After leaving King Kobra, and prior to forming Unruly Child, vocalist Mark Free was involved in the California band Signal, whose sound was the perfect blend of classic AOR artists like Journey and Survivor and newer Hair acts Bad English and Damn Yankees.
Signal’s 1989 debut Loud & Clear is an album that, given the musical climate in the late 80’s, really should have sold about a billion copies. Think of the really huge acts at that time – Bon Jovi, Bad English, Damn Yankees, and Bad Company – and the albums they were releasing. Loud & Clear is as good if not better than all of them, but sadly failed to gain the attention it deserved. This is just a classy arena rock album with melodies to die for, just enough keyboards, an amazing vocal performance, and the kind of memorable songs that would have fit on just about any 80’s movie soundtrack. “Does It Feel Like Love” should have been played every hour of every day on Top 40 radio in 1989, and “Could This Be Love” and “Run Into the Night” would have made great singles as well.
If you’re a fan of 80’s Hair Metal/AOR/melodic rock, “Loud & Clear” is a must-have album. Fans of Free’s work in King Kobra and Unruly Child will probably get the most out of this album, but it really should appeal to any child of the 80’s.
French reissue label Axe Killer reissued “Loud & Clear” in 2000. The reissue featured digitally remastered sound and expanded liner notes. “Loud & Clear” was reissued yet again in 2009, this time by Krescendo.
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