Episode 11: Korea - Korea (1992)

Melodic AOR

1992 was a great year for music but a bad year for new AOR bands in achieving success within a changing music market towards grunge music. Korea remains as a big standout for Canadian AOR music at this time. The group compromised of Gino Lionessa on Vocals and Guitar; his brother Anthony Lionessa on Guitar, Tony "T-Bone" Botelho on bass, Sylvain Beauchamp on Keyboards and Henry "Chuck" Torrossian on drums, the lineup was set in 1990 with signing to MCA/Rammit BMI Records in 1992. Produced and arranged by Gary Moffett (April Wine) the band had some definite star power in the studio to help them achieve success! With a distribution of approximately 5,000 CDs on their release sold across Canada and worldwide this is undeniably a huge success for a new band that was being out competed in a shrinking genre that was losing ground to bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden, This is a really unique release that the world needs to hear. It has a unique sound with tenor range vocals similar to artists like Geddy Lee (Rush). The Album features great harmonies and a fantastic production that is readily uncomparable to other bands within the AOR scene of then and today. Songs such as "Beyond Time", "The Letter", "Stealin' My Heart", "Eye To Eye" , "Feel This Way" are some standouts from this album that deserve a listen. You won't be disappointed!