Saraya
When The Blackbird Sings

"Hard rock is only for males!"

Nothing could be further from the truth! Sandi Saraya had a majestic voice, exuded sensuality and sweetness in her every move, yet this was not enough to propel her to a successful career in the music world. A real shame, considering that "When The Blackbird Sings..." released in 1991 is a remarkable album, with monstrous production by Peter Collins (Queensryche and Rush among his credits, just to name a few) and astonishingly refined sounds!

The story of this album unfolds like this: after a moderate success with the self-titled debut in 1989, Saraya decided it was best to strengthen the sound. So out went the AOR-oriented "Back To The Bullet", out went the semi-blues "Love Has Taken Its Toll", making way for the great guitars of the talented Tony Bruno (decidedly one of the best guitarists around), and bye (though not entirely) to the boring keyboards of poor Gregg Munier, one of the group's founders who passed away in 2006 and who, at the time, refused the band's new direction. Instead, drummer Chuck Bonfante remained, while even the bassist was replaced by a worthy substitute, the talented Barry Dunaway (who would later join Yngwie Malmsteen). A formation reduced to four in an album where the thousand effects created and the thousand facets seem the work of 10 people, no less!   

Proof of this includes the opening "Queen Of Sheba", with a stunning bass intro and a central part that Dokken only dream about at night, "Seducer", a mix between Tesla of "Psychotic Supper" (recalling Saraya's brief marriage to one of its members, bassist Brian Wheat) and the more melodic Queensryche, with a vocal performance by Sandi that truly stands out, and the rocking "Lion's Den" (one of my favorites) and "Hitchin' A Ride".

However, there is an alternation between more expansive tracks, but always with an added gear, which slightly connect back to their debut and songs with a decidedly darker and more cadenced air: in the first case with the sunny "In The Shade Of The Sun" and "White Highway" that occupy the final part of the record, and in the second with the successful "Bring Back The Light" and the wonderful title track.

Two songs in particular deserve a separate mention, namely "When You See Me Again...", a very rhythmic song but endowed with a wonderful melody and superb choruses, and the final ballad "New World", which desperately and yet again asks for the hope of a world that has so far shown nothing better.

Perhaps the only "ordinary" song (even though many bands today would envy such normality!) is "Tear Down The Wall", but apart from that, it would be truly cruel to discredit an almost perfect album over one song.

Having said that, do you think the band could have carried on? Obviously not, the story does not end well: the album is not received as expected, the supporting tour lasts very briefly, and soon the band's discouragement is so high that they close up shop sooner than anticipated. Saraya will divorce Brian Wheat (a fleeting moment, in short...) and will disappear into anonymity, except for occasional appearances on some amateur YouTube videos, as well as the rest of the band, apart from Tony Bruno who, in addition to becoming a producer, will play for two divas like Anastacia and even Rihanna!