WITH THEIR debut major label album ‘No Rest For The Wicked’ racking up healthy sales and great reviews, Helix forged a reputation as one of the hottest young Canadian rock bands to have emerged in the early eighties. Their fire brand blend of hot rock, ear shattering riffs and shout-it-out-loud hooks made them not only radio/MTV friendly but also a must see in-concert experience.

‘Walkin’ The Razor’s Edge’, originally released in 1984, marks a step up for the band in terms of both production and song content. Tracks such as ‘Young And Wreckless’, ‘When The Hammer Falls’, ‘Animal House’  ‘Rock You’ (written by Bob Halligan Jnr) and a genuine Canadian hit single in ‘(Make Me Do) Anything You Want’, showcase a band revved up and ready to rock, taking it to the people with endless road work.

Revaluating this album 25 years down the road, one is immediately struck by the bands penchant for keeping the energy level firmly in the red zone. History may have dictated that other acts of a similar nature may have out sold Helix, few, however, made music of such lasting quality.”

 
24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 3 Bonus tracks, 4,000 word story of the making of the album by Paul Suter, exclusive interview with Helix frontman Brian Volmer, previously unpublished photos and memorabilia, all spread out over a super 12 page full colour booklet.

 
Tracks listing:1. Rock You 2. Young & Wreckless 3. Animal House 4. Feel The Fire 5. When The Hammer Falls 6. Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ 7. My Kind Of Rock 8. (Make Me Do) Anything You Want 9. Six Strings, Nine Lives 10. You Keep Me Rockin’. BONUS TRACKS: 11. Young And Wreckless (Live at the Marquee 1985) 12. Rock You (Live at the Marquee 1985) 13. Animal House (Live at the Marquee 1985)

THE CATS In Boots story is the ultimate tale of late eighties big haired rock ‘n’ roll excess. Based in Los Angeles and nudging shoulders with every Sunset Strip wannabe (including Quiet Riot, Rough Cutt, Mötley Crüe, and Dokken) CIB found a new path forward by developing a huge following in Japan that quickly manifested into a series of major record companies falling over themselves to get the band to sign on the dotted line.

 
It was EMI who won the day, lining their pockets with ready cash and a promise to make them stars. Put in the studio with AC/DC engineer Mark Opitz, the band crafted one of the era’s best, if ultimately overlooked, slices of prime time Hollywood sleaze grating hard rock. The hooks were huge. The guitars cut and thrust. The production sounded like a million dollars and front man Joel Ellis screamed and preened like he had been born to boogie. Fame would come-a-knockin’ double time…or so they thought.

 
Sadly, a series of missteps, bad luck and unfortunate timing led to the sort of impasse that could only be solved by disintegration. A cult classic at the time, ‘Kicked & Klawed’ (originally released in 1989) is definitely one that got away.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word story of the making of the album by Classic Rock’s Sleazgrinder, exclusive interview with Joel Ellis, previously unpublished photos and memorabilia, all spread out over a super 12 page full colour booklet.

Tracks listing: 1. Shot Gun Sally 2. Nine Lives (Save Me) 3. Her Money 4. Whip It Out 5. Long, Long Way From Home 6. Coast To Coast 7. Every Sunrise 8. Evil Angel 9. Bad Boys Are Back 10. Judas Kiss 11. Heaven On A Heartbeat

Originally released in 1984,the curiously named Oakland based Billy Satellite may not have set the charts on fire but did manage to register high on the AOR Richter scale. Led by the supremely talented Monty Byrom (who went on to form successful country rockers Big House) and featuring super hot guitarist Danny Chauncey (later to join .38 Special) the band enjoyed a moment in the spotlight when tracks such as ‘Satisfy Me’ and ‘I Wanna Go Back’ (covered successfully in 1986 by Eddie Money) achieved wide spread airplay. Sadly, like so many other artists, the initial blast of enthusiasm was not sustainable leaving BS floundering amidst a sea of competition, tied to a label unable to focus on their strengths and accomplishments. Although the band’s initial success was severely frustrated, their legacy, over the years, has continued to grow with many AOR fans citing this album as one of the greatest records of its kind. Time, we think, to take another listen to this bonafide melodic rock classic.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word story of the making of the album by Dave Reynolds, exclusive interview with Monty Byrom, previously unpublished photos, all spread out over a super 12 page full colour booklet.

Track listing: 1. Satisfy Me 2. Last Call 3. Do Ya 4. I Wanna Go Back 5. Trouble 6. Rockin’ Down The Highway 7. Turning Point 8. Bye Bye Baby 9. Standin’ With The Kings 10. The Lonely One

The Kelly/Steinberg song writing team were amongst the most successful of the 1990’s but,like many others, their beginnings were humble and shrouded in obscurity. i – Ten’s ‘Taking A Cold Look’ may not have made much of an impact when first released but its arrival signalled a seismic shift in the world of pop and rock. It was the recording debut as a duo of two of the world’s most successful songwriters, a record that came and went in the blink of an eye but containing some of the most impressive songs and musical arrangements of all time.

Produced to pin-point perfection by Keith Olsen (Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner etc), together with Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, the tracks display a healthy appetite for the kind of super glossy hi-tech sound employed by Toto, Steely Dan and Journey; high grade AOR of the finest variety. However, it’s Steinberg and Kelly’s songs that provide the bulk of the cake - songs later covered by the likes of REO Speedwagon, Honeymoon Suite and Heart (‘Alone’ was a #1 hit US single). ‘Taking A Cold Look’ is recognised by those in the know as one of the most complete works of the era and one deserving full reappraisal.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word story of the making of the album by Dave Reynolds, exclusive interview with BIlly Steinberg, previously unpublished photos, all spread out over a super 12 page full colour booklet.

Track listing: 1. Taking A Cold Look 2. Quicksand 3. Alone 4. Workin’ For A Lovin’ 5. Lonely In Each Other’s Arms 6. I Don’t Want To Lose You 7. Time To Say Goodbye 8. The Easy Way Out 9. I’ve Been Crying 10. Pressing My Luck

ONE OF THE most promising acts to emerge from the US early 80’s pomp rock scene was Chicago-based quintet Trillion. Signed to industry powerhouse Epic Records, the band made major inroads with their debut album, but it wasn’t until the release of this, their second, album, ‘Clear Approach’, that matters reached a musical crescendo. With the addition of new vocalist Thom Griffin, and an astounding selection of songs, the band hit a level of sophistication and emotion that few have ever matched.

‘Clear Approach’, originally released in 1980, is unquestionably one of the most accomplished and impressive albums of the era, packing a powerful punch with intelligent songs, masterful vocals, complex – almost progressive - arrangements and polished production (by John Boylan, producer of the debut Boston album). A pomp-rock classic no less.
24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word story of the making of the album by Stephen Allen, full band involvement, previously unpublished photos, one previously unreleased bonus track, all spread out over a super 12 page full colour booklet.

Track listing: 1. Make Time For Love 2. Love Me Anytime 3. I Know The Feeling 4. Make It Last Forever 5. Promises 6. Cities 7. What Can You Do 8. Clear Approach 9. Wishing I Knew It All Bonus Track: 10. You Clown

Facedancer, a Washington D.C. based creative powder keg. Originally released in 1979, their debut album ‘This World’ immediately turned heads with its unusual mixture of crushing, Led Zeppelin inspired hard rock, quirky lyrical themes and high octane Cheap Trick style power pop. This was an act that carried their talent around not in a spare suit case but in super sized shipping container.

True to form, Facedancer never fully received the commercial acclaim that their music certainly deserved. Despite valiant attempts by all on board, including notable support from various tastemakers and a committed local fan base, they never quite managed to haul themselves out of the starting gate. Despite this, however, the Facedancer legacy, with those in the know, still continues to endure and impress. Truly another in a long line of hidden hard rock classics.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word story of the making of the album by Dave Reynolds, full band invlovement, previously unpublished photos, all spread out over a super 12 page full colour booklet.

Track listing: 1. Red Shoes 2. Can’t Stand Still 3. Change 4. If I Could Kiss You 5. The Sphinx 6. Cry Baby 7. Heart’s At Home 8. Hard To Please 9. Time Bomb 10. When You Said.

EMERGING IN the early eighties, unsigned at the time, Autograph were hand picked by Van Halen to open a mammoth North American concert trek – an accomplishment that quickly led to their inking with industry giant RCA Records and an ensuing hit single, the energetic and infectious, ‘Turn Up The Radio’ which made the US top 30 in the same year.

Feted and championed by the hard rock cognoscenti (supporters included Mötley Crüe and Ozzy Osbourne) this Los Angeles based quintet made all the right noises by packing both melody and muscle into their music; highly valuable commodities that found Autograph reaching a level of success that would see them out perform most of the competition.

‘Sign In Please’ was, then, the bands highly praised debut album, unleashing a beast of significant fire power and songs that would stand not only the test of time but would also improve with age including the classic hit single ‘Turn Up The Radio’. Taped by renowned British producer Neil Kernon (Queensryche, Dokken etc) the album exudes Class-A hard rock all the way with big hooks and solid riffs. Definitely one of the greatest albums from the 1980’s LA scene.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word story of the making of the album by Pail Suter and exclusive interview with Steve Plunkett, previously unpublished photos, one bonus track, all spread out over a super 12 page full colour booklet.

Track listing: Send Her To Me, Turn Up The Radio, Nighteen & Non Stop, Cloud 10, Deep End, My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend Isn’t Me, Thrill Of Love, Friday, In The Night, All I’m Gonna Take. Bonus Track: Turn Up The Radio (remix)

THE DIFFERENCE between achieving success and failing can be down to the most tenuous of reasons. For Cobra the early signs were better than most. They wrote great songs, were fronted by a world class vocalist in Jimi Jamison (later to join Survivor), had first class management (Butch Stone) holding the business reigns and, best of all, the colossal firepower of Epic Records right behind them. Inexplicably, however, the record failed to connect, taking the wind out of their sails and forcing an early retreat into the file marked ‘strictly for connoisseurs’.
Although based in Memphis (by way of Switzerland) the band was truly an international collaboration featuring three Americans and two Swiss renegades; Mandy Meyer (from Krokus) and Tommy Keiser (who would also go on to play with Krokus). The Memphis contingent also had some serious form; Jimi Jamison having fronted A&M signed blues rockers Target and guitarist/keyboard player Jack Holder, a Memphis legend having seen active duty as a member of Black Oak Arkansas amongst many other accomplishments. Together with super-fit drummer Jeff Klaven, the band constructed a stunning, but melodic, hard rock sound that has not dated one jot.
Originally issued in 1983 and produced by ‘Colonel’ Tom Allom (Judas Priest, Krokus, Def Leppard etc), the ‘First Strike’ remains one of the best and certainly one of the most criminally overlooked albums of the era

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word story of the making of the album by Dave Cockett and exclusive interview with Jimi Jamison, previously unpublished photos, all spread out over a super 12 page full colour booklet.

Track listing: Blood On Your Money, Only You Can Rock Me, Travellin’ Man, I’ve Been A Fool Before, First Strike, Danger Zone, Looking At You, Fallen Angel, What Love Is, Thorn In Your Flesh

THE NAME RICK Springfield might conjure up two entirely different images: On one hand he was the young and dashing Dr Noah Drake in the hugely successful and long-running US TV soap ‘General Hospital’. On the other he was the radiant rock star, issuing a string of extremely successful solo albums and hit singles during the eighties. Known as a consummate professional, Springfield delivered superb, tightly crafted songs with an ear for melody and an eye on the charts; a truly remarkable accomplishment.

‘Tao’, his seventh album, signalled a shift in his creative outlook. This is an album that reflects a dramatic and conscientious musical shake up, with an emphasis on sharper songs, cleaner sounds and – undeniably - his most committed lyrics to date. But that is not to say that he had strayed to far from his melodic rock roots.
Packing a lean and mean punch, ‘Tao’, originally released in 1985, remains a firm favourite amongst long-time fans, displaying clean lines, cutting edge production chops, intensely personal lyrics and a thirst for the future, all qualities that assisted Rick to stay at the sharp end, whilst still offering up singles, in ‘State Of The Heart’ and ‘Celebrate Youth’ plus the defining album cut ‘My Father’s Chair’”

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word story of the making of the album by Malcome Dome and exclusive interview with Rick, previously unpublished photos, all spread out over a super 12 page full colour booklet.

Track listing: ‘Dance The World Away’, ‘Celebrate Youth’, ‘State Of the Heart’, ‘Written In Rock’, ‘The Power Of Love (The Tao Of Love)’, ‘Walking On The Edge’, ‘Walk Like A Man’, ‘The Tao Of Heaven’, ‘My Father’s Chair’, ‘Stranger In The House’.