Patrick Henry Travers (born April 12 1954) a native of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a Jimi Hendrix-influenced guitarist who began putting out albums on Polydor Records in the mid 1970s. Pat Thrall, Nicko McBrain and Tommy Aldridge are among the people who have been a part of the Pat Travers Band.

Pat Travers - Putting It Straight/Heat in the Street (One Way) 1977/1979

Putting It Straight 1. "Life in London" (4:22) 2. "Gettin' Betta" (4:44) 3. "Runnin' From the Future" (3:46) 4. "Off Beat Ride" [instrumental] (4:36) 5. "It Ain't What It Seems" (4:13) 6. "Lovin' You" (4:02) 7. "Dedication" (7:54) 8. "Speakeasy" (3:18)

Heat in the Street 9. "Heat In the Street" (4:29) 10. "Killer's Instinct" (5:08) 11. "I Tried to Believe" (5:04) 12. "Hammerhead" [instrumental] (3:04) 13. "Go All Night" (3:57) 14. "Evie" (4:14) 15. "Prelude" [instrumental] (3:38) 16. "Once For Me and One For You" (6:11)

Been looking for "Heat in the Street" forever and finally scored it with this 'two-on-one' collection. This remastered CD contains both albums and is nicely wrapped up in a slipcase that is hand numbered and autographed by Pat Travers. (Mine is 2,058/2,500) The booklet includes a bio written by Pat himself, as well as the lyrics and a few vintage photos.

"Putting It Straight" is a straight forward, guitar oriented hard rock disc. Pat Travers guitar licks and tricks are similar to contemporaries like Frank Marino and Robin Trower. However, Pat is less bluesy and much more flash! "Gettin' Betta" is a tasty funk based rock number and one of my favorites on this album. Despite my accolades for "Putting It Straight", it pales in comparison to follow-up "Heat In the Streets". "Putting It Straight" features drummer Nicko McBrain who went on to fame with Iron Maiden.

"Heat in the Streets" is a slightly more metallic effort from Pat and has long been a favorite of mine. This album is just jam packed with some of the most loud 'n proud guitar rock to come out of the 70's, second to only Ted Nugent or possible Van Halen's debut. The guitar harmonies between Travers and new guitarist Pat Thrall are quite compelling. Also, there are plenty of Pat's patented odd time signatures, funky grooves, and jazz interludes. "Go All Night", "Heat In the Street" and "Hammerhead" are all awesome! "Heat in the Street" features Tommy Aldridge on drums, who went on to play with a score of well known artists including Ozzy, Ted Nugent, Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, House of Lords among others.

Pat Travers - Live! Go For What You Know (Polydor) 1979

1. "Hooked On Music" (6:25)
2. "Gettin' Betta" (4:52)
3. "Go All Night" (4:02)
4. "Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights)" (5:05)
5. "Stevie" (6:21)
6. "Makin' Magic" (4:00)
7. "Heat In The Street" (4:24)
8. "Makes No Difference" (7:03)

Pat Travers Band - Crash and Burn (Vertigo) 1980

1. "Crash and Burn" (5:18)
2. "Can't Be Right" (3:32)
3. "Snortin' Whiskey" (3:24)
4. "Born Under a Bad Sign" (5:47)
5. "Is This Love" (5:26)
6. "The Big Event" [instrumental] (5:34)
7. "Love Will Make You Strong" (4:01)
8. "Material Eyes" (5:52)

This is one of those albums that I grew up with. Pat Travers "Crash and Burn" is blues-based hard rock with loads of raucous guitar and attitude. As with past Pat Travers albums, however, there are a large variety of sounds and styles. "Crash and Burn" is a slow, but heavy blues number, while "Can't Be Right" is the lone metal number on this disc. Of course one of the highlights is the Bob Marley cover "Is This Love". "Snortin' Whiskey" was an FM Rock Radio staple until mentioning the word "cocain" became politically incorrect. (Seem to remember a Eric Clapton song that also disappeared from the airwaves in recent years.) In anycase, "Crash and Burn" is a classic album; one that remains a favorite of mine three decades later.

Pat Travers - Radioactive (Polygram) 1981

SIDE ONE
1. "New Age Music"
2. "My Life Is On The Line"
3. "(I Just Wanna) Live It My Way"
4. "I Don't Wanna Be Awake"

SIDE TWO
1. "I Can Love You"
2. "Untitled"
3. "Feelin' In Love"
4. "Play It Like You See It"
5. "Electric Detective"

review to come.

Pat Travers - Black Pearl (Polydor) 1982

SIDE ONE
1. "I La La La Love You" (3:40)
2. "I'd Rather See You Dead" (4:14)
3. "Stand Up" (4:30)
4. "Who'll Take The Fall" (4:17)
5. "The Fifth" [instrumental] (3:27)

SIDE TWO
6. "Misty Morning" (5:06)
7. "Can't Stop The Heartache" (5:11)
8. "Amgwanna Kick Booty" [instrumental] (3:27)
9. "Rockin'" (5:36)

Back in 1982 when "Black Pearl" was released, I was a young high school student and resident metalhead. My very first "big" concert was Aerosmith on their "Rock in a Hard Place" tour at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, PA. Opening that show was Pat Travers on his "Black Pearl" tour. I had been familiar with Travers before that concert, but had only really heard the radio hits, "Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights)" and "Snortin' Whiskey". After that show I had to go out and purchase a copy of the Black Pearl album. So, it is with this nostalgic background that I find "Black Pearl" to be one of Pat Travers best albums and perhaps even the pinnacle of his recording career. At the very least, "Black Pearl" is a lost gem from the Canadian born guitarist's catalog. On this short nine song album, Pat manages to successfully mix of hard rock, blues, jazz, proto-metal and reggae. He creates a whirlwind of sounds that seems like it would be disjointed, but instead, this album flows together perfectly. If anything were to stick out, it's the Beethoven instrumental "The Fifth". (You can blame Ritchie Blackmore for so many guitarists exploring classical terrains.) "La La La Love You" was minor hit off the album, but my favorite tracks are "Can't Stand The Heartaches", "I'd Rather See You Dead", "Rockin'" and the Bob Marley cover "Misty Morning".

Unfortunately at this time I only own the original vinyl version of this release, albeit in mint condition. "Black Pearl" was not officially released on CD when it was released. I have yet to see a CD re-release in the States. If anyone knows differently, please let me know.

Pat Travers - Greatest Hits Live (King Biscuit) 2003

1 "Tonight" (3:41)
2 "Killer" (3:55)
3 "Life in London" (4:53)
4 "Gettin' Betta'" (4:54)
5 "Just Try Talkin' (To Those Dudes)" (4:48)
6 "I La La La Love You" (3:24)
7 "Stevie" (7:09)
8 "Born Under a Bad Sign" (6:52)
9 "Ready or Not" (4:42)
10 "Hot Shot" (5:07)
11 "Born a Rocker" (3:54)
12 "Rockin'" (6:42)
13 "Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights)" (8:42)
14 "Snortin' Whiskey" (4:17)

I had read in Martin Poppoff's "Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal" that Traver's BBC recordings were well worth tracking down. While I didn't findthe BBC disc, I didn't stumble across this King Buscuit live disc, thanks toa generous on-line trader. Despite the name of this disc, which makes it sound like a hodge-podge of live recordings, Greatest Hits Live captures Travers live on March 26, 1984, in West Palm Beach, FL supporting his "Hot Spot" recent release. The band sounds great and Travers simply tears up the fretboard. I actually think some of these live versions are better than the more rigid studio versions. There is just something about capturing that live energy that brings life to old tracks and that is certainly the case with this disc.

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