Notes

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Michael Lee Smith: vocals
Richie Ranno: guitars
Brenden Harkin: guitars
Peter Sweval: bass
Joe Dube: drums

1976 Capitol Records, Inc.
Produced by Jack Douglas for Waterfront Productions, Ltd.
Recorded & Mixed at Record Plant Recording Studios, NYC
Engineered by Jay Messina & John Jansen
Assistany Engineer: Sam Ginsberg
All songs published by Rock Steady Music / Starzongo Music - administered by ASCAP
Design: Dennis Woloch
Photography: Tony Loew
The Dream: Sean DeLaney

The term pop-metal didn't come into vogue until the '80s, when it was used to describe bands like Poison, Bon Jovi, Winger, Vixen, and Warrant. But it was certainly around in the '70s; Kiss and Sweet were major influences on many of the pop-metal outfits that emerged in the '80s. Pop-metal isn't heavy metal in the sense that Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Metallica are heavy metal; it's commercial hard rock with a lot of pop appeal and a strong emphasis on hooks. In 1976, Starz entered the pop-metal race with this self-titled debut album, which is fun and noteworthy even though it isn't in a class with the best pop-metal that Kiss and Sweet had to offer. Tunes like "Boys in Action" and "Detroit Girls" aren't mind-blowing, but they're likable and catchy. The LP's most topical offering is "Pull the Plug." Inspired by Karen Ann Quinlen's life, the bluesy number is about a young woman who is comatose and being kept alive by a life support machine. The woman has no chance of recovery, and Starz advocates turning off her life support machine and letting her die with some dignity. But for the most part, Starz isn't topical and escapist lyrics usually prevail on this decent, if unremarkable, debut.