649 - Alcatrazz Island in the Sun 1983

Though blessed with a potent voice, Alcatrazz leader Graham Bonnet was heavily dependent on the songwriting skills of his cohorts. Each album is therefore a reflection of the particular guitarist involved, resulting in a stylistic inconsistency that failed to attract a loyal following for the band. As such, their 1983 debut "No Parole from Rock'n'Roll" sounds a lot like guitarist Yngwie J. Malmsteen's later solo albums. Still, this is an excellent record, successfully fusing Bonnet's tuneful screaming, Jimmy Waldo's tasteful Rainbow-derived keyboard textures, and Malmsteen's blinding dexterity and speed. The nearly perfect "Island in the Sun" is the album's absolute high point, and it's a wonder the song didn't become a huge hit.