【Pls look at the top comment first】This band "The Kick" should be distinguished from another melodic hard rock band "Kick", also from UK, formed by Mike & Chris Jones brothers. The Kick is a three-piece melodic rock band. Few works as they released, this band was formed by a legendary musician as well as the bassist of the band, Leo Lyons, who was the most notably the bassist of British blues rock legend Ten Years After.

"Heartland" is the first album of The Kick with all the songs written by the members of The Kick, recorded and mixed by Leo Lyons at Butts Green Studios, Oxfordshire, England. As an original album, the first version was released in 1987. It is worth mentioning that "Heartland" contained a Japanese-released version, rare but delicate, on the label of Fun House Records, which was run by Fun House Inc. until 1996 and subsequently by BMG Funhouse, Inc. The Japanese-released version means The Kick once opened the market in Asia. However, for most listeners, The Kick seems to be a strange name and rarely mentioned in melodic rock world. In general, they created and performed decent and neat 1980s aor, bringing a sense of nostalgia from all the works of "Heartland". If you have kept numerous British artists in your mind and cherish them in your playlist, don't forget The Kick as this album shoud never be overlooked.

Apart from "This Can't Be Love", which I strongly recommend as one of my favourite aor songs, they made diversified styles in "Heartland". In its entirety, this album was created in aor style with big keys as the vital role to enrich its arrangements, but some of the tracks were added more blues rock elements such as the fifth one "Livin' It Up" and the last one "Working In A Parking Lot", which might remind listeners of Leo's early years in Ten Years After. The opening track "Do You Know The Feeling" is written somewhat as a blues-oriented song (with a bit blues tunes but not like classic blues). "She's Got It All" and "Heartland" are two lively aor gems. "See You On The T.V." is filled with ingenious arrangements, so a mixed tunes of new wave, melodic hard rock and a bit blues can be heard in one song. For romantic souls, don't miss the emotional ballad "On The Beach". "Don't Fool Around With Love" is another pleasing aor masterpiece, which is worth reviewing time after time.

As a bass player, songwriter and record producer, Leo Lyons became a professional musician at the age of 16. As a founding member of the band Ten Years After since 1960s, Lyons has been an on-stage eyewitness to some of the most pivotal moments in Rock and Roll history. He has produced records for UFO, Magnum, Waysted, Procol Harem, Frankie Miller, Richard and Linda Thompson, Brigitte St John, John Martin, Kevin Coyne, Sassafras, MotorHead, Hatfield and The North, The Bogie Boys, The Winkies, Chris Farlowe, Chevy and many more. Other projects of Leo Lyons include stage musicals, cartoon soundtracks, film and music videos.

In Leo's own band The Kick, he tried to focus on creation of melodic rock with Tony Crooks and Andy Nye. Though "Heartland" was not as well-known as those British aor releases from such artists as Magnum, FM, Dare, Strangeways and the band Heartland during late 1980s and early 1990s, this album did hit loyal fans in the heart by their original aor masterpieces while some blues-oriented tunes in "Heartland" convey Leo's spirit, also sound like ZZ Top, American blues rock monument in history.

Their second album "Tough Trip Through Paradise" was released in 1994. By comparison, "Heartland" is more appropriate for aor lovers to enjoy while the following release adds almost all the elements from blues and Southern rock with a newly formed six-piece line-up. Leo Lyons and Tony Crooks were the remaining members. From their second album, the works sound much closer to American-oriented release, because these British talents were doing as best as they could to perform various styles.

In 1992, they released a mini record, titled "This Can't Be Love" with three tracks altogether. Because of its melodious tunes and high quality produce, this song undoubtedly became a superb single of the band. As a representative work from The Kick, I trust this song will be the cup of tea for every aor lover and someday will stand out among the never-ending British melodic rock releases to become an everlasting hit.

Besides, the remasted version of "Heartland" was also re-released in 1992. To find your favourite and catch their perfect choruses, I trust "Heartland" will never be disappointing as your best choice and good taste in music. At least, "This Can't Be Love" has absolutely proved why 1980s tunes are always considered as the best in music world by lots of fans from all over the world.
#MelodicRock #aor #LeoLyon

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