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THE man with the golden voice, Steve Perry, is considered by many to be the greatest vocalist in the melodic rock movement. Fronting Journey since 1977, he made his mark at a stall that sold hits at a rapid rate. It wasn't surprising that Sony were happy to capitalise on his popularity and promote this solo album that mines the melodic rock gold of his previous greatest achievements, albeit in a slightly more soulful way. 'Street Talk' showcases a plethora of great tracks, including lead single, the big hit, 'Oh Sherrie', the gorgeous 'Foolish Heart' and the emotional 'She's Mine'. Overall it's a fantastic album from a master craftsman.
TRACKS: 1.Oh Sherrie 2.I Believe 3.Go Away 4.Foolish Heart 5.It’s Only Love 6.She’s Mine 7.You Should Be Happy 8.Running Alone 9.Captured By The Moment 10.Strung Out
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EUROPE'S quest to maintain their massive foothold in the melodic rock word continued with this album, released in 1991. The material here is solid melodic hard rock, produced by Beau Hill (RATT and Winger), showing that the band were still creating high class product with bite. The album contains memorable and impressive songs such as the title track, 'Halfway To Heaven' (co-written with song writer Jim Vallance), 'Seventh Sign' and 'Bad Blood'. With the vocals of Joey Tempest leading the charge, every effort was made in the race for perfection. Of course, sadly, the timing of the release was against them.
TRACKS: 1.All Or Nothing 2.Halfway To Heaven 3.I’ll Cry For You 4.Little Bit Of Lovin' 5.Talk To Me 6.Seventh Sign 7.Prisoners In Paradise 8.Bad Blood 9.Homeland 10.Got Your Mind In The Gutter 11.‘Til My Heart Beats Down Your Door 12.Girl From Lebanon
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BASED in the tough environs of New York City, this hard-hitting four piece strutted their stuff like a wild combination of Aerosmith and the Georgia Satellites... shaggy haired men dressed in black with guitars set to stun. Given the nature of their musical influences, it's not surprising that their debut record has the guitars turned up to ten and vocals that lay down the law in a manner that leaves no room for argument. The record has been a collector's dream acquisition, and it's rightly hailed as an underappreciated classic, a record that keeps on giving. Check out tracks such as 'Call Of The Wild', 'The Distance' and 'Hell's Kitchen' for proof.
TRACKS: 1.Call Of The Wild 2.Hangin’ By A Thread 3.Jilted! 4.The Distance 5.Romance On The Rocks 6.Can’t Love Ya, Can’t Leave Ya 7.Hell’s Kitchen 8.St Jane's Infirmary 9.My Ship 10.I Don’t Wanna Be Loved 11.Girl 12.Everybody’s Baby
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CANADIAN five-piece Zon took the melodic rock world by storm in 1978 with the release of their debut album 'Astral Projector', a work that was heralded as a game changer at the time. Naturally all eyes were focused on their 1979 follow-up record, 'Back Down To Earth', which continued the upward journey of this fine outfit's musical development. The contents are highly polished, and presented in a way that doesn't disappoint, allowing the pomp rock content to flow. Kicking off with the excellence of hard the rocking 'Circus', the album then develops the complexity with tracks like multi-layered 'Gods And Kings'. And look out for the five bonus tracks (two of which are previously unreleased).
TRACKS: 1.Circús 2.Please Stay 3.Lifeline 4.As Seasons Change 5.Suicide 6.Back Down To Earth 7.Cheater 8.Take It From Me 9.When He’s Old 10.Gods And Kings 11.Back Down To Earth (Live) 12.Circus (Live) 13.Gettin’ Off (Live - previously unreleased) 14.Gods And Kings (Live) 15.Let Me Go (Live – previously unreleased)
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THE melodic rock battlegrounds were particularly crowded during the late '70s, with many lesser-known acts attempting to fight their way to the front to be amongst superstar acts such as Foreigner, Journey and Boston. Axe were one such band and they were creating a sound on their 1979 debut that combined pomp rock with AOR. In fact, they laid down a hard rock foundation for the softness and complexity to sit on... making great songs with commanding vocals and super strident riffs. Axe entered the fray with this solid album, craving out a sound and style designed to serve them well in their attempt to break through.
TRACKS: 1.Life’s Just An Illusion 2.Hang On 3.Sympathize 4.How Come I Love You 5.Forever 6.Back On The Streets 7.Doin’ The Best That I Can 8.You’re Out Of Line 9.Battles
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The sophomore album from this fast rising, but still underrated, hard rock band based in Florida who were looking to make their mark with a cool and commanding strain of melodic rock, which had been described as pomp rock. This album was a definite development in their sound, showcasing the band's ability to move with the times and create a harder edge, whilst still demonstrating melodic purpose and precision. Check out tracks such as 'Fantasy Of Love', 'Running The Gauntlet' and 'For A Little While' to sample some of the goodness on offer in this great example of melodic hard rock.
TRACKS 1.Living On The Edge 2.Fantasy Of Love 3.First Time, Last Time 4.Carry On 5.Running The Gauntlet 6.I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) 7.Just Walk Away 8.Let Me Know 9.Save Our Love 10.For A Little While
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WHEN IT COMES to exploring the early years of the British hard rock scene there’s no better place to start that with London-based five piece Strider. A staple of the live circuit, the band built a reputation for lean and mean blues-based rock, securing a solid and faithful following throughout the UK and Europe. It was also a group that freatured a couple of members who went on to be well-known after Strider; guitarist Gary Grainger who went on to play with Rod Stewart and drummer Tony Brock who would later join the Babys. Two individuals with a solid reputation and careers forged directly from the ashes of Strider.
‘Misunderstood’ is the band’s second album, recorded once again for GM Records the label helmed by Billy Gaff, manager of the Faces and Rod Stewart. Produced by Damon Lyon-Shaw, who had cut his teeth as a recording engineer for the Who and Status Quo, the album contains an impressive selection of tracks that showcase the appointment of new vocalist Rob Elliott, a man with a rich voice and a signature delivery. This time around the band focussed exclusively on self-penned material, writing and executing a batch of songs that grabbed the listener by the scruff of the neck and commanded attention.
Amongst all this goodness are stand out tracks such as ‘Searching The Clouds’, ‘Seems So Easy’, ‘Crossed Lines’ and the adventurous ‘Wing Tips’. Despite delivering such a robust album and touring with the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, the Faces and Status Quo, sadly and unfairly the band failed to make any commercial progress.
TRACK LISTING: 1.OPEN YOUR EYES 2.MISUNDERSTOOD 3.CROSSED LINE 4.SEEMS SO EASY 5.ALREADY MONDAY 6.WING TIPS 7.TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT 8.SEARCHING THE CLOUDS BONUS TRACKS 9.SEEMS SO EASY (SINGLE VERSION) 10.ARTHUR HYDROGEN
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BRITSH ROCK during the early ’70s was, it’s fair to say, exploding with bright new talent. Strider were a great example of this ascendance, and crafted tough hip thrusting riffs and chest beating hooks in a style that was rapidly becoming the calling card of the era. Bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Free were dominating the charts but others including Strider weren’t very far behind. It was a golden era for rock and everything was to play for.
Formed in 1971, under the handle of Rowan Oak, the band solidified their line-up, changed their name and enlisted the help and assistance of Marquee Club booker Jack Barrie who guided them into the arms of other industry illuminati including Babe Ruth’s svengali Martin Saville and the newly-formed GM records, a label run by Faces manager Billy Gaff. It was this cabal of heavy weight talent that steered the band in an upward direction including lengthy European tours with Rory Gallagher and Status Quo.
Produced by Jimmy Horowitz (who was married to GM artist Leslie Duncan) ‘Exposed’ showcases a confidant and highly potent rock band with the emphasis on muscle and energy. Released in 1973 to much praise and excitement, the album is a revered part of the time when British hard rock was dominating the music world. Check out tracks such as ‘Esther’s Place’, ‘Ain’t Got No Love’, ‘Get Ready’ and ‘Straddle’ for three prime examples of a powerful and impressive band who could and should have gone on to bigger and better success.
TRACK LISTING: 1.FLYING 2.AIN’T GOT NO LOVE 3.WOMAN BLUE 4.HIGHER AND HIGHER 5.ESTHER’S PLACE 6.STRADDLE 7.GET READY Bonus Tracks 8.ESTHER’S PLACE (SINGLE VERSION) 9.WOMAN BLUE (SINGLE VERSION) 10.ROAD RUNNER (LIVE)
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SOMETIMES A RECORDappears out of nowhere which literally takes your breath away. So it is with the Ladder, a sensational five piece with virtually no pedigree to speak of, but fully loaded with talent and a raging desire to make as big an impression as humanly possible. The fact that their sole album failed to make a commercial impact is neither here nor there but nearly 35 years after its release we are still talking about its enduring and timeless quality. Originating from Philadelphia, the band were formed from an ad hoc musical collective that been involved with a number of different mostly non rock projects. The only member with a history was drummer Joe Franco formerly of the Good Rats and later to perform with Twisted Sister. At the center of this cabal were brother’s Lou and Joe Parente, both men responsible for the majority of the song writing. Leading the charge however was previously unknown vocalist Frank Mancano whose style and timbre was immediately compared to the likes of Lou Gramm, Joe Lynn Turner and Steve Perry. Signed to ATCO, the sister label of Atlantic records, the album was issued in October 1986 and failed to cause even the smallest ripple of interest except - as we’ve learnt from other similar acts - small pockets of support in the European press. With no internet or social media at the time the odds were truly stacked against them. Despite infinitely strong songs such as ‘Time Soldier’, ‘Breakdown’, ‘Standin’ and the knock-out punch of ‘Double Shot Of Love’ the album is now considered one of the greatest lost treasures of a the late eighties.
TRACK LISTING: 1.DAYDREAMS AT NIGHT 2.DOUBLE SHOT OF LOVE 3.TIME SOLDIER 4.DON’T TURN ME AWAY 5.BREAKDOWN 6.STANDIN’ 7.WOMEN HAVE SECRETS 8.LIE TO ME 9.LOVER 10.DANCING IN THE DARK
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THE MID TO late ’80s gave us a number of fine heavy metal bands, most of them ecoing the thrash metal scene spearheaded by Metallica, Exodus, Death Angel and Megadeath. Vicious Rumors, in the scene from the start, were an act who gave the full-on thrash style a neat makeover, lacing the riffs with razor sharp emphasis and maximum melody. Vocalist Carl Albert was uniquely placed to exert a powerful influence on the band’s sophistication, with a voice that could easily push the band to new heights and help them achieve more commercial success. Formed in the San Franciso Bay area in 1979, and producing two independent records (on the Shrapnel label) and one for Atlantic Records (also reissued on Rock Candy) the band’s chief protagonists by this point in their career were twin lead guitarists Geoff Thorpe (group founder) and Mark McGee; two players very much in sync with each other and their musical goals. Perfectly complimentary, their interlocking sound moved the music into areas not normally afforded such precision in this genre. They had, unknowingly, occupied the area of power metal, with a technique that provided a stepping stone for other bands who wanted to push the genre’s limits. Originally issued in 1991 on Atlantic records ‘Welcome To The Ball’, their fourth album, included a collection of superlative tracks, featuring such heavy hitters as ‘Abandoned’, ‘Children’, ‘Mastermind’ and ‘When Love Comes Down’. Music filled with angst and a resolute determination to take no prisoners. Recorded in San Francisco, kudos must be given to co-producer Michael Rosen for his clear and concise work, allowing every instrument to resonate with enough clarity to provide maximum damage.
TRACK LISTING: 1.ABANDONED 2.YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE 3.SAVIOR FROM ANGER 4.CHILDREN 5.DUST TO DUST 6.RAISE YOUR HANDS 7.STRANGE BEHAVIOR 8.SIX STEPSISTERS 9.MASTERMIND 10.WHEN LOVE COMES DOWN 11.ENDS OF THE EARTH
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