LeRoux is a nationally prominent southern
rock group that was elected to the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
in 2009. LeRoux takes its name from the Cajun French term for
the thick and hearty gravy base (roux) that's used to make a
gumbo. Louisiana's LeRoux (the first Capitol album)
was a musical gumbo that blended various instruments and arrangements
for some spicy, mouth-watering pop-rock. Their Southern anthem
"New Orleans Ladies" was voted Song of the Century by Gambit
Magazine (a New Orleans publication). LeRoux stayed with Capitol
Records until 1981. In 1981 they recorded The Last Safe
Place for RCA. This record produced the Top Twenty hit
"Nobody Said It Was Easy" and the Top 5 AOR hit "Addicted."
The group's final RCA record produced the MTV hit "Carrie's
Gone."
In 1981 writer/producers Rex Pearce and
Dale Murray started working on a project with the South Louisiana
vocalist Carl Michael Dornier. Carl's stage name is
Carl Michaels.
Carl received substantial regional airplay with the Rex Pearce-penned
ballad "You're The One Love Of My Life." As a result of that
success more tunes were recorded. In 1981 it was decided to
use LeRoux as the band on the new Carl Michaels tracks. Therefore,
nine of the eleven tracks on this CD include the original members
of LeRoux. Those members were Leon Medica (bass),
Jeff Pollard
(guitar), Tony Haselden (guitar), Rod Roddy (keyboards),
David
Peters (drums), and Bobby Campo (trumpet, flute, and percussion).
These 1981 tracks were restored and transferred to a digital
format. The results were astounding! There is an analog ambience,
yet a fresh digital sound. This CD also contains two new tunes.
The songs are "Eclipsed By Love" (a blues-rock song) and "Double
Talk" (a timely tune with a New Orleans second-line beat). Four
of the original LeRoux members played on the new songs. Those
members are Leon Medica, Tony Haselden,
David Peters, and Bobby
Campo. Carl Michaels sang the lead vocals on the two new songs.
The first song on this CD, "Cajun Song,"
was written by former Doobie Brother Michael McDonald. It is
a catchy tune with a definite New Orleans feel. "Reach Out"
was written by producer Dale Murray and is a quality soulful
ballad that includes a string section from the New Orleans symphony.
"Pure Love" is a mid-tempo pop tune written by
Bob Stone. Bob
wrote the Number One hit for Cher, "Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves." LeRoux's
Tony Haselden wrote "You're The Woman In My Eyes."
Tony wrote the Number One hit "That's My Story" by
Collin Raye.
This CD contains eleven great songs and is a must-have
for LeRoux fans because the original band members played on
nine tracks. The Carl Michaels vocals truly complement
the great tracks played by LeRoux. Carl has the ability to sing
blue-eyed soul and also nail a high-range pop tune with the
best of them. This album, like the first LeRoux record, is also
a musical gumbo that represents the very best of LeRoux's recording-session
work at a time when the original group was at the peak of its
popularity.
