Shanghai

In 1981 the act previously operating as Spider adopted the name Shanghai to set itself apart from other ensembles sharing that title. The group secured a contract with Chrysalis Records, its roster consisting of vocalist Amanda Blue, guitarist Keith Lentin, keyboardist Beau Hill (formerly of Airborne), bassist Jimmy Lowell, and drummer Anton Fig. Their introduction to listeners arrived via the self-titled album issued in 1982, a melodic pop-rock work driven by keyboards that drew favorable notices upon arrival. The unit soon fractured, with Hill shifting focus to production, Anton Fig joining forces with Glen Burtnick, and Amanda Blue embarking on a solo trajectory guided by Gene Simmons. Allowed further room to evolve, Shanghai might have become a significant presence on the American AOR landscape.