Jillson - Deadly Girl (1990) [Remastered]

Artist :       Jillson
Country :     USA
Release :     Deadly Girl [Remastered]
Year :           1990
Genre :       Hard Rock
File Type :   mp3 320

Info:

Line Up:
Don Jillson - vocals
Jamie Warren Borden - drums, vocals
Terry Ripley - guitar, vocals
Dale Borden - bass, vocals, keyboards

So the question on everyone's lips is this: Is Don Jillson another name for Tommy Paris? lead singer of Britny Fox? Or is Tommy another name for Don? The word is, yes. So what does that have to do with this outfit Jillson? Well apart from the mystique and intrigue, this lot are superb. Jillson are kinda like a more commercial version Autograph meeting Y&T down at Fantasy Studios for a good ol' San Francisco Jam!! Not a lot is known about the earlier history of Jillson, apart from the fact that the album was recorded in 1989 but released the following year. Vocally, Don/Tommy sounds a lot like Bobby Ingram, circa his time with cult AORsters China Sky.
Onto the music, what do we get? Well, it is a hybrid, taking into account many contemporaries from that same era. The production is crisp, energetic, and musically it will appeal to pomp fanatics plus hard-edged rockers. Opening up with the furious 'It's Emotion', we kick back on a dose of Ratt/Malice like mayhem. The title track follows next.. a staggered approach, with crunching rhythm guitars and a heavy drum line. The ballad 'Goodbye' changes the scenery followed by the tune 'Make Love' which is more guitar riffarama with a singalong chorus. Keyboards and guitars duel frantically on 'Bad Side'. Not sure who won, but the result makes for fantastic listening! 'All I Can' is a punctuated affair, not unlike Van Halen at their most humourous! 'Again' takes on pomp characteristics, with delicate keyboard lines interlacing the razor riffs and huge harmony vocals. A breather is taken with the power ballad 'Take Me'. A gorgeous effort all round, sounding like the aforementioned brilliant China Sky. The predominant acoustic jangle of 'Mean What You Say' appeals greatly, followed by the album closer 'The End', A Dokken like rampage which is befitting the title.
Jillson as mentioned, went on to front Britny Fox, replacing Dizzy Dean Davidson. Drummer Jamie Borden plays in a new band called The Phoenix, which features ex Aerosmith guitar slinger Jimmy Crespo and Kansas multi-instrumentalist David Ragsdale. A great album, and one that is most sought after. Apparently according to Borden, only 500 copies of the original CD were ever made. So it is a rare commodity and has attracted huge prices on Ebay. Check it out while they are still around.