V.A. - Heard It On The Radio Vol.5 [Rdeg] (2011)

"Heard It On The Radio" CD series were released by the now disappeared Renaissance label comprising long lost 45 rpm singles from the late seventies / earlier eighties never obtainable on digital format before.
Ironically, few or these were radio hits - in fact, many of them are rather obscure - but should have been.
Renaissance's prime intention was the rescue from oblivion of these good '80s songs and made them available in good audio quality not only for musicologists and archivists, but for true lovers of the AOR / rock&pop that once ruled FM radio airwaves.

There were 3 volumes (already featured here), while in 2001 two more (Vol. 4 & 5) were presented only as 'promo' just to promote original album reissues from some of the artists included.
The "Heard It On The Radio" series were resurrected some years ago by the marketing label RDEG, re-releasing the official first three volumes, and then the previously not for sale Vol. 4 & 5, but with a slightly different tracklist due legal / permission issues.

It's time for RDEG Vol.5 (featuring an almost completely different set of songs than Renaissance's vol.5 promo).
The sound quality and mastering is not as good as on the Renaissance releases, but this collection includes really enjoyable tunes.
Among the quite known numbers we find Alcatrazz biggest hit "Island In the Sun", Chris Thompson's Night "Hot Summer Nights", "Burning Flame" by Vitamin Z (feat. Alan Parsons' singer Geoff Barradale) and Tane Cain's "Holdin' On" which peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100.
As usual we have very rare singles from no less obscure bands like Private Lightning or Lindisfarne, and minor hits as Tony Carey's "A Fine, Fine Day" (I love the story this song tells) or "Two Silhouettes" by Russ Ballard.
Enjoy.


01 - Alcatrazz - Island In the Sun
02 - Chilliwack - Whatcha Gonna Do
03 - Device - Hanging On a Heart Attack
04 - Esquire - To the Rescue
05 - Flash And The Pan - Down Among the Dead Men
06 - Hotel - You've Got Another Thing Coming
07 - Kayak - Keep the Change
08 - Night - Hot Summer Nights
09 - Lindisfarne - Run for Home
10 - Prism - Don't Let Him Know
11 - Private Lightning - Physical Speed
12 - Russ Ballard - Two Silhouettes
13 - Sad Cafe - Run Home Girl
14 - Shooting Star - Straight Ahead
15 - Tane Cain - Holdin' On
16 - Tony Carey - A Fine, Fine Day
17 - Vitamin Z - Burning Flame


Heard It On The Radio Vol.5
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V.A. - Heard It On The Radio Vol.4 [Rdeg] (2011)

"Heard It On The Radio" CD series were released by the now disppeared label Renaissance comprising long lost 45 rpm singles from the late seventies / earlier eighties never obtainable on digital format before.
Ironically, few or these were radio hits - in fact, many of them are rather obscure - but should have been.
The prime intention of the label was the rescue from oblivion of these good '80s songs and made them available in good audio quality not only for musicologists and archivists, but for true lovers of the AOR / rock&pop that once ruled FM radio airwaves.

There were 3 volumes (already featured here), while in 2001 two more (Vol. 4 & 5) were presented only as 'promo' just to promote original album reissues from some of the artists included.
The "Heard It On The Radio" series were resurrected some years ago by the marketing label RDEG, re-releasing the official first three volumes, and then the previously not for sale Vol. 4 & 5, but with a slightly different tracklist due legal / permission issues.

Now we have here the RDEG Vol.4. As you can see, a couple of tracks are repeated from the previous volumes to fill the slot of the not authorized songs. The sound quality and mastering is not as good as on the Renaissance releases, but this collection includes really enjoyable tunes.
Well known Melodic Rock / AOR acts like Balance, Charlie and New England are mixed with more obscure bands like Fast Forward, Point Blank or Planet P Project, the science fiction-themed band put together by Tony Carey.
Get it while it's hot. Enjoy.


01 - 707 - I Could Be Good for You
02 - Balance - Breaking Away
03 - Charlie - It's Inevitable
04 - Chilliwack - My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)
05 - Clocks - She Looks a Lot Like You
06 - Fast Forward - Where Did the Time Go
07 - Glass Moon - On a Carousel
08 - Keats - Turn Your Heart Around
09 - Kelly Groucutt - Am I a Dreamer (New Version)
10 - New England - Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya
11 - Planet P Project - What I See
12 - Point Blank - Nicole
13 - Red 7 - Relentless
14 - Shooting Star - Summer Sun
15 - Walter Egan - Fool Moon Fire
16 - Wild Blue - Fire With Fire

Heard It On The Radio Vol.4
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V.A. - Heard It On The Radio Vol.3 [Renaissance] (1999)

Volume 3 from "Heard It On The Radio" CD series released by the now disappeared Renaissance label, comprising long lost 45 rpm singles from the late seventies / earlier eighties never obtainable on digital format before.
Ironically, few or these were radio hits - in fact, many of them are rather obscure - but should have been.
Renaissance prime intention was rescue from oblivion these good '80s songs and made them available in good audio quality not only for musicologists and archivists, but for true lovers of the AOR / rock&pop style that once ruled FM radio airwaves.

All volumes are interesting, but I think this number 3 is the best of the series because features very rare cuts and all are good.
DNA was a rare project produced by Spencer Proffer and formed by Rick Derringer (vocals, guitar), Carmine Appice (drums) and Duane Hitchings (keyboards) in 1984, and "Doctors Of The Universe" is a really fun track (that somehow reminds me Night Ranger).
We also find Jim Steinman doing a pre-Meat Loaf version of "Rock and Roll Dreams Come True", the cool Gary Myrick & The Figures "She Talks In Stereo", or the very hard to find catchy rocker "It's All Right, It's O.K." by Iowa-based band The Hawks never previously released on CD as far I know.
Of course there's some well known names by AOR fans such as Orion The Hunter, Hughes-Thrall, Trillion and many more.
A highly enjoyable compilation.



Heard It On The Radio Vol.3
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V.A. - Heard It On The Radio Vol.2 [Renaissance] (1999)

Second installment of "Heard It On The Radio" CD series released by the now disappeared Renaissance label, comprising long lost 45 rpm singles from the late seventies / earlier eighties never obtainable on digital format before.
Ironically, few or these were radio hits - in fact, many of them are rather obscure - but should have been.
Renaissance prime intention was rescue from oblivion these good '80s songs and made them available in good audio quality not only for musicologists and archivists, but for true lovers of the AOR / rock&pop style that once ruled FM radio airwaves.

There were 3 volumes, the first published in 1998, and Vol. 2 & 3 the subsequent year. In 2001 two more (Vol. 4 & 5) were presented only as promo just to promote original album reissues from some of the artists featured.
The "Heard It On The Radio" series were resurrected some years ago by the marketing label RDEG, re-releasing the official three first volumes, and then the previously not for sale Vol. 4 & 5, but with a slightly different tracklist due legal / permission issues.
Recently appeared a new volume numbered Vol.7... the guys at REDG seems to have skipped the '6'.

This Vol.2 features some singles that gained considerable radio airplay at the moment; Clock's lovable melodic rocker "She Looks A Lot Like You", the cool "10-9-8" by female fronted act Face To Face, Barry Goudreau's radio-friendly "Dreams" recorded with his Boston bandmates, and Danny Spanos version of "Hot Cherie" (later made popular as well by Neal Schon's Hardline).
Talking about Schon, we have "No More Lies" from his rocking collaboration with Jan Hammer, together with more obscure singles like Australian band Heaven in "Rock School", the fun "Sweet Lui-Louise" by Ironhorse (formed by Bachman-Turner Overdrive members), the dirty rocker "Bitch" by Widow, or Ellen Foley (helped by Ian Hunter & Mick Ronson) doing "What's a Matter Baby".
There's also great AOR tracks off albums from Harlequin (the superb "Innocence") and the wonderful "You Could Take My Heart Away" by Silver Condor.
Another cool Classic Rock FM compilation. Enjoy.


01 - Clocks - She Looks A Lot Like You
02 - Widow - Bitch
03 - Silver Condor - You Could Take My Heart Away
04 - Harlequin - Innocence
05 - Crawler - Stone Cold Sober
06 - Danny Spanos - Hot Cherie
07 - Nantucket - Gimme Your Love
08 - Network - Don't Leave Me Alone Tonight
09 - Union - Mainstreet U.S.A.
10 - HEAVEN - Rock School
11 - Face To Face - 10-9-8
12 - Ironhorse - Sweet Lui-Louise
13 - Noel & The Red Wedge - Special To You
14 - Ellen Foley - What's A Matter Baby
15 - Neal Schon/Jan Hammer - No More Lies
16 - Barry Goudreau - Dreams


Heard It On The Radio Vol.2 - New link
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V.A. - Heard It On The Radio Vol.1 [Renaissance] (1998)

"Heard It On The Radio" CD series were released by the now disappeared label Renaissance comprising long lost 45 rpm singles from the late seventies / earlier eighties never obtainable on digital format before.
Ironically, few or these were radio hits - in fact, many of them are rather obscure - but should have been.
The prime intention of the label was the rescue from oblivion of these good '80s songs and made them available in good audio quality not only for musicologists and archivists, but for true lovers of the AOR / rock&pop that once ruled FM radio airwaves.

There were 3 volumes, the first published in 1998, and Vol. 2 & 3 the subsequent year. In 2001 two more (Vol. 4 & 5) were presented only as promo just to promote original album reissues from some of the artists featured.
The "Heard It On The Radio" series were resurrected some years ago by the marketing label RDEG, re-releasing the official first three volumes, and then the previously not for sale Vol. 4 & 5, but with a slightly different tracklist due legal / permission issues.
Recently appeared a new volume numbered Vol.7, the guys at REDG seems to have skipped the '6'.
Requested by a reader, "Heard It On The Radio" series will be featured on this blog in the next entries to come.


Some of these tracks are from albums finally released on CD nowadays, but many not, and probably that never happens.
First of the series, we have Vol.1 featuring some well known names by '80s AOR fans like Tycoon, Joe Lynn Turner's first band Fandango, Player, LeRoux or Autograph (although a great track, their classic "Turn Up The Radio" seems out of place in this compilation).
But there's also rarely heard, good songs from Janey Street, Robert Hazard, The Breaks, Steel Breeze and a lot more, all with that typical early eighties FM magic.
Enjoy.


01 - Mr. Mister - Hunters Of The Night
02 - Tycoon - Such A Woman
03 - Janey Street - Say Hello To Ronnie
04 - Wax UK - Right Between The Eyes
05 - Autograph - Turn Up The Radio
06 - Fandango - Headliner
07 - Gary O' - Shades Of '45
08 - Grace Slick - Seasons
09 - Bullet - Down By The Neonlights
10 - LeRoux - Nobody Said It Was Easy
11 - Chiliwack - My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)
12 - Robert Ellis Orall-Carlene Carter - I Couldn't Say No
13 - Player - If Looks Could Kill
14 - Robert Hazard - Escalator Of Life
15 - Steel Breeze - You Don't Want Me Anymore
16 - The Breaks - She Wants You
17 - Dillman Band - Lovin' The Night Away
18 - Martha & The Muffins - Echo Beach
19 - Jefferson Starship - Save Your Love


Heard It On The Radio Vol.1
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COSMO-SMITH - The Lost Demos [unreleased] (1985)

Amongst the many requests in REQUEST & FILL CORNER section, there's some that deserve to be full-filled here on the main blog to be enjoyed by all of you. This is the case with COSMO-SMITH "Lost Demos"
Singer Fran Cosmo and Bruce Smith (bass, guitar, vocals) both were part of Orion The Hunter, whom released the self-titled LP in 1984, essential in any AOR / Melodic Rock collection.

Orion The Hunter was a short lived band and after they broke up Cosmo & Smith continued writing and recording material together.
The songs from COSMO-SMITH remain unreleased and it's a shame, because these are shining melodic tunes even more mid-eighties AOR oriented than the duo previous band.
Only four tracks, but all are pure AOR delight, professionally recorded and with an excellent sound quality.
Enjoy & Collect!

1 - Highway In Your Eyes
2 - Sad Affair
3 - You're The One
4 - Is It Love

Fran Cosmo: vocals, backing vocals, guitars
Bruce Smith: guitars, bass, keyboards, backing vocals
Bruce Kulick: guitars
John Schuler: drum programming



COSMO-SMITH - The Lost Demos
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