Customer Reviews

Drastic Measures

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Released in the summer of 1981, "Drastic Measures" was Lisa Dal Bello's third album and was a bit more hard-edged than her previous two efforts. The first two LPs were recorded during disco's heyday and they definitely were a product of the era, with Lisa coming off like the typical female disco singers such as Samantha Sang and Alicia Bridges. Don't let the dated cover photo fool you either; this isn't a Canadian attempt at an Olivia Newton-John/Physical ripoff. The material and sound on this effort have more in common with Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart than anyone else. Dal Bello's in fine form vocally but the band here deserves special mention. They are extremely tight and evoke a terrific late '70s rock vibe that just makes you want to party.

Dal Bello deserves credit for penning all ten tracks here. Bryan Adams helps her out on three of them, including "Never Get to Heaven" which was released as a single and peaked at #33 on the local charts in September 1981. It certainly deserved better on the strength of its catchy chorus alone. The slightly slower "You Could Be Good For Me" is pleasant pop-rock but nothing special, and the same can be said for "Just Like You".

Better is the upbeat rocker "Princess Telephone", which allows Dal Bello to demonstrate her capacity for AOR stadium-rock.

The slower "She Wants to Know" shows that later Canadian divas such as Alannah Myles and Alanis Morrissette were clearly influenced by what's here.

Tongue-in-cheek lyrics and straight-ahead rock-and-roll such as "What Your Mama Don't Know" and the galloping "It's Over" are like a less-strident Holly Woods and Toronto.

The uptempo "Bad Timing" is a scathing attack on the record biz written by a young lady who seems disillusioned and jaded beyond her years.

The somewhat funky "Dr. Noble" features our girl sounding her most playful, while the hypnotic "Stereo Madness" closes the album in style.

This is a solid record, but those only familiar with her later, more unconvential albums from 1984 onward may find this a little cheesy if they don't appreciate '70s rock, etc.

Now if we could just get Ms. Dal Bello's first two releases available on CD. Her 1977 debut is available as an expensive import but 1979's "Pretty Girls" remains unreleased.