When I went to see Jeff Scott Soto and Jason Bieler live a few months back, this CD was in the Merch booth. I got real excited real fast. Slam is a band Jeff was in way back in 1991. Jeff received a call from former Beau Nasty guitarist, George Bernhardt, about doing a project. Jeff didn’t have a steady gig yet as Talisman wasn’t a full time band so he was up for doing some demos. George’s songs that he sent Jeff were full of funk and groove and that is exactly what Jeff loved so the two hit it off immediately. They did 7 songs together and the band was formed. Well, the name Slam was really all they had as there was no real band since it was just the two of them so far.

They found a drummer, in Boston, by the name of Mark Bistany and then through an ad found two more New Englanders with guitarist Craig Polivka and bassist Chris McCarvill. Craig & Chris replied with a demo of a song that would become “Dance the Body Elektrik” that appears on this disc. There was a problem as these three new guys were all on the East Coast and Jeff & George were on the West. Jeff actually drove to the East Coast and picked the boys up. Once back out west, they added a fifth member, rapper EOG (Eric Grinstead) and he rounded out the band. With this line-up the band had a rock, a rap, a soul, a funk and a whole lot of other cool sounds in their music.

But, it didn’t last. The boys from the East coast decided to go on their own and then EOG left as well. But they did bring on another guitarist that would become a regular fixture in Jeff’s life, Gary Schutt. Ricky Wolking would come in on bass, but again..it didn’t last. After 3 to 4 months, they scaled down to a 4 piece with Gary out now, but the band could not get a deal. And Slam would eventually go out with a thud. Now, 30 years later, we get the full set of songs they worked on and we have 16 choice cuts to ponder. Let’s go through them and see what they were up to 30 years ago.

The opening track will sound familiar as it is the title song to Jeff’s solo debut, ‘Love Parade’. Since Slam never had a record contract, Jeff re-used a lot of songs from that time period. It’s jungle sounds and jungle beat before turning in to a funked out rock track. Jeff touts his peace, love, rainbow, unicorns and hippie beliefs and does it in a fun, upbeat way. He even breaks in to a rap in the middle which just seems to fit perfectly. It is not what you expect from Jeff, but you accept it nonetheless. 

“Body Language” was another mixture of rap and funk as lyrics weren’t necessarily sung at times, except for the bridge/chorus mostly. Jeff speaks some of the vocals to in a sultry voice. There is a wicked guitar solo to match that funked up beat. It isn’t a bad track, just very different then what you’d expect from Jeff as most of this album is that way.

Next is “Lonely Shade of Blue” which Jeff used for his band Takara on their second album ‘Taste of Heaven’. It was my favorite song on the album and one Jeff does later in his career as well. “Lonely Shade of Blue” has an acoustic style opening as this ballad delivers the goods. Is it cheesy, yes, but it works in the end. Jeff’s vocals are slow, emotional and effective. When you get to the build up and then that chorus is killer. The way he sings the title is wonderful. His best performance on the album. 

“What U Want It” is a heavier, rocking guitar track. Being 1991, it is already a dated 80’s rock style track, but I still like it regardless. No funk, no rap, just straight-up rock & roll with this one.

Then is “Wastin’ Our Time” or you might know it is as “Wasting R Time” from the Talisman album ‘Humanimal’. It brings a little funk back and we get some soulful vocals from Soto and a few speaking ad libs. Catchy Chorus, great harmonies and a wonderful melody, you get another solid rocker.

Then we get “Dear God”, another track used on ‘Humanimal’, which is rock track, but feels a little disjointed unlike the other songs on the album. The band sounds great, but for some reason it reminds me of a Bon Jovi song, a little at least. It is slow at times, rocks out at others, a little socially aware, but doesn’t really take me anywhere. A little disappointing.

“Candy” is another rocker, some great guitar work and a fun, good time song. Yes, it is sugar sweet and a little corny with all it’s candy references, but so what. It is fun and I like fun.

I’m not sure to begin how bad this next track is. “Dance the Body Elektrik”, the song brought by Chris and Craig, is the worst. It starts off with a horrible electronic voice that is both man and woman that says “Ladies & Gentlemen, the 90’s are here..let’s dance”. The song is r&b, funk, soul, rap and dance and makes my skin crawl a little. I said I like fun, but for me this isn’t fun. A total cheese-fest. That voice to start it off I think ruined it for me. It set a negative tone for me.

“Funk Me” is a heavy bass funky track and I am not feeling this one. The chorus isn’t bad, a little fun play on words, but the verses are boring and leave me empty. This one needs more work.

One of Jeff’s idols is Prince and he goes full on Prince-mode with “4 U”. This was another song used on his debut solo album, ‘Love Parade’. It is a ballad that sounds like an old school R&B track but with the whole thing sang as Prince when he does that falsetto. Jeff also has some sultry speaking lines thrown in to turn it in to a sexy and sultry track and I swear at times it sounds like Prince singing. Is it a little over-the-top, yes, but that is what makes it enjoyable.

“B-Jam” or “We Got the Party/B-Jammin'” is another funky, bass track that is really cooking. A party jam that is more my taste. It feels like everyone is having a good time and I like to have a good time.

“Wildflower” is a ballad with a much slower tempo that Jeff sings it softly and sultry. It really doesn’t sound like anything else on the album. Lots of background vocals added, a nice sexy guitar tone, but at the same time it is a little dull and lifeless. I want to like it.

“People” which has a heavy, nasty groove. It is funny on the ‘Love Parade’ version, Jeff’s vocals have a radio announcer type effect on his vocals during the verses, but here they are free of any effects and it pays off. Jeff’s vocals on the chorus soar and that bass line throughout is just killer. The lyrics are more social commentary and Jeff seems to have a lot to say so far with this album about what is important…love and people!! This track was used on ‘Love Parade’ as well.

Then there is “Y U Doggin'” and it is another funk track with a heavy bass line. It has rapping on the verses and Jeff sings that chorus and does it well, but I can’t get past the rapping. Not my cup of tea on this one, although I do love dogs.

“Monogamy & Lust”, called “Monogamy” on ‘Love Parade’, which has a New Kid On the Block or Bobby Brown electronic keyboard sound and is kinda scary. But here it is funked out and has a rap section. I hated it on ‘Love Parade” and not a fan of it here. Maybe I’m all funked out at this point.

Lastly, we get “Everybody Want What They Can’t Have” is more funk. With a deep voice vocal and almost chipmunk vocal. It sounds horrible. No offense to Jeff, but thank goodness they didn’t get a record deal with this crap.

Track Listing:

1. Love Parade – Keeper
2. Body Language – Keeper (1/2 Point)
3. Lonely Shade of Blue – Keeper
4. What U Want Want It – Keeper (1/2 Point)
5. Wastin’ Our Time – Keeper
6. Dear God – Delete
7. Candy – Keeper
8. Dance the Body Elektrik – Delete
9. Funk Me – Delete
10. 4U – Keeper
11. B-Jam – Keeper
12. Wildflower – Keeper (1/2 Point)
13. People – Keeper
14. Y U Doggin’ – Delete
15. Monogamy & Lust – Delete
16. Everybody Want What They Can’t Have – Delete

The Track Score is 8.5 out of 16 or 53%.  Note, these are all demos from a band that never found a record deal so the score isn’t surprising.  But for historical reasons in Jeff’s career this is a really cool set of songs. It is nice seeing where his head was at during this time and too bad they couldn’t make it work. However, it is better for us it didn’t or we might not have had Talisman or any of his later bands.  I love how some songs made it on future releases, but not surprising they all didn’t. This was 1991, so no wonder they didn’t sign a deal as the labels were wanting the Alice in Chains and Nirvana’s of the world.  I am glad that Jeff and George decided to finally release this is as I am happy to have it in the collection.  My Overall Score is 2.5 out of 5.0 Stars for what it is, a bunch of demos.  For coolness factor, it would score higher.

UP NEXT: JEFF SCOTT SOTO – ALL THE ALBUMS RANKED WORST TO FIRST

THE JEFF SCOTT SOTO SERIES:

1. Panther – ‘Panther’ (1986) – recorded in 1984
2. Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – ‘Rising Force’ (1984)
3. Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – ‘Marching Out’ (1985)
4. Kuni – ‘Lookin’ For Action’ (1988)
5. Kryst the Conqueror – ‘Deliver Us From Evil’ (1989) / ‘Soldiers of Light: The Complete Recordings (2019)
6. Eyes – ‘Eyes’ (1990)
7. Eyes – “Nobody Said It Was Easy” (1990) – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition
8. Talisman – ‘Talisman’ (1990)
9. Talisman – “I’ll Be Waiting” (1990) – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition
10. Skrapp Mettle – ‘Sensitive’ (1991)
11. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Eternal Prisoner’ (1992)
12. Bakteria – ‘Deficate! Suffocate! Mutilate! Masturbate!’ (1992 / 2009)
13. Eyes – ‘Windows of the Soul’ (1993)
14. Talisman – ‘Genesis’ (1993)
15. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘The Ballads’ (1993)
16. Biker Mice From Mars – ‘Biker Mice From Mars (Soundtrack)’ (1993)
17. Takara – ‘Eternal Faith’ (1993)
18. Talisman – ‘5 Out Of 5 (Live in Japan)’ (1994)
19. Talisman – ‘Humanimal’ (1994)
20. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Between the Walls’ (1994)
21. Gary Schutt – ‘Sentimetal’ (1994)
22. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Love Parade’ (1994)
23. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Made in Germany (Live)’ (1995)
24. Takara – ‘Taste of Heaven’ (1995)
25. Talisman – ‘Life’ (1995)
26. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Black Moon Pyramid’ (1996)
27. Human Clay – ‘Human Clay’ (1996)
28. Talisman – ‘Best of’ (1996)
29. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Magic’ (1997)
30. Human Clay – ‘U4IA’ (1997)
31. Boogie Knights – ‘Welcome to the Jungle Boogie’ (1997)
32. Takara – ‘Blind in Paradise’ (1998)
33. Talisman – ‘Truth’ (1998)
34. ‘Rock Star: Music from the Motion Picture (Soundtrack)’ – Various Artists (2001)
35. Humanimal – ‘Humanimal’ (2002)
36. Humanimal – Find My Way Home: Limited Edition E.P. (2002)
37. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Holding On E.P.’ (2002)
38. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Prism’ (2002)
39. Talisman – ‘Live at Sweden Rock Festival’ (2002)
40. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘JSS Live at the Gods 2002’ (2003)
41. Talisman – ‘Cats & Dogs’ (2003)
42. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Believe in Me E.P.’ (2004
43. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Lost in the Translation’ (2004)
44. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live at the Queen Convention 2003’ (2004)
45. Soul SirkUS – ‘World Play’ (2004/2005)
46. Talisman – ‘Five Men Live’ (2005)
47. Talisman – ‘World’s Best Kept Secret DVD (2005)
48. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Essential Ballads’ (2006)
49. Journey – ‘Live from Atlanta (Bootleg)’ (2006)
50. Talisman – ‘7’ (2006)
51. Talisman – The Albums Ranked Worst to First
52. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘B-Sides’ (2006)
53. Redlist – ‘Ignorance’ (2007)
54. Jeff Scott Soto – LA Rocks Demo / Vinnie Vincent Demo 1988 (2008)
55. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Beautiful Mess’ (2009)
56. Jeff Scott Soto – “21st Century” / “Gin & Tonic Sky” CD Single (2009) – Bonus Edition
57. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘One Night in Madrid’ (2009)
58. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – ‘Night Castle’ (2009)
59. W.E.T. – ‘W.E.T.’ (2009)
60. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live at Firefest 2008’ (2010)
61. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Damage Control’ (2012)
62. W.E.T. – ‘Rise Up’ (2013)
63. W.E.T. – ‘One Live in Stockholm’ (2014)
64. Jeff Scott Soto – The Authorized Biography (2014)
65. SOTO – ‘Inside the Vertigo’ (2015)
66. Joel Hoekstra’s 13 – Dying to Live (2015)
67. SOTO – ‘Divak’ (2016)
68. Sons of Apollo – ‘Psychotic Symphony’ (2017)
69. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Retribution’ (2017)
70. W.E.T. – ‘Earthrage’ (2018)
71. SOTO – ‘Origami’ (2019)
72. Sons of Apollo – ‘Live With the Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony’ (2019)
73. Sons of Apollo – ‘MMXX’ (2020)
74. Talisman – “Never Die (A Song For Marcel)” – 7″ Single (2020)
75. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live and Loud in Milan 2019’ (2020)
76. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)’ (2020)
77. SOTO – ‘Revision’ (2020)
78. W.E.T. – ‘Retransmission’ (2021)
79. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘The Duets Collection, Vol. 1’ (2021)
80. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Complicated’ (2022)
81. Jeff Scott Soto – The Solo Albums Ranked Worst to First
82. Ellefson/Soto – ‘Vacation in the Underworld’ (2022)
83. Slam – Slam (2023)
84. Jeff Scott Soto – ALL THE ALBUMS Ranked Worst to First
85. Jeff Scott Soto / Jason Bieler – Live In Concert (2022) – Bonus Edition
86. Jeff Scotto Soto / Jason Bieler – Live in Concert (2023) – Bonus Edition