Easy Action: That Makes One (AOR Heaven, 1986/2020)

Swedish rockers Easy Action made a sharp turn into melodic rock territory with their second album. Their 1983 debut was full-on Hanoi Rocks-style glam rock, but by 1986 the band, which featured a pre-Europe Kee Marcello, traded out original vocalist Zinny Zan (later of Shotgun Messiah fame) for the smooth-voiced Tommy Nilsson and delivered That Makes One.

That Makes One is about as good an example of the mid ‘80s Swedish melodic rock sound as you could ask for. Marcello, who handles guitar and keyboards here, also produced the album, and this is almost a preview of the sound Europe went for once he joined. The album has some upbeat rocking tunes, like “Talk Of The Town,” “Teachers Do It With Class” and “Talk Talk Talk,” but this is about as far removed from the sleazy, metallic US hard rock sound as it gets. This is very slick and polished, extremely melodic and drenched in keyboards. Nilsson, who went on to become Sweden’s answer to Michael Bolton, has a voice that’s absolutely perfect for this kind of melodic rock. Kind of like Stan Bush, which isn’t a bad thing.

Easy Action hit that sweet spot between Europe and Treat, and they really had that “soundtrack rock” vibe down pat. Unfortunately they never really caught on, especially in light of the US market’s fixation with all things sleaze. This ended up being the final Easy Action album, though of course Marcello and Nilsson went on to bigger things. If you’re a fan of the mid-’80s melodic rock sound, especially the Scandinavian sound, That Makes One is a must-have album, especially now that it has been reissued.

Reissue Notes: That Makes One has been out of print on CD for nearly three decades, but the AOR Heaven label finally put this Swedish gem back in fans’ hands this year. The reissue boasts digitally remastered sound, a booklet with band history and vintage photos and press clippings, and two bonus tracks – the b-sides “Eye For An Eye” (which is a soundtrack-worthy rocker that’s arguably better than any regular album track) and “There Is A River.” It’s a fantastic reissue overall, and given how quickly the AOR Heaven reissues tend to disappear, it’s one you don’t want to let pass you by.