Private Life - Shadows & Private Life (1988-1990) [2026 Remaster]

PRIVATE LIFE was an AOR band fronted by singer Kelly Breznik, featuring former members from the backing band of Rod Stewart. Guitarist Danny Johnson has played guitar with Rick Derringer, Rod Stewart, Axis, Alcatrazz and on Alice Cooper’s “Special Forces” LP. He was also rumored to be one of the guitarists being considered to fill Joe Perry’s shoes in Aerosmith in 1979.
PRIVATE LIFE released 2 albums in the late ’80s, now reissued as “2 LP’s on 1 CD” by Dutch label Music On CD.
“Shadows” (1988) is Private Life’s major label debut on Warner Bros. and the company enlisted their ‘rock stars’ Ted Templeman & Eddie Van Halen to produce. With a resume like Johnson’s and Eddie Van Halen in the mix, one might expect a fairly upbeat, hard rocking affair.
However, Private Life’s music was slick, polished, and keyboard-based AOR / Melodic Rock, sounding like a cross between late-’80s Heart (musically) and Vixen (vocally). On the second self-titled album “Private Life” the band leans toward a harder-rock approach with a little Saraya.

The CD begins with the entire “Shadows” album. Opener “Put Out the Fire” is ultra-slick, keyboard-drenched 80s AOR melodic rocker. Johnson lets out a few choice leads, such as the solo breaks on “Don’t Blame It On Love”, “Rockabye Angel” and “Don’t Let Go”.
However, Vocalist Kelly Breznik is the star of the show. She has a great voice, sometimes reminding me of Ann Wilson. Actually, the Heart comparison isn’t far off as long as you compare it to the more pop-laced songs from “Heart” or “Bad Animals”.
In fact, the up-beat “Don’t Blame It On Love” sounds a lot like Heart circa 1985 – 1987. This is probably the closest the band comes to hard rock, yet still plenty of keyboard melodies. The album ends with a beautiful acoustic rendition of “Amazing Grace”.

Released two years after the debut, the self-titled sophomore album from Private Life delivers again glossy, melodic rock, but this time with that 1991-91 more hard rockin’ sound. Once again produced by Eddie Van Halen, the material still is late 80s melodic, radio-friendly mainstream rock. Just about any song here could have been recorded for “Shadows”.
There are the straight-forward rock and roll songs like “Night All Night”, the melodic radio-rockers like “Touch Me”, a bluesy rocker titled “Communication” and, of course, the mandatory ballad, “Holiday”. Breznik’s vocal performance is stellar again with her sweet, soulful singing.
Comparisons to Vixen, Saraya and mid-1980’s Heart are not far off.

Fans of late Eighties AOR / Melodic Rock – and even more if female fronted – rejoice: “Shadows + Private Life” is a great double shot now available again.

Tracks:

“Shadows”:
01 – Put Out The Fire
02 – Last Heartbeat
03 – Don’t Blame It On Love
04 – Don’t Let Go
05 – Rockabye Angel
06 – Spirit Free
07 – Hold On
08 – Runnin The Race
09 – Spider
10 – Amazing Grace

“Private Life”:
11 – Touch Me
12 – Domino
13 – Fallin Apart
14 – Communication
15 – Night All Night
16 – Nothin To Lose
17 – Give It Up
18 – Holiday
19 – Cure For Love

Personnel:

Kelly Breznik – lead and backing vocals
Danny Johnson – guitars, backing vocals
Jennifer Blakeman – keyboards, backing vocals
Jay Davis – bass
Lenny Campanaro – drums
Chris Frazier – drums, backing vocals
Danny Johnson guitars, backing vocals
Steve Kershisnik – bass, backing vocals

Produced by Ted Templeman and Eddie Van Halen