'The Roar of L'Amour'

L"AMOUR ROCKS (COMPILATION) - Or did it?

Taken from a Facebook post

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The inside story/truth about the album

When I was asked by Rich Sanders and Mercenary Records to "help" put together the album, I was excited.

I put "help" in parenthesis, because as DJ and local booker, all the bands came from me.

But let's take it from the beginning.

Rich Sanders (national acts agent) whom I worked hand in hand with calls me up and tells me he has an offer to do a compilation album.

I was initially excited and thought it would include bigger bands that were associated with the club like Zebra, Twisted Sister, White Lion, etc.

But nope.

This was a no budget, no frills proposal and that was it.

I was bummed, but I realized I could help a few bands get on vinyl for the first time so agreed to meet him with about 25 demo tapes and contact list.

We met and went over the tapes, and the agreement was that we both had to agree on every band.

I have seen post about the album that were ill-informed, but that was the agreement.

I had three spots I insisted on.

I wanted the all-girl band (I was a supporter of) MeanStreak, the hard-core band Lethal Agression and I wanted a spot saved for a hard-rock band I wanted to put together.

Richard agreed fully and we went over 25 tapes to find the other 5

I was uncomfortable with a lot of the recordings. As a DJ I listened to songs sonically and thought too many sounded like "mud", but it wasn't my album, and I had to pick my fights.

Rich and I worked great together, and we put on some amazing shows at the venue, but I thought this compilation was ill-advised.

So, we have 7 spots confirmed and Rich tells me to contact the bands, etc. and I tell him "You are the producer, you contact them".

He got it completely

I was already underpaid for everything I did and to his credit, he understood.

So, I give him 7 bands and 7 songs we agreed on, and I put together a band 'The Boys' based around a rhythm section I was working with, and we record 'Boys Keep Rollin" and hand it to Richard.

Richard listens and freaks out because it was put together in 2 weeks and was by far the best quality recording of the 8 selected.

He asked, "how much?" ... $280 total baby ... he was floored.

I could have recorded and produced that whole compilation for $3,500, but ...

So Richard tells me he contacted the bands, and I think there were issues with one or two so he went to the "backup" choices.

He also told me some songs were changed.

Now I am almost ready to take my name off the project.

When we went over the tapes, I put time/effort into song selection.

Like I did as a DJ, I chose songs that fit. I also wanted a flow to the album, but ...

Now instead of a song 'Spooge' by Lethal Aggression, (that I knew would get airplay), it was another song I barely liked.

I wasn't feeling good about the album.

The album came out with zero promotion and zero hype and when I saw and heard it ... I was ok with that.

I was very unhappy with the production, order, etc.

I can't say it was a cash grab because no money was made.

I wish it would have turned out differently, but I was limited with my control

I liked a lot of the bands, many were good guys, and I was happy to help some get on vinyl, but I was not happy with the compilation.

Only one song received decent airplay across the country from the compilation ...

You guessed it ... THE BOYS.

The one song I had full control over.

Chuck Kaye

Ah Yes Indeed

BACK

Front/Back of 'L'Amour Rocks' Album and the song "Boys Keep Rollin'" - The Boys