LOST TREASURES

by Peter Marston

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IAN LLOYD

“Goosebumps”

Ian Lloyd will undoubtedly be best remembered for the gritty and dramatic lead vocal on “Brother Louie,” a number one hit by Stories from the summer of 1973. Pop fans, though, may also recall his only other top 40 entry, the Ric Ocasek-penned “Slip Away,” released six years later. Trademark Cars eighth-note guitar chords meet a Ronette’s style bass and synth hook under stacked vocals featuring Lloyd, Ocasek and Cars bassist Benjamin Orr. Though a stellar pop single, it is only one of several highlights on the accompanying LP, Goosebumps.

Stories disbanded a little less than a year after the success of “Brother Louie,” and Lloyd began his solo career with a self-titled album released on Polydor in 1976. Featuring Mick Jones and other members of Foreigner, the album was spotty but not without promise. In the three years between Ian Lloyd and Goosebumps, Lloyd returned the favor to Jones and provided backing vocals for Lou Gramm on Foreigner’s first two albums. Their vocal blend is remarkable and Lloyd continued to work with Foreigner up through 1991’s Unusual Heat.

By the time sessions for Goosebumps got underway, Lloyd was well-positioned to be supported by some of rock’s most successful musicians and the album features a veritable murderer’s row of players: Mick Jones, Dennis Elliot and Lou Gramm from Foreigner; Larry Fast from Peter Gabriel’s band; Ocasek and Orr from the Cars; and Jimmy Crespo from Aerosmith. Combining this starpower with the enthusiasm of a new record contract with Scotti Bros., it was clear that Lloyd was looking to make a statement.

And, without a doubt, he did. The album opens with Lloyd’s own “She Broke Your Heart” and a blistering string of guitar chords reminiscent of the best work by Sweet (as is the four-on-the-floor drumming in the choruses). “Love Stealer” is perhaps the closest thing to Foreigner here, with a big arena-rock chorus and insistent synth argeggios. Russ Ballard’s “First Hearbreak” returns the album to poppier fare, with catchy backing vocals and some nice harmony lead guitar. Jim Vallance provides “Open Soul Surgery,” a hard rock potboiler with a great three-against-four guitar riff underpinning the chorus. The title track is another high point, combining a verse that could have been written by Doug Fieger with a simple, almost bubblegum chorus. Ian Hunter and Corky Laing’s “Easy Money” also receives the Foreigner treatment and is an effective, taut rocker. The album is filled out by the single “Slip Away,” respectable covers of 60s chestnuts “Holiday” (Bee Gees) and “Time of the Season” (Zombies), along with three additional tracks.

Following Goosebumps, Lloyd went on to record a number of albums, including 1980’s 3WC, 1997’s Planet X and 2008’s In the Land of O-de-Po. He has also toured in recent years as Ian Lloyd’s Stories. In a 2011 interview with Forgotten Hits, Lloyd was asked to identify the project that, in his view, best represented how he would like listeners to perceive him as an artist. His answer: “I’d have to say that Goosebumps is a very special recording and a piece of work I am most proud of.” So, take it from the man and get it!

Goosebumps was briefly reissued on CD in Germany but is extremely difficult to find—in fact, the original LP is much easier to locate. If you prefer mp3s, however, the album is readily available through iTunes and amazon. Given the supporting cast and the quality of the music, though, I suspect a physical reissue is only a matter of time.

(Part 2 will cover the followup to this album, “3WC” released in 1980.)

LINKS FOR IAN LLOYD:

Itunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/ian-lloyd/id16250522   and  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/goosebumps/id440023609

AllMusicGuide:  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ian-lloyd-mn0000087210

AMG review of “Goosebumps:  http://www.allmusic.com/album/goose-bumps-mw0000846597

MySpace:  https://myspace.com/ianlloydsstories

Last.FM – Stories:  http://www.last.fm/music/Ian+Lloyd+&+Stories

Last.FM – Ian Lloyd:  http://www.last.fm/music/Ian+Lloyd

Pop Pioneer and “Lost Treasures” writer, Peter Marston is the leader of long-running power pop band, Shplang, whose most recent album, “My Big Three Wheeler” has been described as “the Beatles meet Zappa in pop-psych Sumo match.”  You check it out at this link:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shplang

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“Slip Away” (written by Ric Ocasek)

“Love Stealer”

“Goosebumps”