British rock vocalist John Lawton (1946-2021) first gained recognition with the German-based group Lucifer's Friend, whose early albums established them as one of Europe's leading progressive rock acts. In 1976 Lawton joined Uriah Heep, performing on the albums Firefly, Innocent Victim and Fallen Angel, as well as the live release Live in Europe '79, before leaving the band later that same year. Originally released in 1980, Heartbeat was Lawton's first solo album following his departure from Uriah Heep. Although credited to Lawton alone, the record features key members of Lucifer's Friend, including guitarist Peter Hesslein, giving the album a distinct flavour of the band's trademark sound. Recorded in Joe Menke's 'Studio Maschenin', Germany, the album showcases Lawton's highly distinctive vocal style across a set of polished melodic rock and early 1980s AOR material. From the anthemic opening track 'Lola', the entire album has a radio-friendly feel, with rousing choruses, particularly on the synth infused 'What A Woman,' and showcases the powerful vocal delivery that made Lawton one of the most respected singers of the era. Heartbeat stands as an important recording from a remarkable singer whose powerful voice and versatility helped define an entire era of European rock.
The Power Of Rock
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