Looks Can Be Deceiving

After releasing Sucker for a Pretty Face on Elektra Records in 1983, the Eric Martin Band went into Prairie Sun Studios and recorded songs for its next album before going on tour with ZZ Top. The notes issued with the 2026 release say that an old dispute, unrelated to the band, between its manager Herbie Herbert and Elektra's newly appointed chief executive cost the band its contract, and the finished album was shelved. Y&T then took guitarist John Nymann, City Kidd, the band later known as Tesla, took drummer Troy Luccketta, and guitarist Mark Ross joined Gregg Rolie for his solo album; keyboard player David Jacobsen had joined UFO a few months earlier. Eric Martin released two solo albums and then helped to form Mr. Big. The album lay unreleased for more than 40 years, until Metallic Blue Records signed Martin and his bandmates to a six-album deal. It came out in 2026 on CD (REWIND 55109-2), on LP (REWIND LP55002-2) and as a download: nine songs running 35 minutes and 22 seconds. The opening "Pictures" is the only one of the songs that Martin re-recorded, for his 1985 solo album Eric Martin, and he plays keyboards on it and on the title track. The credits name two recording locations, Prairie Sun Recording Studios and Fantasy Studios. All six members of the 1983 line-up appear: Martin on vocals, Nymann and Ross on guitars, Tom Duke on bass and Luccketta on drums throughout, and the original keyboard player, Jacobsen, on the closing "Brand New Face". Loren Gold, known for his work with the Who and Chicago, plays keyboards as a guest on tracks three to eight. Metallic Blue Records had already released, in 2023, Sucker for a Pretty Face -Original Sessions-, which holds eight of that album's songs as recorded before the Elektra versions, and in Japan Avalon issued it on 11 December 2024 together with two albums by 415, the band's earlier name, as a series of Eric Martin's early recordings.