GARY MOORE - The Sky Is Crying (2011)

The Man and his Guitar... A humble tribute from this site.
Encompass this great artist full career is almost impossible.
I have selected no common versions, bonus tracks, extended versions, etc. but also the essentials.
As "End Of The World", the guitar work at the beginning is Gary's answer to Eddie V H 'Eruption', his open string hammer-on and pull-off sequence proved he could stand shoulder to shoulder with any six string gunslinger of the '80s.

But Moore is moore than that.
The beauty of "Empty Rooms" hasn't been unsurpassed yet by any songwriter/guitarist from the modern rock era.
Or his ability to compose / perform soulful rockin' blues like the immortal "Still Got The Blues".
The awesome "The Messiah Will Come Again" remains as one of his best instrumental interpretations ever.
Absurdity good is the quality of the classic "Parisienne Walkways" (on a rare Live version here).
Fierce & raw can be described his sound on "White Knuckles / Rockin´ And Rollin´" from his late '70s project G-Force.
One of his 'non classic' tracks that has always been a personal favorite is "Ready For Love". The guitar work / tone here is fantastic in my opinion.
He has covered blues classics like Elmore James´ "The Sky Is Crying" (featured as bonus on 'Still Got The Blues' remaster) and shared stages / recording studios with the best.

Rest In Peace Gary


01 - End Of The World
from "Corridors Of Power" (remastered) - 1982
02 - Wild Fontier [12´´ Version]
from "Wild Frontier 12´´ Maxi" - 1987
03 - Empty Rooms [Long Version]
from "Empty Rooms CD single" - 1985
04 - Still Got The Blues
from "Still Got The Blues" (remastered) - 1990
05 - Falling In Love With You [Remix Instrumental]
from "Corridors Of Power" (remastered) - 1982
06 - All Your Love [Live 7/7/1990]
from "The Definitive Montreux Collection" - 2009
07 - Spanish Guitar [rare Instrumental]
from "Rarities Bootleg" - Year unknown
08 - Emerald [bonus track]
from "After The War" (remastered) - 1988
09 - White Knuckles / Rockin' And Rollin'
from "G-Force" (remastered) - 1979
10 - Devil In Her Heart [bonus track]
from "Victims Of The Future" (remastered) - 1983
11 - The Messiah Will Come Again
from "After The War" (remastered) - 1988
12 - Crying In The Shadows
from "Wild Frontier" (remastered) - 1987
13 - Ready For Love
from "After The War" (remastered) - 1988
14 - Parisienne Walkways [rare Live version]
from "Empty Rooms single" - 1985
15 - The Sky Is Crying [bonus track]
from "Still Got The Blues" (remastered) - 1990
16 - Rest In Peace
from "Dirty Fingers" (remastered) - 1984



Back Cover, CLICK HERE:




GARY MOORE - The Sky Is Crying / NEW LINK

SHOGUN - 31 Days [my remaster] (1987)

Vocalist Alan Marsh was fired from the british band Tokio Blade by his record label due to artistic discrepancies. Together with ex-Chinatown guitarist Danny Gwilym formed SHOGUN in 1984. Their 1st self titled album has traces of the NWOBHM genre although sounding pretty commercial.
To the 2nd, the group decided to update the songwriting, changing their style to a more Americanized sound but still retaining the typical British scent.

The album is entitled "31 Days" because that's how long they were given to start and finish it. Riding the wave of the style that was getting great acceptance in UK on such bands as Shy, Peroux, Moritz, the disc features prominent guitars, sweeping keyboards and persistent choruses.
Do you remember the excellent demos by Push (UK) posted here some time ago? Well, "31 Days" is in the same league
This is first class keyboard driven MHR / AOR with power guitars, strong vocals and heavenly choruses.

From the starting candy-floss synths of opener "Cloak And Dagger" you know this will be a keyboard oriented, extremely commercial plate. "Shock To The Heart" is anthemic and catchy, while the cliched but wonderful "Voices From The Heart" is the album ballad (here remixed by Bob Ezrin).
The rocking "You Are What You Are" (those keyboards!) is followed by the climatic midtempo "Love Is A Game". "Cold Truth" is another melodic belter with great guitar work, "If Tomorrow Comes" reminds me their colleagues Bronz, "First Time" rocks with attitude and closer "Out Of Love Again" is in the best Shy tradition.

"31 Days" never was released on CD and sadly, the original tapes were lost long time ago.
Obviously taken from vinyl, this bootleg CD edition sound quite decent and it's the best sounding version you can get..
Enjoy this classy, must have, typical '87 british Hard AOR gem.


01 - Cloak and Dagger
02 - Shock to the Heart
03 - Voices from the Heart [Bob Ezrin remix]
04 - You are what You are
05 - Love is a Game
06 - Cold Truth
07 - If Tomorrow Comes
08 - Can't Live Without Your Love
09 - First Time
10 - Out of Love Again [Bob Ezrin remix]

Alan Marsh - lead and backing vocals
Danny Gwilym - guitars, backing vocals
Ian Marshall - keyboards, backing vocals
Andy Wrighton - bass, backing vocals
Steve Pierce - drums, percussion


SHOGUN - 31 Days CD bootleg
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REQUEST & FILL CORNER 7

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 →
("CLICK HERE" neon sign, or clicking here in Comments)-
It will be opened in a new window.

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

Help each other people!



and don't forget to check out ARCHIVES:

ARCHIVES PART 1

ARCHIVES PART 2

ARCHIVES PART 3

ARCHIVES PART 4

ARCHIVES PART 5

ARCHIVES PART 6

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

SOJOURN - Lookin' For More [reissue+bonus] (1985)

Coming from Utah, a US state that scarcely makes a blip on the melodic rock radar, SOJOURN was formed in the earlier '80s by guitarist Doug Robinson.
The band soon built up a strong local following, even winning a radio station sponsored 'Battle of the Bands' contest, and quickly set about recording a serie of demos.
By the end of 1984 they sign a deal with a regional label. The recording of their debut "Lookin' For More" speedily took place on a local studio.
Initially the album was released solely on tape in November 1985, but with provincial sales under their belts a vinyl version followed in March of the next year.

Sojourn in many ways sounded like a development of the classic major bands of that era, playing friendly melodic rock with strong AOR / Pomp influences.
"Lookin' For More" is full of good riffs, high doses of keyboards and cool songwriting.
Ranging from crisp rockers like "We Were So Young" or the opening title track, pomp anthems as "Healing Wings" & the midtempo "Holding On To You" to classy AOR gems like "I've Been Runnin' " and the absolute winner "Lives Upon The Shore", this short album is a delight to the ears.

In 2007 "Lookin' For More" was remastered & reissued in small quantities with the addition of the previously unreleased demo recordings '82-'84 and some discarded tracks from the debut sessions. Surely many of these didn't ended into the debut due the cassettes' lack of physical space.
The sound and style is a bit hard edged and unpolished, featuring more guitar solos.

This album is highly rated amongst classic AOR collectors and was much sought after for many years.
Here it is for you in all its glory at maximum quality including artwork.
Out Of Print.


01 - Lookin' for more
02 - Blame it on MTV
03 - Healing wings
04 - Lives upon the shore
05 - The sun back home
06 - Holding on to you
07 - We were so young
08 - I've been runnin'
BONUS TRACKS;
09 - Heartache runaway
10 - Pick up the pieces
11 - I could love you more
12 - Ceilo bay
13 - When my ship comes in
14 - I'll be there
15 - Lost you in the wind
16 - I still need you
17 - Straight on
18 - Two strikes

Kevin Bullock - Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar
Doug Robinson - Guitar
Sam Cardon - Keyboards
Dane Spencer - Bass
Doug Pectol - Drums


UPDATED HERE

HOLY SOLDIER - Last Train (1992)

HOLY SOLDIER started off as a melodic 'white metal' band from Los Angeles, CA in the mid-80's.
Although initially noted for their strong evangelical focus, they regularly played to all audiences.
After several line up changes, they proceeded to record a five song demo with the goal of obtaining a secular recording contract but ended up signing with Myrrh Records, becoming the first 'white' band to join the label (and ending Myrrh’s year long search for the right metal band to sign).

The self-tiltled debut was a melodic L.A. metal album, with sharp guitars and a heavy edge.
But to their 2nd, the label and the group decided to give the sound a more polished, radio friendly approach.
"Last Train" is a smokin' commercial disc, definitely 'arena hard rock' with a bluesy touch.

In my opinion, this album remains as one of the most underrated melodic hard rock pieces from the golden period 90-92.
The songs are catchy, featuring infectious hooks, very good choruses and solid guitar work. Vocalist Steven Patrick job is remarkable, his raspy (yet melodic) style fits perfectly to this new musical direction, providing the necessary distinction to make each song climb to a higher level.
Another good point; their lyrics shifted from evangelicalism to a more ambiguous tone reaching more audiences.
David Zaffiro's production is crisp and tight, helping the band to finish a well rounded recording.

I am posting "Last Train" because it's a little gem in this genre, and strangely it's only available everywhere at very low bitrate.
Really Good


01 - Virtue & Vice
02 - Crazy
03 - Hallow's Eve
04 - Gimme Shelter
05 - Love Is On The Way
06 - Dead End Drive
07 - Tuesday Mourning
08 - Fairweather Friend
09 - Last Train


Steven Patrick : Vocals
Jamie Cramer : Guitars
Scott Soderstrom : Guitars
Andy Robbins : Bass
Terry Russell : Drums



HOLY SOLDIER - Last Train

JEFF PARIS - Lucky This Time [Japan version] (1993)

Prodigious songwriter Geoffrey Leib aka JEFF PARIS has written songs with/for countless artists in the music business like Alias, Mr.Big, Brett Walker, Lita Ford, Vixen, Y&T, Paul Stanley, Michael Thompson, Sheena Easton, etc.
Accomplished musician as well, his opportunity as main artist came in the mid eighties with a major label deal releasing 2 superb albums; 'Race To Paradise' ('86) and 'Wired Up' ('87).
During 1987 Paris toured successfully in the States on a ‘Double Thunder’ co-headlining package with the canadian outfit REFUGEE.

But next year his label drop the contract, then Jeff settle to work on demos for a future next album, amongst them the tapes recorded with his old friend, vocalist and songwriter Moon Calhoun (Moon Over Paris demos).
Other show biz colleagues attended these sessions, guitarists Michael Thompson, Mike Gray, Bett Walker, Jan Kuehnemund, but most the instruments are performed by Paris in person.
By 1993 a now defunct small UK label offered Jeff to release these recordings under the name "Lucky This Time".

This is an awesome collection of american melodic rock / AOR tunes to die for.
"Wrong Side Of Love" and "House On Fire" were written in conjunction with the band MR. BIG.
"Jump The Gun", which sound like a mix between Def Leppard and Kiss, was co-written with Paul Stanley.
"Baby Break Mine" is a collaboration with Skin's guitar-man Mike Gray and the incredible "State Of The Heart" penned together with Vixen's Jan Kuehnemund.
The mind-blowing "Stop Playin' With My Heart" is simply one of the best MR / AOR melodies ever written / recorded.

"Lucky This Time" is pretty easy to find on the web, but not the japanese edition featuring 4 bonus tracks.
Here it is, complete with artwork.
Curiously, asians have left over 2 songs from the european edition. Both are included into the file.
As said, a Must Have.
Highly Recommended



+
Lifeline (european release only)
Gypsy Heart (european release only)


Jeff Paris : Vocals, All Instruments
Michael Thompson : Guitar
Jan Kuehnemund : Guitar
Brett Walker : Guitar
Mike Gray : Guitar
Moon Calhoun, Brett Walker : Backing Vocals



JEFF PARIS - Lucky This Time [Japan version]

IF ONLY (Jackie Bodimead) - Destiny (1989-2004)

Once described as 'one of the greatest unknown gems in the UK's AOR crown' IF ONLY was the british answer to Vixen or Heart.
Formed from the ashes of the superb band Moritz by guitarist Greg Hart and bass player Ian Edwards, the band released their official debut 'No Bed Of Roses' in 1992 -Japan only- , with its subsequential european edition in '94.
The vocalist was the fiery Tina Egan which joined the band around '91.

Before they recorded the version that eventually came out, IF ONLY had recorded a complete take of the album in between '89 / '90 with their original singer Jackie Bodimead who sang in GIRLSCHOOL for a while.
That version was finally released as "Destiny" in 2004 by an indie label, with the addition of 5 songs that can't even be found in the re-recorded version on 'No Bed Of Roses', plus 2 Live Radio Session tracks.

I prefer these earlier versions, as Bodimead is one of the best and most underrated female vocalists ever, her tone, expression and charm fits perfectly to this Melodic Rock / AOR style.
Also to note is the excellent lead guitar work by Martin Chaisson.
Both Jackie and Martin left the band when this original take of the album was nearly complete.
It was a devastating blow to the band when she quit at the eleventh hour. To be fair, Tina Egan was a quality replacement, but she was no Jackie Bodimead.

Alongside Greg Hart, Bodimead forged a songwriting partnership that should have gone far.
Just listen to the likes of "Rock And A Hard Place", the old Moritz song "Hearts On The Line", "If Love Could Last Forever" or the simply perfect "Ghost Of You".
It's almost unbelievable they didn't had their breakthrough in the USA back then, because the music was just so perfect classy '80s Melodic Rock / AOR.
Recommended.


01 - Destiny (prev. unreleased)
02 - Voices Of The Heart (prev. unreleased)
03 - Ain't Nobody (prev. unreleased)
04 - Hearts On The Line (prev. unreleased)
05 - Change Of Heart (prev. unreleased)
06 - Rock And A Hard Place
07 - Tumblin' Dice
08 - If Love Could Last Forever
09 - No Bed Of Roses
10 - Forever My Love
11 - Loaded Gun
12 - Ghost Of You
13 - Red Hot Heaven
14 - All Over
15 - Man Against The World
16 - All Over (Live Radio Session)
17 - Ghost Of You (Live Radio Session)


Jackie Bodimead : Vocals
Martin Chaisson : Guitars
Ian Edwards : Bass
Greg Hart : Guitars
Andy Stewarton : Keyboards
Andy Elphick : Drums


RE-POSTED HERE
.

BIG CITY - pre Harlan Cage demos (1992-93)

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

Harlan Cage started its activity in the summer of 1994, based around former Fortune (US) singer L. A. Greene and keyboardman Roger Scott Craig.
The band was originally known in the Los Angeles area as BIG CITY, and included Richie Onori on drums, Brian Peters on bass and Michael Langlan on guitar.
The group parted ways at the end of '93.

An european label executive heard these Big City demos tracked down circa 1992/93 and contacted Larry Greene through a publicist in California to offer him a contract. The first Harlan Cage album found its way...
Most of the tracks (except "Restless Hearts") ended up on the debut album, re-worked and re-recorded.
But the Big City demo versions (although pretty similar) contains much better guitar work in my opinion.

The sound quality of the tape isn't the best, I've enhanced the levels and fixed the intros/outros.
Myself made artwork included.


1 - Too Much
2 - Sweet Salvation
3 - 98º In The Shade
4 - Pay The Devil His Due
5 - One Naked Kiss
6 - Run Rebel Run
7 - Restless Hearts

L.A. Greene : Lead Vocals, Guitars
Roger Scott Craig : Keyboards, Vocals
Michael Langlan : Guitars
Brian Peters : Bass
Richie Onori : Drums


BIG CITY demos

BAD NEWS

My external drive and sound file processor workstation PC caught fire yesterday.
Some stuff was backed up, but more than 600 GB of rare and hard to find music are lost forever.
Please be patient with the site update...