Bryan Adams – Reckless | Birthdays and Namesakes; Ryan Adams should be grateful.

Intro:  Namesakes and November 5th

David Ryan Adams, (Whiskeytown, The Cardinals) singer-songwriter, was known to throw a temper tantrum towards fans yelling out “Bryan Adams” or “Summer of ’69″ in his younger days. (Specifically on Oct. 16th, 2002 at the Ryman Theater in Nashville.) In recent years Ryan has been known to perform a cover of “Summer of ’69″ at his shows to appease ironic fans.  The irony runs deeper than most know. Ryan Adams and Bryan Adams share the same birthday too; November 5th. (Fact Check 1: Ryan Adams  |  Fact Check 2: Bryan Adams) Despite writing songs and releasing records at the speed of light, Ryan doesn’t share a simple, focused, 10 song body of work  like Bryan’s “Reckless”.

Down with the irony, Bryan Adams’ “Reckless” is majestic!

Released in 1984 on A&M Records, “Reckless” features 10 songs, hit after hit after hit (Run to You, Heaven, Somebody Summer of ’69)– and a hit duet with Tina Turner (It’s Only Love). Produced by Bob Clearmountain with Bryan Adams, the songs and their mix stands up well despite the era’s knack for sheen and synth abuse- which there is a lack of here. It’s the 80s and there’s no denying it on “Reckless”, but great songs always outlive production quality, era fads and ironic, indie snobbery. Bryan Adams & long-time collaborator/band member, Jim Vallance, managed to craft/create a complete set of songs that are focused and timeless with “Reckless” in 1984.It stands up pretty strong against irony and indie snobbery 3 decades later.

The Replacements

Argue me that Paul Westerberg & The Replacements camp didn’t take notice too in the mid-to-late 80s.  Take a few listens to their major label releases, “Tim”, “Pleased To Meet Me”, and especially the often ignored (my personal favorite), “Don’t Tell a Soul”.  Each record seaches for pop-rock consistency like “Reckless”. Don’t believe me? Take a few listens, it’s obvious Westerberg was pressured to write a batch of songs like Bryan Adams had done with “Reckless”– and maybe Bryan Adams was in tune with the American underground rising on “Reckless”.  It sounds that way.

What makes the radio hits so great on this record are the few album fillers; standard rockers with crunchy major chords- they’re all hits aimed at floating around your membranes forever.  ”One Night Love Affair” opens the record, falling into “She’s Only Happy When She’s Dancing”.  Adams band is top-notch in the studio from the get-go, utilizing few few studio tricks outside of handclaps and shakers.

The weakest moments are the monster hits here; “Run To You” and “Heaven”. The latter’s obviously become one of the largest, monster love ballads of all time; it’s also the only ballad on this record, and the worst song on “Reckless” I never feel ashamed to hear on the radio.  It works for the record whole because it’s the only breather these 10 songs have to relax on.  After “Heaven” hits take a deep breath, 6 songs, all guitar rockers, are about to f*ck your face up forever.

“Somebody”, “Summer of ’69″–C’MON, HOW MANY OF YOU DON’T SMILE OR GET GOOSEBUMPS WHEN THIS SONG COMES ON, ANYWHERE–”Kids Wanna Rock”, “It’s Only Love”, “Long Gone” and 1 one of the great, unappreciated, album closers of all time, “Ain’t Gonna Cry”. A fast, raucous, righteous template of a song featuring blasting organs and guitars that The Replacements tried to rewrite and emulate for some sorta commercial success during their abbreviated major label years.  Listen to this LOUD and now (seriously take notes on the all-too-quick bridge and outro).

How many blockbuster pop records do you know of that end on a raucous note like this? Purple Rain? Ha, nope. Glorious.

The pace on “Reckless” is a master stroke of timing and song sequencing proving once more that the 37 minute record should be a rule for songwriting success. Great pop compositions with hook intros, choruses, bridges, outros– the whole works. There’s nothing complicated about this record; guitars and vocals dominate the mix, but what a voice.

Blame the ballads and radio but don’t blame the great Canadian for anything else– Bryan Adams has the voice of a rock god though no one’s tried labeling him such.  ”Reckless” proves such.  Here’s hoping an older, wiser, Ryan Adams is grateful that he shares the same birthday and namesake as the great songwriter, Bryan Adams, because ”Reckless” is a majestic piece of pop-rock work.

AW

Summer of ’69 – Live in Lisbon, 2010