According to a radio interview with this band, the story behind how Autograph got to record their debut album “Sign in Please,” is rather amusing. Apparently, it resulted from a bet the band made with Van Halen lead singer David Lee Roth. The bet was that if Autograph could stick going on tour as a support band with Van Halen, Roth would get them a recording contract. I know for a fact that they did tour with the mighty VH in 1984 because my sister saw them in Philadelphia. She also said that they got booed off stage when one of the band members accidentally knocked over a microphone. Gee, I knew Philadelphia sports fans were tough but didn’t think music fans were like it. Anyway, despite this setback in the City of Brotherly Love, Autograph survived the tour and were rewarded with a record contract and this is where we get the debut album, “Sign in Please.”
Autograph’s best known song, “Turn Up the Radio” appears on the album. The video for it seemed to be on every time I switched on MTV in the late part of the year. Saying that, it is a good catchy song that has remained with me ever since. Not metal, definitely more melodic rock, which was the direction Van Halen seemed to be heading in at the time anyway. Most of the songs also are in the vein of “Turn Up the Radio” but because there is some heavy guitar and the association with Van Halen, Autograph have always been called heavy metal. You be the judge on that one.
The first four tracks on the album are near clones of each other. Obviously, “Turn Up the Radio” is the standout but the other three are quite good. “Send Her To Me” was the second, although less successful, single from the album and there is a cool guitar solo on “Cloud Ten” and “Night Teen and Non Stop” has a catchy vibe to it as well. Then things get a little harder with “Deep End” as the keyboards take a back seat and lead singer, Steve Plunkett, tries to be more of a metal singer. A decent effort, I have to say. However, following that is my vote for the hidden gem of the album, “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend Isn’t Me.” It too is a bit of a rocker but done better than the preceding track. A good hard rock song with just the right amount of melody. The keys are there but don’t dominate and then there’s the twist in the title that is a source of amusement. I don’t even mind the fact that it lacks a guitar solo.
Steve Pluckett proves himself to be a good singer on “Sign In Please,” when it keeps within his range. It is lead guitarist Steve Lynch whose talents seemed to not have gotten the recognition they so deserve. He shines best on the big single, “Cloud Ten” and “Feel the Thrill.” As much as keyboards are often looked down on by some for daring to appear on a metal album, one can’t deny that Steven Isham does play them very well. Keyboard and lead guitar team up very nicely on “Friday.” That, with a tidy rhythm section, one can see why this album got so much notice in 1984.
Track Listing:
- Send Her To Me
- Turn Up the Radio
- Night Teen and Non Stop
- Cloud Ten
- Deep End
- My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend Isn’t Me
- Feel the Thrill
- Friday
- In the Night
- All I’m Gonna Take
Autograph
Steve Plunkett- lead vocals, guitar
Steve Lynch- lead guitar, backing vocals
Randy Rand- bass, backing vocals
Steven Isham- keyboards, backing vocals
Keni Richards- drums
Autograph won a wager and as a result, we have their debut album, “Sign In Please.” Reflecting back on the time, it was a good melodic rock album in a world that was being divided into heavy metal and commercial synth pop.
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