Released September 20 1980
Label Razor & Tie
Catalog RE2104-2
Producers John Boylan, Barry Goudreau

Together with alum from the band Boston, Barry Goudreau put together an interesting nine songs recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles. It's the distinctive Boston guitar sound with more basic rock & roll. "What's a Fella to Do" could be a sequel to "Rock and Roll Band"; "Mean Woman Blues" goes in an almost Foghat direction. Fran Cosmo's vocals feel a bit more British than Brad Delp, and "Leavin' Tonight" leans more toward producer Mike Chapman and the sound of the Sweet than one would expect. Goudreau's guitar and Syb Hashian's drums are a powerful combo -- no bassist is listed. The song "Dreams" gave Goudreau's self-titled debut the radio attention it deserved, and a bit of a following. This track definitely sounds like the band Boston which, rumor has it, upset Tom Scholz. In 1992 singer Delp and guitarist Goudreau joined Brian Maes & the Memory. They rode the Maes original "Until Your Love Comes Back Around" into the Top 30 in America, and the Return to Zero album was a nice reunion for the two major forces behind this. "Life Is What We Make It" and "Cold Cold World" are good slices of American hard rock. More refined than Grand Funk Railroad and not as slick as the Mickey Thomas version of Starship, the Barry Goudreau album is a fun record free from the restrictions of Scholz's meticulous production. While "Cold Cold World" may evoke thoughts of the song "Long Time," the string quartet on "Sailin' Away" gives the album a depth and identity. Just a bunch of professional musicians playing what they like and coming up with a gem.

PERSONNEL

Barry Goudreau  -  Bass, Vocals, Guitar
Fran Cosmo - Vocals
Bradley Delp - Vocals 

David Schwartz - Viola
Sid Sharp  Violin - Concert Master
Sib Hashian  - Percussion, Drums
Jesse Erlich - Cello

PRODUCTION

Russ Martin - Assistant Engineer
Phil Jamtaas - Assistant Engineer
Kevin Gray - CD Preparation
Nancy Donald - Design, Original Design Concept
Mike Ragogna - Reissue Director
Ron Pownall - Photography
David Richman - Design, Reissue Design, Reissue Coordinator, Reissue Coordination
Paul Jasmin - Design, Photography
Tom Laskey - Coordination
Jamie Reamer -  Coordination
Steve Hoffman -  Mastering
Paul McAlpine  -  Photography
Ed Cherney - Assistant Engineer
Paul Grupp - Engineer