【Melodic Rock/AOR】Network (Louisiana) - I Am Alive 2025 (recorded in 1984)~Emily's collection

【Pls look at the top comment first】Network is a rare, precious and memorable aor band based in Louisiana. The band was short-lived during their active years in the mid 1980s. The year 1985 saw the band split up, but this year 2025, Network can become known once again by aor fans with their unreleased demos.

There are several rock bands named Network. Among hard/melodic rock bands from USA named Network, this band from Louisiana is rarely known by the majority, but Network was by no means an underground band. 40 years ago, they had a single which spread on the music scene, called "Back In America" and was known as a hit by the band.

It is worth mentioning that the line-up of Network was by no means obscure. If any 1980s dreamer is fond of Louisiana-based hard/melodic rock band LeRoux, two members, guitarist Jim Odom and drummer David Peters formed Network after LeRoux went through the first era from 1978 to 1984.

Apart from two founders of Network who played in LeRoux, there are some other relations between the two bands in music and members. The lead vocalist of Network is rock star Terry Brock. As we know, Terry Brock is a legendary singer performing in various hard/melodic rock bands on vocals. Few people know that Network was one of the most underrated bands where he sang.

After that short-period when Terry Brock sang in Network, he became the vocalist of LeRoux in 2007 and sang with LeRoux for some years between 2007 and 2010, and 2016 and 2018. Though there is no studio album by LeRoux with Terry Brock, that hit single "Back In America" as reissued in LeRoux's album "So Fired Up".

The year 1984 saw the first era of LeRoux come to an end. In the same year, Network came out. In 1984, Network recorded a series of demos, but those songs were never released. In 1985, Network started to catch the public's attention with the single "Back In America". This song was featured over the closing credits of the comedy film "National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985)".

"Back In America" was written by Terry Brock and Jim Odom. Maybe this was the only song that made people hear of Network. The film "National Lampoon's European Vacation" was made by Warner Bros. Among the soundtracks for the film, "Back In America" really stands out as an impressive aor gem. Anyway, this song is an aor soundtrack rarity.

"The 1984 Sessions" includes 9 demo recordings. These songs were reissued digitally in October 2025. Though there is no CD release for this album, "The 1984 Sessions" now is available on various mainstream music platforms online. In this album, there is a demo version of their leading single "Back In America". All the songs are well created with melodious tunes, featuring magic keys and killing guitars.

In the video, the song is the opening track called "I Am Alive", a pleasant gem written with beautiful melodies. Musically, lots of songs in "The 1984 Sessions" remind me of the songs in Strangeways' 1984 St debut. Though Terry Brock hadn't joined Strangeways that year, the two bands carry the similar musical sensations in their works such as the magic keys, the layered harmonies and the beautiful lead vocals in both bands.

Being active for two years, Network split up in 1985. But Jim Odom and David Peters were back to LeRoux. David Peters is one of the founding members of LeRoux, who recorded albums with LeRoux from the debut. Jim Odom joined LeRoux in 1982 and his first album recorded with LeRoux is the band's most important 1980s album "So Fire Up (1983)".

It's amazing to see all these songs by Network recorded in 1984 were available on the internet. The digital release is a big surprise for whoever wants to review the best tunes of the 1980s aor. The year 2025 is the 40th anniversary of Network's leading single "Back In America" and is an important new era for Network to be known and heard by global aor fans with the digital reissue.
#MelodicRock #aor #Network #JimOdom #DavidPeters #TerryBrock