JERRY G. HLUDZIK - Just Letting It All Go (2009)

Maybe the name JERRY G. HLUDZIK doesn't ring a bell to you, but the man has created some of the greatest AOR tunes ever wrote. He's one of the founder members of classic AOR outfit Dakota, and as well has been releasing solo albums from time to time via his own, small recording label.

This "Just Letting It All Go", his last solo album, offers many points in common with Dakota, but the overall style is classic American classic rock with a MidWestern AOR flavor.
"Hole In My Pocket" sounds a lot like Dakota, "On A Day Like Today" is like a Nelson song in the 21st century, and "One From The Heart" is a fantastic AOR ballad (and maybe the best song on offer here) much in the vein of Night Ranger's acoustic '80s songs.



"Just Letting It All Go" is a solid piece of music, very well homemade produced & engineered featuring some of finest songwriting heard in a long time. Jerry G. Hludzik is a talented craftsman, and this album oozes quality from every corner.
Thanx rockland for this one, I miss you my frined.


01 - Hole in my pocket
02 - What's in this kiss
03 - What if
04 - Try
05 - On a day like today
06 - One from the heart
07 - Letting it all go
08 - All for the better
09 - These 50 years
10 - Right where I belong
11 - Better man
12 - Wind on my whiskers

Jerry G Hludzik - vocals, acoustic guitars, mandolin
Jon Lorrance (Dakota) - guitars
Lenny Mecca - bass
Eli Hludzik (Dakota) - drums
Tom Borthwick - keyboards
Joe Andes - keyboards
Wes Styles - keyboards
Joe Taco - persussion (11)
Bill Kelly - backing vocals (5)




JERRY G. HLUDZIK - Just Letting It All Go
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STONEWALL / WEEKEND - Stonewall / Weekend (1990)

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

Based in Indianapolis, hard rock act STONEWALL / WEEKEND was founded in the late '80s by guitarists Jason Stonewall and Joe Joe Weekend, both veterans from the local Rock scene after sharing countless gigs as part of different bands all over the decade.
The project born from the ashes of Why On Earth, a metallic outfit where both musicians played together. Aiming for a more commercial sound at the time ruling the US Rock charts, they started to write songs and meanwhile completing the line-up.

The self-titled debut "Stonewall / Weekend" was released in 1990 by themselves via their own label named Air Records, and the band toured the area with significant success.
The CD mix melodic hard rock tunes with the typical catchiness from the late '80s / early '90s and a more edgy approach on some tracks.

There's a juicy combination of muscular guitar riffs, a punchy rhythm section and harmony vocals - all spiced with keyboard touches - on effective rockers such as 'Is It Any Wonder', 'Stand It', 'Another Night in Hollywood' or 'Nothin's Gonna Stand in Our Way'.
Midtempo "Where My Life Leads Me" even adds an AORish feeling, while Jason Stonewall takes the lead vocals on the pumping 'Gotta Have Your Love'.
On 'Waiting For The Axe To Fall, PT.2' Stonewall / Weekend showcase their US metal origins, though the verses are pretty melodic.



"Stonewall / Weekend" is some kind of obscure collectors piece, and has become a rare piece rarely seen at auction sites. The band released another album - not consistent as this one - before disbanding in 1995.
This is a cool slice of US melodic hard rock stuff with an edge, very well executed and produced.


01 - Stand It
02 - Nothin's Gonna Stand In Our Way
03 - Another Night In Hollywood
04 - Is It Any Wonder
05 - L.A.X.
06 - Heads Will Roll
07 - Your Love Excites Me
08 - Where My Life Leads Me
09 - Turkish Tram Conductor Blues
10 - Gotta Have Your Love
11 - You And Me
12 - Waiting For The Axe To Fall, PT.2

Jason Stonewall - guitar, lead vocals on 10, backing vocals
Joe Joe Weekend - bass, guitar, backing vocals
Dwayne Kendall - lead and backing vocals, guitar
Denny Melman - drums, backing vocals
guests;
Troy Kinnett - keyboards, saxophone
Robert Sisk - lead vocals on 9




STONEWALL / WEEKEND 1990
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SIREN - All Is Forgiven (1989)

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

SIREN was a short-lived band signed by Mercury Records to be the next answer to Heart. Fronted by goddess Kristin Massey and with a leather/glammy image, the music was in fact commercial rock&pop with a melodic hard rock sonic treatment.
"All Is Forgiven" is their debut appeared in 1989 and it's a solid product from the era. I know few remember Siren simply because that year was over-flooded by excellent releases for the genre, and basically, Mercury lost interest to promote the release. A shame.

But there was a reason; soon after the release of "All Is Forgiven" a lawsuit arrived... other band legally owned the name Siren, so they were forced to change it to 'Red Siren'.
Hence, Mercury had to re-print the LP, CD and cassettes, and label executives don't like that... Siren / Red Siren were put in a black list losing all potential promotion.

But it's music what matters and Siren's "All Is Forgiven" is plenty of good moments.
Title track is a highlight and the more muscular cut on the record, 'Master Of The Land' is another fine uptempo which brings to mind Saraya, and 'One Good Lover' add acoustics to the mix alongside lots of synths, resulting very catchy.
'Stand Up' is perhaps the most poppy track on the record, but one of my favs. It has 'something' that makes it special.
Another of my picks is closer, midtempo ballad 'So Far Away', which obviously was crafted with a Heart / Robin Beck hit-chart styling, a very sweet number with delicate vocals by Kristin, lots of keys and a solid guitar solo.



Siren's (or Red Siren) "All Is Forgiven" is a forgotten but very solid release from the US melodic hard rock 1989 scene.
Needless to say, this first CD pressing sporting the original 'Siren' name on the cover / artwork quickly became a collectors item.


01 - All Is Forgiven
02 - One Good Lover
03 - Don't Let Go
04 - Master Of The Land
05 - Stand Up
06 - Good Kid
07 - How Dare A Woman
08 - Rock-A-Bye
09 - Love Shut Down
10 - So Far Away

Kristin Massey - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
Robert Haas - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Jon Brant - bass
Gregg Potter - drums




SIREN - All Is Forgiven (here)
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REQUEST & FILL CORNER 20

From now, all request & fills goes in this post Comments.
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Check this section regularly.
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and don't forget to check out ARCHIVES:


ARCHIVES PART 16

ARCHIVES PART 17

ARCHIVES PART 18

ARCHIVES PART 19


take a deep look at the end of each part...


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