Benefactor is the second studio album by the American band Romeo Void, released in 1982. It was released on CD in 2006 by Wounded Bird Records, with their Never Say Never EP as four bonus tracks. The version of the song "Never Say Never" is a shorter, "clean" edit suitable for general radio broadcast.
Critical reception
The New York Times wrote that "too much of Benefactor suffers from Miss Iyall's artsy overwriting... And the feverishly clever arrangements can't quite disguise the band's lack of strong melodies." The Boston Phoenix opined that "As scrambled as its material gets, Benefactor is saved by the struggle this band brings to their rock ‘n’ roll — their conviction that escape routes from lovelessness are worth fighting for, worth opening up for the audience."
Track listing
Personnel Romeo Void Debora Iyall – vocals Peter Woods – guitar Benjamin Bossi – saxophone Frank Zincavage – bass Larry Carter – drums, percussion
Additional musicians Walter Turbitt – guitar on track 9 Marybeth O'Hara – backing vocals on track 7 Norman Salant – saxophone on track 7
Production Ian Taylor – producer Ric Ocasek – additional production on track 1
Charts Album ItemYearChartPositionNever Say Never (EP)1982Pop Albums147Benefactor1982Pop Albums119
References