In 1984, the world still waited for ringmaster
Tom Scholz to finish
Boston's third record. During
"All Those Years," Boston guitarist
Barry Goudreau recorded a solo LP with other limbo members and hooked up with vocalist
Fran Cosmo. Choosing not to wait any longer for
Scholz,
Goudreau brought bassist
Bruce Smith and
Heart beat-man
Michael DeRosier on board for the one-off
Orion the Hunter. Naturally, this debut doesn't stack up to the perfect
Boston, but
"Fast Talk," "Dreamin'," and
"I Call It Love" are good, professional
rock tunes. Maybe too professional, as they come off a bit cold. Plus, like too many '80s releases,
Orion the Hunter is badly dated, though
Razor & Tie cleaned up the CD reissue nicely (unfortunately losing the
a cappella opening of
"So You Ran" on the preceding cut).
"So You Ran" made the radio, a testament to the enduring popularity and influence of
AOR kings
Boston, as this song would never cross the airwaves in this day and age.
Cosmo brings a fresh voice to standard proceedings and
Boston virtuoso vox-man
Brad Delp is not listed as a member, but holds a strong presence over
Orion the Hunter.
"Too Much in Love" is excellent, actually based around keys rather than falling victim. But honestly, even though
Orion the Hunter holds some personal nostalgia, too many albums deserve more attention. ~ Doug Stone