorder to record ‘Last Chance’ on a Philly AOR radio station. It’s still my favorite song of all time.
Pete, glad you are getting into Shooting Star. "Hang On For Your Life" is, in my opinion, one of the true underrated AOR albums of the 80's. This album was HUGE in Cincinnati with 5 songs getting serious airplay on local FM radio. Music connects us to moments in time and H.O.F.Y.L has a special place in my life. Glad to see this segment! How about ranking the Scorpions albums?(....even though I know you don't like much of the post "Love At First Sting material").
Been into Shooting Star since 1980 when I first heard “Last Chance.”. Anyway, I saw them open for Kansas. Great show. I’d have to rank “Hang on for your Life” as their best and heaviest. Good to hear someone talking about them. They were a fine melodic rock band. Cheers!
My all-time favorite band. Thank you for ranking the albums and the review. I'm glad you took your buddies advice. They will be in Topeka, KS on April 10th. They should have been as big as Kansas or Boston or any similar bands of that time but there were some issues with record companies and records weren't in the stores when the songs were on the radio. It's heartbreaking because some amazing talent went into making some awesome music.
I first heard them in 1981. My local radio station (WCOZ in Boston) played "Flesh And Blood" and "Hollywood". In 1981 I was 14-15 years old and in the middle of a huge crush on Brooke Shields and, for some reason, the song "Hollywood" reminds me of that. I was jealoius when I heard the song back then because I wished I could write something so beautiful. I thought that Brooke Shields would have gone nuts at the mere mention of my name if I hsd written it. Then Eddie Van Halen married Valerie Bertinelli, who was a major tv star and the crush of a lot of older boys (my brother included) so I took up guitar and started a Heavy Metal band. I started to write stuff and one day my bassist said "Brooke Shields better watch out or she'll find herself swept off her feet" and I said "Who?". I was so into the music that I had forgotten about her. So my influences were Shooting Star and Brooke Shields.
From KC and this is a great homegrown rock band very underrated. They are well worth the listen!!! In 2002 on my Bday they shot a concert video at Ameristar in KC we met them they are special.
One of my favorite bands, then and now. I saw them open for Foghat and Blue Oyster Cult in 1982, and all three bands raised the fucking roof. That show was solid from start to finish, and I wish Shooting Star had gotten the success they deserved.
They are one of the best American bands from the 80s. I interviewed Van McClain for the University of Cincinnati newspaper in the early 90s. These guys and Triumph should appeal to rock fans of any persuasion. Keep listening to them.
Shooting Star was a staple of KC rock radio from 80 to the mid 90's. I always thought they should have been bigger than they were. Great band. Glad you discovered them.
The first song I listened to from them is actually Touch Me Tonight because of the I Come In Peace connection. Listened to other stuff later on. Thankfully, they've been untouched by classic rock radio, so it sounds fresh. I would say the debut is the best one as well. Last Chance and You Got What I Need are total classics. Gus (Elton John) Dudgeon's production is excellent as well.
Thanks for the ranking of SS . Their leader Van .McLain passed away a few years back so their last album was Into the Night which rocks hard. I agree with your ranking. The 1st two are the best.
Hi Pete, I think the only one of the later albums that I would insert amongst the first 5 is Its Not Over, which has a different vocalist and no violin, but has some great Foreigner/Journey style hard rock. I would agree that maybe Circles and Leap Of Faith are not as strong, but both have their moments and some good songs, just not as many as on the earlier albums. Haven't heard their last album and didn't know it even existed until you mentioned it.
Underrated AOR band. They did quite well on the radio in the New England area when I was in High School. HANG ON FOR YOUR LIFE is easily their best record, with the title track, “Breakout”, “Hollywood” and “Flesh And Blood” all getting serious airplay on the radio where I lived. Never really explored their catalog too much outside of the first five albums, but the song “Touch Me Tonight”, which as a new song off their 1990 Best Of album is a great tune.
This is by far my favorite band, have seen them in concert many times, met the band members, etc. I agree with your ranking, however, Into The Night is a very strong offering as well. Also, there were ties, both friendships and family with members of Kansas and the band Missouri.
A few times a year I'll put on "Hang On For Your Life" when practicing my bass and play along with the entire album. Nothing but great songs on that record.
Excellent band. Saw the twice. First time on the Hang on for your life tour. Opened for Jefferson Starship. I remember they just blew Starship off the stage.
Being from Kansas City, followed them from a very early age and bought their debut on vinyl when it was first released. Good to see them getting some recognition. Saw them at Starlight Theater in KC with Honeymoon Suite when they still had their classic lineup. Also should be noted that Van McLain passed away from complications from West Nile. Later albums are OK, but the first 5 are essential. 1.) Shooting Star 2.) III Wishes 3.) Silent Scream 4.) Hang On For Your Life 5.) Burning
I’m surprised very little of this is available on YT Music…I picked up the Hang On LP when it first came out and really dug it. Now I’m curious about the debut album, but can’t find anything!
great band...very under-rated. Their albums went out of print very quickly and couldn't find them anywhere. Then they signed a new company in the early nineties and finally they were able to re-release everything which was great. Their leader was Van Mclain who unfortunately passed away. Saw them play live once in a small venue and they were terrific. Van McLain was even essentially their leader.
I only heard the first 5 myself but I'd go: 5. III wishes 4 Burning 3 Hang on for your life 2 Self titled 1. Silent Scream (I'm a huge AOR guy lol) the last 2 are really close for me though. I saw them in the UK in 2013.
Just found your channel a couple of weeks ago. Great band, seen them live many times. They always put on a stellar show and blew the headliner away quite often. It's Not Over is also a solid album. Kinda shocked they got a review on your channel in all honesty. Good stuff.
I'm pretty into the albums through 1985, but the stuff after that is pretty spotty, IMO. I need to give a shout-out to "Touch Me Tonight" which was only on the Best Of... album, but was really good.
9) It's Not Over 8) Circles 7) Into The Night 6) Leap Of Faith 5) Burning 4) Silent Scream 3) III Wishes 2) Shooting Star 1) Hang On for Your Life Thanks, Pete!
I would rank the albums the same way. Last Chance ended up in the Top 100 of All Time Chicago Rock. As for why they weren't "big" is because they signed with Virgin UK. Virgin UK was dependent on other labels to distribute their releases in the US. First Virgin got in an argument with Atlantic (WEA) and that hurt them getting national airplay in the beginning. "Hang On for your Life" had 2 maybe 3 bonafide singles yet none made the Hot 100 because Virgin didn't have a strong PR team in the US. When they got back together for Silent Scream, Geffen was going to distribute it and just as it released, Geffen fired their PR team and airplay died. If not for MTV and VH1 rotation of the video "Summer Sun" it probably would have died completely, but it spelled the end for several members who tired of the constant churn and corruption of the US music business. (It's worse now) Considering music sales in the US was declining overall throughout the 1980's these guys did get their moment (albeit brief) in the "summer sun" of music.
Their 2006 release Circles is pretty even with their earlier albums. It’s Not Over not so much. Leap Of Faith is more mellow, but still a good listen. To me, is has an almost southern rock feel. Not sure who told you not to bother, but you should definitely check it out…
Good ranking Pete. I love all their stuff. But I think they peaked with Silent Scream. Revisit Don't Stop Me Now off that album. Takes you on a journey...
Van Mclain was one of the principle songwriters and there lead quitarist from the orginal lineup he passed away a few years ago. They are so underrated ive followed them from the beginning.
Always loved the first album. Favorite songs are Last Chance, Tonight, Bring It On, You've Got What I Need, Higher & Midnight Man. Hang On For Your Life is really good too. Breakout, Teaser and Flesh And Blood are my faves from that. Didn't really care for the next three albums. Their 1st cd includes a bonus track, Wild In The Street, which was the B-side of the You've Got What I Need single. Not a bad song either.
These guys should have been much bigger... Kansas meets Triumph = Shooting Star. Hollywood, Last Chance, Flesh and Blood, Hang on for Your Life,, and Breakout got lots of airplay back in the day.
Circles from 2006, is a good listen. It still features Van Mclain, Ron Verlin and Steve Thomas from the first few albums and adds Shane Michaels on violin and the much travelled Kevin Chalfant on lead vocals. Enjoyable stuff.
I've got their compilation and 'Silent Scream' on cd. 'Up the creeck'(ost) on vinyl and a DVD with a live show and all their video clips. If you like bands like Kansas and Shooting Star you also have to check the band Spy. (Same title, only one album)
I’m going with hang on for your life as my number 1. Breakout was a staple on NY rock radio growing up but the whole album is great. I picked up a used copy of this album at Titus Oaks in Brooklyn in 81 or 82. It’s always been one of my favorites. Very underrated. You don’t hear the bands name pop up too much in hard rock conversations.
Very underrated pomp rock band. I only know of 8 studio albums and I like all of them, even the later ones. 1 Burning 2 Hang On For Your Life 3 Shooting Star 4 It's Not Over 5 Silent Scream 6 Circles 7 3 Wishes 8 Leap of Faith.
Can't believe that I missed this video a year ago. I have loved Shooting Star ever since I heard them on the radio in the late 70's and early 80's. III Wishes is the weakest of the original 5 albums - most ballads and most by-the-numbers songs. Are You Ready is great and some others are good, but the weakest of the Gary West years. I would put Silent Scream next. The songs are all strong, but it has that dated 80's sound which does hurt it some. Burning is next. They came back to the hard rock after the III Wishes let down. I even like the I'll be there remake - no weak tracks on the top 3 albums. Hang on for your life is 2nd and the self titled I would rank first. However, those albums are neck and neck for me. I think Hang on for Your Life is actually the heavier album. Pete didn't even mention the title track, which is a barn burning rocker. The first album does have the great You Got what I Need and the epic Last Chance. Everybody should know this band. Gary West and Van McLain wrote all the songs, by the way. And I always like it when Gary is the lead singer - he is most of the time. Another reason that III Wishes is weak is because Charles Waltz sings a couple songs and he is the weakest singer of the three. Van McLain developed voice problems and didn't sing as much after the first album. Don't forget that they have a Chrstmas Song which is not on any releases except for the greatest hits. It's called Christmas together and Gary West does sing it.
Hang On for Your Life is the best album IMHO. Hollywood, title track, flesh and blood, are you in my side, breakout….good stuff…Last Chance is their best song, but I don’t think that first album is as strong (Tonight is another standout track).
Love Shooting Star. Highly underrated band. The first five albums with Gary West are first rate. Tonight, Last Chance, Are You Ready, Do You Feel Alright, Straight Ahead, Summer Sun, all great tracks.
Never knew this band but the thing is I never ever saw an album of theirs in any store. Rock oriented store or anything. I suppose they did not have distribution in Europe.
They made a fatal error in choosing Virgin Atlantic as their record label. They failed miserably in promoting Shooting Star who could have been huge based on the radio airplay their first two albums got! Sadly, Gary West got fed up with the music industry and retired from the band in 1986(?) Their farewell concert should be released on DVD if it can be cleaned up at all! Two two hour segments on CZcams and it kicks ass!!!!
Their 1st 5 are really good. Avoid Leap of Faith from 2000, but Circles with Kevin Chalfant on vocals from 2006 is not bad at all, their 2015 album Into the Night isn't bad either..
My favorite list could change on any given day. But here is mine from favorite to least favorite: SS Self Titled HOFYL III WIshes Silent Scream Burning They have also in the discography a couple of Greatest Hits cd's An Anthology and a Live CD with the reformed band after the breakup with Keith Mitchell singing lead. If you want more info on the band join on facebook Shooting Star Maniacs Group.....Thats where the die hards hang out.....
Hang on for your life has been a super favorite since 82 and the debut album is also great!!!! Wish like hell I got to see them live!!! Excellent songs and great musicians!! Grossly underrated!!!!
So cool you reviewed this excellent band. Their first album and the debut by Touch (don’t you know what love is) were about the best coming out of the USA in 1980 (Y&T would only release Earthshaker one year later). I think these bands set the stage for a lot of great acts in the eighties such as Icon (fantastic band) and Coney Hatch (superb!). One thing in common for all of them: they never got the recognition they deserved (killed by shitty hair metal bands)! Such a shame!
Wow! Glad you discovered this forgotten band. In the Midwest they were huge. If you haven't heard, listen to their stuff on the "Up the Creek" soundtrack.
That is very accurate Journey Meets Kansas. Glad I got to see them 3 times. 3 Wishes was good, Hang on for you life might be their best album and the first album probably number 2. I thought that 85 album with Summer Sun might push them over the top. West and McClain made them go. Poor Van Suffered with Limes Desiese and is no longer with us. They still play around the midwest but not any key members. I loved them and they should have been bigger. Growing up close to St. Louis KSHE pushed them. I don't think they had enough MTV content which might have pushed them over the top.
Gary West had just had an appendectomy before the gig I saw them at and appeared onstage in pajamas! They sounded amazing and the show was criminally underattended.
My favorite band of all time! Thank you for putting this out there, people need to know!
they are my favorite of all time as well. the first 5 albums are amazing with no bad songs at all. just turn on SS and enjoy the greatest songs ever.
Just found them again, and YES!!! The Positive Energy, and Every Single Song!!!
Boston & Styx are now moved to 2nd and 3rd Favorite.
Flesh and Blood is one of my all time faves! Really under-appreciated band
shooting star... one of my all favorites! bands..
Shooting Star is awesome!
Breakout, Bring It On and Last Chance are my favorite songs of theirs.
First two that sold me on them!
Glad you did 'Shooting Star'! WNEW-FM in NYC used to play some cuts off of 'Hang On For Your Life' way back in the day, and i've been a fan since. What a fantastic band!
That's when they broke in my area too. Makes sense, because that album is close to perfect. Side one is smokin'!
When I was 11 or 12 I remember grabbing my tape recorder to record ‘Last Chance’ on a Philly AOR radio station. It’s still my favorite song of all time.
MMR or YSP?
Epic!!!
Hang on for your life, is my personal favorite. Plus I love the cover. Brings back awesome memories. God Bless you friend for making this video.
Pete, glad you are getting into Shooting Star. "Hang On For Your Life" is, in my opinion, one of the true underrated AOR albums of the 80's. This album was HUGE in Cincinnati with 5 songs getting serious airplay on local FM radio. Music connects us to moments in time and H.O.F.Y.L has a special place in my life. Glad to see this segment! How about ranking the Scorpions albums?(....even though I know you don't like much of the post "Love At First Sting material").
Been into Shooting Star since 1980 when I first heard “Last Chance.”. Anyway, I saw them open for Kansas. Great show. I’d have to rank “Hang on for your Life” as their best and heaviest. Good to hear someone talking about them. They were a fine melodic rock band. Cheers!
Checked them out- damn! "Last Chance" is officially one of my fave tunes now. Great stuff.
Had very similar experience... Awesome tune!
My all-time favorite band. Thank you for ranking the albums and the review. I'm glad you took your buddies advice. They will be in Topeka, KS on April 10th. They should have been as big as Kansas or Boston or any similar bands of that time but there were some issues with record companies and records weren't in the stores when the songs were on the radio. It's heartbreaking because some amazing talent went into making some awesome music.
All five albums are good, no doubt about it.
1. Hang on For Your Life
2. Shooting Star (first album)
3. III Wishes
4. Silent Scream
5. Burning
Good Order III Wishes and Slient Scream might change spots depending on my mood.
I first heard them in 1981. My local radio station (WCOZ in Boston) played "Flesh And Blood" and "Hollywood". In 1981 I was 14-15 years old and in the middle of a huge crush on Brooke Shields and, for some reason, the song "Hollywood" reminds me of that. I was jealoius when I heard the song back then because I wished I could write something so beautiful. I thought that Brooke Shields would have gone nuts at the mere mention of my name if I hsd written it. Then Eddie Van Halen married Valerie Bertinelli, who was a major tv star and the crush of a lot of older boys (my brother included) so I took up guitar and started a Heavy Metal band. I started to write stuff and one day my bassist said "Brooke Shields better watch out or she'll find herself swept off her feet" and I said "Who?". I was so into the music that I had forgotten about her. So my influences were Shooting Star and Brooke Shields.
Saw them in 1981 in providence R.i. at the Old Living Room.
From KC and this is a great homegrown rock band very underrated. They are well worth the listen!!!
In 2002 on my Bday they shot a concert video at Ameristar in KC we met them they are special.
One of my favorite bands, then and now. I saw them open for Foghat and Blue Oyster Cult in 1982, and all three bands raised the fucking roof. That show was solid from start to finish, and I wish Shooting Star had gotten the success they deserved.
They are one of the best American bands from the 80s. I interviewed Van McClain for the University of Cincinnati newspaper in the early 90s. These guys and Triumph should appeal to rock fans of any persuasion. Keep listening to them.
I first heard of Shooting Star in 1980 when a new video show called "Video Concert Hall" came out. This was prior to Night Flight and MTV.
I'm looking forward to you ranking Heart! Thank you!🎤🎸🎵🥁
Shooting Star is one of the greatest bands ever over the last 40 years. I have all their cds. Even leap of faith and circles are fantastic
'Tonight' is a great tune.
Amazing Band I caught the Hang on for your life tour in California in 83
Shooting Star was a staple of KC rock radio from 80 to the mid 90's. I always thought they should have been bigger than they were. Great band. Glad you discovered them.
One of my favorite bands. Saw them a couple times back in the day..... "You're all a bunch of maniacs" !!!!
The first song I listened to from them is actually Touch Me Tonight because of the I Come In Peace connection. Listened to other stuff later on. Thankfully, they've been untouched by classic rock radio, so it sounds fresh. I would say the debut is the best one as well. Last Chance and You Got What I Need are total classics. Gus (Elton John) Dudgeon's production is excellent as well.
Thanks for the ranking of SS . Their leader Van .McLain passed away a few years back so their last album was Into the Night which rocks hard. I agree with your ranking. The 1st two are the best.
Hi Pete, I think the only one of the later albums that I would insert amongst the first 5 is Its Not Over, which has a different vocalist and no violin, but has some great Foreigner/Journey style hard rock. I would agree that maybe Circles and Leap Of Faith are not as strong, but both have their moments and some good songs, just not as many as on the earlier albums. Haven't heard their last album and didn't know it even existed until you mentioned it.
Agreed, that is a great album.
Underrated AOR band. They did quite well on the radio in the New England area when I was in High School. HANG ON FOR YOUR LIFE is easily their best record, with the title track, “Breakout”, “Hollywood” and “Flesh And Blood” all getting serious airplay on the radio where I lived. Never really explored their catalog too much outside of the first five albums, but the song “Touch Me Tonight”, which as a new song off their 1990 Best Of album is a great tune.
My favorite band. I love all 5 of those cds
This is by far my favorite band, have seen them in concert many times, met the band members, etc.
I agree with your ranking, however, Into The Night is a very strong offering as well.
Also, there were ties, both friendships and family with members of Kansas and the band Missouri.
A few times a year I'll put on "Hang On For Your Life" when practicing my bass and play along with the entire album. Nothing but great songs on that record.
They used to play Last Chance and Hang on to ypur Life on the radio here. Great underrated band.
Thanks for doing S.S.,love your work, always excited to check in daily, the highlight of my day is Sea of Tranquility
Excellent band. Saw the twice. First time on the Hang on for your life tour. Opened for Jefferson Starship. I remember they just blew Starship off the stage.
Being from Kansas City, followed them from a very early age and bought their debut on vinyl when it was first released. Good to see them getting some recognition. Saw them at Starlight Theater in KC with Honeymoon Suite when they still had their classic lineup. Also should be noted that Van McLain passed away from complications from West Nile.
Later albums are OK, but the first 5 are essential.
1.) Shooting Star
2.) III Wishes
3.) Silent Scream
4.) Hang On For Your Life
5.) Burning
I’m surprised very little of this is available on YT Music…I picked up the Hang On LP when it first came out and really dug it. Now I’m curious about the debut album, but can’t find anything!
great band...very under-rated. Their albums went out of print very quickly and couldn't find them anywhere. Then they signed a new company in the early nineties and finally they were able to re-release everything which was great. Their leader was Van Mclain who unfortunately passed away. Saw them play live once in a small venue and they were terrific. Van McLain was even essentially their leader.
I only heard the first 5 myself but I'd go:
5. III wishes
4 Burning
3 Hang on for your life
2 Self titled
1. Silent Scream (I'm a huge AOR guy lol)
the last 2 are really close for me though. I saw them in the UK in 2013.
Just found your channel a couple of weeks ago. Great band, seen them live many times. They always put on a stellar show and blew the headliner away quite often. It's Not Over is also a solid album. Kinda shocked they got a review on your channel in all honesty. Good stuff.
Touch Me Tonight, I get Genesis vibes with the band FM mixed in.
I'm pretty into the albums through 1985, but the stuff after that is pretty spotty, IMO. I need to give a shout-out to "Touch Me Tonight" which was only on the Best Of... album, but was really good.
9) It's Not Over
8) Circles
7) Into The Night
6) Leap Of Faith
5) Burning
4) Silent Scream
3) III Wishes
2) Shooting Star
1) Hang On for Your Life
Thanks, Pete!
Ron Nevison (UFO)produced Silent Scream,sounds fantastic
wonderful bad, no bad albums. burning is a masterpiece
Solid band, There from my homes state of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas. Seen them 3 times, 1980,2006 and 2105. First and 2nd albums are still tops!
Scott Errebo Wyandotte county born and raised.
1. Hang on for Your Life
2. Burning
3. III Wishes
4. Shooting Star
5. Silent Scream
I would rank the albums the same way. Last Chance ended up in the Top 100 of All Time Chicago Rock. As for why they weren't "big" is because they signed with Virgin UK. Virgin UK was dependent on other labels to distribute their releases in the US. First Virgin got in an argument with Atlantic (WEA) and that hurt them getting national airplay in the beginning. "Hang On for your Life" had 2 maybe 3 bonafide singles yet none made the Hot 100 because Virgin didn't have a strong PR team in the US. When they got back together for Silent Scream, Geffen was going to distribute it and just as it released, Geffen fired their PR team and airplay died. If not for MTV and VH1 rotation of the video "Summer Sun" it probably would have died completely, but it spelled the end for several members who tired of the constant churn and corruption of the US music business. (It's worse now) Considering music sales in the US was declining overall throughout the 1980's these guys did get their moment (albeit brief) in the "summer sun" of music.
Hollywood song is gold !😊
They also had two songs on a movie soundtrack in 84. Its callled Up the Creek
Pete!!! Its Last Chance! Not Last Glance!!! One of the all time great songs ever!!!
Their 2006 release Circles is pretty even with their earlier albums. It’s Not Over not so much.
Leap Of Faith is more mellow, but still a good listen. To me, is has an almost southern rock feel.
Not sure who told you not to bother, but you should definitely check it out…
Good ranking Pete. I love all their stuff. But I think they peaked with Silent Scream. Revisit Don't Stop Me Now off that album. Takes you on a journey...
Thanks Pete. The first 5. I grew up with this band. Burning has a theme. Listen to Burning. And then listen to theme at the end.
Thank you for your ranking of Shooting Star! I love the music and art cover of Shooting Star!🎤🎸🎵🥁
“Last chance” was a hit for them. Great first album!!
Not Last Glance? lol
Van Mclain was one of the principle songwriters and there lead quitarist from the orginal lineup he passed away a few years ago. They are so underrated ive followed them from the beginning.
Always loved the first album. Favorite songs are Last Chance, Tonight, Bring It On, You've Got What I Need, Higher & Midnight Man. Hang On For Your Life is really good too. Breakout, Teaser and Flesh And Blood are my faves from that. Didn't really care for the next three albums. Their 1st cd includes a bonus track, Wild In The Street, which was the B-side of the You've Got What I Need single. Not a bad song either.
These guys should have been much bigger... Kansas meets Triumph = Shooting Star. Hollywood, Last Chance, Flesh and Blood, Hang on for Your Life,, and Breakout got lots of airplay back in the day.
I want your Stand Up shirt!
They play a lot of times in Puerto Rico in the early 80s . Hollywood is one of their greatest tune.
Circles from 2006, is a good listen. It still features Van Mclain, Ron Verlin and Steve Thomas from the first few albums and adds Shane Michaels on violin and the much travelled Kevin Chalfant on lead vocals. Enjoyable stuff.
circles is pretty good with kevin chalfant on vocals
I've got their compilation and 'Silent Scream' on cd. 'Up the creeck'(ost) on vinyl and a DVD with a live show and all their video clips. If you like bands like Kansas and Shooting Star you also have to check the band Spy. (Same title, only one album)
Shooting Star is f*cking great. Been a fan since the first album. Think Kansas on steroids.
Ronnie Platt's old band, good 80's stuff.
I’m going with hang on for your life as my number 1. Breakout was a staple on NY rock radio growing up but the whole album is great. I picked up a used copy of this album at Titus Oaks in Brooklyn in 81 or 82. It’s always been one of my favorites. Very underrated. You don’t hear the bands name pop up too much in hard rock conversations.
I am from Kansas City and grew up listening to these guys. They never got the national recognition/airplay they maybe should have.
Very underrated pomp rock band. I only know of 8 studio albums and I like all of them, even the later ones.
1 Burning
2 Hang On For Your Life
3 Shooting Star
4 It's Not Over
5 Silent Scream
6 Circles
7 3 Wishes
8 Leap of Faith.
Great stuff !
'It's not over' is a pretty cool album! Since you asked...
Can't believe that I missed this video a year ago. I have loved Shooting Star ever since I heard them on the radio in the late 70's and early 80's. III Wishes is the weakest of the original 5 albums - most ballads and most by-the-numbers songs. Are You Ready is great and some others are good, but the weakest of the Gary West years. I would put Silent Scream next. The songs are all strong, but it has that dated 80's sound which does hurt it some. Burning is next. They came back to the hard rock after the III Wishes let down. I even like the I'll be there remake - no weak tracks on the top 3 albums. Hang on for your life is 2nd and the self titled I would rank first. However, those albums are neck and neck for me. I think Hang on for Your Life is actually the heavier album. Pete didn't even mention the title track, which is a barn burning rocker. The first album does have the great You Got what I Need and the epic Last Chance. Everybody should know this band. Gary West and Van McLain wrote all the songs, by the way. And I always like it when Gary is the lead singer - he is most of the time. Another reason that III Wishes is weak is because Charles Waltz sings a couple songs and he is the weakest singer of the three. Van McLain developed voice problems and didn't sing as much after the first album. Don't forget that they have a Chrstmas Song which is not on any releases except for the greatest hits. It's called Christmas together and Gary West does sing it.
Great, but it's "Last Chance" not Last Glance! That was the first song I ever heard from them on radio and as a drummer it's duel was incredible!
Hang On for Your Life is the best album IMHO. Hollywood, title track, flesh and blood, are you in my side, breakout….good stuff…Last Chance is their best song, but I don’t think that first album is as strong (Tonight is another standout track).
Love Shooting Star. Highly underrated band. The first five albums with Gary West are first rate. Tonight, Last Chance, Are You Ready, Do You Feel Alright, Straight Ahead, Summer Sun, all great tracks.
Never knew this band but the thing is I never ever saw an album of theirs in any store. Rock oriented store or anything. I suppose they did not have distribution in Europe.
They made a fatal error in choosing Virgin Atlantic as their record label. They failed miserably in promoting Shooting Star who could have been huge based on the radio airplay their first two albums got! Sadly, Gary West got fed up with the music industry and retired from the band in 1986(?) Their farewell concert should be released on DVD if it can be cleaned up at all! Two two hour segments on CZcams and it kicks ass!!!!
I saw this band in Paducah KY. 1982 With Axe and Cheap Trick.
Check out the band Missouri, it was fronted by Ron West, the brother of Shooting Stars lead vocalist Gary West.
This band was the best in my era..i have doubles of all albums...flesh and blood
Their 1st 5 are really good. Avoid Leap of Faith from 2000, but Circles with Kevin Chalfant on vocals from 2006 is not bad at all, their 2015 album Into the Night isn't bad either..
Nice start to a great band collection
Love them been a fan since I was 10 in 1979 love last chance you got what I need hang on for your life tonight all great stuff
My favorite list could change on any given day. But here is mine from favorite to least favorite:
SS Self Titled
HOFYL
III WIshes
Silent Scream
Burning
They have also in the discography a couple of Greatest Hits cd's An Anthology and a Live CD with the reformed band after the breakup with Keith Mitchell singing lead. If you want more info on the band join on facebook Shooting Star Maniacs Group.....Thats where the die hards hang out.....
When I read a reference to the farewell tour I started to post the link but will leave that for you.
@@woodylaura44 You can post if ya like makes no difference to me....... :)
Never heard of them till now... listened to Last Chance so far ... great !!! ... I will check out the rest .. thanks Pete !
I would say Axe meets Kansas. Great band. I got into them when Hang on For YOur Life came out!
Hang on for your life has been a super favorite since 82 and the debut album is also great!!!! Wish like hell I got to see them live!!! Excellent songs and great musicians!! Grossly underrated!!!!
They will be in Topeka, KS on April 10th.
Leap of Faith is phenomenal,it's as good as any of their 80's albums
So cool you reviewed this excellent band. Their first album and the debut by Touch (don’t you know what love is) were about the best coming out of the USA in 1980 (Y&T would only release Earthshaker one year later). I think these bands set the stage for a lot of great acts in the eighties such as Icon (fantastic band) and Coney Hatch (superb!). One thing in common for all of them: they never got the recognition they deserved (killed by shitty hair metal bands)! Such a shame!
Another one to check out! Pete do you like the L.A band ANGEL?
Wow! Glad you discovered this forgotten band. In the Midwest they were huge. If you haven't heard, listen to their stuff on the "Up the Creek" soundtrack.
That is very accurate Journey Meets Kansas. Glad I got to see them 3 times. 3 Wishes was good, Hang on for you life might be their best album and the first album probably number 2. I thought that 85 album with Summer Sun might push them over the top. West and McClain made them go. Poor Van Suffered with Limes Desiese and is no longer with us. They still play around the midwest but not any key members. I loved them and they should have been bigger. Growing up close to St. Louis KSHE pushed them. I don't think they had enough MTV content which might have pushed them over the top.
Ferocious guitar player
Loved Last Chance in the 80’s, had the first 2 albums but haven’t listened to them in years...thanks!
Gary West had just had an appendectomy before the gig I saw them at and appeared onstage in pajamas! They sounded amazing and the show was criminally underattended.
Great album cover hang on for your life!!
Great band wish they were bigger of course but lots competition out there !
circle is a great album
Shooting star live is great but its hard to find.
"Last Chance" is one of my top ten album closers. That's the way to close your debut album!! and not give anybody a last glance.
Greetings.
It's not over is a great album.
It's more hard rocking style. Personally I liked a lot. You can't miss out
You misspoke....i was like, "4th album from 93??" Lol
meant 83 obviously
@@seaoftranquilityprog right, i knew it, i have the album.
From my hometown area of Kansas City!! Yes, their debut is solid from song #1 to "Last Chance" !!!
If Kansas and April Wine had a offspring..
Good stuff
I never heard any later music. I do remember hearing them on the radio a lot in the early eighties.