Richard Lloyd - Field of Fire (Deluxe)
RICHARD LLOYD
Field of Fire (Deluxe)
(Reaction)
Recorded in 1985 and originally released in 1987, Field of Fire is guitarist Richard Lloyd’s second solo album. It’s been out of print for years, but Lloyd secured the rights a couple of years ago and set to work on a reissue. It’s a welcome return. “Soldier Blue,” “Keep on Dancin’” and the stunning title track roll strong melodies, powerful singing and, of course, smashing guitar wrangling into big, shiny balls of classic rock & roll. Of course, the original recording shows its age in the keyboard sounds, gated drums and typical 80s mix job. But the songs and performances are strong enough to overcome such carping, and besides, Lloyd has included a bonus for fans who cringe at the sound of a Yamaha DX-7: a bonus disk with a contemporary remix, some new guitar arrangements and re-done vocals. The latter is arguably unnecessary, but some fans might appreciate Lloyd’s more restrained performances on tunes like “Pleading” and “Losin’ Anna.” They’ll definitely appreciate the inclusion of a pair of unreleased songs, the romantic “The Only Feelin’” and the pointed “Tobacco and Corn.” Lloyd and Reaction give us the choice of which Field of Fire to play, thus fulfilling both fan expectations and artistic license. Michael Toland