"Forever" - ARTFUL DODGER

This is the song "Forever" from the 1980 release "Rave On". I had to mix the studio version of the song with the live video because, with thousands of fans screaming during such a quiet piano intro by Peter Bonta, you just couldn't hear it.

Catch Artful Dodger on the web at WWW.ARTFULDODGERSITE.COM
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"Rave On" review from Rolling Stone Magazine
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If I were Artful Dodger, I think I might have called my comeback record Raw Deal, because, until now, that's about all this band ever got. Five years ago, during the lull before the New Wave, Artful Dodger were among the most tuneful and proficient purveyors of a rock sensibility that fell somewhere between the mellifluous fervor of the Raspberries and the gritty wit of Rod Stewart and the Faces. They boasted a rough but florid sound that certain critics later branded "power pop". Yet after three uniformly excellent but widely ignored Columbia albums, the group simply vanished, while colleagues like Cheap Trick and the Knack went on to reap an adoring mass audience that was as much Artful Dodger's rightful reward as anybody's.
Time and caprice have done little to alter the band. Rave On (actually more a fight-back than a comeback LP) finds Artful Dodger still pursuing their deep-dyed, tough-tender style of rock & roll as if the Faces were the only mentors who mattered, as if punk had never happened. This doesn't mean that Rave On exists in opposition to the music of the Clash, Public Image Ltd., X, et al., but rather in contradiction to a burgeoning confederacy of New Wave imposters. Let me put it this way: at least Artful Dodger spare us the insufferable pretense that there's really anything risky or iconoclastic about their genre of pop music.
Instead, what the group does is stir its influences and derivations into a sound that's both distinctive and redolent, modern and historical. Indeed, there are chimerical crossbreeds of everyone from the Faces to Creedence Clearwater Revival, from Bob Dylan to Bob Seger, from
Big Star to the Searchers—which means that Artful Dodger aren't only more scrupulous than the Knack, they're more literate, too..
Interestingly. Rave On's most effective act of emulation. "Forever," is also its most anguished. In a voice that suggests yet doesn't counterfeit Rod Stewart's, singer Billy Paliselli intones the opening verses like a man teetering on the brink of emotional debility':

Holding on when you got no feelings
They're gone—who am I to save them?...
I'm not afraid of where I've been
It's just l found I can't go back again
"It's now or never" is that what you say?
'Get on home, boy put your dreams away
This ain't no dream I talk about
This here is something I can't live without.

Then, with the sure-footed support of Steve Brigida's drums and Gary Herrewig's guitar, Paliselli pulls himself together and rages against the inequity of it all: 'And so they say that this might be forever/Don't you HEAR me?/I said, NO! NOT EVER !/Forever is such a long, long time."
Maybe Billy Paliselli had Artful Dodger's future in mind when he sang those lines, knowing full well that if things don't click this time, there aren't going to be many more chances. The irony here is that the Knack—and maybe even Rod Stewart —would probably sell their souls to make a record as fine and powerful as Rave On. Which wouldn't bother me, except that it's bands like Artful Dodger, more often than not, that wind up paying the price.

Rave On
Artful Dodger
Ariola

By Mikal Gilinore
Rolling Stone Magazine

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Artful
• Dodger
• Rave
• On
• Power
• Pop
• Rock
• Country

[fdesanzo]

ok its time for another show?

[artfuldodgersite]

Stop out at the site, there's been some talk of some shows this year.

[fdesanzo]

some shows? holy crap. where can i buy a rave on t?

[artfuldodgersite]

Yep, it sounds pretty promising.

First practice was last weekend, and heard it went well. Plus it sounds as if Bill, Gary Herrewig and Gary Cox have been doing some song writing, which should be interesting. On "Rave On", don't know right now, American Beat was going to release the debut and "Babes On Broadway" on disc. SONYBMG owns the right for all the releases and just renewed them, contact them and let them know you want it reissued.

Best regards,

AJ

[mattthehoople1974]

Artful Dodger.

I used to love this band in my mid-teen years. Being from Ohio, I did get a chance to see them live at a place called Rockcity in downtown Massillon. This song brought back so many memories of that time! Does anyone know if their album catalogue has been re-issued? If it has'nt, it sure as hell should be!!!

[artfuldodgersite]

American Beat Records has reissued "Honor Among Thieves", it's available at most of the major online stores for around $12. The rest are in the works. The band will be playing May 3rd, 2008 at the Cleveland Agora. Tickets are $25. Hope you can make the show!

[MrDeterioration]

Whatever happened to Agatha Szubiski?

[GuitarNewby]

There are very few bands that I like just about every song - Artful Dodger is one of them. These guys are so incredibly talented!

[bloodrock333]

Yea, I remember that song cool tune,its still one of my favorites thanks for the FLASH BACK.

[OgreDaddy]

Gary, Billy, Gary and Steve,

I hope all goes well with you guys.

Been too long!

[deadheadlooser]

they are playing the Cleveland Agora TONIGHT I am so excited!! It's November 21st. Com one, come all.!

[skippersee]

one of the most touching songs ive ever listened to.!!l

[ziffels]

Eric Carmen in the Faces. Graham Parker fronts Stereolab. Alex Chilton finds his own Hoople. All of it channeled through Rod. Oh to hear Mr. Paliselli sing "handbags & gladrags". I'm going to listen to a Big Star record now, just to settle down.