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Reviews Submitted by Alex
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Alex has contributed 1 review to The Penguin: Everything That is Fleetwood Mac:

Perfect Stranger (5/5.05/5.05/5.05/5.05/5.0)
Ace!
Review written by Alex from England, January 15th, 2010

I've read an incredibly in-depth interview with Robert Fleischman, ( http://www.journey-zone.com/Features/Interviews/26_01-03/RF.htm ), in which Robert explains the events that led to his departure from Journey in 1977 and the subsequent recording of his first solo album, "Perfect Stranger", in 1979. It seems that because Robert wished to remain loyal to his then-current manager, Journey's manager deemed Robert "arrogant", "really tought to deal with" and ousted him from the band. It was a disappointment and a bitter reward for being honest and showing loyalty, but Robert was determined to continue. He remained friends with Journey's bandmembers, and in fact Neil Schon and Greg Rollie helped on Robert's solo debut, along with other star players such as Fleetwood Mac's John McVei.

The result is an impressive mixture of rock, ("All For You", and "Ace In The Hole", which is by far my favourite track on the LP), ballads, ("Part Of Me" and the epic "Southern Lights"), and even pop, ("Far Too Long"). Robert's production is really crisp and clean, there's some use of early synthesizers (or possibly electric piano), the guitar solos are loud and striking, and the piano takes the limelight during the ballads, but is kept nicely in balance during the rock songs. This album is the perfect showcase for Robert's voice, especially the track "Ace In The Hole" where he moves effortlessly between high and low pitch, whilst maintaining the power of "full voice".

"Perfect Stranger" led to Robert touring with Sammy Hagar, Van Halen, and many other top acts, but the disappointment he'd felt at the hands of Journey's manger remained. So he then spent a number of years as a songwriter, recording only occasionally with Channel and with Vinnie Vincent Invasion (whose 3rd album was sadly never released..., yet another disappointment which kept Robert off the road). But in the early 21st Century, Robert revived his recording career, (solo albums available at cdbaby.com for example), and has since formed a new touring band with Andre Labelle, (ex-Vinnie Vincent drummer), called Robert Fleischman & The Sky.

I highly recommend "Perfect Stranger"... if you can find it. This album really should have been re-released over the years! Ah well, we can but hope...