It's my birthday! What a way to spend it than having a Retro Spin! Today we're looking at the here today, gone tomorrow, Sheriff.
The Canadian group was formed by vocalist Freddy Curci, guitarist Steve DeMarchi, keyboardist/rhythm guitarist Arnold Lanni, bassist Wolf Hassel and drummer Ric Dowhan, the latter who would be replaced by Rob Elliott. They released a single self titled album which would produce two hits, then disappeared into obscurity. The irony being that the band had already broken up before this would occur, sighting turmoil amongst the members as the reason.
Well, that's a short and sweet history. So, how's the album? Let's find out.
Their first hit single, You Remind Me, which reached number eight as a Canadian Top 40 hit. Having never heard it before, I was pleased to find it a good song. What I found was that singer Curci had a very familiar sound to his vocals, and I couldn't quite place it at first. As he switched from baritone to tenor over the course of the next couple songs, it finally dawned on me. Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe. In fact, the band as a whole had a very early hair band sound, specifically, Crüe and Bon Jovi.
Track four gave me the song I bought the album for, the Billboard Hot 100 hit, When I'm With You, also a hit on the Canadian Top 40. Unto itself it's a hidden gem from the 80's. Frankly, after hearing the rest of the songs, the slower paced ballad ends up feeling out of place.
Overall, I enjoyed it, which was a downer in its own right, considering the band broke up and never released anything else. I think, as a whole, this is one I wouldn't mind hearing again. That unto itself isn't common for me.
Lanni and Hassel would go on to form the band Frozen Ghost. Though they released three albums, 1987's Frōzen Ghōst, 1988's Nice Place To Visit, and 1991's Shake Your Spirit, they only had one minor hit.
In 1989, a Las Vegas DJ would start to play in rotation When I'm With You, resulting in the tune becoming a number one hit that year. This prompted Curci and DeMarchi to try and reform the band. However, lack of interest from other members deterred this. Instead, they teamed up with ex-founding members of Heart, Roger Fisher, Mike Derosier, and Steven Fossen, and formed Alias. Under this new band, they produced the number one hit, More Than Words Can Say (1990). However, much like their former band, Alias would then disband. A new line-up returned in 2009 for the studio album, Never Say Never.
Since then, not much has been heard from the boys of Sheriff. It's a shame because they were able to produce a massive hit, yet at the same time, it's one most people have either forgotten, or never even heard. A truly forgotten gem of the 80's.
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Disclaimer: They Toy Box does not endorse or contribute to piracy. Retro Spins posts are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the music discussed here is available for sale, downloading or distribution.
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| THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS August 16, 1980 |
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| THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS August 16, 1986 |
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