Just what the hell is HRH doing reviewing a Michael Bolton album. Surely he's that arch purveyor of everything the site stands against. Middle of the road, middle aged drivel, beloved of those stuck watching daytime TV and about as far a way from rock as it's possible to get. Well it wasn't all like that. Take a trip back in time to 1985 and things were different to say the least.

At one time Bolton's band Blackjack toured with Ozzy Osbourne and long before he became a blued eyed white soul boy Bolton rocked. Actually album closer here, Don't Tell Me It's Over was this reviewers introduction to Michael Bolton and along with the rest of the album it was Bolton the AOR god.

Everybody's Crazy was released right in the middle of Bolton's AOR period, the previous eponymous album and the latter release The Hunger being cut from the same cloth before he decided to change direction completely and head all mainstream with Soul Provider. So important was Bolton in the AOR scene that the recognized kings of the genre, Journey, even acted as backing band on The Hunger. But for this release Bolton employed the likes of Mark Mangold, Bruce Kulick and even Terry Brock to help lay down the songs. In all truthfulness Everybody's Crazy is an AOR fan's wet dream. From the up-tempo Save Our Love, Everybody's Crazy and Can't Turn it Off to the AOR-tastic Desperate Heart and the excellent ballad Call My Name the whole album is a master class in mid 80's AOR and shows all the young pretenders just how it should be done 

For this re-issue by the UK label Rock Candy the album comes with an excellent twelve page booklet that features the albums original Kerrang Review and full in depth analysis of the album by AOR supremo Derek Oliver. if you think Michael Bolton is just a waste of space, or that you've heard this album before, think again. Re-mastered and sounding amazing this was Bolton as his best and is an absolute essential purchase for all AOR fans the world over.

Let us know your views on Everybody's Crazy

Track Listing

Save Our Love
Everybody’s Crazy
Can’t Turn It Off
Call My Name
Every time
Desperate Heart
Start Breaking My Heart
You Don’t Want Me Bad Enough
Don’t Tell Me It’s Over