Back in 1991 Love Life released their one and only album, GOODBYE LADY JANE. It came out on Blonde Vinyl Records and was produced by the now legendary Michael G. Knott. Group members were vocalist Larry Worley, Darin Eby, Gary Hanson, and Rod Romero. What I am reviewing here is a 2019 re-mastered edition of the cd, along with five bonus cuts, released by Roxx Records.
'Real Love' is a great metal track of longing: "I've been cryin' all my life/Never had a place to hide/Real love come and take me/Pull me off the ground/Real love/Got to find some real love". 'Do You Love Me' is a rock song with a melodic chorus: "Do you love me?/Do you want me?/Don't you know that I care?" 'Heart of Fire' is a love ballad: "Now I'm holding on/Thinkin' this will last forever/And I'm on the edge/And I know I won't get over you/Oh girl, my heart is on fire/And you're my one desire/Got a hold of my heart/Don't break it now".
'When Loneliness Comes Knocking' is a rock ballad of gratitude: "When loneliness comes knockin' at my door/I hope that it's next to never/Cause I don't feel lonely anymore/Now that you're here forever". A catchy metal tune, 'Girl Gone Bad', follows. It's a story song: "She's got one bad attitude and she just don't know what to do/Now she makes a lot of money/Wearing those diamond rings/Well, it doesn't even matter/Because they don't really mean a thing". There's a good electric guitar solo on this one.
'Fill 'Er Up' is a fourteen second electric guitar solo. The title track, 'Goodbye Lady Jane', follows. It rocks and anticipates heaven: "Goodbye my Lady Jane, how I will miss you/Goodbye Lady Jane, 'til we meet again/Beyond the big blue sky/Goodbye Lady Jane/Your memory will remain/Now you can fly". It's dedicated to Granny Morgan.
Moving on, 'In Blue Again' is a tough rocker about well, moving on: "My heart is, my heart is on the line/And I've got to, gotta leave the past behind/Oh yeah, yeah/And I've had enough of this loneliness inside/And I've had enough, oh yeah". '1000 Reasons' is worthy of raised lighters or cell phones in a concert setting. It's a song of positivity: "The miracles they seem never ending/They keep coming my way/And you're giving me a thousand reasons, a thousand reasons/You're just what I've been looking for".
Next, we have a cover of the Beatles' 1964 hit 'A Hard Day's Night'. It's a good one. Here are the opening words to this love song: "It's been a hard day's night and I've been working like a dog/It's been a hard days night/I should be sleeping like a log/But when I get home to you/I'll find the things that you do/You make me feel alright". Last up on the original album is 'Do You Believe in Love?'. It testifies: "High upon the mountain/Looked to the sky above/Put my hands up in the air/Reached out for His love/Now I don't believe in money/I don't believe in fame/Can't believe in riches/I just believe in His Name".
Collectors will quite appreciate the fact that the 2019 remastered re-issued version of this album includes five demos. Three of them were re-recorded and made it on to the album. The other two are entitled 'Believed in You' and 'Lonely'. They're both quite good.
GOODBYE LADY JANE is a splendid hard rock/metal album. Most of the songs deal with male-female romantic relationships. There are songs about loneliness and aching for love. Then there are songs that revel at actually being in a reciprocal romantic partnership. In addition there's a song about moving on when a relationship ends. The two spiritual songs on the actual album are about heaven and seeing God as the ultimate Source of love. I'm rating this one 96% and recommending it to fans of Bon Jovi, Guardian, and Poison. For more info and/or to purchase visit www.roxxproductions.com.