Description
No Mystery is the sophomore album by the American singer, songwriter, and session bassist Rick Cua of The Outlaws fame, released on Refuge Records in 1983, distributed by The Benson Company. The album was recorded and mixed by Don Martell and Johnny Schinas at Redan Recorders in London, England; with Rick Cua producing for Koo-ah Productions.
The core of the session band basically is various members of The Outlaws – with Freddie Salem on guitar and a rhythm section consisting of Rick Cua himself on bass and David Dix on drums. Also featuring Ron DeRollo on guitar (actually a former bandmate of Rick Cua from his time with the mid-’70s rock outfit CRAC), the British session guitarist Ian Bairnson (one of the core members of The Alan Parsons Project), as well as Bob Halligan Jr. on keyboards (who also co-wrote most of the songs with Cua).
PROMO. Remastered CD Re-issue, Girder Records 2022
No Mystery is an elated trip down memory lane for those of us who grew up with this music. The output is definitively album-oriented rock which dominated the FM airwaves in the ‘80s. While Cua had his own signature sound, I do hear inflections of the familial Night Ranger or 38 Special, for music referencing (which is a compliment, btw!). Unlike his debut that had mostly southern-tinged rock with a smattering of rock-pop ballad-type material, No Mystery is contagiously consistent.
As with the debut album, the musicians on this album are pejoratively an all-star cast, the most significant being Ian Bairnson from Alan Parson Project on guitars. There is also the addition of Andy Richards of the Strawbs on keyboards. Another noticeable variation from the debut album is how David Dix of The Outlaws allows himself to go more wild on the drums on the rock numbers. That guy can sure pound the skins.
It can not be emphasized enough that one of the defining elements of No Mystery is the three pensive rock tracks that kick the album off. «He Lives In Me», the second chart-topper for Cua, «One Way Out», and «Changed» all bear the stamp of great song writing. «The Power», another guitar-ripping southern rocker, was penned by Mike Mead, who went on to play drums for Phil Keaggy and Chagall Guevara.
The closer, «Help Me Out», is fun blues rock in the New Orleans style. I had to chuckle when I heard these lines sung:
“I just left a bad situation
Got kicked out of my own house
The woman I loved turned into a lion
And tried to turn me into a mouse”It’s not too funny when this situation actually happens, but boy do I love how this song is delivered! – Doug Peterson, Down The Line zine
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/no-mystery/715794490)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “He Lives In Me” – 3:55
A2. “One Way Out” – 4:37
A3. “Changed” – 3:54
A4. “Just Visiting” – 4:10
A5. “The Power” – 3:10
Side Two
B1. “High School Reunion” – 3:22
B2. “Create In Me A Heart” – 4:18
B3. “A.S.S.E.F.” – 2:52
B4. “Bright Light” – 3:17
B5. “Help Me Out” – 4:14
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Refuge Records. Re-issued by Sparrow Records in 1985. Remastered by Rob Colwell at Bombworks Sound and re-issued on CD by Girder Records in March 2022 (GR1121), under license from Capitol CMG, as a part of the label’s Legends of Rock Series.
A full-page advertisement for Rick Cua’s No Mystery was featured in the May 1984 issue of CCM Magazine.
“One Way Out” (VIDEO)
No Mystery, Girder Records 2022, Remastered CD Re-issue
CREDITS. Produced by Rick Cua. Engineered and Mixed by Don Martell and Johnnie Schinas. Mastered by John Skinner. Cover and Illustration by Buddy Jackson. Photography by Mark Tucker. Executive-Producer: Ray Nenow.
Musicians: Rick Cua (Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar), Bob Halligan, Jr. (Piano, Synthesizer), Andy Richards (Synthesizer on track A5), Freddie Salem (Guitar), Ian Bairnson (Guitar), Ron DeRollo (Guitar), Buz Cua (Lead Guitar on track B5), David Dix (Drums). Backing Vocals: Bob Halligan, Jr., Diana Cua (tracks: A3), Rick Cua. Synthesizer Programmed by Don Martell and Ed Vivenzio.
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