STEALIN' HOME

3,5 stars really. A good hard rock album with some strong keyboards, and prog overtones here and there. Babe Ruth never really fullfilled their promising start with the classic First Base LP. By the time Stealin´Home was released their original guitarist and mastermind member Alan Shacklock had gone. It seems there were no hard feelings, since he is responsible for the orchestral arrangements on two songs. But the band was, as always, unable to keep a stable line up. Vocalist Janita Haan and bassist David Hewitt being the only original members left (and they would soon be out too). But they still manage to release a fine record, maybe their best since First Base, although the sound had changed quite a lot.

Shacklock´s replacement being Bernie Mardsen (ex Wild Turkey and future Whitesnake). Mardsen is a good guitarrist and decent second vocalist, but surely Shacklock´s void is one hard to fill in. The band had lost much of its initial impact by then. Which does not mean they were bad. In fact, they were still an outstanding group, with more than capable musicians and quite versatile songwriters themselves. Stealin´Home is an excellent hard rock album, as long as you don´t compare it with their first release. SH has much more direction and personality than both previuous Lps Amar Caballero or Babe Ruth.

The tracklist is varied and the songs well crafted, with some creative arrangements, like the raggae tinged Can You Feel It, the beautiful ballad 2000 Sunsets and the funky Elusive (funky yes, not discotheque as some reviewer wrote) Also interesting is the instrumental Caught At The Plate, one of the few keyboards only songs that really works. And, of course, Janita Haan´s awesome perfomance (she is one of the most underrated great singers of all time).

Try it, if you like the style.