Thursday, February 21, 2008

AOR TREASURES - The Soundtracks Vol.1


Remember the days when you went to the theatre to enjoy a good action movie? Sometimes had a weak story, poor acting, but always entertaining plus killer music.
A lot soundtracks are gems in its own right.Love those pumpin' and thrilling tunes, AOR fueled machines with real emotion.
This new compilation comprises some of my favs, mostly rare and unknown, again, the best sellers (Rocky, Cobra, etc) are out here, but I can assure you that all the tracks are fantastic.

The Alan Tam (an asian artist) is a real AOR gem and pretty unknown, only this one worth the download.
Also the Terminator is rare, 'cos the score is easy to find, but the original with this tune is long time out of print (monster song).
Few people knows about the Joe Lynn Turner performance in The Heavenly Kid film (a rarity and forgotten one).
More than 70min. of music, vbr, myself made artwork.
Enjoy, listen and go to your record store and buy one of these awesome soundtracks...

01. Alan Tam: Midnight Rider [Armour Of God] (Very Rare)
02. Stan Bush: Never Surrender [Kickboxer]
03. Joe Torono: Stand On Your Own [No Retreat No Surrender]
04. Moving Pictures: Never [Footloose]
05. Mark Free: (To Be) Best Of The Best [Best Of The Best II]
06. David Hallyday: Oh La La [Baywatch]
07. John Farnham: Break The Ice [RAD]
08. Mickey Thomas: Sing [Sing] (Rare)
09. Tim Capello: I Still Believe [The Lost Boys]
10. Nick Gilder: Footsteps [Youngblood]
11. Tahnee Cain & Tryanglz: Burnin' In The Third Degree [Terminator]
12. Black Roses: Paradise [Black Roses]
13. Mike Reno: Chasing The Angels [Iron Eagle II]
14. Stan Bush: The Touch [Transformers The Movie]
15. Fee Waybill: You'd Better Wait [Dream A Little Dream]
16. 3 Speed: Wind Me Up [RAD]
17. Joe Lynn Turner: Heartless [The Heavenly Kid] (Rare)
18. Greg Allman: I'll Be Holding On [Black Rain]


AOR TREASURES The Soundtracks Vol.1 - Updated May,2015

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Thursday, February 14, 2008

TORINO - Customized (1988)



Another brillant AOR / rock band from britain.

Strong rockers with incisive keyboards, soaring vocals and pretty good production.
Never released on CD (a shame), this album became a hard hunt in underground AOR circles. No fillers, just killers.
I've decided to post this album here after the rip-off from different sites of my original upload to other blog some time ago.
Decent transfer to digital, enough to enjoy this gem.

1. Out Of The Fire
2. Steal My Thunder
3. Somewhere
4. Can't Let Go
5. Boys Go Wild
6. Call Of The Wild
7. Take My Heart Away
8. Dance Crazy
9. Never Surrender

Stuart Fox Vocals
Paul Diamond Bass
Brian Dixon Drums
Barry McKeown Guitar



This album is reposted HERE

Friday, January 25, 2008

VAN STEPHENSON - China Girl (1981)

VAN STEPHENSON - China Girl (1981) front
The rare and hard to find Van Stephenson.
His first album in the small label Handshake Records, sadly never issued on CD.
At this time (early '80s) Van was writing hit songs for artists from the Nashville scene (e.g. Restless Heart) and the songwriting in 'China Girl' follow these roots.
Mid-westcoast sound, with some late 70's AOR feel.
Think Eagles meets Pages, classic.
His voice is brilliant here, as always (listen 'New York, Hold Her Tight', awesome).
Very good and polished production.
Vinyl-rip nicely done.

1. You′ve Got A Good Love Coming
2. Looks Like A Loser
3. Seeing Is Believing
4. China Girl
5. Weekend Warrior
6. I Would If I Could
7. Tonight The Love's On Me
8. Hotter In The Night
9. New York, Hold Her Tight
10. Lion In The Night

Van Stephenson: Vocals, Guitars
Wayne Perkins, Kenny Mims: Guitars
Larry Baxton: Bass
Mike Hanna: Keyboards
Shane Keister: Synthesizers
Joe English: Drums


RE-POSTED HERE
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Friday, January 04, 2008

AOR TREASURES - The Light Years 89 - 93


Now covering the 'Light Years' 89-93, those years were glorious, making the AOR / Melodic Hard Rock genre mainstream.
Easily I can do 10 best of only with the excellent albums publicated in 1989, but again, in this compilation, the chosen bands didn't make it, even in that brillant era. After '93 the dark ages arrived...
A few bands here were reissued, but mostly remain out of print.
Maybe you can say: 'hey, some tracks here are hard rock' or something like that, to me, all are keyboard and guitar driven AOR.
60min. of music, 320K vbr, artwork.
A nice collection IMHO.

01 - Mystery: Keep On Rollin'
02 - Nova Rex: Alone Tonight
03 - Alien: Tears Don't Put Out The Fire ('89 version)
04 - Surrender: Never
05 - Chase: You Will Be The One
06 - Sharks & Whales: Dreamer's Lane
07 - DC Drive: Don't Let Get You Down (Radio Version)
08 - Fighter: Nice Guy
09 - Worrall: Shadow Of A Lie
10 - Bite The Bullet: Change Of Heart
11 - Bryan Hughes Group: Who's Gonna Love You Tonight
12 - Stranger (Germany): Fighting For Your Love
13 - Eye (USA): It Might Rain
14 - Hiroshima: Broken Heart
15 - Evenrude: Never Say Die


AOR TREASURES - The Light Years 89 - 93
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Tuesday, December 18, 2007

AOR TREASURES - The Golden Years 86 - 88



Here it is, guys and gals, the first blog best of.
Comprising great tracks, some well known, some not, from the AOR - rock golden era between 86 - 88.
I think all tunes are outstanding, representing these magic years with justice.
Of course I left-off the obvious megakings like Survivor, Strangeways, etc.
The focus here is pointed to exciting stuff ignored by major labels.
Some of 'em were reissued recently due to demand for GOOD music.
Hope all these albums see the light in CD format or other digital platform someday (some tracks here are vinyl-rips, no CD release at the moment).
60 min. of pure AOR, 320k vbr, normalized and vinyl-restored for your pleasure.
Myself made artwork.
Enjoy.

01 - Aviator : Can't Stop
02 - Beau Geste : Don't Go
03 - Alien : Go Easy (Orig. Version '88)
04 - Urgent : Runnin' Back (For More)
05 - Beau Coup : Somewhere In The Night
06 - Dominoe : Here I Am (Orig. Version '88)
07 - Hybrid Ice : Secret Dreams
08 - Mama's Boys : Waiting For A Miracle
09 - Glory : Never Stop (Orig. Version '88)
10 - China Sky : Turn On The Night
11 - Outside Edge : Heaven Tonight
12 - Le Mans : Love Lies
13 - Stallion : Helpless
14 - Moritz : Break It Up
15 - Peroux : Summertime Memories


The Golden Years 86 - 88 NEW LINK

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

SAFIRE - Safire (1995)

SAFIRE - Safire (1995)

Australia never was a prolific land for AOR bands, but some good outfits come out from the land of Oz.
Safire is one of 'em, they play an infectious melodic hard rock / AOR music.
This 6 track only CD keep you interested from start to finnish, with catchy songs.
Great production for an indie release, now out of print and very hard to find original.
Give this a listen, you will love it.

1. Now You've Gone 3:35
2. Love Conquers All 4:30
3. After the Rain 4:39
4. In Your Eyes 4:34
5. Set You Free 4:10
6. White at Night 4:53

Steve Martret: guitars, backing vocals
Jason Old: lead vocals
Aaron Suter: keyboards, backing vocals
Mozz Walters: bass
Bill Georgio: drums

SAFIRE EP

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EXPORT - Living In The Fear Of The Private Eye (1986)


Export was an UK band in the same ligue as STRANGEWAYS, RIO and similar.
AOR at its best, with great choruses and keys here and there.
The guitar-man is the monster Steve Morris (HEARTLAND, SHADOWMAN, NEWMAN, GRAND ILLUSION, etc).
All songs are fantastic IMHO, very well played and produced.
1986=What a year!
Incredibly, this little gem never was released on CD, but no problem, this vinyl-rip sounds million bucks, you must hear this pristine rip!
Myself made artwork included.
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 – Guitars
Chris Alderman – Bass
Lou Rosenthal – Drums

This album is reposted HERE

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

IAN THOMAS - Levity (1988) 320Kbps

IAN THOMAS - Levity (1988)

Great canadian musician and composer, Ian Thomas recorded several albums in the '70s and '80s. Many of his songs have been recorded by top artists like Chicago, America and Santana among others.
'Levity' is his last solo album, and the only one released on cd. In Germany, the album was renamed 'Square One'.
You'll find here lush arrangements, superb vocals and high class production, similar Stan Meissner style.
Awesome Top Class AOR.
Highly Recommended!
Extremely rare and expensive, over 200 dollars EBay price.
Out of print.

1. Levity 4:21
2. Losing control 4:10
3. Only believe 4:14
4. Another chance 3:24
5. Back to square one 3:55
6. Modern man 4:12
7. All about her 4:26
8. These are not gods 4:32
9. Let the stone roll 5:25

Guitar, Keyboards & Vocals: Ian Thomas
Bass: Dave Pilch
Drums: Neil Wilkenson
Drums: Kevin McKenzie
Keyboards: Steve Piggot
Keyboards: Lou Pomanti


IAN THOMAS - Levity
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Tuesday, August 28, 2007

HALO - Halo (1990)



IMHO the best Christian AOR-HRock band.
Better than Petra or Guardian, 'cos the keys are more predominant here, but the guitars still heavy, and more diverse songs.
The lyrics are ok, no preach all the time.
Alot people will be surprised with this band, tons of energy and driven rockin'AOR.
Produced by the Elefante bros=good sound guaranteed.
Out Of Print .


1. Jesus Music 4:20
2. Lord of All 4:39
3. Good Feeling 4:13
4. Language Barrier 5:09
5. Skyrocket 3:45
6. Lose to Live 4:33
7. Sing (of His Glory) 4:21
8. Soul Searcher 3:49
9. Time to Run 4:01
10. Timeless 1:07

Scott Springer bass, lead vocals
Barry Graul guitar, vocals
Mike Graham drums, keyboards, vocals
John & Dino Elefante co-producers


Halo (1990)
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