Wear Your Colors

Description

Wear Your Colors is the fourth album by the American singer, songwriter, and session bassist Rick Cua, released on Sparrow Records in 1986. The album was produced by Dave Perkins.

After three solid but moderately received albums, Rick Cua appears ready to break out into his own with ‘Wear Your Colors’. Early on, his works either focused on his involvement with The Outlaws (whom he played bass with for two years) or sought to escape that identification by going in an entirely different direction. With this album, Cua returns to a hard-rocking, guitar-oriented sound minus the southern rock direction of The Outlaws, and it fits him like a glove. Produced by Dave Perkins and thus giving up his own position behind the board for the first time, Cua sounds bigger, better, and stronger than ever.

Cua, who shares writing credits with Perkins and Bob Halligan Jr. throughout the album, focuses on what he’s best suited for – uplifting anthems in hooky, sing-along melodies and good, straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll aimed at encouraging and creating a rallying point for young Christians. ‘Wear Your Colors’ is about raising the Christian standard and being honest about who we are as children of God. Another emphasis, equally compatible, is that of allowing God to protect and keep us in times of temptation («Lemme at ‘Em», «Flex», «Hats Off to You», and «Line of Fire»).

On this album that rocks from start to finish, Cua sings his best to date and his bass playing is exquisite as always. Drummer Mike Mead plays with muscle, Perkins plays guitars with some hot session players, and Halligan plays keys and does background vocals with Rob Frazier. Cua’s strongest suit is good time rock music with an up-front “Let’s rock for Jesus”-kind of attitude that is appealing and enjoyable. ‘Wear Your Colors’ is all that and more. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, February 1987]

PROMO. Remastered CD Re-issue, Girder Records 2022

Originally released in 1986, this is the first album of Rick’s to be produced by Dave Perkins, who also played extensively on it. One look at the album cover, Rick holding up his black bass guitar in his frayed leather jacket, and you know they had a rock album in mind. And it shows up in the larger-than-life stadium rock numbers. The songs on Wear Your Colors are uber-catchy and danceable. The guitar work is inspired and full of energy. Drums resonate deep and sharp. Throw in Rick’s tough-sounding voice and shouted background vocals and you have an album to jam out to.

Some of the old guard musicians (Mike Mead, Joe English, Bob Halligan Jr, Dave Perkins) from previous albums return to find new ways to breathe life into these songs.

The title track is a charisma-laced anthem rocker that never lets up. Flex starts with a guitar-drum intro that reminds me of Def Leppard, though it changes gears to a contagiously sing-along tune more in line with something emulating Midnight Oil. «This Raging Fire» is up next, a mid-80’s rocker with an admonishment that the fire burning in us will keep raging regardless of our present circumstances. The last song «Line Of Fire» has a super catchy chorus and memorable guitar work.

Wear Your Colors may not have the multitude of tried and true infectious songs as on No Mystery, but the standout cuts on here really work. A solid album with character and edge. – Doug Peterson, Down The Line zine

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/wear-your-colors/715612039)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Wear Your Colors” – 3:53
A2. “Flex” – 3:27
A3. “This Raging Fire” – 3:50
A4. “Hungry” – 3:22
A5. “Lemme At ‘Em” – 3:36

Side Two
B1. “Got The Rock” – 3:03
B2. “Unchained” – 3:41
B3. “Nightfall” – 4:02
B4. “Hats Off To You” – 3:06
B5. “Line Of Fire” – 4:10

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Sparrow Records. Remastered by Rob Colwell at Bombworks Sound and re-issued on CD by Girder Records in March 2022 (GR1123), under license from Capitol CMG, as a part of the label’s Legends of Rock Series.