Life can be so simple sometimes. To you all 80s Hair Metal lovers: go get the DCD combo. Listen to the demo versions of (now) 'platinum' cuts of the WINGER history, show enough of interest for the never-released-before tracks and confirm this quartet has not been only a good Sunset Boulevard band...simply 'cause WINGER 've been - and still is - something much more, not possible to be by-detail explained in a single review.
The chemistry between Kip Winger (ex-ALICE COOPER), Reb Beach (WHITESNAKE, THE MOB, ex-DOKKEN), Paul Taylor (ex-ALICE COOPER) and Rod Morgenstein (DIXIE DREGS, RUDESS/MORGENSTEIN, JELLY JAM) was obvious from the very beginning. 1988's Winger (or Sahara, for many) displayed a sensational LA Rock band. Still, few succeeded in 'picturing out' the imaginative supremacy of this band; and Kip Winger, mainly. After 1990's In The Hearts Of The Young multi-seller it was time for Kip and Co. to climb up to higher 'artistic exposure' levels. 1993's Pull (omitting Taylor, this time) commercially failed to touch the charts 'trap'. And this was - for the pre-mentioned believers - a good choice (WINGER's disbanding - back then - is a completely different story).
This 'deep look' compilation sees (nearly?) the complete three albums tracklists' demo versions initially penned and - as Kip Winger himself explains ...in case anyone is wondering why some songs are not on this anthology, it's because I don't have them. Without The Night is one of those songs that was recorded in the studio during the actual recording of the first record, hence no demo.... The above comments and this present Demo Anthology two-CD set - added to Kip's general statements regarding this release - a) verify the 'soul' Rock musicians give early in the first take of a song rehearsed, b) 100% proves the futuristic adequacy of WINGER, since the sound is extremely good and solid, giving horsepower to the musicians' tendency to combine what - even late - now labels WINGER in the Hard Rock world. Two steps above our beloved American Hair Metal bands, this band's efficiency improvisation of catchy tunes with efficient instrumentation still sounds unique...
Songs previously unavailable on a WINGER album: ten(!) cuts, capable of compiling a separate 'hidden' WINGER CD. All of them are classy; all of 'em. Who knows why they never made it into a 'normal' album. Everyone addicted in the 1988-1993 WINGER era will be surprised as hell.
This band had a charisma. Musicians belonging to this era/style approve so. The charts verify the rest. Demo Anthology - apart from being the perfect gift for the WINGER fanatics - validates the superiority of this quartet. It does, it does, it does.