Artist: FM
Album: TOUGH IT OUT REMASTERED & RELOADED (CD)

Year: 1989/ 2012
Media type: CD

FM’s DEBUT album, ‘Indiscreet’, set the scene perfectly. This was a British band with their eyes set firmly on the American market, playing music equal to, if not superior, than masters of the craft such as Foreigner, Journey and Survivor. That they had not earned a significant sales foothold was shocking but it only fuelled their resolve to come back out swinging with their sophomore album, the stoically titled, ‘Tough It Out’. This time around they were taking no chances. Arming themselves with new management (REO Speedwagon’s representative) and a real producer in Neil Kernon (Autograph, Michael Bolton) and topping off their determination by collaborating with some of the best songwriters (including Desmond Child) of the day they constructed an album of serious potential. Originally issued in 1989, ‘Tough It Out’ takes all the excitement of their first album and infuses it with top notch production and an energy that suggested they weren’t going to take any prisoners. Mixed by Nigel Green (Def Leppard), the album contains eleven stunning slices of melodic AOR, including such crowd pleasers as ‘Don’t Stop’, ‘Bad Luck’ and ‘Burning My Heart Down’. As always, Steve Overland must be credited for his superlative performance - outstanding vocals that turn quality songs into exploding supernovas of melody and sophistication. The end result is truly, one of the greatest AOR albums of all time. 24-bit remastering from original source tapes, five bonus tracks, 3,500 word essay about the making of the album, new interview with the band and additional photos spread out over a 16 page full colour booklet.

TRACKLIST:

1. TOUGH IT OUT
2. DON’T STOP
3. BAD LUCK
4. SOMEDAY
5. EVERYTIME I THINK OF YOU 
6. BURNING MY HEART DOWN
7. THE DREAM THAT DIED
8. OBSESSION
9. CAN YOU HEAR ME CALLING
10. DOES IT FEEL LIKE LOVE
11. FEELS SO GOOD

BONUS TRACKS:

12. HURT IS WHERE THE HEART IS
13. THIS COULD BE THE LAST TIME
14. SOMEDAY (YOU'LL COME RUNNING) (Extended)
15. ALIBI
16. EVERYTIME WE TOUCH