Starz fans will eat up this collection - 8 tracks (plus three bonus tracks) that comprise the actual demos that got the band their original recording track with Capitol way back in 1975/1976. How cool is that? This is the stuff that you only find in way-too-late box sets or on bootlegs. Here, however, are the actual demos, recorded and released on CD by the band themselves.
As one might expect, Starz's shining hard rock pop quality is bright here. Their blues-tinged yet rock-heavy guitar, the irresistible choruses, the brilliant songwriting and, perhaps most importantly, this band's infectious party rock attitude. As I said, this is the CD that got the band their Capitol contract and, one listen here, and it's obvious why.
Featured here are an early demo of the band's later big hit, "(She's Just A) Fallen Angel" and a feisty cover of "Devil With the Blue Dress." The CD begins with "Do It With the Lights On" which is just as much raunchy fun as it sounds. The other songs are just as addictive. "Cool One" should even give you a belly laugh or two.
Yeah, the recordings themselves sometimes sound a little rough. How could they not? It's been 26 years since they were first recorded, technology's come a long way since then. And, remember, these are just demos! (They sound pretty good even by today's "demo" standards). Still, this is a great CD for fans of the band to see what they sounded like in the beginning. "Back in the Day" is definitely an important part of the history of Starz.
STARZ is: Michael Lee Smith, Richie Ranno, Joe Dube, Brenden Harkin, Peter Sweval.