AGENT - Agent [original recording Rick Livingstone vocals] (1986)

Requested  by a friend....

AGENT was one of the best Canadian AOR bands during the '80s and '90s.
Keyboardist Craig Zurba and bass player Andre Kunkel were songwriting partners and session musicians from the local scene having recorded for various mainstream artists. At the middle Eighties, both contacted talented vocalist Rick Livingstone, ex- September and Broken Hearts, and together with guitarist Bob Smart and drummer Dave Allan, Agent born.

Agent was signed by CBS / Virgin Records Canada and their self-titled debut album appeared in 1986 to good reviews, but sadly, their label's CEO quit during the week the album was released and no recording company leadership was evident during the 9 months following the release.
Agent broke-up the following year, but left us this wonderful piece of work. "Agent" is pure mid-Eighties AOR, curiously more American sounding than Canuck, akin Survivor, Shelter, Preview, Surrender, etc.
In short; classic '80s AOR with hooks, melodies and keyboards aplenty. Just check the monster "Surrender" below.



Ten years after, Agent returned with a new vocalist re-recording the album for an European label. Although resulted really good, AOR fans still prefer this original '86 release.
Never reissued on CD, this is not the best vinyl LP rip of the world, however, it's million times better than the copy floating the web.
Pure '80s AOR.


01 - Heartbeat
02 - Can't Hold Back
03 - This Could Be The Night
04 - She Trusted Me
05 - Turn On The Radio
06 - Can't Stop
07 - Change Of Heart
08 - Surrender
09 - Blame It On Love
10 - Headlines

Rick Livingstone - vocals
Bob Smart - guitars
Craig Zurba - keyboards, piano, synths
Andre Kunkel - bass
Dave Allan - drums, percussion




AGENT Rick Livingstone 1986
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RICK SPRINGFIELD - SDAA bonus CD Unreleased Stuff (2004)

Revamped post per request.
3 extra tracks added


As requested, more Springfield rarities.
His 'shock/denial/anger/acceptance' album was also released as a collector's package, including an extra CD with 17 bonus / unreleased tracks spanning Rick's career.

According to the press release back in the day:
" The LIMITED EDITION version of s/d/a/a is limited to 3500 numbered copies and hand signed by Rick!
Once they are gone, they're gone! No more will ever be produced! "

Seems they're gone now, so here it is.
Plus, more bonuses added: the bonus track from the main album limited edition (not present in the regular release), 'The Day After Yesterday' Japanese bonus track, 'Venus In Overdrive' Best Buy exclusive songs, and 'Working Class Dog' reissue bonuses.

A must for Fans & Collectors.
Grab this while it's hot...


1 - Love Screws Me Up (unreleased from Karma)
2 - Revolution Day (unreleased track from Karma)
3 - Rythym Of Love (unreleased '88 song)
4 - Her Body Makes Vows (unreleased track from Karma)
5 - Faithful (different version from the DVD)
6 - When You Dream (original song in EFX)
7 - Rhythm Of The Beat (extra verses)
8 - Forever (EFX version)
9 - Rock Of Life (home demo '86)
10 - Affair Of The Heart (home demo '82)
11 - Souls (home demo '82)
12 - Don't Talk To Strangers (home demo '81)
13 - Poison Pen (unreleased demo SHSMY)
14 - American Girls (live Troubadour '74)
15 - Fire Brigade (unreleased '74)
16 - Sweet Teaser (unreleased '74)
17 - Will I? (AC Radio Mix)

Extras:
18 - Forever (bonus track rerecorded for SDAA sessions)
19 - Love Is The Answer (TDAY Japan bonus)
20 - My Generation (VIO Best Buy exclusive)
21 - Jessie's Girl -Acoustic- (VIO Best Buy exclusive)
Working Class Dog reissue:
22 - Easy To Cry (bonus, prev. unreleased)
23 - Taxi Dancing (bonus, orig. version prev. unrel.)
24 - Jessie's Girl (bonus, demo vers. prev. unreleased)



RICK SPRINGFIELD - SDAA bonus CD
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RAY GILLEN - The Fire Still Burns

This year marks 20 years since the death of RAY GILLEN, one of the greatest singers from the eighties / nineties international Hard Rock scene. The American vocalist had a short but fruitful career which is covered in its entirety in this blog humble tribute.
Every project where Gillen was involved is present here: from his first official recording as part of Bobby Rondinelli's band to his final, posthumous released work with Sun Red Sun. He was featured as guest in a Savatage track, but as he only appears in a vocal duet at the end of the song I chose to leave out this one.

We have Ray's guest leads in the Atsushi Yokozeki Project and George Lynch's solo album, his wonderful participation in Phenomena as main vocalist and of course his own US band Badlands.
But as this tribute was done in a first place because a reader of this blog requested some Gillen's unreleased material, I offer you some rare stuff as well.
Ray was called by Tony Iommi to record Black Sabbath's album 'The Eternal Idol' in 1986, an although recorded most of the tracks he quit before the album was ever released due to internal troubles never clarified.

Gillen was eventually replaced by Tony Martin (another great singer), but Ray's pre-production takes are really awesome. These sessions finally saw the light of day in the 2-disc expanded set of the album released few years ago. I have chosen "Nightmare", a monster of a song.
Ray toured extensively during his stay in Sabbath and some of these concerts were caught on tape, but never released. Just listen Ray's performance on the classic "War Pigs", it is truly thrilling.

Also featured here is a rare early demo of "Stop" - one of the best tracks from the Phenomena album 'Dream Runner' (1987) - in a more 'aural' version.
There's also a demo, a never released song from the Badlands days, and the only known track recorded by Gillen as part of John Sykes' Blue Murder. He was in the band only few months, leaving the project when Sykes decided to handle vocals himself.
All these unreleased tracks were sonically cleaned by me, and I also did a really nice artwork to accompany this deserved tribute to one of the greatest shouters in Hard Rock history.

Tracklist, CLICK HERE:




RAY GILLEN - The Fire Still Burns - HERE

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TIM FEEHAN - Pray For Rain (1996)

Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

Canadian TIM FEEHAN is considered by the fans one of the greatest AOR / Westcoast artists ever, but also is a highly respected person in the music industry as composer, producer and talent discover. Tim has played with all, from Steve Lukather to David Foster.
As main artist, Feehan released a bunch of mainstream albums during the '80s, but since the beginning of the Nineties concentrated his efforts into the creation of his own recording studio / company.
However, Feehan continued composing and occasionally putting on tape his own songs for a future release.

"Pray For Rain" was the result of these recording sessions which took place between 1990-95.
All along the way, some serious top class musicians were part of it: awesome guitarist Michael Thompson, Jeff Paris and talented Gene Black (Wild Blue, Device) among others.
The album only was released in Sweden in 1996 and never re-issued, becoming a collector's piece.



"Pray For Rain" is top notch in all departments, production, performances and songwriting, starting with the uptempo "Worth a Fight" (co-written by Gregg Fulkerson of Blue Tears) and the AOR gem "If Ever You Need Someone" pretty much in the Stan Bush style.
You can hear Jeff Paris' touch in the great "Lessons Of The Heart", while the atmospheric "You Should Be Mine" features the excellent backing vocals from the superb Chrissy Steele. Feehan was involved in Steele's solo album together with Brian McLeod (Chilliwack) who sadly died in 1992; the terrific ballad "When You Think Of Me" is dedicated to him.



Although not as bombastic (in terms of sound) as his '80s albums, I think this is Tim Feehan's best, mature album. You can't go wrong with Tim Feehan's "Pray For Rain", a must for any AOR fan.
Out Of Print.


01 - Worth A Fight
02 - If Ever You Need Someone
03 - When The Marnier Sails
04 - Yo Te Quiero
05 - When You Think Of Me
06 - Mother Superior
07 - You Should Be Mine
08 - Lessons Of The Heart
09 - I Don't Miss You Too
10 - Pray For Rain
11 - Do It All Over
12 - Magic Hour

Tim Feehan: vocals, keyboards, programming
Gene Black: guitars
Jeff Paris: guitars, background vocals
Michael Thompson: guitars
Louis Sedmak: guitars
Chrissy Steele: additional background vocals


TIM FEEHAN Pray For Rain 1996
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REQUEST & FILL CORNER 21

From now, all request & fills goes in this post Comments.
If you need an album or a single track, request it here, if you have it, be kind with other readers, upload the file and post the link here as well.
Access to this page will be placed at the right column ------>
(the "CLICK HERE" neon sign)
It will be opened in a new window.

Check this section regularly.
You'll find many albums uploaded by readers, not present on the main blog ...

Help each other people!


and don't forget to check out ARCHIVES:


ARCHIVES PART 17

ARCHIVES PART 18

ARCHIVES PART 19

ARCHIVES PART 20



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WALTHAM - Waltham (2005)

Requested in "Request & Fill Corner" section...

Formed in the late nineties, Waltham took their name from the small, working-class factory town in New England, Massachusetts, from which they came.
They won the Boston Best New Band award in 1999 thanks to their indie debut, and after touring the States and another self-released CD, finally got the opportunity with a big label for "Waltham", released in 2005.

Waltham style is rock&pop spiced with intense melodic rock riffs, and although their sound is modern and radiable there's an undeniable '80s influence in the songcraft.
Think Rick Springfield meets Cheap Trick with a 7th Heaven approach.
The good thing about Waltham's is the catchiness, fist-pumping anthem mould delivered in a 3-minute format song.



From the hook laden opener "Cheryl (Come And Take A Ride)" to the last tune "All I Want Is You", you just can't stop to tap your feet. These tunes are simply irresistible, energetic, and damn fine played & produced.
I don't know, but even though this disc is sonically updated, it reminds me track after track those lovable ‘80s teen flick soundtracks.
A catchy, hooky, fun rockin' album.


01 - Cheryl (Come And Take A Ride)
02 - So Lonely
03 - Joanne
04 - Call Me Back
05 - You Gotta Let Me In
06 - Be With Me
07 - Dont Say It's To Late
08 - Back To You
09 - Maria Simeone
10 - Nicole
11 - Hopeless
12 - All I Want Is You

Frank Pino Jr. - Vocals
Tony Monaco - Guitar
Craig Small - Guitar
Peet Golan - Bass
Mikey Rorick - Drums


WALTHAM 2005
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CAUGHT IN THE ACT - C.I.T.A. [Rare First Recording] (1989)

Well, finally it's here CAUGHT IN THE ACT's (later C.I.T.A.) first recording, so much sought after by collectors.
Formed in 1988 by a group of Denver, Colorado High School friends, the band was pointed to AXE's guitarist Bobby Barth by his manager Ken Turner who at the time lived in the same city.
Barth saw the band's potential and immediately agreed to assist the production of CAUGHT IN THE ACT demo to tempt labels. It would be six years before the band got the opportunity to actually release their debut (the already posted 'Act 1 Relapse Of Reason').

CAUGHT IN THE ACT - The Demo - includes songs never re-recorded again, because in the 6-year gap the guys wrote a lot of new material and these primal tracks were much more '80s oriented.
Musically the predominant style is American Melodic Hard Rock, but CAUGHT IN THE ACT never was 'another' band of the lot, nor even in their very beginning.
We hear here strong keyboard infusions many times bordering AOR, and a little of progressive Hard Rock throwing in. Lyrics are a bit cheesy, but the musicianship really, really good.
The main attraction in this set of songs is the freshness and effervescence of these young musicians hungry for glory.


Catchy rockers like "Satisfaction" (quite Dokken-esque), "Clock Strikes" and "Daddy's Little Girl" are complemented by the melodic numbers "Good Girl Gone Bad" and "Bedroom Eyes", while "Hold On", the ballad "Don't Look Lonely" and "On My Way" brew lovable AOR waves.
Recorded and produced with a high standard for a demo, the sound quality of these tapes is A+. Anyway, I have cleaned some hiss and a couple of noises.
Very nice stuff and quite rare.


1 - Bedroom Eyes
2 - Daddy's Little Girl
3 - Don't Look Lonely
4 - Hold On
5 - Good Girl Gone Bad
6 - Satisfaction
7 - On My Way
8 - Clock Strikes

Danny Martinez: lead vocals, guitar
Anthony Trujillo: guitar, keyboards, vocals
rest of personnel unlisted




CAUGHT IN THE ACT - Rare First Recording

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DAN HILL - Partial Surrender (1981) restored audio

Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

Canadian singer-songwriter DAN HILL is not a stranger to this blog. Today, here's a request by a reader for one of Hill's hardest to find albums, "Partial Surrender", from 1981.
Never released on CD, it's on this LP where Hill started to flirt with AOR melodies according to the era.

Although it should be filed under 'soft Rock', "Partial Surrender" includes some 'rockier' songs, such as 'Pray That It's Love' with Hill's vocals turning more muscular and featuring a cool guitar solo.
Between my favorites there's 'Class Of '69', the power ballad 'I'm Just A Man' with some Chicago on it, and the almost melodic rock, delicious 'All I Want Is You' (ready for FM radio).
Among the 'big' ballads, the best should be 'Somewhere in the Distance' with its nice acoustic guitars and Hill's impressive vocal dexterity. According to Hill's wife, it was the song that caused her to fall in love with him.



"Partial Surrender" is one of those 'one hell of an album to be restored from a worn vinyl LP', as it has many quieter moments followed by in-crescendo uptempo passages.
My audio restoration resulted pretty fine, I guess the best you can find in the world wide web right now.


01 - I'm Just A Man
02 - All I Want Is You
03 - Don't Give Up On Love
04 - Somewhere In The Distance
05 - Just A Piece Of Your Heart
06 - Pray That It's Love
07 - Pandora's Song
08 - Something's Wrong
09 - Fumiko
10 - Class Of '69

Dan Hill - Lead & Background Vocals, Guitars
Dave Wipper - Guitars
Pail Daiter - Bass
John Sheard - Keyboards, Background Vocals
Michael Botts - Drums
Paul Grupp - Percussion, Background Vocals
Tom Kelly, Patti G. Smith - Background Vocals (8)
Gary Foster - Alto Sax on "Just A Pice Of Your Heart"
Strings Arranged & Conducted by Jimmie Haskell




DAN HILL - Partial Surrender (1981)
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KBC Band - KBC Band (1986)

Requested in "Request & Fill Corner" section...

When vocalist and guitar player Paul Kantner left Jefferson Starship in 1984, the group disbanded. Grace Slick and lead vocalist Mickey Thomas continued on simply as Starship.
Kantner was looking for new horizons, and soon joined forces with his former Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship bandmate Marty Balin who was playing live with his own band. The duo agreed to form a band with a new sound, and for the purpose they called the also ex Jefferson Airplane bass player Jack Casady.
KBC band (Kantner-Balin-Casady band) was born, and after a 6-month writing period, the group ink a deal with a major label. Their lone self-titled album was released in 1986.

"KBC band" is a pretty different beast from the typically mid-eigthies stuff.
It's commercial, yes, including catchy poppy AOR tunes with heavily-layered vocal harmonies, some bombastic electronic drums and tons of synthesizers, but lyrically has some kind of defiantly message and musically the band adds saxophone (heavily compressed) dueling with the guitar.
On some tracks the vocals are shared between Kantner and Balin, but it's Marty Balin who handles almost all of the lead vocals, resembling on many parts his stupendous solo albums from the beginning of the eighties.

Opener "Mariel" is a catchy rock&pop song that somehow sounds British to my ears, maybe 'cos the political lyrics (Kantner was an activist at the time).
"It's Not You, It's Not Me" was the first single and a minor hit in the charts, which attracted airplay on AOR radio. Written by Van Stephenson, this is a beautiful mid-tempo tune with an anthemic chorus and a melodious guitar / sax interplay.
"Hold Me" is a slow track in the Americana style with a fine guitar work and sweet vocals by Balin, a bit long to my tastes.
On the classic rockin' "America" the vocals are shared again for good effect. This song recently found renewed interest (due to the lyrics) after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The uptempo "No More Heartaches" is one of my favorite songs on the album, an urgent uptempo AOR track full of synths and a ridiculously catchy chorus. This song alone worth the entire disc.
"Wrecking Crew" is another winner. It is embedded with that '80s magic impossible to resist. Poppy AOR ready for the radio - Love it -.
"When Love Comes" is a re-make of a song previously done by Balin on his 1983 solo album 'Lucky'. The KBC Band version has a more classic rock treatment but with the addition of lush keyboards and electronic drums to update the sound to the mid-eighties style.
"Dream Motorcycle" is a simple but infectious pop-rocker with a catchy melody, a bit overwhelmed by a wall of sax though.
The album ends with "Sayonara", an affected and beautifully performed melodic power ballad, full of class and style, another of my favorites here.



Ignored or unknown for most Adult Oriented Rock collectors, with great production and a big sound, "KBC band" is a succulent dish of mid-Eighties brilliance, including some memorable AOR moments (specially on the second part, or 'B' side).
By the way, this is a rip at maximum quality from the not so easy to find CD edition of this album.
Highly Recommended.


01 - Mariel
02 - It's Not You, It's Not Me
03 - Hold Me
04 - America
05 - No More Heartaches
06 - Wrecking Crew
07 - When Love Comes
08 - Dream Motorcycle
09 - Sayonara

Marty Balin – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Paul Kantner – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Jack Casady – bass
Mark 'Slick' Aguilar – lead guitar, background vocals
Tim Gorman – keyboards, synths, background vocals
Keith Crossnan – saxophone, background vocals
Darrell Verdusco – drums, background vocals


KBC Band (1986)
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RTZ (Return To Zero) - Lost And Found + Delp Goudreau (2004)

Requested in a comment...

RTZ (Return To Zero) began as collaboration between ex- Boston members Brad Delp and Barry Goudreau after the recording of the classic "Orion The Hunter" (Goudreau's project) album, where Delp did some vocals as guest.
Some demos were done (mostly with "Orion..." members as back up band) but shelved.

Around '88 Delp contacted Goudreau to work together again and RTZ was officially founded. They had a lot of material and Barry's studio available, then dozens of tracks were demoed.
RTZ signed a contract but the debut album (titled Return To Zero) was delayed until 1991. As group, RTZ only performed a national tour and then disbanded.
Many of the songs discarded from the 1989-90 sessions were packaged into the 1998 release "Lost".

By 2003, a recording label asked the duo to release their recent album "Delp & Goudreau" in Europe, and Goudreau compiled more demos from the very early sessions of RTZ to make a double CD offering.
That's "Lost And Found": the RTZ '80s unreleased recordings on one CD, plus "Delp & Goudreau".

I've never been a big fan of their self titled debut, but these 'old tapes' are pretty good classy mid-Eighties AOR.
The first 4 tracks are the best, obviously the ones recorded circa 1985-6, very good stuff. Also 'Winners And Losers' has an '80s strong scent (reminds me of FRANKE AND THE KNOCKOUTS).

There's also some pleasant songs more 1980-83 oriented, and a couple from the late '80s sessions, being 'Power Of Love' the highlight.
As for the "Delp & Goudreau" disc, well, this album was relentlessly destroyed by critics.
The truth is it ain't half bad. A 'personal album' if you want, mostly for BOSTON die-hard fans.



These '80s lost tunes were reissued later in the U.S. under the title "Lost In America", but this European double pack has become very hard to find nowadays.
In my opinion, "Lost And Found" is a very nice slice of upbeat American rockin' AOR, and worth a place in your collection.
I've added a bonus; 'Dangerous', originally the Japanese bonus track for the '98 'Lost' album.
Good Stuff.


"Lost and Found" :
01 - One Step Away
02 - Fool For Love
03 - Such A Fool
04 - Rise Above It All
05 - Social Disease
06 - I'm On A Roll
07 - Rock The Night
08 - Winners And Losers
09 - Power Of Love
10 - Show Me
11 - Better And Better
12 - Dangerous (Japan bonus track)

RTZ - Lost and Found - HERE


"Delp and Goudreau" :
01 - What You Leave Behind
02 - Hands Of Time
03 - Let It Roll
04 - Out Of My Hands
05 - Keep On Runnin'
06 - Everyday
07 - I Need Your Love
08 - The Rhythm Won't Stop
09 - Reconciliation
10 - My One True Love

Delp & Goudreau - HERE

Brad Delp : Vocals
Barry Goudreau : Guitar
Brian Maes : Keyboards
Tim Archibald : Bass
David Stefanelli : Drums
... and many more

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ANDY TAYLOR - The Complete Non-Album Recordings

This is a re-vamp from one of the very early posts on this blog (we are celebrating the 10th Anniversary of hardrockaorheaven.blogspot.com this year... time flies!) an album especially recommended for collectors.

ANDY TAYLOR's "The Complete Non-Album Recordings" is an unofficial compilation of all the former Duran Duran guitarist '80s singles not appeared into any of his solo albums.
There's many tracks recorded for movie soundtracks, a couple of unreleased cuts, and a contribution to Rod Stewart's solo album, the rare and hard to find "Lost In You (Extended Version)" with much more guitar licks from Taylor.



After leaving Duran Duran, Andy Taylor has always shown his 'rock side', along with Power Station and solo releases. 
This is a great single collection, a must for soundtrack collectors and '80s music fans.


01. Take It Easy (Rock Mix)
- American Anthem OST only -
02. When The Rain Comes Down
- Miami Vice II OST only -
03. Angel Eyes
- American Anthem soundtrack only -
04. Dead On The Money
- Tequila Sunrise soundtrack only -
05. Be Good To Yourself
- F. Miller cover (never released) -
06. Wings Of Love
- American Anthem soundtrack only -
07. Suffragette City
- David Bowie cover (never released) -
08. Take It Easy (Extended Version)
- American Anthem OST
09. Winner With You
- Stone Cold Sober ltd. ed. EP -
10. Lost In You (Extended Version)
- Rod Stewart 12" only -

Andy Taylor: Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Terry Bozzio: Drums
Steve Jones: Guitar
Bryant Simpson: Bass
Paulinho Da Costa: Percussion
... and many other session musicians


ANDY TAYLOR - The Complete Non-Album Recordings
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NORIYUKI MAKIHARA - Songs From N.Y. (2007)

As requested, here's the other Noriyuki Makihara's 'American WestCoast Ttribute' CD released simultaneously in 2007: "Songs From N.Y.", presented many years ago on this blog.
Again the 'who is who' from the WestCoast / AOR scene were recruited to perform Makihara (Japanese songwriter) songs translated to English, this time arranged with a 'New Yorker feeling'.

Now we have Peter Beckett (PLAYER), Alex Ligertwood (METRO), Kelly Keagy (NIGHT RANGER), Richard Page (Mr. MISTER) and Mark Jordan amongst other lead singers, accompanied by talented session musicians not only from the Californian scene, but also from Nashville and New York.
Production and performances are top notch, a relaxing album to enjoy these gifted voices and light AOR / smooth WestCoast / poppy songs.
Japan release only - Out Of Print


01 - Tom Keane: Star Ferry
02 - Nathan East: 24hr Supermarket
03 - Frankie Jordan: Such A Lovely Place
04 - Alex Ligertwood: Far Away, Far Away
05 - Stephen Bishop: Anytime I Want To
06 - Bill Cantos: Milk
07 - Peter Beckett: Stripe!
08 - Kelly Keagy: Penguin
09 - Mark Jordan: Happy Dance
10 - Richard Page: Tag Team
11 - Jamie Jones: On This Winter Night

Keyboards: Tom Keane, Bob James, Timothy Drury
Guitar: Charlie Mangold, Aaron Fleming, Hiram Bullock
Piano: Don Grusin
Bass: Will Lee, Eric Stern, Nate Brown,
Drums: Omar Hakim, Vinnie Colaiuta
Strings: Matt Funes, Alyssa Park, Eric Hosler
Background Vocals: Jill Dell' Abate, Terry Wood, Bernadetta Barlow, Bill Cantos, Joseph Williams
... and many more




NORIYUKI MAKIHARA Songs From N.Y. (2007)
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JIM PETERIK and World Stage (2000)

Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

One of the living icons from the American Rock scene, through the years JIM PETERIK has written / co-written some of the most memorable songs from the genre: 'Vehicle' by the Ides Of March (on which he sang lead vocals), the entire Survivor catalogue from 1980-1993 (he was co-founder and keyboardist) including 'Eye Of The Tiger', hits for .38 Special, Sammy Hagar, Tommy Shaw, John Wetton and countless more.
Since the middle nineties Peterik founded 'World Stage International Records" to professionally record his penned tunes and offering them to other artists, as well help new talents to raise into the spotlight.

At the beginning of the new millennium 'Jimbo' released this album simply entitled "Jim Peterik and World Stage", featuring long time friends such as Don Barnes of 38 Special; Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd; Dennis De Young of Styx; Cathy Richardson of Love Janis; Buddy Guy; Tom Keifer of Cinderella; Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger and a lot more.



This is a wonderful collection of songs spanning Peterik's enviable ability to write diverse rock music ranging from Melodic Rock to Classic Rock and all its variants.
As special bonus, I have added "Armageddon", written & recorded by Jimbo & World Stage for the famous movie of the same name but it wasn't taken by the film producers.
A must have.


01 - Fade To Blue (Don Barnes)
02 - Can't Say It Loud Enough (Johnny Van Zant)
03 - To Miss Somebody (Dennis De Young)
04 - Diamonds For Stones (Cathy Richardson)
05 - Vehicle (Buddy Guy)
06 - Zig Zag (Tom Keifer & Rick Neilsen)
07 - Changed By Love (Don Barnes)
08 - We Wish (David Carl & Jeff Boyle)
09 - Working Blue (Anthony Gomes)
10 - Antenna (Margaret Becker)
11 - Eye Of The Tiger (Jeff Boyle)
12 - Between Two Fires (Kevin Cronin)
13 - 'Till It Shines (Henry Paul)
14 - Long Road Home (Kelly Keagy)
15 - From Here To Hereafter (C. Richardson) [bonus track]
16 - Armageddon (Jim Peterik) [non album bonus]

Jim Peterik - Guitar, Percussion, Lead Vocals
Mike Aquino (Mecca), Jeff Carlisi, Pat Buchanan - Guitar
Mike Brignardello, Clem Hayes, Mark Hill, Bob Lizik - Bass
Ed Breckenfeld, Steve Brewster - Drums, Percussion
Danny Chauncey - Keyboards, Programming
Christian Cullen - Keyboards, Organ, Wurlitzer
Jimmy Nichols - Keyboards, Piano, String Arrangements
Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick) - Guitar on 6
Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick) - Drums on 6
Don Barnes - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin
Margaret Becker - Lead Vocals
Jeff Boyle - Lead Vocals
David Carl - Lead Vocals
Kevin Cronin - Lead Vocals
Dennis DeYoung - Lead Vocals
Anthony Gomes - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Cathy Richardson - Lead Vocals
Kelly Keagy - Lead Vocals
Tom Keifer - Lead Vocals
Buddy Guy - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Johnny Van Zant - Lead Vocals
Bob Bergland - Sax
Joel Hoekstra - Guitar, Talk Box
Cathy Braaten, Yvonne Gage, Robert W. Johnson - Backing Vocals
... and a lot more




JIM PETERIK and World Stage
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CAPTIVE HEART - Home Of The Brave [Japan release +1] (1997)

Requested and updated to its Japanese Edition

CAPTIVE HEART was a pure American AOR / Melodic Rock band from Chicago, one of the many that arrived too late into the scene but deserved the stardom. They recorded this bunch of songs in 1991-92 to land a U.S. deal, but you already know what happened after those years.
Luckily a German label released the tapes in 1996 as "Home Of The Brave", a year later issued in Japan plus the bonus track "Time Out".
And what an impressive material it is.

Captive Heart strongly reminds me of Signal (Mark Free's band) and Survivor on some compositional structures. Rick Tratar is a really good, second-to-none singer, accompanied by very talented musicians.
We have classic sounding AOR wonders such as "Outlaw", the awesome "It's Too Late" or the smouldering "Over You Over Me".
Title track "Home Of The Brave" has that lovable pulsating midtempo we all love (hints of House Of Lords), while "Can't Stop" is a soaring melodic rocker plenty of harmony vocal layers.

On the softer side "Shattered Dreams" is really American with its anthemic refrain, the soulful "Just One Touch" fits in the good power ballad mould, and "´Til The End" is a compelling slow acoustic number.



"Home Of The Brave" is rarely seen in many AOR / MR favorite's list, but largely deserves the honor.
I remember reading in a magazine some members of Captive Heart stating this recording as pre-production demos, something that you won't notice at all. I can't imagine what they would have been able to deliver with a full-fledged production budget.
This is classic stuff really well composed and performed, with all the magic mojo from the golden years of the genre.
Very Recommended.


01 - Outlaw
02 - It's Too Late
03 - Home Of The Brave
04 - Shattered Dreams
05 - Over You / Over Me
06 - Helpless
07 - Just One Touch
08 - Can't Stop
09 - Heartache
10 - Ride Of Your Life
11 - 'Til The End
12 - Time Out (Japanese Bonus Track)

Rick Tratar - lead and backing vocals
Chuck Kawal - guitars, bass, backing vocals
Tim McGovern - guitar, backing vocals
Scott Bahry - keyboards, drums, backing vocals
Paul Balsamello - bass
Guy Dominick - bass, backing vocals
Steve Moss - drums, percussion, backing vocals




CAPTIVE HEART - Home Of The Brave [Japan release]
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MSG - Built To Destroy [Expanded Edition] (1983)

How about some classic hard rock stuff, and with a personal favourite?
"Built To Destroy" is the best MSG album - in my opinion - of their early era. Features Schenker's finest fretwork and the return of Gary Barden as frontman.
For this album keyboardist Andy Nye has more presence both in the playing as in the songwriting, which redounded in a more commercial sound.

As happened with many albums in this genre during the eighties, there was a different mix for the American audience. This edition consists of both, exquisitely remastered on a single CD.
The first nine tracks are the British version, which features the classic Euro Schenker sound, while tracks 10-18 are the noticeably different American version, with more prominent keyboards, enhanced drums and a much more melodic feel.

According to the liner notes, Schenker himself preferred the American version. This expanded edition allows the listener to choose. I like both, as the remastering job has done miracles with these tapes.
This CD really sounds terrific.



Gary Barden - vocals
Michael Schenker - guitars
Chris Glen - bass
Andy Nye - keyboards
Ted McKenna - drums
Derek St. Holmes - vocals on Still Love That Little Devil [US Mix]


MSG Built To Destroy UK/US mix

TOYS OF JOY - One Of These Days (1990)

Requested by one of you...

Hailing from Denmark, TOYS OF JOY is basically a duo formed by songwriters Henrik Launbjerg and Hans Egestorp, who recorded the single 'When The Rain Falls' at the very end of 1989.
The band got signed by a local label and subsequently released a full album titled "One Of These Days", regarded as one of the finest debuts of the year. The CD soon becomes out of print and since then collectors piece among AOR fans.

On these smooth tunes, Launbjerg / Egestorp captured the truly essence of American FM radio soft AOR better than many native US musicians. The absolutely outstanding opener "Watching Your Moves" remains in my book as one of the better 'feelgood' AOR songs ever.
The breezy, sophisticated 'Some People' is another personal favorite. Is there Mr. Mister playing here? Very, very close in sound & style.
Launbjerg's voice reminds me of Richard Page: perfect pitch and tone, an underrated vocalist with tons of class.

'When The Rain Falls' is a magical ballad, a lot like a Jay Graydon's Planet 3 track. Perfect song and melody. Then you have "Can't Get Nobody Else", with its intelligent guitar arrangements is pure class. Then "Let It Out" is a catchy, sing-along tune with a huge chorus, what a great song!
In fact, the whole "One Of These Days" is fabulous with terrific & beautifully arranged songs and a 10/10 production job.



Recently Toys Of Joy's original indie label has resurrected this little masterpiece with a fresh reissue, and here I am bringing it to you @ maximum quality.
I can't recommend you "One Of These Days" enough.
It's High class AOR. Just don't miss it.


01 - Watching Your Moves
02 - Hold On
03 - Bring On The Night
04 - One Of These Days
05 - Some People
06 - When The Rain Falls
07 - Can't Get Nobody Else
08 - Make A Difference
09 - Let It Out
10 - Leaves

Henrik Launbjerg: vocals
Hans H. Egestorp: guitars, keyboards, programming
Morten Bolvik: keyboards
Steffen Qwist: guitar
Lars Elswing: bass
Jakob Iisager: drums


TOYS OF JOY - One Of These Days (1990)
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MICHAEL WHITE and THE WHITE - ST (1987) [digital reissue]

Requested in "Request & Fill Corner" section...

American born Michael White started his career at the end of the seventies as member of underground L.A. bands such as 'The Boys' (alongside pre-Dokken George Lynch and Mick Brown), 'L.A. Rocks' with W.A.S.P.'s Randy Piper, and in Nikki Sixx's pre-Motley 'London'.
Looking for a more classic sound Michael formed 'The White', his own band.

Mixing originals with Led Zeppelin covers, the group toured extensively throughout North America, and at the mid eighties White signed a deal with Atlantic Rec. for an album to be recorded in Germany with producer Mack (Queen, Billy Squier) behind the desk.
Alongside his band, many well names contributed with the recording (although uncredited in the credits), as Danny Bilan (Moxy), Randy Piper (W.A.S.P), Alan St. Jon & Bobby Chouinard (Billy Squier).

"Michael White and The White" was released in 1987, but a bad promotion and the explosion of the L.A. Metal scene sank the disc.
Occurs that Michael White plays classic rock heavily influenced by Zeppelin and vocalist Robert Plant in particular. On many parts throughout the album, Michael sounds like a Plant's clone. And a good one.
It's true, some songs here (and the general atmosphere) definitively have a Zepp style, as the rocking "Matriarch", the beautifully orchestrated slow tune "One Good Turn" or the spacey "Psychometry" (where White, apart from Plant, recalls Kingdom Come's Lenny Wolf). This isn't a bad thing, on the contrary, all these tracks are magically written and performed.

But Michael White and The White also plays commercial '80s American Melodic Rock here; the catchy "Fantasy", the keyboard filled "Radio" or the incredibly smooth "I Know You Need Someone", one of my favorites here.
On the radio friendly "Deja Vu", White goes AOR-rock, and "Dirty Dancer" rocks with a melodic sense.

"Michael White and The White" is a really good album in my book, including finely crafted songs, much better than you can appreciate at first listen. Production is truly good, with a slick '80s sound and a classy vibe.
The album was released for the first time on CD -remastered- in 2003 (now out of print) with the legend 'and the White' on the cover.


original album cover

This file is the 2007's digital only re-issue called 'LP version' (?), featuring on the cover Michael White's moniker alone. There's a flaw on the track "Psychometry" around 3:18 min. (it happens on all the copies distributed of this reissue), but does not affect the listening experience.
A praiseworthy album, pretty unknown and hard to find.


01 - Fantasy
02 - I Know You Need Someone
03 - Bring On The Night
04 - Matriarch
05 - One Good Turn
06 - Psychometry
07 - Deja Vu
08 - Jumpin' The Fence
09 - Radio
10 - Dirty Dancer


Michael White: Lead & Backing Vocals
Claus Heuser: Guitars
Phil Bolenz: Guitars
Rick Dellefield: Keyboards
Steven Wissnet: Bass
Curt Cress: Drums
Session musicians (uncredited);
Danny Bilan (Moxy): Drums
Bobby Chouinard (Billy Squier): Drums
Scot Gaines: Bass
Alan St. Jon (Billy Squier): Keyboards
Randy Piper (W.A.S.P.): Guitars
Paul Vincent (Meat Loaf): Guitars


MICHAEL WHITE and THE WHITE
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21 SUMMERS - 21 Summers [reissue original mix +3 bonus]

Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

Chicago based 21 SUMMERS was a curious band for sure. Perhaps not for their music - a mix of melodic rock / power pop and AORish new wave - but for being the world's first 'video band'.
21 Summers was created by guitarist & composer Reid Brody who in the mid-80s worked at a post-production video studio in Chicago. Brody thought at the time that video-clips and MTV were the future in music industry, and he founded 21 Summers with this idea in mind.

Indeed, still unsigned and never having played live, 21 Summers put together a five-song video demo - not just 4-track tape like all bands - highly professionally made including computer effects, a must for the era. So Brody, instead of distributing an audio-cassette tape to all record companies, armed with his videos, went directly to MTV.
The band was selected for the MTV's "Basement Tapes" competition where new unsigned bands presented a video for a 'video battle'. Winner would get a record contract with Elektra and music equipment.

21 Summers qualified for the finals, but didn't won. However, a record label from Denmark 'MEGA Records' were very interested in the band and they secured the release of the self-titled LP "21 Summers" in Europe.
But the label wanted a more 'punchy' sound so the album was remixed and the guitar solos - performed by a soon to be famous player (more on this below) - were put higher in dynamics.

Anyway, this "21 Summers" featured here is the original 1985 mix, finally made available at the band's website some time ago. This is a little more 'sweet' than the Danish 1986 (LP only) release, delivering a strong new wave feel that many American bands were experimenting with in the mid-Eighties.
In one way or another, "21 Summers" never did much for me... it's a cool album with some good songs, nothing spectacular.

This "21 Summers original mix", apart from the different cover art, includes 3 tracks not present in the 1986 Danish LP: the poppy 'Let It Be Linda', and the dance mix / extended versions of 'Come Closer' and 'I Am the One', two of the best songs on the album.

21 Summers were an unlucky combo in all aspects. Reid Brody also designed an innovative guitar for the era: the 'dual mode guitar', consisting of two opposite necks (one 6-string, the other 12-string) at either end of the guitar body with a belt pivot to spin the instrument and change the neck. This created a great visual effect.
The guitar is pictured on the album cover (click on it for bigger size).

In 1982 Brody presented his double-guitar to Dean Guitars for a possible signature model, but it was rejected under the statement 'your guitar is a carnival item!'
Few months later on MTV in the famous video for the song 'Legs', ZZ Top was playing spinning guitars much like Brody's. Guess who made that guitars for ZZ Top... yes, Dean Guitars.



Even more, guess who was the soon-to-be-famous guitar solo's player on "21 Summers"? A guy credited in the LP under the name Mike Batio.
Yes, the guitar shredder later known as Michael Angelo (Batio) and famous for his... double neck guitar.
Brody's best idea was stolen by various, and he never received the credits despite of patenting his spin guitar. And regarding the videos predating the LP / cassettes / CD in the future, he was not overly wrong. This idea was discussed by various record companies after MTV exploded.
But they had a problem: portability. VCR's were too much heavy!
Rare


01 - I Am the One
02 - Little Girl
03 - Linger
04 - Come Closer
05 - I Am Missing Elaine
06 - Let It Be Linda [extra track]
07 - Walk Away
08 - Tumbling Down
09 - Once in a Lifetime
10 - Dream
11 - We All Get What We Want in Time
12 - Come Closer (Dance Mix) [extra track]
13 - I Am the One (Dance Mix) [extra track]

Kevin Friend - vocals
Reid Brody - guitar
Justin Niebank - bass, keyboards
Haim Brody - drums
Mike Batio - guitar solos




21 SUMMERS : 21 Summers [reissue original mix +3 bonus]
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DOUBLETAKE - So Many Roads (1993)

Requested in "Request & Fill Corner" section...

This Austin, TX band DOUBLETAKE one and only rare album "So Many Roads" (private release) has fetched ridiculous prices at auction sites in the past. I have mixed feelings about this one. Sometimes gets me bored, sometimes I enjoy most the tracks.
They sound like a mix between FIREHOUSE, WORRALL and TALL STORIES to give you an idea, but not so 'commercial'.

The good thing about this Doubletake album is the interesting song structure based on melodic rock of course, but not the typically that you expect.
"Living In A Black And White Movie" has an articulated bridge sounding dangerously grunge, however it's very melodic and the song works.
But "Julia" is a great tune, one of the highlights here, highly melodic with tight vocal harmonies and strong guitar parts. A very, very good song. "People" is better than you might think at first listen. Acoustically layered, sounds a lot like NELSON. Good one.

"Mistake" is a simple rocker but skillfully arranged, again, different from the usual in this genre. Title track "So Many Roads" is a slow-motion tune with very nice guitar solos and a sax part that fits the tune perfectly, complementing the 6 strings. I like this one, to listen with a bottle of bourbon at hand.
With a very good and accurate production for an indie, the band took almost a year to record this disc, and everything sounds polished, well mixed and mastered as well.



"So Many Roads" was re-issued not so long ago, but ironically the transfer sounds flat compared to the original press by BillPaso Records.
This is a CD-rip from the original 1993 release (not 1997 incorrectly announced in the reissue), including artwork.
Rare.


01 - Intro
02 - Living In A Black And White Movie
03 - She's Got The Love
04 - Julia
05 - People
06 - She's Hopin'
07 - The Call
08 - Mistake
09 - I Can't See Tomorrow
10 - Night Games
11 - Don't Wanna Dance Alone
12 - So Many Roads

Brett Axelson - Lead vocals, bkg vocals, guitar
Mark Russell - Guitars, keyboards, bkg vocals
Brent Samperi - Bass, percussion, bkg vocals
Paul Schulz - Drums, percussion, bkg vocals
guest musicians:
Joe Morales - sax on 'So Many Roads'
Chip Bolan - keyboards
Theresa Tyll - girl on phone
John Viehweg - percussion, bkg vocals




DOUBLETAKE - So Many Roads (1993)
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MICHAEL O'BRIEN - It's About Time! (2001)

Requested in "Request & Fill Corner" section...

Michael O'Brien had his moment at the end of the '80s when he sign a deal with a major label subsidiary to release his first solo album. The self-titled debut was a great solid AOR cd with killer tunes, being one of the ballads a minor hit.
At this point I should clarify that this Michael O'Brien is not the Christian artist with the same name.
He's overly often confused because the CCM singer also released his debut in 1995 self-titled, that's why 'our' O'Brien debut is also known as 'Oceana' (the subsidiary label name) to avoid misunderstandings.

The truth is that 'our' O'Brien disappeared as main artist from the face of Earth during the Nineties.
Seems Michael has concentrated his efforts as booking agent, songwriter & recording engineer in his own recording facility, and meanwhile tracking down on tape his music.

In 2001, after 11 years since his debut, "It's About Time!" was published via a very small indie label. The rockin' AOR is gone, this is a very mellow Adult Contemporary disc, mostly a ballad album.
"Change Your World", "I Never Let You Go" and "Thank God For You" are gentle AORish tunes with very nice guitars (acoustic and electric) and subtle keyboards. Think Nelson's 2nd album.
"The Angel For You", "So Far Away", "Why" are extremely soft ballads, really really light. On "Sacred Town" Michael goes for the acoustic style, while "Still On My Mind" is very poppy.
The remake of the Beatles' classic "Let It Be" is surprisingly good, isn't a song easy to cover successfully.



"It's About Time!" is an album light as a goose neck feather, very calm and personal. Even the production is tiny (not thin) on purpose, giving to all instruments the necessary room to be clearly heard.
A real 'personal' recording: all songs & tracks performed, written (minus 1), produced, engineered & mixed by Michael O'Brien.
Some songs are simply beautiful.
As most indies out there, this is an extremely rare, out of print album.
Thanx to my friend totalaor for this one!


01 - Change Your World
02 - I Never Let You Go
03 - The Angel For You
04 - Let It Be
05 - With You
06 - So Far Away
07 - Still On My Mind
08 - Why
09 - Sacred Town
10 - Thank God For You

Michael O'Brien : Vocals, All instruments


MICHAEL O'BRIEN - It's About Time
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