Great White

Great White- Psycho City
Released- September 14, 1992 on Capitol Records
Recorded- February - June 1992
Studio- Perkin's Ranch, Santa Ynez, The Great White Rehearsal Studio, and Total Access Recording, Redondo Beach, California.
Producer- Alan Niven & Michael Lardie


The Band-
Jack Russell - lead and backing vocals
Mark Kendall - guitar, backing vocals
Michael Lardie - guitar, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals
Audie Desbrow - drums

The Tunes-
1. "Psycho City" Mark Kendall, Michael Lardie, Alan Niven, Jack Russell
2. "Step on You" Kendall, Lardie, Niven, Russell
3. "Old Rose Motel" Lardie, Niven  
4. "Maybe Someday" Lardie, Niven, Russell
5. "Big Goodbye" Kendall, Niven, Russell
6. "Doctor Me" Kendall, Lardie, Niven
7. "I Want You" Kendall, Lardie, Niven, Russell  
8. "Never Trust a Pretty Face" Kendall, Lardie, Niven
9. "Love Is a Lie" Kendall, Lardie, Niven, Russell
10. "Get On Home" Kendall, Niven, Russell

I like this album better than the previous duo. They focused on their strengths and wrote some great tunes.  The cool part is no cover tunes.  I dig Great White covers for the most part, but it was nice to have a whole album without one.




Laterz...Brother James

I only know the three songs that made it onto their Greatest Hits from Psycho City (Step On You, Old Rose Motel and Big Goodbye) and think they're pretty solid. Out of those three, I think Old Rose Motel is the best.

I only picked up this cd fairly recently myself, however, I was quite familiar with many if not all of the songs on it. My old roommate had this album and played it all the time. When his girlfriend broke up with him (briefly), he would play 'Love Is A Lie' over and over again.

This is my favorite Great White album. "Love is a Lie" is such a great ballad. I also love the title track, "Doctor Me," "Big Goodbye," "Step On You" and "Get on Home."

"Old Rose Motel" was in their setlist for the longest time, right up until the feud started between Jack and the band. It always sounded awesome live.

"Maybe Someday" is another good bluesy ballad, if a bit long.

Keepin the chronological thing in line.

Released on October 25, 1993 via Capitol Records.

1."Step on You" - 6:07 (from the album Psycho City)
2."All Over Now" - 4:22 (from the album Once Bitten...)
3."Save Your Love" - 5:42 (from the album Once Bitten...)
4."House of Broken Love" - 5:58 (from the album ...Twice Shy)
5."Big Goodbye - 5:58 (from the album Psycho City)
6."Rock Me" - 7:19 (from the album Once Bitten...)
7."Face the Day" - 7:03 (from the album Shot in the Dark)
8."Old Rose Motel" - 7:24 (from the album Psycho City)
9."Once Bitten, Twice Shy" - 5:22 (from the album ...Twice Shy)
10."Afterglow (Of Your Love)" - 5:52 (from the album Hooked)

I believe this is the last Great White to be certified Gold.

Till next time....
Laters Brother James

I still have that Best Of. It's a great collection of cool songs and I enjoy listening to it often.

I remember buying that one as a new release at Tower Records. Kept it for a few years, then eventually upgraded to this one...



...which had a bigger and better track selection (IMO).

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I remember buying that one as a new release at Tower Records. Kept it for a few years, then eventually upgraded to this one...



...which had a bigger and better track selection (IMO).

Never heard of that one before. I looked it up and it does have a nice track selection but the live tracks kind of kill it for me.

My primary reason to upgrade to this version was really just for one song...



I had this on an old cassette-single (remember those?) and my friends and I played the hell out of this song. One guy used to play it on acoustic guitar when we'd sit around drinking and smoking.

It was a b-side to 'House of Broken Love' I think. I also had a bad mp3 download of it for a few years too.

I have this one and it's great:

Yea, I considered that one too (mostly for the cover art ). There are quite a few GW hits packages out there. And the track listings are all over the place. Hits, rarities, b-sides, live cuts, you name it.

Witchfinder wrote:

I have this one and it's great:

Now that one I'd get.

Great White- Sail Away


Released-May 10, 1994 on Zoo Entertainment
Recorded-February 1994 at Total Access Recording, Redondo Beach, California
Producer- Alan Niven & Michael Lardie

The Band-
Jack Russell - lead and backing vocals, Mark Kendall - lead guitar, backing vocals, Michael Lardie - guitar, banjo, sitar, keyboards, backing vocals, percussion, Teddy Cook - bass, guitar, backing vocals, and Audie Desbrow - drums

Additional Musicians- Alan Niven - guitars, backing vocals, percussion, Clarence Clemons - saxophone on "Gone with the Wind", and Suzie Katayama - cello

The Tunes-
1."A Short Overture"
2."Mother's Eyes"
3."Cryin' "
4."Momma Don't Stop"
5."Alone"
6."All Right"
7."Sail Away"
8."Gone with the Wind"
9."Livin' in the U.S.A."
10."If I Ever Saw a Good Thing"

I overlooked this album for over 20 plus years.  Recently purchased it about two/three months back and wow.  If I'd known it had this cool acoustic vibe going on, it would've probably been purchased as a new release.  So this is well written & well performed stuff.     Sadly overlooked, check it out.
 
I have what was thought to be a special edition with "Anaheim Live" as a second disc.  Apparently, it was only released on CD in that format with both discs.

Anaheim Live track list-

1."Call It Rock 'n Roll"
2."All Over Now" (studio cut)
3."Cold-Hearted Lovin'"
4."Mista Bone"
5."Love Is a Lie"
6."Old Rose Motel" (studio cut)
7."Babe I'm Gonna Leave You"
8."Rock Me" (studio cut)
9."Once Bitten, Twice Shy" (live)

It's a good album, but very mellow. It used to get allot of play for me in quieter times, but now it just makes me sleepy. This was for me, the start of a bit of a downward turn for GW. It seemed like they were going in an overall more mellow, less-rocking vibe in subsequent albums and was probably around the time I started losing interest in them. It would be quite a few years until my curiosity in the band would be re-kindled.

The Anaheim Live bonus disc is cool too though. Although advertised as a "bonus, limited edition" disc, even to this day, I've never seen a version of Sail Away without it.

I bought Sail Away as a new release based off of the title track which received quite a bit of airplay on the radio around here. Love the title track, the rest, not so much. I couldn't really ever get into it. I eventually sold it off but am kind of regretting it now. I don't think I've ever seen this one in the used bins.

007 wrote:

I bought Sail Away as a new release based off of  the title track which received quite a bit of airplay on the radio around here. Love the title track, the rest, not so much. I couldn't really ever get into it. I eventually sold it off but am kind of regretting it now. I don't think I've ever seen this one in the used bins.

It's still pretty readily available and cheap on Amazon if you need a sleep aid.

I enjoy Sail Away quite a bit, but I think it was the live album that came after this that really caught my ear with the acoustic numbers.

There was a period during which I listened to Sail Away a lot and got slightly burnt out on it. I still enjoy nearly all of the songs on it, but I rarely play it anymore. I do wish they would do the title track live again. That's a great tune.

I do listen to the Anahiem Live disc more often though. That was a great performance. "Love is a Lie" sounds particularly good. It's too bad they didn't just include the whole show.

Great White- Stage

1995 Zoo Entertainment
Recorded- The Celebrity Theatre, Anaheim, California, 1993 & House of Blues, Los Angeles, 1994
Produced by Alan Niven & Michael Lardie

The Band-Jack Russell - lead and backing vocals, Mark Kendall - guitar, backing vocals, Michael Lardie - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals,  Teddy Cook - bass, backing vocals, and  Audie Desbrow - drums.

The Tunes-
Stage One
1."Train to Nowhere"
2."Sail Away"
3."House of Broken Love"
4."Maybe Someday"
5."Congo Square"
6."Afterglow"
Stage Two
7."Face the Day"
8."Old Rose Motel"
9."Babe (I'm Gonna Leave You)"
10."Rock Me"
11."Can't Shake It"
12."Once Bitten, Twice Shy"

The Japanese Version was released as a two disc set with the following tracks added
1."Gone with the Wind"
2."Love Is a Lie"

Also of note...The songs of this album, with the exception of "Maybe Someday" and "Congo Square", were re-issued in 2004 by BMG Special Products, with the title Extended Versions.


This is a recent acquisition to the collection. I didn't know the "Extended Versions" was pretty much the same thing(but circumcised) Until doing the research for this post.  I like this album due to I saw them in concert in this era (mid 90's) more than any other time frame since the club days.  They were very solid and comfortable in what they were doing (IMHDO) I guess getting the "EV" would be the most economical, although some of those are somewhat pricey.  I kind of dig the cover with the road case. Definitely not original, but make a point.

I'd see this one in the used bins and never bothered with it. I think my old roommate had it too, so I've probably heard it by default. And I'd seen them live a few times myself, yet I don't own any live material, save for the Zep tribute album and the Anaheim Live bonus disc. Oh well.

Saw them in concert outdoors during summer...they opened for Tessa.
They rocked. Everything a concert should be. Fun vibe.
"Save Your Love" was a show stopper. Never knew how good that song was !
Sad about the concert fire. I would of went if I was younger at the time...
I alway love to crank, driving in my car, "Desert Moon" or "Stick It"
Hey ! James, did I read right - you auditioned for them ? !
"Rock Me" was a true anthem - stellar guitar.

This live album is alright. If I remember correctly, the guitars don't sound great on the heavier tracks. It's cool to hear live versions of some of the Sail Away material though.

Next up is...."Let It Rock"


Released- May 21, 1996 on Imago Records
Recorded- October 1995 at 710 Studios and Total Access Recording, Redondo Beach, California
Produced by Michael Lardie, Jack Russell, and Dito Godwin

The Band- Jack Russell - lead and backing vocals, Mark Kendall - guitars, backing vocals, Michael Lardie - guitars, keyboards, banjo, flute, backing vocals, and Audie Desbrow - drums.

Additional Musicians- Dave Spitz - bass, Cody McDonald - harmonica, Steffen Pressley - alto sax, Alicia Previn aka Lovely Previn - violin, Don Teschner - viola, and Martin Tillman - cello.

The Tunes...
1."My World"
2."Lil Mama"
3."Where is the Love"
4."Hand on the Trigger"
5."Easy"
6."Pain Overload"
7."Lives in Chains"
8."Anyway I Can"
9."Man in the Sky"
10."Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady"
11."Miles Away"

This is a recent addition to the collection.  You can tell there is something else going on in the rhythm section.  It just isn't the player (GW have had a revolving door of bass players)  It's a vibe thing.  This album has all you'd expect from Great White...the production is different (more natural) and the guitar tones are playful. I'd call it more types of bark before the bite. The cover of Q5's "Ain't No Way To Treat A Lady" sounds better on this than on the "Recover".   Solid release that got overlooked and (IMHDO) stands right beside their better selling releases.

1, 3, 4,6,11 are still giving me goosebumps. Especially 4 and 6!!!!!!!!!!Also the Japanese bonus track!

Bought this CD - this song jumps out. Great car driving tune.

Pull of the trigger, time starts to crawl
Two lives have ended when the hammer falls
Raised on the streets I know
To get what you want you gotta take control