RPM – Phonogenic – 1984

This is the follow up album to their mildly successful debut. Even though it had some success the band was dropped by EMI America. The band was smart enough to hire Peter Paterno who at the time was a little known attorney. Peter went on to be a giant in the industry getting several large bands signed. Anyway Peter git RPM an audition with Warner Bros. The showcase went well and the band received a phone call shortly that competed the deal. The record people wanted the album recorded in LA but the band preferred the U.K. The record company agreed and the album was recorded at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill. The band was able to use Gary Langan as the producer and that was a big deal. Gary thought they had a number one album on their hands but alas, they didn’t. The single was “It’s Only Water” which had aa real “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” feel which Langan had engineered. I think it’s a fantastic song but I think it flew a little too close to the previously mentioned song. I think the whole album is great and I would have loved it had I heard it at the time. I didn’t because it didn’t get a Canadian release. Unfortunately this would be it for RPM which is too bad, they had a good thing going.

Tracklist
1 – Man Overboard – 3:48
2 – Head In The Sand – 4:33
3 – Savoir Faire – 3:30
4 – Ceylon Ceylon – 4:41
5 – Piece Of Glass – 5:34
6 – Pay Attention To Me – 4:20
7 – No One Answer – 4:57
8 – It’s Only Water – 5:42
9 – The Curtain’s Gonna Fall – 6:48

Credits
Bass, Keyboards – Jimmie Lee Sloas
Drums – Tommy Wells
Guitar, Synthesizer [Guitar] – Mark Gendel
Producer – RPM (6)
Producer, Engineer – Gary Langan
Vocals – Robert White Johnson

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Copyright © – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Winchester
Published By – Toyzongz Music, Dog Face Music, Welbeck Music Inc., Rajmahal Music
Recorded At – Sarm West Studios
Mixed At – Sarm West Studios
Mastered At – The Town House

RPM – RPM – 1982

RPM falls in the category of a band of Christians as opposed to a Christian band. The band consisted of Jimmie Lee Sloas (Dogs Of Peace & Imperials), Mark Gendel, Robert White Johnson, Tommy Wells (First Gear). Jimmie and Tommy had already been headliners in the Christian music industry while Robert & Mark had been studio musicians in the Christian industry. I have no idea how this album ended up getting backing from EMI records but all 4 were well established studio musicians so maybe they were one of those groups put together by the record company. That’s just a guess. The album was well received and the first single “A Legend Never Dies” apparently charted but I was unable to find the position. “Rendezvous” also singled but gained further recognition when covered by the British band Tygers of Pan Tang on their 1982 album The Cage who did a great version. Their first major live performance was at the KLOL Rockfest at Houston’s Astrodome complex before 20,000 fans. Apparently they had four encores which is pretty impressive. I can easily see why they would be so popular live. The album leans a little more AOR but as I understand it their live performances were far more rock oriented. I wish I had heard of and heard these guys back in the day but alas I missed them somehow. They did get a second album deal from Warner and that one is coming to our channel soon.

Tracklist
1 – A Legend Never Dies -4:13
2 – 2 + 2 -3:19
3 – It Don’t Feel The Same -4:08
4 – Rendezvous -3:28
5 – Envy -4:52
6 – You -3:46
7 – Firestarter -4:41
8 – Don’t Make It Hard -3:07
9 – Video Games -4:20
10 – I’m A Wreck -4:30

Credits
Art Direction – Bill Burks
Bass, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Jimmie Lee Sloas
Cover, Design – Amy Nagasawa
Drums, Backing Vocals – Tommy Wells
Guitar, Guitar [Synthesizer], Backing Vocals – Mark Gendel
Lead Vocals – Bob Johnson
Management – Norman Epstein
Mastered By – Ken Perry
Photography By [Band] – Allan Messer
Photography By [Cover] – David Brandt
Producer, Engineer – Brent Maher
Synthesizer [Programming] – Kevin Kent

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – EMI America Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – EMI America Records
Manufactured By – Capitol Records, Inc.
Recorded At – Creative Workshop
Mastered At – Capitol Studios
Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Los Angeles