Salute (21 Guns album)

Salute
Studio album by
21 Guns
ReleasedJuly 13, 1992 (1992-07-13)[1]
Studio
  • Image (Los Angeles)
  • Landlord (Los Angeles)
  • A&M (Hollywood)
  • One on One (Los Angeles)
GenreHard rock
Length50:49
LabelRCA
ProducerChris Lord-Alge
21 Guns chronology
Salute
(1992) 		Nothing's Real
(1997)
Singles from Salute
  1. "Knee Deep"
    Released: 1992[2]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Daily Press[4]
RockEyez[2]

Salute is the debut studio album by American rock band 21 Guns, released on July 13, 1992,[1] through RCA Records.[5] Artwork on the album was directed by Hugh Syme.

The song "Just a Wish" was later covered by Far Corporation, again with Scott Gorham on guitar.

Critical reception

AllMusic gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars, albeit without leaving a review or distinguishing any tracks as standouts.[6]

Mark Balogh of RockEyez gave the album 4 out of 5 stars. Balogh's review focused on the 2013 rerelease and remastering of the album through Rock Candy Records. Balogh positively compared 21 Guns' sound to "the best and classiest moments of Danger Danger or even Ted Poley's solo projects mixed with some other AOR greats like Giant and Alias." Balogh singled out "Knee Deep," "Little Sister," "Jungleland," and "Just a Wish" as the album's highlights.[2]

Billboard magazine gave the album a positive review, singling out the "catchy leadoff track 'Knee Deep'" but conceding that the band "treads familiar turf lyrically and musically" and has little in common with Gorham's "venerable roots" in Thin Lizzy.[7] The Daily Press gave the album 2 out of 4 stars, a "fair" reception, while parroting the text of Billboard's review.[4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Scott Gorham and Leif Johansen, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Knee Deep"Gorham, Johansen, Thomas La Verdi4:06
2."These Eyes"Gorham, Johansen, Mike Sturgis4:17
3."Walking"Gorham, Johansen, La Verdi3:46
4."Marching in Time" 4:06
5."The Rain" 4:30
6."Little Sister" 4:14
7."Pays Off Big" 4:10
8."Just a Wish" 3:13
9."Battered and Bruised" 3:12
10."Jungleland" 4:25
11."Tell Me" 4:26
12."No Way Out" 4:28

Personnel

Band members
  • Thomas La Verdi – vocals
  • Scott Gorham – guitars, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Leif Johansen – bass, keyboards, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Mike Sturgis – drums
Additional musicians
Production
  • Chris Lord-Alge – producer, engineer, mixing
  • Mike Douglas, Eric Greedy, Richard Landers, Jason Roberts, Talley Sherwood – assistant engineers
  • Ria Lewerke – creative director
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Hugh Syme – art direction

References

  1. ^ a b "PopBitz". Manchester Evening News. 1992-06-16. Archived from the original on 2024-05-01. Retrieved 2024-04-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c Balogh, Mark (2013). "Rock Eyez Webzine: 21 Guns – "Salute" – CD Review". RockEyez. Archived from the original on 2024-04-30. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  3. ^ AllMusic review
  4. ^ a b "Sounds". Daily Press. 1992-08-21. p. 10. Archived from the original on 2024-05-01. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  5. ^ "21 Guns Salute". HeavyHarmonies.com. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
  6. ^ "Salute - 21 Guns | Album". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2024-04-30. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  7. ^ "Review: Faster Pussycat – Whipped" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 34. New York: Billboard Publications Inc. 22 August 1992. p. 56. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022 – via World Radio History.