Pagliaro I Back Cover (1975)
by Bill Mann - Melody Maker

I had been in Montreal just about two months (covering the Canadian and international scenes for the morning paper) when I heard my first Pagliaro tune on the car radio. I'm not sure what happened right after and during "Some Sing, Some Dance", but I seem to recall getting a summons of some sort after hitting a couple of curbs and parked cars. "But seriously, folks ..."

I supposed it was the latest talent of England, not knowing it was a young Montrealer who'd been a legend in his home for almost 10 years and who had a cult following in the US, even though, amazingly, not one of his records had been released outside Canada. And he was selling more albums and 45's in Quebec than many major names sell internationally. It took a few months for me to realize back then that most of his singing was in French (he's bilingual), but who the hell notices words when you've got your accelerator foot jammed to the floor?

Now five years later, I can say with even more certainty that Pagliaro is the most outstanding talent that Canada has ever produced in the pop or rock fields. I still find it a constant source of amazement that his legend hasn't spread internationally before now. "This record" as they say, "should change that".

Pagliaro's music always has that bite to it. He writes both solid AM hits while recording live concerts that outrock just about anything on FM. He is a singularly exciting and charismatic performer who isn't likley to end up in the discount bins in the foreseeable future.

There is the excitement here we all used to feel in the sixties when so many great songs were being written; you'll find, too, that there are new guitar licks being written these days after all.

"How Does it Feel?" came out originally as "Jentends Frapper" and the song is a solid rock and roll classic in the "Johnny B. Goode" tradition. Pagliaro's forceful rock & roll voice is the perfect complement to his songwriting prowess. The only thing Pagliario has been lacking is a challenge -- he's been a big star at home for years -- which is probably the major reason you haven't heard about him before now. He's been selling truckloads of vinyl for years, in and around Montreal.

The time has come, my friends, to get on the case. This is 'just another album" like a Rolls Royce is "just another car".

Pagliaro puts the fun back into owning a radio; time for one and all to boogie his scruples away.

-Bill Mann, Melody Maker