AOR TREASURES - The Japan Bonus Vol.2

Another Japan Bonus installment.
Vol.1 has become very popular and readers are requesting bonuses all the time in 'Request & Fill Corner' section.
Many are filled here (Thunder, Stone Soup, T'Bell, Cheap Trick) and I've picked a bunch of pretty good ones that deserved to be listened.

"Cold Heart" by 21 GUNS isn't the demo version appeared in their 'Nothing's Real' album, this is the finished track. Why they never properly released worldwide this great tune?
"Blood From A Stone" performed by CHRISSY STEELE is a lost gem co-written by MIKE RENO.
I love ACTION's "Forever" piano version (their album has a different cover in the asian edition), and the awesome "When The Walls Come Down" by STONE SOUP, in my opinion, the best song on the entire 'Spooge' album.

74 min, myself made artwork.


01 - Big Bad Wolf : Rock Someone
(Big Bad Wolf bonus) 1998

02 - Fair Warning : No Limit
(Brother's Keeper bonus) 2006

03 - Grand Illusion : Forever And For Always
(Ordinary Just Won't Do bonus) 2004

04 - Pride Of Lions : I Am My Father
(The Roaring Of Dreams bonus) 2007

05 - Action : Forever [Piano Version]
(Action bonus) 2007

06 - 21 Guns : Cold Heart
(Salute bonus) 1992

07 - Thunder : Love's An Easy Word To Say
(The Magnificent Seventh bonus) 2005

08 - Zeno : Together [Tommy Heart version]
(Listen To The Light remaster bonus) 2005

09 - TNT : Electric Dancer
(Intuition bonus) 1988

10 - Garbo Talks : Running
(Garbo Talks bonus) 1998

11 - Chrissy Steele : Blood From A Stone
(Magnet To Steele bonus) 1991

12 - Brian McDonald : Only You I Need
(Voyage bonus) 2003

13 - Cheap Trick : Big Bang
(Busted bonus) 1990

14 - Asia : Rise
(Silent Nation bonus) 2004

15 - T'Bell : Sorry Elaine
(Replay bonus) 2000

16 - Stone Soup : When The Walls Come Down
(Spooge bonus) 1997



Japan Bonus Vol.2

HEARTLYNE - No Retreat No Surrender (1987 - 2009)

Die-hard collectors (like myself) already own these demo songs recorded between 1986-87 and published as bootleg.
Recently have been remastered from original tapes and released officially for the first time.
HEARTLYNE was the first german band of Tommy HEART and Chris LYNE (wise guys).
If these names doesn't ring a bell to you , Tommy would achieve a great success (especially in Japan) as ZENO and FAIR WARNING vocalist, and along with Lyne founded later SOUL DOCTOR.

These primitive recordings (still as semi-professionals) have all the charm and freshness of talented people.
Typical european melodic hard rock / scandi AOR style.
"No Retreat No Surrender" is a time capsule trip, mid-eighties feeling is here, a keyboard driven heaven.

The most notable tune is "Starlight" (fortunately they've included as bonus a version never heard before).
Another gem is the wonderful keyboard driven fest "Stay With Me", very well written, similar of what was to come from Tommy with Zeno and Fair Warning.
"Broken Promises" with its grandiose chorus wouldn't get out of place in any scandi AOR album from Sweden.

While some songs lacks some polished rework, we can appreciate the good intentions and the ability to create good melodies.
Tommy's voice didn't reach the full potential yet, but it sounds wonderful and above the standards of that time.

I love this music style, this set of songs are gold powder to me.
Listen to this record not judging the technical flaws, just enjoy the essence of the songs.
If you like pure mid 80's guitar & keyboard stuff ala TREAT, CRAAFT, ZINATRA, RAW SILK and of course FAIR WARNING and ZENO, don't miss this one!

Do you like it? BUY IT (I've ordered a copy).
Encourage the bands to release this kind of material from the vaults.
Thanx to Josam for the rip! (gracias tron)


1. Starlight
2. No Retreat No Surrender
3. Victims Of Your Love
4. Broken Promises
5. Strike An Arrow
6. Change (All Over The World)
7. Sacred Heart
8. Stay With Me
9. Empty Eyes
10. Don´t Walk Away
11. Starlight (different version)

Tommy Heart - Lead vocals
Chris Lyne - Lead / acoustic guitars
CW Johannsohn - Lead guitars
Jogy Rautenberg - Bass
Alex Strauch - Keyboards
K.K. - Drums

HEARTLYNE - No Retreat No Surrender

ZENO - Zenology I (1995)

Awesome melodic hard rock / AOR album.
I you like European style and FAIR WARNING (Ritgen & Engelke are FW members) must have this album.
The first 4 tracks alone worth the download, pure melodic hurricanes with massive choruses.
A Must Have.
Reissued in 1998, if you like it, BUY IT.

1. Heat of Emotion 3:52
2. Is It Love 3:45
3. Together 4:23
4. Surviving the Night 3:52
5. In the Dark 4:24
6. Let There Be Heaven 4:26
7. Man on the Run 4:28
8. Out in the Night 4:38
9. You Got Me Down 3:47
10. Ticket to Nowhere 3:28
11. In Love With an Angel 4:50
12. Crystal Dreams 3:14

Michael Flexig vocals
U. Winsomie Ritgen bass
Zeno Roth bass, guitar, keyboards
Helge Engelke bass, keyboards, vocals
Rainer Przywara keyboards


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