12@12

White Lion – Wait (Extended Version) (Bratta/Tramp) b/w All You Need Is Rock N Roll (Live) (Bratta/Tramp) & Lonely Nights (Live) (Bratta/Tramp)

1988 Gatefold

The first of four singles hewn from the fantastic Pride album, this was the hit single which set White Lion apart from so many of their hair metal peers.

Danish import Mike Tramp and his US band managed to mix Scando-style melodic rock hooks with American swagger and this brilliant ballad hit the Billboard Top 10 with its made-for-MTV riff and emotive vocals.

There is an argument that White Lion never quite surpassed this lighter waving standard but follow up ballad When The Children Cry outsold Wait and remains a firm fan favourite. The band’s return to form 20 years after their commercial heyday, with 2008’s Return Of The Pride, was welcomed by fans of blues-soaked soft rock the world over and let’s hope Mike and his men are here to stay.

Whether they will ever better this cracking tune, backed with two well mixed live versions of Pride’s All You Need Is Rock N Roll and Lonely Nights, is anyone’s guess but this will forever hold a special place on the rushonrock turntable.