The Band
In the Heart of the Young (1990)
| Greatness | Heaviness | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| The best stuff on earth. We're not worthy! |  |
Like a leaf |  |
| Most excellent music | |
You can juggle with this stuff | |
| Enjoy the melodies | |
No problem, I can handle that | |
| Hmmm....background music | |
Get off your backside and rock! | |
| They call themselves a rock band..... | |
Bloody osmium mate | |
If you haven't heard of these guys, get to know them. They are one hell of a rock band and they have real talent. Their debut album (Winger) came out in 1988 and sold over a million copies in the U.S. Their second album "In The Heart Of The Young", which came out in 1990, was a slightly different style being much more commercial and, in my opinion, much worse than the debut but still outsold it.
However, it was not until their third album, when they had really hit the mark. "PULL" came out in 1993 and again this album has a different style, but every song is unique. All the tracks on this album are amazing. Even though Paul Taylor (Guitars, Keyboards) had left the band, Winger were going on stronger than ever.
Unfortunately, Winger's popularity sunk before the release of "PULL". Three years after their last album was too long as the grunge thing hit in. The band broke up after touring to support "PULL", mainly due to Reb losing interest in the band and a variety of other reasons. The band members then went on to pursue their own projects.
Kip Winger is now going solo and releasing his first solo album in 1997 and touring the U.S., Europe and Japan playing mainly solo acoustic sets. For more details and reviews of his work see my Kip WInger Page .
Reb and Paul Taylor played with Alice Cooper for a couple of years after, touring extensively but not recording any studio material as far as I know. Paul Taylor also co-wrote and played keys on Steve Perry's solo album "For The Love Of Strange Medicine", released July 1994..
Rod contributed to Kip's debut solo album and then went on to work on his own record with Jordan Rudess called "The Rudess Morgenstein Project", released in late '97. See my Rudess Morgenstein Page for more on that.
Latest News
In the Heart of the Young (1990)
Latest News
Winger are reuniting for a tour this summer in the U.S. with Poision, Cinderella and Faster Pussycat. The line up is all 5 ever members - should be killer. I just hope they come to Europe!
In the Heart of the Young (1990)
Pull (1993)
This album is amazing. All the songs are so original and brilliant! My advice to you is "Buy this album"!
1. Blind Revolution Mad :
A nice intro which seems crap at first but you get used to it. Once this is over the song goes brilliant. The switch between this intro and the first verse is class. The guitar riff during the verse is brilliant and the verse is kind of spoken rather than sung which is a decent style. The solo is excellent. You can tell that a lot of work went into this song and it really shows the talent of the band.
2. Down Incognito : 8/10
This song takes a bit of getting used to but is a cool style of song. The electric guitar riff is groovy and this together with the acoustic guitar gives a touch of class. The pause after the first verse is brilliant. The harmonica solo makes a difference to a conventional rock song and overall its a decent song.
3. Spell I'm Under : 8/10
A brilliant rock love song with an excellent chorus and solo.
4.In My Veins :
The intro is quite good but the song goes straight into rock mode after it. The guitar plays such a variety of phrases during the verse which makes it really cool to rock to.
5. Junkyard Dog (Tears on Stone) :
A brilliant intro, the verse is pretty cool and the chorus is decent. The second part (Tears on Stone) is a really good contrast and works really well.
6. The Lucky One :
An excellent half mellow half rock song. One of the best songs on the album. A nice sweet first verse with acoustic guitar but the song becomes exciting when the drums enter. The verse is brilliant.
7. In for the Kill :
My favorite track. The organ gives an atmospheric accompaniment to the singer during the verse but the chorus is the best bit with the drums and guitars. There are loads of effects on the guitar and the solo is stylish.
8. No Man's Land : 8/10
Straight into rock mode and kept goin'. Just join in!
9. Like a Ritual :
A funky guitar riff for the verse and weird lyrics. The chorus is good but there's a really cool guitar solo. The song has a couple of really emotional points, one after the solo and another when the main song ends and the drum solo ending begins.
10. Who's the One :
An amazing mellow track to finish the album. The acoustic guitar riff goes really well with the voice, and the percussion is simple but adds a subtle beat to the song. The bits when there is harmony in the voice part is one of Winger's class styles. I love the bass solo after the second verse and the song ends nicely by repeating phrases from the lyrics and gently fading out.
In the Heart of the Young (1990)
In The Heart Of The Young (1990)
A let down after their brilliant debut with songs that are not so rocky and are more commercial. I think this is probably due to their record company pushing them. Still, not a bad album for when you're in the mood.
1. Can't Get Enuff :
A good hard rock track to start the album off with. The guitar line is really good. Pity there aren't many more songs as good as this on this album.
2. Loosen Up : 8/10
Just an average rock song with nothing special about it.
3. Miles Away :
A brilliant mellow song which is really emotional and has a nice melody.
4. Easy Come Easy Go : 8/10
A cool rock track but I hate the way the band uses brass and so many synthesizers. I prefer the standard set up for a rock band without any artificial sounds from synthesizers.
5. Rainbow in the Rose : 8/10
A decent emotional type of rock song with good instrumentation and solos.
6. The Day We'll Never See : 8/10
Cool intro which leads up to the song which is quite good to rock to.
7. One Condition : 8/10
Another nice melodic song but not rockable.
8. Dirty Blonde : 8/10
Another fairly average rock song. Nothing special.
9. Baptized by Fire : 8/10
Cool guitar intro and a decent rap in the middle but otherwise pretty average.
10. You are the Saint I am the Sinner : 8/10
Pretty scrappy song which the lyrics are fairly crap and nothing in the songs spectacular. One of those songs which probably took two minutes to write.
11. In the Heart of the Young : 8/10
A nice emotional song which is dedicated to us youths, but it lacks the flare which most of Winger's other ballads have.
In the Heart of the Young (1990)
Sahara (1988)
Sahara (1988)
An excellent album in which all the songs are brilliant. All the songs are similar but who cares when they're all really good?
1. Madalaine : 8/10
Excellent start to an excellent album. Good conventional rock song.
2. Hungry : 8/10
Another excellent track. Interesting intro with the strings then a sudden change in volume to the rest of the song. The ending leads on really well to the next song.
3. Seventeen : 8/10
One of the most popular songs on this album but I don't think it's the best. Catchy chorus which sticks in your head and everything is good about this song.
4. Without The Night :
A fantastic 'mellow' but rocky song with a brilliant intro. The whole song is just brilliant.
5. Purple Haze : 8/10
Winger's version of a Jimi Hendrix song. Arranged really well but I prefer the band's own songs.
6. State Of Emergency : 8/10
Another interesting intro which bursts into life (and volume) when the main song starts.
7. Time To Surrender :
The best non-mellow song on this album. Slower in tempo than most of the other songs but the lead vocals line and the guitar riffs make this song really cool.
8. Poison Angel : 8.5/10
The song doesn't bother with any intro before the main song starts, it just goes straight into it with a fast beat which allows you to rock along to it. Cool!
9. Hangin' On : 8/10
Not as fast as the previous one and a weird guitar sound for the intro. A good song.
10. Headed For A Heartbreak :
The best mellow song on this album. All the instruments fit together so well and the keyboard part is brilliant, but the instrumental ending is magnificent. You have to listen to it.
11. Higher And Higher (Bonus Track on CD only) : 7/10
You can tell it's a bonus track because it's the worst track on the CD. It's quite a good rocker and would fit in nicely at any other point in the CD apart from right at the end! It spoils the would-be satisfying ending of the album given by "Headed for A Heartbreak".
In the Heart of the Young (1990)
Other Releases
| PULL | 1993 | Japanese Release |
|---|---|---|
|
Hell To Pay (Bonus track) : 9.5/10 This song has probably the best guitar riff I've ever heard (man, is it cool!) and the vocal line throughout is tremendous. I'm tempted to give it a 10 like everything else from PULL......but I'll give it 9.5 instead! |
||
| Down Incognito | 1993 | Single |
| Down Incognito, Can't Get Enuff (Acoustic), Who's the One? (Edit) | ||
| Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey | 1991 | Soundtrack |
| Battle Stations - a most excellent song that kicks-ass big time! | ||
| Miles Away | 1990 | Single |
| Miles Away (Edit), In the Day We'll Never See (Edit), All I Ever Wanted, Seventeen | ||
| Karate Kid III | 1989 | Soundtrack |
| Out for the Count | ||
| Seventeen | 1988 | Single |
| Seventeen, Madalaine (Live), Seventeen (Live) | ||
In the Heart of the Young (1990)
Demos, Promos and Bootlegs
Demos, Promos and Bootlegs
| Live in Detroit | 1993 | Radio Recording |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Revolution Mad, Madalaine, Loosen Up, Headed for a Heartbreak, Down Incognito, Junkyard Dog, Miles Away, Spell I'm Under, You are the Saint - I am the Sinner, Can't Get Enuff, Easy Come Easy Go, No Man's Land, Time to Surrender, Seventeen ... and some amazing guitar and drum solos, WOW! | ||
| Z-Rock Pool Party | 1993 | Radio Show |
| Can't Get Enuff, Down Incognito, Who's the One? (all acoustic) | ||
| Live in Detroit | 1990 | Bootleg CD |
| Madalaine, Loosen Up, Miles Away, Easy Come Easy Go, Seventeen, Headed for a Heartbreak, Can't Get Enuff | ||
| Demos | 1988 | Tape |
| In the Heart of the Young, Blue Murder, Headed for a Heartbreak, Never | ||
| Reb Beach Demos | 1995/6? | Tape |
| Split Second, Captain Church, Duxbury Bay, Bru Samba (recorded since the band split) | ||
In the Heart of the Young (1990)
Winger Links
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Kip Winger's Website - http://www.kipwinger.com
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Reb Beach's Website - http://www.rebbeach.com
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Rod Morgenstein's Website - http://www.rodmorgenstein.com
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