Considering their musical pedigree, its amazing the Sky Kings were never allowed to take flight. Bill Lloyd (Foster & Lloyd), John Cowan (New Grass Revival), Rusty Young (Poco) and occasionally Pat Simmons (Doobie Brothers) convened in 1991, recorded two full albums for two labels (RCA Nashville and Warner Bros.), played live shows, did the radio station circuit yet released only a couple of two-song demos and a pair of singles. One, Picture Perfect, was moderately successful.
After a full-blown promotional effort, Warner Bros., their last label, decided the Sky Kings didnt fit the Nashville mold. Rhinos Handmade label, available in an edition of 5,000 only via the internet, at least offers a taste of what might have been with From Out Of The Blue, a 24-song set that includes the full but never released Warner album plus 14 other songs, mostly culled from Warners archives.
From Out Of The Blue is close to what the music biz execs apparently said they wanted somewhat mainstream country-rock featuring a single lead singer although it is closer still to what the musicians themselves wanted. The band chose Cowan to sing lead, but the original notion (apparently captured on the RCA tapes) was to showcase each individuals talents as musicians, songwriters and singers.
Young sings lead on Lonely Only Goes So Far, I Must Be Doing Something Right and Thats What Love Can Do, all tunes that evoke the smooth sound of mid-career Poco. Lloyd steps out front on Thats How You Learn About Love and Watch The Stars Come Out.
From Out Of The Blue is a solid set, even if it didnt break any new musical ground. The tunes range from uptempo country-rock (the opening song and single, Picture Perfect) to sad ballads (Youngs Lonely Only Goes So Far) to almost honky-tonk (I Cant Trust My Heart, co-written by Lloyd and Delbert McClinton), to blues-tinged (Real Good Place To Start).
Cowan occasionally stretches his vocals like he did in New Grass, particularly on Fooled Around And Fell In Love, which was remade at the insistence of the execs and sounds better than Elvin Bishops hit version.
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