"Every time I walk away it feels so wrong
Tell me why I never stay where I belong
Ohhh - Take me home
Every time I walk away it feels so wrong
Tell me why I never stay where I belong
Ohhh- Take me home
I dream of the dawn in the blue of your eyes
Ohhh - Take me home
What keeps me loving you
It's easy to know when we touch
What keeps me loving you
It's easy to know when it's love."
XYZ was (and is) one of those 80's hair bands that broke through at the same time as powerhouse acts like GNR and Def Leppard. They were heavy-duty enough to become the official house band for The Whiskey A Go-Go but never ranked quite well enough on the charts. Not that it matters anyway because lead singer Terry Ilous' band was produced by Don Dokken and their debut album was truly great.
It also holds up. I remember listening to "What Keeps Me Loving You" on repeat back in 1989 and I found myself doing it again just now. For me, it's the kind of power ballad the rivals the best. It's right up there with Whitesnake's "Is This Love" or Def Leppard's "Love Bites", in my opinion. Ilous just takes me there. You know, to that place where you just know you're in the wrong relationship with the wrong person? Of course, you know what I mean.
XYZ as a band, still to this day, rivals some of the best that the late '80s brought us. If you're really lucky you might catch them at a hard rock festival or on a rock cruise! In the meantime check them out below!