Mr. Mister released one of the finest AOR records in the 80s with their 1985 smash, "Welcome to the Real World". Can you really be a true fan of AOR without this classic in your collection? Their subsequent release, "Go On", took a turn down a less commercial road and suffered the monetary consequences, but was a solid record in its own right.
Richard Page, the powerful voice and primary writer for Mr. Mister has released only one solo record (although he writes lots of tunes for other folks). "Shelter Me" surfaced in 1996 and sounds nothing like the glory days of Mr. Mister. With "Shelter Me", Page dives head first into the calmest of adult contemporary waters. In other words, many will find this record intensely boring. This is the kind of sleepy, unmelodious generic AC junk that one-time AOR luminaries Richard Marx and Kenny Loggins developed a penchant for in the late 90s. The disappointment with these guys is beyond words. At least Kenny redeemed himself with a great comeback with "How About Now" last year.
Everything on "Shelter Me" is cookie-cutter, and the studio musicians are just devoid of any sort of passion. There is a world-music flair in some of these tracks, which would be fine if there was a catchy hook to grab on to. There are only two tracks that stick out as being less than yawn inducing: "The Best Thing" and "A Simple Life".
iPOD-worthy: 1, 6
Richard Page - Mr. Mister site.
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