Tony Scheuren - Gaining On You
WHAM! Records

By MuzikMan (more articles from this author) 2003-01-23

Comment | Email | Print | RSS

Artist: Tony Scheuren
Title: Gaining On You
Label: WHAM! Records (www.beaconagency.com)
Genre: Rock-Pop

On rare occasions, I hear music for the first time and have a driving compelling force within to start writing about what it made me feel. Tony Scheuren's music did that to me.

Formerly of the Boston based 60's psychedelic rock bands Chameleon Church and Ultimate Spinach (both bands I have the pleasure to listen to), Scheuren left behind a wealth of music after his untimely passing. He died at the age of 45 of alcoholism. Some of us are not as fortunate in getting that monkey off our backs. I am one of the few blessed souls spared the ravages of the emotionally tormenting disease. You see, I am a recovering alcoholic, for over 20 years I have not had the obsession to live by the drop. That is the reason I felt deeply moved by Tony's life and music. It was as if I could jump right inside his soul listening to all his words and beautiful music. You can hear his heart and soul crying out in every song; it is all so sad yet so wonderful at the same time. Like the opposite ends of the spectrum of life allowing forces to come together to make magic in a flickering moment in the history of the universe, time stood still for this man's wellspring of emotion to come forth through his music.

I found myself transported to a warm summer day in the 70's with all of this enchanting contemporary pop and rock music. His voice reminded me of Michael McDonald and Michael Martin Murphy, remember the song "Wildfire" and all those great Doobie Brothers songs during MacDonald's tenure? I have to tell you, the more I hear this music the more those goose bumps start and tears well up in my eyes. When you feel that chill from the spirit of a kindred soul passing through the room you know that the music has done its job. All the tracks on "Gaining On You" are very good and all are previously unreleased. Scheuren played all the instruments and produced every track as well. He left behind 50 songs on a few hundred reel-to-reel tapes, what you will hear on this CD is some of that work.

Like every great artist, he has left us with a landmark to his heart, soul and spirit. While this music was great, it was everything else about it that really got to me.

Credits: All vocals and instruments by Tony Scheuren, All songs written and arranged by Tony Scheuren.
1. Lucky Star-3:48
2. Freewheeler-4:39
3. Heart by Heart-3:38
4. Feels Like Sunday-4:27
5. Firefly-3:59
6. You're The Light-3:12
7. American Flyer-3:36
8. Angeline-3:57
9. Old Songs-3:15
10. Play To Win-6:05
11. Goobye Takes To Long-6:15
12. Gaining On You-3:58

Home » Open Review » Tony Scheuren - Gaining On You Permalink: http://www.musicdish.com/mag/?id=7414 Email | Print | Comment | RSS

back | top