Any good english AOR?

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EuroJR
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Any good english AOR?

Post by EuroJR »

Toto, Foreigner, Bad English, Lou Gram, Shadow King, Michael Bolton (80's stuff)... but is there anything worth checking out from the U.K.?

I find FM and Magnum quite boring with no catchy tunes. AND all the british AOR bands seem to have this very annoying synth sound.

Mantas gone solo is a perfect example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-luAc0W ... fub-MhVV1k

Bad productions, poor singers, boring half hearted songs, horrible out of date keyboards... that is what english AOR is in my opinion.
I guess that style was never their cup of tea.

Then again, have I missed something?

Can you recommend me some good english AOR please.
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by Bono Nettencourt »

EuroJR wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 1:29 pm Then again, have I missed something?
Mick Jones came up with the band name Foreigner because he, Elliott, and McDonald were British, while Gramm, Greenwood, and Gagliardi were American, meaning at least half the members would be considered foreigners regardless of the country they were in.
veritas wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 3:37 pm Wow, late to this thread, but Sleek is pulling a Moggio here.

It's absolutely idiotic to contend Zep weren't A-listers in the 1970s.
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EuroJR
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by EuroJR »

Bono Nettencourt wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 1:53 pm
EuroJR wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 1:29 pm Then again, have I missed something?
Mick Jones came up with the band name Foreigner because he, Elliott, and McDonald were British, while Gramm, Greenwood, and Gagliardi were American, meaning at least half the members would be considered foreigners regardless of the country they were in.
Still I don't consider Foreigner being a british band.

Any other bands worth mentioning?

UFO had their AOR-moments with the Misdemeanor, having (of course) also the annoying "british" synth sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ9_FrMjf5k

There were some good songs in the album though. Wish it was produced ouside the U.K.
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by alexleehooker »

The Outfield

Or are they more pop/rock?
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by The Sacred Cowman »

EuroJR wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 1:29 pm Toto, Foreigner, Bad English, Lou Gram, Shadow King, Michael Bolton (80's stuff)... but is there anything worth checking out from the U.K.?

I find FM and Magnum quite boring with no catchy tunes. AND all the british AOR bands seem to have this very annoying synth sound.

Mantas gone solo is a perfect example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-luAc0W ... fub-MhVV1k

Bad productions, poor singers, boring half hearted songs, horrible out of date keyboards... that is what english AOR is in my opinion.
I guess that style was never their cup of tea.

Then again, have I missed something?

Can you recommend me some good english AOR please.
Check out TEN's "Name Of The Rose" and "Spellbound". Their earlier albums are some of the genre's finest.
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by The Sacred Cowman »

Strangeways is another great AOR band from UK, though their singer, Terry Brock, is from USA. Their 2 albums, "Walk In The Fire" and "Native Sons" are really good.
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by jhenders »

Please check out the band Ya Ya and their "II" album from 1988. AOR excellence!
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by Bono Nettencourt »

EuroJR wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 2:06 pm
Bono Nettencourt wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 1:53 pm
EuroJR wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 1:29 pm Then again, have I missed something?
Mick Jones came up with the band name Foreigner because he, Elliott, and McDonald were British, while Gramm, Greenwood, and Gagliardi were American, meaning at least half the members would be considered foreigners regardless of the country they were in.
Still I don't consider Foreigner being a british band.
Say you will, say you won't.
veritas wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 3:37 pm Wow, late to this thread, but Sleek is pulling a Moggio here.

It's absolutely idiotic to contend Zep weren't A-listers in the 1970s.
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by Hellsinkey »

They're not an aor band, but Heavy Pettin's The Big Bang record had some good aor songs.
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by jhenders »

Some other suggestions: Virginia Wolf - 2 excellent albums; Heartland, Airrace, Angels or Kings.
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by GoodJudge »

What about Dare? Darren Wharton's band after Thin Lizzy ended. He was Lizzy's keyboard player, so that might exclude them based on your initial comments, but try this and see:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3PPNFYd6uqA
If you like it, they're apparently still going and have released 11 albums. I had no idea...
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by windycitycane »

alexleehooker wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 2:38 pm The Outfield

Or are they more pop/rock?
The first 3 Outfield albums are fantastic. Ironically, they were called The Outfield to sound more American.
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by dmbrocker »

FM boring? Nah, bro. “That Girl”, “I Belong to the Night”, “Let Love Be the Leader”, “Bad Luck”, “The Dream That Died”, etc. all absolutely rock. You might wanna give ‘em another listen in case they start to grow on ya!
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by dmbrocker »

Also check out Tobruk’s Wild on the Run. “Falling” is a killer tune! Of course, I have absolutely zero problem with that “British” synth sound, so maybe it’s just me!
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by Wild Obsession »

GoodJudge wrote: Mon Jun 09, 2025 5:11 am What about Dare? Darren Wharton's band after Thin Lizzy ended. He was Lizzy's keyboard player, so that might exclude them based on your initial comments, but try this and see:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3PPNFYd6uqA
If you like it, they're apparently still going and have released 11 albums. I had no idea...
Dare's 2nd album "Blood From Stone" was more hard rock than AOR, and IMO, it's pretty solid.

Dare: "We Don't Need a Reason"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UQt0Hdu4fQ
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by FreddyFender »

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Oh wait, you said "good." Nevermind.
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by VinnieVincentsVag »

Hellsinkey wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 8:43 pm They're not an aor band, but Heavy Pettin's The Big Bang record had some good aor songs.
I love their 1st album
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by Fat_Elvis »

The Sacred Cowman wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 2:45 pm Strangeways is another great AOR band from UK, though their singer, Terry Brock, is from USA. Their 2 albums, "Walk In The Fire" and "Native Sons" are really good.
I checked them out - good stuff! Thanks.
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by TheDeadBastard »

alexleehooker wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 2:38 pm The Outfield

Or are they more pop/rock?
My first choice.

Also:
John Parr.
If you liked Bad English then check out The Babys.
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Re: Any good english AOR?

Post by Hellsinkey »

VinnieVincentsVag wrote: Mon Jun 09, 2025 11:12 am
Hellsinkey wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 8:43 pm They're not an aor band, but Heavy Pettin's The Big Bang record had some good aor songs.
I love their 1st album
I think their first two are great, but those are not aor.

Tobruk and FM were mentioned, both good British aor bands.
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Re: Any good english AOR?

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