ALBUM REVIEW ~ MIKE TRAMP ~ 'SONGS OF WHITE LION'

I'm music magazine, white lion, mike tramp, songs of white lion, frontiers music, little fighter, when the children cry, cry for fredom, marcus nand

White Lion is one of the most underappreciated bands of the 80s glam rock era. They’re also a band that’s shrouded in mystery – Where’s Vito been? Is he actually a commercial airline pilot? Was there really a love/hate relationship between him and Mike Tramp? Will we ever get new music from the band?

The answer to the last question is most likely, no. We will, however, get the next best thing on April 14 when Mike Tramp releases Songs Of White Lion on Frontiers Music.

As the title implies, the album features Tramp re-imagining cuts from his former band’s catalog. As a rock and roll purist, I had my doubts about this one, but if nothing else, you have to give him kudos for doing things his way and keeping the music alive in a way that makes sense to him.

“For me, the period of 1983-1991 was a once in a lifetime experience. Everything I did back then was for the first time, and even though it was beyond exciting and adventurous, when it came to an end, it was more than just the end of a band, it was also the end of a very specific time in my life that I had lived and been part of. Over the next 20 years, I would revisit that time in my life in small parts, but never felt 100% comfortable with it. I simply could not force myself to recreate what I once was,” says Tramp.

Mike admits that he’s not 26 anymore, and of course, he doesn’t sing like he’s 26. He believes he wouldn’t be doing the songs or himself justice if he tried to sing like he did in 1988. Agree or disagree, I applaud the sentiment.

Regardless of his age, the guy still has some impressive pipes. White Lion fans will instantly recognize every song on this album, despite the differences that 30+ years of aging will bring.

“Lady of the Valley,” “Little Fighter,” and “Broken Heart” are first up. It may take three songs or so to get into the groove and accept what you’re hearing is actually really good.

For me, the real test of this album was the mega hits – “Wait” and “When the Children Cry.” If you were fortunate enough to live and play in the late 80s, both songs are forever burned in your hard drive.

If you approach these classics with an open mind (and maybe take your purist hat off for about seven minutes), I think you’ll really appreciate Mike’s approach. His vocals are deeper and more soulful, but the integrity of the songs remain. You’ll also want to take note of the beautiful piano accompaniment on “When the Children Cry.”

Another preconception I had about this album was someone trying to replicate the genius that is Vito Brata on guitar. I was happy to find that wasn’t the case. Guitarist Marcus Nand does justice to Vito’s masterpieces without insulting his legacy.

In full disclosure, I was more than prepared to quickly dismiss this album as a karaoke version of some of my favorite songs. After giving it a few listens, I simply can’t do that. In fact, it’s one I’ll want to add to my collection. It’s also a live show that I hope I get the opportunity to see.

Bravo, Mike! These are songs we all know and love, sung in a key that’s comfortable and appropriate for you today. No one will ever accuse you of living a lie!

I’m Music Magazine Write Steve Pawlowski