Thursday, August 24, 2017

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.

RTZ (Return To Zero) - Lost And Found + Delp Goudreau (2004) back

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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Thursday, August 10, 2017

ANDY TAYLOR - The Complete Non-Album Recordings

ANDY TAYLOR - The Complete Non-Album Recordings - front
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.

ANDY TAYLOR - The Complete Non-Album Recordings - back

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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Wednesday, August 09, 2017

NORIYUKI MAKIHARA - Songs From N.Y. (2007)

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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Thursday, August 03, 2017

JIM PETERIK and World Stage (2000)

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.

JIM PETERIK and World Stage (2000) back cover

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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