BON JOVI - The Slippery When Wet Outtakes / Demos

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

It's not strange the interest in BON JOVI's demos from their 'Slippery When Wet' era, because this is the band's more popular, best-selling album to date. 
Even someone, some time ago, pressed on CD (and a quite well done Bootleg including artwork) all these pre-production demos for sale. Sadly, what it is not so good is the tape transfer audio quality.
Anyway, it's very interesting to hear the genesis of such classics like "You Give Love A Bad Name", "Wanted Dead Or Alive" or "Livin' On A Prayer".

Additionally, there's the early versions of songs that never were included into the final release. "Borderline" was a single B-side (featured here in a demo form), but "Game Of The Heart" (wrongly titled Give My Heart), "Lonely in The Night" and "Deep Cuts The Night" (wrongly titled Dick After Night !), never were finished and remain unreleased.



I did a very quick 'remastering' of these tracks to clean and enhance the sound a bit. Got the Bootleg in lossless format but I encoded the resulting files into VBR mp3, it's more than enough, believe me.
As bonus, I've added a couple of tracks from other source that sound slightly better.


01 - You Give Love A Bad Name
02 - Without Love
03 - Wild in The Streets
04 - Wanted Dead Or Alive
05 - Raise Your Hands
06 - Never Enough*
07 - Edge of a Broken Heart
08 - Borderline
09 - Give My Heart (Game Of The Heart)*
10 - I'd Die for You
11 - Let It Rock
12 - Social Disease
13 - Livin' on a Prayer
14 - Lonely in The Night*
15 - Dick After Night (Deep Cuts The Night)*
16 - Never Say Goodbye
Extras:
17 - Deep Cuts The Night (different source)
18 - Game Of The Heart (different source)

Jon Bon Jovi – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Richie Sambora – lead guitar, background vocals
David Bryan – keyboards, background vocals
Alec John Such – bass, background vocals
Tico Torres – drums


BON JOVI Slippery When Wet Outtakes HERE
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THE TRUTH - Weapons Of Love (1987)

The last album (1989) from British rockers THE TRUTH was featured at this blog some years ago, now one of you requested their previous and record, "Weapons Of Love".
This 1987 release was an unexpected success in America, with the title track reaching #7 on the Rock single charts and general Billboard Hot 100. Three songs from the album were also used in the great sci-fi movie 'The Hidden', and other in a Miami Vice episode.

The music packed in "Weapons Of Love" is commercial radio-ready rock with clean vocals, precise guitars, fine synths typical from the era, and an overall polished production sound.
Helped by ex-Mr. Mister drummer Pat Mastelotto and keyboardist Paul Fox (XTC), the only stable and founder members Dennis Greaves (Lead Vocals & Guitar) & Mick Lister (Vocals, Guitar) recorded a bunch of highly enjoyable '80s tunes here.



At places on this album The Truth bring to mind Mr. Mister, others the likes of Michael Learns To Rock, the lighter side of Honeymoon Suite, etc.
Good 80s album.


01 - Weapons Of Love
02 - Winterland
03 - Until It Burns
04 - The Edge Of Town
05 - Cover Up My Face
06 - Respect
07 - Come On Back To Me
08 - This Way Forever
09 - Another New Day
10 - Soul Deep Fascination

Dennis Greaves: Lead Vocals & Guitar
Mick Lister: Vocals, Guitar
Dennis Herring: Guitar, Keyboards, Programming
Pat Mastelotto: Drums
John Pierce: Bass
John Van Tongeren, Paul Fox: Keyboards
Pat MacDonald: Harmonica
Davey Faragher: Backing Vocals




THE TRUTH - Weapons Of Love (1987)- HERE
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MICHAEL BREEN - ST (1987)

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

Michael Breen is a Canadian session vocalist / guitarist / keyboardist, one of these musicians that got the opportunity to record his own solo album.
Apart from his work as session man, he was part of the local band Concert who released one album in 1982 called 'Vitamin', and later, vocalist of The Sailcats.

Breen soon came to the attention of Alert Records owner Tom Berry who signed him to the label.
Being born in the french side of Canada (Quebec), they wanted songwriting partners to provide english lyrics for his songs to have a universal appeal. The first single, in example, was penned by by the soon-to-be-famous female vocalist Sass Jordan.
With the songs ready, and Michael playing most of the instruments, the album was recorded at the end of 1986 produced by Pierre Bazinet (Luba, Boulevard, Paradox).

Breen's self titled effort is a mix of Rock&Pop / Lite AOR in the typical canadian style and sound, with some Hi-Tech elements.
Songs like "Rain", "SOS Emotion" and "Risky" are keyboard dominated poprockers, the most commercial and radiable tracks on the album.
But with "How Will I Know" things start to become interesting. This is a good semi-ballad with more tough vocals (shared with Sass Jordan) and great keyboards. A song in the Tommy Shaw style.

"So Long" has a very classy sound, a relaxing late-night Lite AOR that reminds me Russ Irwin, with good keys and guitars. One of the best tracks here.
"Face To Face" is an old song written when Breen's was in The Sailcats, placed 2nd in the 1985 Music Express/MuchMusic National Talent Search contest. Another good one, an uptempo poppy AOR with nice orchestration.
"Do It" is the more guitar dominated track of the album. Richard Marx comes to mind, Brian Spence also. Good guitar solo.
"All The Way" is a 'techy' number with a catchy chorus, similar to Robert Tepper stuff. Breen's vocals are rougher and effective.

This album is a good exponent of the 'eighties canadian sound'.
Nothing spectacular or memorable, but a pleasant listen, well composed, played and recorded.
Impossible to find -particularly this CD version- (artwork included).
A collectible item.


01 - Rain
02 - Risky
03 - High And Low
04 - SOS Emotion
05 - How Will I Know
06 - So Long
07 - Face To Face
08 - Do It
09 - All The Way
10 - How Will I Know (Reprise)


Michael Breen: Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Bkg Vocals
Sass Jordan: Vocals, Bkg Vocals
Rest of Personnel: unlisted



MICHAEL BREEN - ST _ HERE
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BRIAN ISLAND (Canada) - ST (1989)

Requested by Kissmar...

BRIAN ISLAND (real name Brian Cowieson) is a Canadian bass player and vocalist. The man has played with many local acts, written songs for other artists and scores for movies & TV shows.
He was part of the cult cancon AOR band Prototype which released a very good album back in '83.

For his one and only solo album, Brian required the services of his old partner in Prototype, guitarist & producer Dan Lowe.
Lowe, inventor of an enhancement method for stereo recording (named Q-Sound), also contributed on guitars and songwriting.
This recording sounds million bucks indeed, with excellent instrument separation and crisp edge.

Island's style is Hi-Tech AOR with high dosis of adult pop. A playground where the likes of Stan Meissner, Gowan or Stan Meissner hang out.
All the songs on this disc are catchy and highly enjoyable, featuring strong bass lines, very very good guitars and cool keyboards.

If you are fan of high quality Hi-Tech, perfect recording techniques and compact, glossy sounds, don't miss Brian Island.
This is a mega-rare CD, as far I know, only released in Canada.
Thanks Adriana!


01 - In spite of what you do
02 - Treat me like a lover
03 - No surrender
04 - Walk on water
05 - I'm your hero
06 - Night after night
07 - Major motion
08 - When you lose your love
09 - Draw the line


Brian Island: Vocals, Bass, Background Vocals
Brad Steckel: Guitar, Background Vocals
Brent Saks: Guitar
Amin Bhatia, Ted Alexander: Keyboards
Jerry Adolphe: Drums
Dan Lowe: add. Guitar
Backup Vocals: Martha Cobb, Debbie Hughes, Georgina Skebo, Deanna Dubbin





BRIAN ISLAND (Canada)
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VON GROOVE - Von Groove [Japanese Edition] (1992)

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

Founded by Canadian vocalist / drummer Michael Shotten and bass player Matthew Gerrard (a songwriting duo contributing songs for Triumph among others) plus Croatian born guitarist simply called Mladen, VON GROOVE born in Gerrard's own basement recording studio in the early Nineties.
The tapes they recorded sounded so great that A&M Records signed the band and decided to release the material without modifications.

However Chrysalis wanted some 'sure fire' potential single hits, so Von Groove agreed to re-record 4 of the songs in Los Angeles with super-drummer Deen Castronovo (Bad English, Hardline, Journey) and famous (and talented) Richie Zito producing.


Simply put, "Von Groove" is one of the greatest Melodic Hard Rock records ever made. Killer songs, superb performances and brilliant production turns this CD a classic for the genre.
Someone asked for a HQ Cdrip so here it is from the Japanese edition, including 2 bonus tracks and full art.
A Must !


01 - Once Is Not Enough
02 - Better Than Ever
03 - Can't Get Too Much
04 - Once In A Lifetime
05 - Every Beat Of My Heart
06 - House Of Dreams
07 - C'Mon, C'Mon
08 - All The Way Down
09 - Arianne
10 - Slave To Sin
11 - Love Keeps Bringing Me Home
12 - Smaug
13 - Sweet Pain
Japanese bonus tracks;
14 - Soldier Of Fortune
15 - King Of Your World (Live)

Michael Shotton - lead and backing vocals, drums
Matthew Gerrard - bass, backing vocals, keyboards
Mladen - guitars, mandolin, backing vocals
Deen Castronovo - drums
Norm Arnold - percussion
Scotth Humphrey - keyboards, digital edition
Tommy Funderburk, Al Langlade, Grant Cummings - backing vocals




VON GROOVE - Von Groove [Japanese Edition] (1992)
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GIUFFRIA III (Unreleased 3rd album + extras)

Requested by many...

Every American AOR fan recognize GIUFFRIA as one of the best exponents the genre had to offer during the '80s. Founded by ex-Angel keyboardist Gregg Giuffria, the band released two celebrated albums between 1984-86.
In 1987 the group recorded pre-production tracks for a third album tentatively named Pleasure Palace that never was.
This compilation feature most of these recordings, some of them later appeared in Giuffria vocalist David Glen Eisley's solo release called The Lost Tapes, others remain officially unreleased.

I have added as well the 3 tracks composed & recorded by Giuffria for the movie Gotcha!: "Say It Ain't True" it's the only available on CD included into the band's second album reissue (this is the remastered version), while the other two are ripped from the vinyl LP official Motion Picture Soundtrack.
Additionally, there's a nice Giuffria live recording with good soundboard quality, taped in 1985.



Compiled, edited and cleaned (especially the vinyl LP tracks) by me, plus myself-made artwork included.
Enjoy.


GIUFFRIA III:
01 - Stand Up
02 - Are You Ready
03 - Shot Down In Love
04 - Don't Turn Away From Love
05 - One Love
06 - Golden Town
07 - Fool's Paradise
08 - Only a Memory
09 - Reach Out
10 - The Rock Don't Stop
Gotcha! Soundtrack:
11 - Say It Ain't True (remastered)
12 - Never Too Late
13 - What's Your Name
Live:
14 - Do Me Right (Live)
15 - Don't Tear Me Down (Live)
16 - Lonely In Love (Live)
17 - Trouble Again (Live)
18 - Call To The Heart (Live)
19 - Line Of Fire (Live)

David Glen Eisley - vocals
Gregg Giuffria - keyboards, vocals
Lanny Cordola - guitars
Craig Goldy - guitar (live)
Chuck Wright - bass, vocals (live)
Alan Krigger - drums




GIUFFRIA III (Unreleased 3rd album + extras)
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EXPORT - Living In The Fear Of The Private Eye remastered (1986)

Revamped post (as requested)

EXPORT was an obscure UK band that get signed by a major american label and released a self-titled in 1984.

For their second effort, both the label and the group decided to give the music and production an americanized sound.

"Living In The Fear Of The Private Eye" was recorded in Philadelphia during the end of 1985, with 'big name' producers/engineers Lance Quinn (Bon Jovi, Lita Ford) & Neil Dorfsman (John Farnham, Kiss) behind the desk, and top songwriting contribution by Bob Halligan Jr.

The result was a terrific collection of commercial (yet riff-driven) melodic / rockin' AOR songs, plenty of great choruses and catchy hooks, sounding american but retaining the typically british stamp.

The mastermind / guitarist of this band was no other than the talented Steve Morris, who later will enjoy success a part of HEARTLAND, SHADOWMAN, NEWMAN, GRAND ILLUSION, etc.

In the same ligue as their contemporaries STRANGEWAYS or RIO, Export never got the luck they truly deserved, being dropped by the label soon after this recording.

This vinyl is very hard to find and become a collector's item, but time makes its justice, and was recently released on a remastered cd for the first time.

That's why I am revamping this old post, don't miss this one.

Highly Recommended

1. Living In The Fear of The Private Eye

2. No Escape

3. Runnin' Back (For More)

4. Airwaves

5. You Make Me Wanna

6. Closer To You

7. Tear Me Apart

8. Summer Nights

9. Can't Say No

Harry Shaw : Lead Vocals

Steve Morris : Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Bkng Vocals

Chris Alderman : Bass, Bkng Vocals

Lou Rosenthal : Drums, , Bkng Vocals

George Wallace : Keyboards

EXPORT Living...
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GREG GUIDRY - Private Session (2000)

Requested again by one of you..

St. Louis born GREG GUIDRY signed a deal with CBS Records at the end of the seventies as songwriter artist, providing songs for many acts such as Climax Blues Band, Robbie Dupree, Exile, Reba McEntire, etc.
Greg also did backing vocals as session musician until Columbia offered him the opportunity to record his first own LP entitled Over The Line, featuring David Hungate (Toto), Dan Huff, Bobby LaKind, David Sanborn and other great L.A. recording studio cats.

Despite the good sales and a respectable #17 Billboard single, there was not second album. But Guidry continued recording material which remained unreleased for almost twenty years, when in 2000 finally saw the light of day.
"Private Session" is a professionally recorded, mixed and produced bunch of wonderful tunes with all the AOR / Westcoast magic from the '80s.
Some cuts are stylized, smooth L.A. sounding songs akin Chicago, Robbie Dupree, John O'Banion, while the more radio friendly AOR compositions, Brock Walsh, Tommy Funderburk, Tom Keane, etc.



Released by Japanese label Cool Sound but now out of print, Greg Guidry's "Private Session" is a delicious slice of pure '80s spell.


01 - You're Good For Me
02 - I Got This Thing
03 - I Believe
04 - Heart To Heart
05 - Don't Let Go
06 - It Happens Everytime
07 - I Get High
08 - It's Only Love
09 - Say When
10 - First Time
11 - Think About It
12 - Suspicious Heart

Greg Guidry: vocals, keyboards
Dann Huff, Jon Goin, Tom Hemby: guitars
Keith Thomas, Phil Naish: keyboards
Mike Brignardello, Keith Thomas, Gary Lunn: bass
Mark Hammond: drums
Mark Hammond, Keith Thomas: programming
Sam Levine, Mark Douthit: sax
Cathy Guidry, Sandra Guidry, Denny Henson, Joe Hogue: background vocals




GREG GUIDRY Private Session
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THE BRAVE - Battle Cries [CD edition +2] (1992)

THE BRAVE was one of the most complete Melodic Hard Rock bands appeared in the L.A. scene during the late '80s. Perhaps due their Christian origins they weren't more massive, and the band's debut, this superb "Battle Cries", arrived too late.
The Brave recorded ten tracks of pure golden Melodic Hard Rock with Hair Metal and AOR touches, plenty of big hooks, terrific harmonies and memorable choruses mixed by guru Neil Kernon and produced by the talented duo John & Dino Elefante with a crisp, slick sound. The record was released via the brothers own label Pakaderm / Word in 1992.

You can't find a weak song here, all are killers in their own right.
There's outstanding gems in "All Together Now" and "The Waiting", more edgy rockers on the melodic "Tears Of A Broken Heart" or " Little Love", sublime AORish midtempos like "Never Live Without Your Love" and "Running All My Life", and a perfect ballad in "Just A Man".
This CD edition of the album includes two extra tracks as bonus (not present in the LP / cassette) and really worth the addition: a completely different, AOR versions of "All Together Now" and "Running All My Life" without drums, added keyboards / orchestrations and multi-part vocal harmonies galore.



Often compared with the awesome Dann Huff's Giant, I am posting "Battle Cries" because at this point, the first album by The Brave should be considered a Melodic Hard Rock classic. It's that good and consistent in all departments.
You never get tired of listening "Battle Cries", and now, while precisely I am giving it a new spin, decided to share it here because it must be part of hardrockaorheaven.blogspot.com.
A highly recommended addition to your collection.


01 - All Together Now
02 - The Waiting
03 - If That Ain't Love
04 - Running All My Life
05 - Tears Of A Broken Heart
06 - Little Love
07 - Never Live Without Your Love
08 - Big World
09 - Ride With The Rhythm
10 - Just A Man
11 - All Together Now (Studio Mix) [bonus track]
12 - Running All My Life (Studio Mix) [bonus track]

James Salters - lead and harmony vocals
Freddie Tierra - guitars, harmony vocals
Stayce Roberts - guitars, harmony vocals
Malcolm Paris - bass, harmony vocals
Randy Roberts - drums, harmony vocals
John and Dino Elefante - keyboards, orchestrations




THE BRAVE - Battle Cries [CD edition +2] HQ
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