Customer Reviews

Piper/Can't Wait

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4 star:		(4)
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PIPER TWOFER REVIEW

Piper was a 70's fairly heavy rock band, featuring Billy Squier in his second band.
Fortunately, he took the best part of his first band (Sidewinder) with him: the songs:
"Who's Your Boyfriend," "Telephone Relation" and "42nd Street." When Squier left to form
Piper, all of these songs were included in the great tradition of the Cars or Cheap Trick, but
with a more lush hard pop vocals (three of the members sing, giving the band distinct hard rock
harmonies that are sooooo sweet.).

The band was only together for three years and two albums, the self-titled `Piper' from 1976
and 1977's "Can't Wait', both repackaged together on American Beat label (with permission
from A&M, the original label of Piper. Squier, born and raised in Wellesley,
Massachusetts was 26 years at the time. They seldom toured, thus not too many people even
known about Piper since they didn't have any radio singles (although it can be argued that the
song: `Can't Wait' from the 2nd album and `Who's Your Boyfriend' should have been huge hits.
When they did tour, they toured as the warm-up band to KISS, since they were both owned by
the same management company, but not the same label.

Three years later, the first Billy Squier solo album would come out (Capital Records 1980)
"Tale of the Tape" setting the stage for Squier to take the King of 80's Rock crown.
He admired Clapton, Page, and Led Zeppelin, and all elements of these bands are especially
evident in the Piper guitar solos. The self-titled album is the better of the two, and to have both
packaged together is a truly a treat for all Billy Squier fans and for collector's of lost 70's classics.

A bit of interesting trivia: Bruce Kulick, guitarist from KISS, was also in this original formation of Piper.

TRACKLIST :
"Self-Titled CD"
1. Out of Control
2. Whatcha Gonna Do
3. Road
4. Sail Away
5. Who's Your Boyfriend (I Got a Feelin'
6. Telephone Relation
7. Last Time Jagger)
8. 42nd Street
9. Can't Live with Ya/ Can't Live Without Ya

"CAN'T WAIT" -
10. Can't Wait
11. Drop by and Stay
12. See Me Through
13. Little Miss Intent
14. Now Ain't the Time
15. Bad Boy
16. Comin' Down off Your Love
17. Anyday
18. Blues for the Common Man

Review by Jeff Feezle 1/2010

These two cds contain some of the best Billy Squier out there; not one bad tune. If you like Billy Squier, you'll love these albums. Nice cover of the Stone's Last Time and you can here the "1st draft" of Who'se Your Boyfriend. Lots of great ballads as only Squier can write them; Now Ain't the Time and See me Through are two of my all time favorite tunes, period. Great stuff, it's worth every penny.

I've been searching for these 2 LPs for years. The only thing I could find was a "Can't Wait" import from Japan. I loved both of these back in the day, but had given up on finding them again in later technology. Finally, here they are !!
These are the "must haves". Hard rock, smokin' dual lead guitar lines, with relatively innocent themes. Many great songs on both albums.

Thanks Amazon!

Piper are really only known as Billy Squiers band before he was Billy Squier. A lost late 70's artifact of rock n roll. They released these 2 albums Piper and and Can't Wait before disbanding in 1980. Are they any good though? Well yes they are actually. Though to some Squier might be kinda irrelevant. An early 80's commercial rocker who burned out with the polished tuneful radio rock he was playing and the video of him with the pink shirt dancing around did not help either. His first album Tales Of The Tape contained his semi classic The Big Beat and the follow up Don't Say No became one of the great rock albums of the early 80's with jewels like The Stroke, Lonely Is The Night, In The Dark, Too Daze Gone, and My Kinda Lover. Then the follow up was a little more poppier but it was to be his last real good album.

Piper, if you're looking for more potent Squier as a fan, is actually pretty good stuff. It's way better than the Emotions In Motion album. Out Of Control, Whatcha Gonna Do, The Road, 42nd Street, Telephone Relation and an interesting cover of the Stones' The Last Time being really catchy rockers but its obviously the star track Who's Your Boyfriend, a vibrant melodic classic of a pop rocker that shoulda been a big hit. You'll wanna crank this one up as its Piper's best track. The debut album had some good moments but I think the 2nd record might be better. The opening title cut certainly indicates. The slower but enjoyable See Me Through features enough cowbell to keep 70's rock fans glued, Little Miss Intent another mid tempo rocker featuers some solid rhythm section work. Now Ain't The Time and the previously mentioned track cause the album to take a big dip in momentum but Bad Boy picks it up again. Anyday has some nice guitar grooves and Blues for the Common Man brings things back to par.

It might be true that Piper probably wont be first on your list of great rock from the past but they should be there, if you are a fan of 70's rock and especially more unknown 70s rock bands, you should pick this up. It contains enough hooky melodic sing along rock to keep anyone with an appetite for the style totally satisfied.

The classic Billy Squier sound. THis is definately what started it all. For the true fan, you want these tunes.

Had these on LP! Now to have them on CD is great! Amazon Rocks!
They always have hard to find CD's

I have heard so much about Squires first band Piper for some time now.Like 25 years!! So,when I saw them on Amazon I decided to pick them up as I could not find them for download anywhere.Not bad.Not bad at all but it was nothing compared to the hype that it received.It is exactly what you think it would be.It sounds like an unpolished,unproduced early album from Billy Squire.I will listen from time to time.If you love Billy Squire than this is a Must,but if you are a moderate,curious fan like myself you may want to think twice about purchasing them.

I have been looking forever to find these records on CD. Amazon.com is a great place to find these old CD's. Thanks again

I saw Piper in Madison, WI and immediately bought the LPs back in the day. Much superior to later Billy Squier albums in my opinion. Don't know why the band didn't catch on, but I thought they were destined for greatness. I think time will be good to them and vindicate these classics.