Paris – Same (1976)

Paris was an American rock music power trio formed in 1975 by guitarist and vocalist Bob Welch, who had just left Fleetwood Mac, bass player Glenn Cornick, formerly of Jethro Tull, and drummer Thom Mooney who had been a member of Nazz with Todd Rundgren.The group released two albums for Capitol Records, Paris and Big Towne, 2061, both in 1976. Paris toured in support of these albums, playing at arenas and auditoriums with Blue Öyster Cult, Rush, Cheap Trick, Trapeze, Leslie West, Rainbow, Bachman–Turner Overdrive, Thin Lizzy, Head East, Be-Bop Deluxe, Heart, The Outlaws, Nektar and Wishbone Ash. After the first album, Mooney was replaced by Hunt Sales, who had also played with Rundgren.

Initially the band’s sound was rock-oriented, but later developed towards funk, and represented a departure from Welch’s work with Fleetwood Mac.[1] Cornick then departed the band and was replaced by Sales’ brother Tony Fox Sales. A third album was planned, but Hunt Sales fell ill and after they did not achieve commercial success, the group split in 1977.

Songs from the aborted third Paris album were used for Welch’s first solo album, French Kiss, and the deal with Capitol was converted into a solo album deal for Welch.

After Paris split up, Welch launched a successful solo career, and Sales worked with Iggy Pop and later Tin Machine with David Bowie.[7] British-born Cornick moved to the US where, after a decade out of the music business, he reformed his band Wild Turkey in the 1990s.

In 2013, Capitol Records/USM Japan/Universal Music remastered and reissued paper-sleeve album replica (Mini LP) SHM-CD versions of Paris (TYCP-80036) and Big Towne, 2061 (TYCP-80037). (wikipedia)

And here´s their second and last album:

My favorite album of all time. The tracks are more refined than the harder rock previous album, Paris. All of the tracks on Big Towne 2061 are excellent. They range from hard rock to ballads. Hard to choose the best, but the worst is Money Love. All the other tracks are far better than those on Bob Welch’s subsequent solo albums, which were of course far more popular. (Drek Meek)

Bob Welch decides to take his band into a new direction with the second and last Paris album. Instead of the heavy metal of the first album, Welch switches to experimental hard rock, and the results speak for themselves. Lots of echo, big drums, abrupt rhythm changes, catchy riffs. With more promotion this could have been HUGE. The title track was released as a single and deserved to be a hit. The level of guitar work heard on that track can’t be heard elsewhere. What a masterpiece of an album this is. Treated rightfully by fans, but not by critics.(Tine Crine)

Personnel:
Glenn Cornick (bass, keyboards)
Thom Mooney (drums)
Bob Welch (guitar, vocals)

Tracklist:
01. Black Book 3.03
02. Religion 5.20
03. Starcage 3.54
04. Beautiful Youth 3.30
05. Nazarene 3.55
06. Narrow Gate (La Porte Etroite) 6.41
07. Solitaire 4.00
08. Breathless 3.19
09. Rock Of Ages 3.09
10. Red Rain 3.20

All songs written by Bob Welch

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The official website: