SCOTTS HIDDEN TREASURES - (POINT BLANK - American Excess)

[Scott]

SCOTTS HIDDEN TREASURES... POINT BLANK - AMERICAN EXCESS 1981 Here are the two tunes I've chosen to represent this album! Click the album cover and Enjoy! NICOLE THE WAY YOU BROKE MY HEART   Point Blank is one of my impulse buys. Let me explain…   My brother’s friend had a Point Blank album, as best as I can recall it just sounded OK to me. I don’t recall the name of the album or why I remembered the band at all, but when I heard this new song named “Nicole” on the radio I liked it, and when they mentioned the band name I made a weird connection to them. So off to my favorite record store I went and I bought it after hearing the one song.   Make sense?   OK, probably not, but at least admit this - We've all bought albums for little to no reason at all, just had a feeling about it! Such is this, and it was one of those little-informed purchases that worked out really well.   Give these two tracks a listen and let me know what you think? What albums did you buy on impulse that turned out to be good to great?

[Jon]

What albums did I buy on impulse that turned out to be great? Wow. Umm....wow. How much time do you have?

[Scott]

same here!

[Mike Mills]

Whoa! Point Blank! I may be the only person on CRB, who had the distinction of seeing Point Blank in concert. The bill was the Dixie Dregs, Point Blank & the Allman brothers, a night of southern rock. I honestly, don't remember anything about their performance, which is a little strange, because I have recollections of the Dixie Dregs & Allman brothers performances. I guess, the fact that I don't remember them, means they didn't suck.

I remember my mom was the manager of a dept. store at the time & she said some band members came into the store & she got their autographs. I asked her who, but she couldn't remember. So, i'm thinking the Allman Brother's are in town, it could be Gregg Allman. So, I ride down to her store & the autograph's are on this white card stock (like what you find as backing, when you open a new shirt) & written in sharpie is a name I've never heard of, followed by Best Regards Point Blank. I think, I had two different signatures, on two seperate pieces of card stock. I remember holding on to them for a long time, but I have no clue where they are now, nor do I recall whose names they were.

I do remember hearing Nicole on the radio & liking it, but that's about the only memory I have of them. Nicole, still sounds good & I like the other one as well.

[Scott]

Awesome memory!  Thanks for sharing

[Scott]

This is the other Point Blank album I own, on vinyl only and I took it out of the sleeve and it looks like its never seen a needle!  I'm a gonna give this a spin and see if I can remember it...  Its titled "The Hard Way"

[Jon]

This wasn't too bad. I've heard of the band, but never any of their songs (well, until now). Doing research I saw that "Nicole" was a hit?  Where? Never heard this played on the radio. It's not bad, kinda catchy.

The second song reminded me of Foreigner. The singer even sounded a tiny bit like Lou Gramm. Not too bad of a song, but I liked the first one better.

Some albums I bought on impulse, never heard anything by them but the album covers were cool:

Picture--Diamond Dreamer

Picture--Eternal Dark

Opeth--Damnation

Opeth--Deliverance

Y&T--Black Tiger (it was either the album cover or maybe I heard a song on the radio)

Vintersorg--Focusing Blur

Warrior--Fighting For The Earth

LRB--Playing To Win (had no idea this was the Little River Band, the cover looked kinda rockish)

Saxon--Crusader

Galactic Cowboys--Galactic Cowboys

plue I'm sure there's many, many more

[RJhog (Admin)]

I'm not the least bit familiar with Point Blank.  I don't remember the first song (Nicole) being on the radio either.  And something about it is just not scoring with me.  Now I do like the second song a little better.  Yep, I definitely think it's the better of the two songs.  The only drawback for that song is those annoying keyboards.  Otherwise I like it.

Scott, I'd definitely say this is hidden.  And obviously, for those who like it, a hidden treasure.  So while it's not sparking with me, I'd still say excellent pick.  Great way to bring unheard music to the masses at Classic Rock Bottom.  And I'll also throw a thank you your way.  I know you spend some time coming up with stuff for all of us to enjoy and discover.  

And although I've had many impulse buys over the years, the only thing that instantly comes to mind is the  Pat Benatar CD Innamorata that I just bought.

[Scott]

Thank you sir!  Its notes like this that make me want to keep posting!

[Gordon Williams]

I have both of these Point Blank albums (on vinyl). Have not listened to either one in a while. But I always liked the song "Nicole". Strangely enough, even though I have this album, I don't really recall the second tune posted here.

I do have fond memories of two other tracks from this posted album..."Let Me Stay With You Tonight" has a great chorus with excellent harmony and melody, and the song "Getaway" is a cool rocker!

The other album where Scott posted the cover, "The Hard Way", has a great guitar riff on the title track. But, this album has one of the best cover tunes of all time. Point Blank does an absolutely fantastic job of covering Deep Purple's "Highway Star".

The original DP version has that great, great, guitar lead from Richie Blackmore. But the Point Blank version? It has BOTH of their guitar players playing twin leads...and they do a fantastic job. Check it out, and see what you think. A cover that pays total homage to the original version.

This is great, Scott! This post brings back some memories of my youth...great to "wake up" the old memory banks!!

[Scott]

Awesome!  I may have a hard time besting this post.  hahaha....

Love your Point Blank knowledge - makes this a robust post!  I cant believe I own The Hard Way and never listened to it!  think I got it in a cut out bin, but I'm gonna fix that soon!  I will be jamming to "literally" a brand new vinyl album when I put in on my turntable.  That's a feeling I haven't had for years!  Now I'm excited!

[Gordon Williams]

That's cool!

Let us know what you think after hearing "The Hard Way". If I am not mistaken in my memory, the Deep Purple tune on the album is a live cut, not a studio cut. I really, really love twin guitar leads, especially when they are smokin'!