STAXX – Game Of Fools / Don’ No No Betta [Crazy Bitch Records 2-CD] (2025)

Some time ago we featured the second album from american melodic hard rockers STAXX, 1992’s “Don’ No No Betta”, reissued by Retrospect Records. And many asked for the band’s first recording, the rare “Game Of Fools” issued 1990 only on casstte.

Now we have here in exclusive the just released 2-CD ”Game Of Fools + Don’ No No Betta” pack including both albums, released by Crazy Bitch Records. It’s a bootleg, but sound quality is very good.

One wonders how STAXX didn’t got signed by a major label – these guys were terrific musicians and really good songwriters. In the same league of Trixter, XYZ, Danger Danger, etc, STAXX’s music has that kind of swagger of late ’80s US melodic hard rock mixed with hair metal catchiness. The first album ”Game Of Fools’ is much more AOR tinged, the kind of energetic, uptempo stuff that keeps your blood pumping.

On some songs like ‘Goin Down The Hardway’ or the pretty killer ‘Young And Restless’ there’s some edgy riffs akin Hurricane’s harder side, or Doug Aldrich’s Lion. ‘Now And Forever’, ‘Summertime Moves’, ‘ (Playing The) Game Of Fools’ show the band’s melodic side, with keyboard flourished but still meaty and rockin’.
Despite its indie origin, production sound on both recordings is very good. STAXX were a bomb, and this double-CD is sure fire for classic U.S. Melodic / AOR fans.

CD 1 – Game Of Fools 1990
01 – Summertime Moves
02 – Forever
03 – Boys Are Back In Town
04 – I Don’t Wanna Know Why
05 – Missing You
06 – (Playing The) Game Of Fools
07 – Looks Like You
08 – Alright Now
09 – First Time (Love Affair)
10 – Holding On
11 – Much Too Much

CD 2 – Don’ No No Betta 1992
01 – Lil Heartbreaker
02 – Goin Down The Hardway
03 – With Her Eyes
04 – 4th Of July
05 – Burn My Heart
06 – Roxanne
07 – Blue Is The Color Of Pain
08 – Now And Forever
09 – Young And Restless
10 – In My Dreams
11 – Top Of The Rock
12 – Push Comes To Shove
13 – Song X Too Hot

Billy Smith – Lead Vocals
Darrell Akers – Drums
Kip Gaudette – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Mike Owens – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Rusty Gwaltney – Bass, Backing Vocals
Carlton Young – Bass (1990)

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