You’re not the Lovin’ Kind

The Zoo Crew just spun up "You’re not the Lovin’ Kind" from Tangier’s Stranded album and it hits with that bluesy hard rock punch the Zoo Freaks always dig. This track from the 1991 record carries a raw edge about a relationship that never quite delivers the real thing. The lyrics paint a picture of someone walking out the door at sundown and leaving nothing but empty promises. Doug Gordon co-wrote it with Eric Brittingham from Cinderella which makes sense given how the bands shared stages back in the Philly scene. The song sits right in the middle of the album’s mix of tough rockers and more soulful moments. Fans over the years have noted how Mike LeCompt’s gruff delivery on this one feels like it could sit next to some of the Y&T cuts from that era. Production came from John Purdell and Duane Baron who gave the whole record that polished early nineties sheen while still letting the guitars cut through. It never climbed the charts the way the title track did but it remains one of those deep cuts that rewards anyone who digs past the radio singles.

Stranded arrived after some big changes for the band. Original singer Bill Mattson and guitarist Gari Saint had moved on and LeCompt stepped in on vocals and guitar for the four-piece lineup. The album charted at 187 in the States which was a step down from Four Winds but the songs still carried that blend of southern rock swagger and hard rock drive. Reviewers at the time and later pointed out how tracks like this one rocked harder than the ballads while still keeping the blues undercurrent that set Tangier apart from pure hair metal acts. One longtime listener even joked about a line in the chorus that almost sounded like something else entirely which shows how the vocal phrasing sticks with people. The record came out on ATCO and featured steel guitar from Greg Leisz plus backing vocals that added some depth. Photography on the cover came from Ross Halfin and the whole package felt like a solid effort even if the alternative wave was about to push bands like this to the side. The Zoo Crew keeps spinning these kinds of cuts because they still sound fresh when the groove locks in.

Tangier got started in the Philadelphia and South Jersey clubs around the mid-eighties. Songwriter and guitarist Doug Gordon put the first version together with singer Bill Mattson, guitarist Rocco Mazzella, bassist Mike Kost and drummer Mark Hopkins. They cut a self-titled independent album in 1985 at the studio on top of the Galaxy in Somerdale New Jersey. That early record leaned more toward AOR and only found regional success so Gordon eventually disbanded that lineup and started fresh. The reformed band brought in bassist Garry Nutt and keyboardist Gari Saint who both came from Chubby Checker’s band along with drummer Jimmy Drnec who had played with Cinderella. After a string of showcases they became the first act signed by former Gentle Giant vocalist Derek Shulman to ATCO Records in 1988. Bobby Bender soon replaced Drnec on drums and the group hit the studio with producer Andy Johns for Four Winds in 1989. That album gave them singles like On the Line which reached the Hot 100 and Southbound Train while the band opened for Cinderella on the Long Cold Winter tour.

After that tour Mattson and Saint left and LeCompt took over lead vocals for Stranded. The band followed the 1991 release with another tour before taking a hiatus. Influences ran deep from Free and Bad Company through to Johnny Winter and even some Zeppelin flavor which kept the music grounded in blues rock rather than pure glam. Gordon has stayed active writing and producing for other artists including work connected to Tom Keifer’s solo projects. LeCompt continues fronting his own band in the Philadelphia area and Nutt has played with a long list of acts over the years including tours with Chubby Checker. As of a few years back Gordon and Mattson were still mixing new material and fielding interest from indie labels. The official site at TangierBand.com keeps the history alive and you can find updates and contact info there. The band also maintains a presence on Facebook where members have shared memories of the albums and the players who helped shape the sound.

For the Zoo Freaks who grew up with these records the song still delivers that mix of frustration and groove that made late eighties and early nineties hard rock so appealing. The chorus sticks because it states the problem plain and simple without any extra polish. LeCompt’s voice carries just enough grit to sell the story while the rhythm section from Nutt and Bender keeps things moving. Gordon’s guitar work on the track fits the bluesier direction the band took once they moved past the first major label album. All of it fits right into the freeform album rock style that THE ZOO keeps on the air for anyone who wants the deep cuts instead of the same old hits. The band may have gone quiet after the second tour but the music from Stranded still finds new ears whenever a DJ drops the needle on a track like this one. That combination of Philly club roots and major label polish is exactly what made Tangier worth remembering even when the charts moved on to other sounds.