THERE’S NO getting away from the fact that the debut Boston album was one of the greatest, and of course most successful, recordings in the history of rock music. It was a record that changed the lives of the band members forever, rapidly elevating them from humble beginnings to headlining huge arenas worldwide. But good fortune soon turned to disappointment as the band slowly began to implode under the constant demand to keep the cogs of their hit making machine in motion.

By 1980 Boston was effectively put on ice by leader Tom Scholz, in an effort to resolve numerous business differences, leaving the rest of the group with time on their hands. Guitarist Barry Goudreau seized the moment and set about recording a solo album, enlisting the help of then unknown vocalist Fran Cosmo who, ironically, would later go on to replace front man Brad Delp in Boston.

Every inch as good as a fully-formed Boston album, the record is choc full of superbly constructed songs, great hooks, impressive production (from John Boylan, the producer of the debut Boston album) and Goudreau’s unmistakable, rich guitar tone. Look out too for further support from fellow Bostonians Sib Hashian and Brad Delp. A great lost classic for sure and one that sounds as impressive today as it did when first released.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album and a new interview and full involvement from Barry Goudreau. Additional previously unseen photos and memorabilia spread out over a 12 page full colour booklet.

TRACK LISTING: 1. ‘Hard Luck’ 2. ‘Nothin’ To Lose’ 3. ‘What’s A Fella To Do?’ 4. ‘Mean Woman Blues’ 5. ‘Leavin’ Tonight’ 6. ‘Dreams’ 7. ‘Life Is What We Make It’ 8. ‘Sailin’ Away’ 9. ‘Cold Cold World’

EXPORT DEFIED all expectations by signing to the hugely influential US based Epic Records, whilst remaining virtually unknown in not only their home town but also throughout the entire UK. Not that the deal was undeserved; far from it. Their brand of melodic yet riff-driven hard rock found the band being lauded alongside similar, and huge selling, practitioners of the art such as Foreigner, Journey and Survivor.
‘Living In The Fear Of The Private Eye’, originally released in 1985, was the bands second album for the Epic label. Boasting cool song writing co-credits (including master of the art Bob Halligan Jnr.), and recorded in Philadelphia by seasoned producer Lance Quinn (Bon Jovi, Lita Ford), it presses all the right buttons on the catchy-yet-rugged melodic rock seismograph. The music is loud yet completely accessible and chock full of catchy hooks and expressive vocals courtesy of seasoned vocalist Harry Shaw.
Despite Export’s valiant efforts, Epic Records dropped the ball, allowing this exceptional slice of tough-guy AOR to fall flat on its face in a market that was, actually voracious for product. Truly, this is one album that should never have been allowed to slip between the cracks. Fortunately guitarist Steve Morris would continue the good fight by going on – by way of a high profile collaboration with Ian Gillan - to form underground AOR favourites Heartland and Shadowman.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album and a new interview and full band involvement. Additional photos and memorabilia spread out over a 12 page full colour booklet.

TRACK LISTING: 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

ANOMALIES ARE two a penny in rock music but none are more puzzling than the facts behind Export’s 1984 debut album ‘Contraband’. Released exclusively in the US, on the hugely powerful Epic record label, it came as something as a surprise to find out that this was in fact the work of an obscure British four piece rock band from Liverpool, a group who had barely made an impact locally let alone internationally.
Scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find some intriguing detail. They were formed by guitarist/song writer Steve Morris and featured vocalist Harry Shaw, previously a member of highly touted early seventies rockers Hard Stuff, and were championed by - and signed to - Deep Purple’s boutique label Purple Records. Following the release of a now highly collectable independently released album, Export were spotted and championed by sixties chart topper Dave Dee, who honed and shaped them in the form of tough yet melodic UK hard rock success stories such as Foreigner and Bad Company. Early demos were cut with none other than future Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin.
Amazingly, the band’s strident brand of melodic hard rock caught the ear of Epic Records in New York, resulting in the first of two albums for the label. ‘Contraband’ showcases a superb collection of sophisticated melodic hard rock from the hands of gifted song writers and first rate players.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album and a new interview and full band involvement. Additional photos and memorabilia spread out over a 12 page full colour booklet.

TRACK LISTING: 1. Rockin’ For You 2. Destiny 3. Spotlight 4. Roll Little Sister 5. Take My Hand 6. You Gotta Rock 7. Rough Diamond 8. On The Run 9. Stay

UNQUESTIONABLY, BADLANDS were one of the brightest lights on the hard rock scene during the late 80’s and early 90’s. A mini supergroup of sorts (Jake E Lee from Ozzy Osbourne’s band, Ray Gillen, Greg Chaisson and Eric Singer from Black Sabbath), they had seduced fans and critics alike with their debut album, confident earthy blues rock performed with a sway and swagger that suggested it was just a matter of time before the band would achieve international fame and fortune.
Behind the scenes, however, things were not going well. Volatile personalities started to rip the group apart, with drummer Eric Singer being the first casualty on a conveyor belt of heartache and turmoil. It’s a wonder then that ‘Voodoo Highway’, originally released in 1991, proved to be such a magnificent follow up to their acclaimed debut. Crammed to the brim with solid yet melodic hard rock, the material is faithful to the band’s original concept and co-opts the best of the early seventies, lacing it with the sound of futuristic blues.
Sadly, the band’s combustible contents created a final rift that would scupper any chances of them continuing. Final concert dates, undertaken in the UK, proved to be a disaster, with singer Ray Gillen and guitarist Jake E Lee vowing never to work with each other again. The band’s legacy, however, has continued to gather momentum with many quite rightly citing ‘Voodoo Highway’ as the pinnacle of their creative achievements.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album and a new interview and full band involvement. Additional photos and memorabilia spread out over a 16 page full colour booklet.

Track Listing: 1. The Last Time 2. Show Me The Way 3. Shine On  4. Whiskey Dust  5. Joe’s Blues  6. Soul Stealer 7. 3 Day Funk 8. Silver Horses 9. Love Don’t Mean A Thing 10. Voodoo Highway 11. Fire And Rain 12. Heaven’s Train 13. In A Dream

THE LIST OF bands that should have made the big time, set against those who actually did, is one of life’s great mysteries. Badlands are a prime example of a group that seemingly had it all in the palm of their hand yet somehow, through no fault of their own, managed to spectacularly underachieve. By rights, if acclaim and good fortune depended on sheer talent alone then Badlands really ought to have bathed in both gold and glory.
Formed at the tail end of the late 80’s by super-guitarist Jake E. Lee, fresh from a massively successful tenure with Ozzy Osbourne, together with hugely talented vocalist Ray Gillen, ironically a former vocalist with Ozzy’s old band Black Sabbath, drummer Eric Singer (also a one time member of Black Sabbath) and bassist Greg Chaisson (from Steeler, one of Yngwie Malmsteen’s first bands), Badlands looked set to become one of the brightest lights on the scene.
Signed to Atlantic Records and recorded in both Los Angeles and New York, the debut Badlands album is a blistering endorsement of the bands desire to resurrect the earthy blues rock sound of the early 70’s by taking their cue from such ground shakers as Led Zeppelin and Cream, yet adding a contemporary side-order of melody and muscle. The results were astonishing. This album, originally released in 1989, side-swiped the competition by a considerable margin, separating them from the run-of-the-mill hair-band milieu, whilst opening up a world of possibilities that should have propelled them to international stardom.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, one bonus track, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album and a new interview and full band involvement. Additional photos and memorabilia spread out over a 16 page full colour booklet.

Track Listing: 1. High Wire 2. Dreams In The Dark 3. Jade’s Song 4. Winter’s Call 5. Dancing On The Edge 6. Streets Cry Freedom 7. Hard Driver  8. Rumblin’ Train 9. Devil’s Stomp 10. Seasons Bonus Track:  11. Ball & Chain

VIRGINIA WOLF’S debut album caused major excitement amongst critics and fans alike. It was a heady, mature brew of class-A grade melodic hard rock with infinitely catchy songs (mainly drawn from the hands of guitarist Nick Bold), stunningly executed arrangements and astonishing vocals from Chris Ousey, one of the UK’s most celebrated front men. That the album didn’t set the charts on fire was no fault of their own, so naturally a traditional, steady build to stardom was expected.
‘Push’, the band’s second and - as it turned out - final album, was delivered to a market that was rapidly changing and by a company that was, in the main, looking to make quick scores. Produced in San Francisco by Kevin Elson, a man who was at the time experiencing huge success with Europe’s ‘The Final Countdown’, the record presented a far more mature approach to their craft. Once again, the songs were magnificent, the production being equally as exciting and the arrangements beyond reproach but with a record tailor made for the American market they really needed to a hit single, something that sadly never materialised. 
With the band stranded in Manchester and with no ability to tour the US, the record company quickly lost interest, exacerbating a slow death which began when drummer Jason Bonham opted to leave the band. Looking back, it’s almost inconceivable that such a work of brilliance was cruelly overlooked and allowed to languish. Truly a magnificent and brilliantly crafted record which still sounds wonderfully fresh today.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, two bonus tracks, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album and a new interview and full involvement from the band. Additional photos and memorabilia spread out over a 12 page full colour booklet.

Track Listing: 1. Don’t Break Away  2. One Night  3. Standing On The Edge Of Time  4. Open Door  5. Man On The Moon  6. Let It Go 7. You Don’t Know What You’ve Got  8. Can You Feel The Fire 9. Tables Have Turned 10. The Strangest Thing (It’s Called Love) Bonus tracks: 11. Tearing Me Down 12. Matter Of Time

THE RESURGENCE in popularity of British hard rock during the early and mid eighties had been fuelled predominantly by the emergence of the NWOBHM, a musical genre that mainly embraced rough hewn riff combos. However, a secondary more melodic movement was also in full swing spearheaded by musicians influenced by the enormous success of US based acts such as Journey, Foreigner and Loverboy. Virginia Wolf were, it must be said, very much at the cutting edge of the counter offensive, weighing in as one of the UK’s most promising new groups.
After years of struggle in their hometown of Manchester they eventually signed to Atlantic Records, by way of Genesis’ music publishing company, and quickly recruited drummer Jason Bonham (fresh from a stint with Airrace, another of the era’s brightest hopes) to record their debut album. Produced by Queen drummer Roger Taylor, the album hit all the right buttons and garnered critical acclaim with ease.
Released in 1986, such was the furore surrounding the project that the band were quickly ushered Stateside to open the bill for guitarist Jimmy Page’s post Led Zeppelin outfit The Firm (featuring Paul Rodgers), a tour that played to thousands every night in cavernous arenas. For a relatively fresh faced band from Manchester this was indeed a moment to cherish.
The Virginia Wolf debut album is regarded as a milestone in melodic hard rock, relying heavily on gifted song writing, together with the stunning vocals of Chris Ousey, a man with one of the most identifiable voices in British rock. It is a simply breathtaking offering.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album and a new interview and full involvement from the band. Additional photos and memorabilia spread out over a 16 page full colour booklet.

Track Listing: 1. Are We Playing With Fire 2. Make It Tonight  3. Only Love  4. It’s In Your Eyes  5. Waiting For Your Love  6. Livin’ On A Knife Edge 7. For All We Know  8. Don’t Run Away 9. Take A Chance 10. Goodbye Don’t Mean Forever

LED BY British born front man Michael Des Barres (fresh from glam rock upstarts Silverhead) and featuring ex Yes keyboardist Tony Kaye and Steppenwolf guitarist Michael Monarch, the band were championed and signed by Jimmy Page to Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song label, who intended to produce the record. As it turned out Jimmy’s lifestyle, together with scheduling issues, focussed his attentions on other matters, resulting in an album recorded twice and costing in the region of a million dollars.

“We took two months to get a drum sound that we liked,” reveals Des Barres about that self-indlugent period. But such was the power of the performance rumours quickly circulated that John Bonham himself had played on the album. It was also suggested that Page had produced the record but under the unlikely pseudonym of Jimmy Robinson.  It was easy to see why; the album, originally released in 1977, is a 24 karat hard rock master-class in the power and passion of explosive hard rock, featuring mountainous riffs and one of the great vocal performances of all time. Simply put, it doesn’t get much better than this.”

Originally released in 1978, helmed by British producer Gary Lyons (Foreigner, Lone Star, Gamma) and featuring future Toto vocalist Fergie Frederiksen, Trillion’s debut album is an astounding and accomplished work that sounds is as impressive today as it was when first released.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album and a new interview and full involvement from the band. Additional photos and memorabilia spread out over a 16 page full colour booklet.

Track Listing: 1. Recognition  2. Got Enough Love  3. Grim Reaper  4. Nightingale  5. Detective Man  6. Ain’t None Of Your Business  7. Deep Down  8. Wild Hot Summer Nights 9. One More Heartache

THE LATE seventies/early eighties American music scene was a veritable breeding ground for melodically infused hard rock. However, in many ways, it was a sound built principally on British roots including clearly identifiable stimulation from later period Beatles to the early seventies progressive rock movement dominated by Yes, Genesis and Camel to name but a few. It was this pre-occupation with all things British that gave rise to a brilliantly dynamic style that relied equally on adroit arrangements as it did on melody and accessibility.

Alongside more familiar names such as Kansas, Boston and Styx, Trillion were one of the greatest - yet in many ways unheralded at the time - bands of the era. Combining stunningly melodic songs with adventurous arrangements and tricky instrumentation the band straddled a knife edge between the deliciously hook laden pomp of Toto and the daring anything-goes musicality of pomp-prog masters Kansas and Starcastle. It was a style that had no boundaries, incorporating raging guitar driven hard rock to delicate and complex progressive compositions.

Originally released in 1978, helmed by British producer Gary Lyons (Foreigner, Lone Star, Gamma) and featuring future Toto vocalist Fergie Frederiksen, Trillion’s debut album is an astounding and accomplished work that sounds is as impressive today as it was when first released.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album and a new interview and full involvement from the band. Additional photos and memorabilia spread out over a 12 page full colour booklet.

Track Listing: 1. Hold Out 2. Big Boy 3. Give Me Your Money Honey 4. Never Had It So Good 5. May As Well Go 6. Fancy Action 7. Hand It To The Wind 8. Bright Night Lights 9. Child Upon The Earth

AMERICAN EAST Coasters, Balance were a mini super-group of sorts. Pride of place was taken by vocalist Peppy Castro a man whose CV boasted commercially successful stints with late sixties psych legends the Blues Magoos, pop rockers Barnaby Bye and an obscure but influential hard rock band called Wiggy Bits. Guitarist Bob Kulick had built a solid reputation as a super-session player contributing to diametrically opposed talent as Diana Ross and Kiss. Third man on board was yet another session wunderkind; that’s keyboard wizard Doug Katsaros.

Enlisting the help of NYC powerhouse managers Leber/Krebs and signing to the impressive Portrait label, a division of Columbia Records, Balance looked set to bulldoze their way into the hearts and minds of music fans coast to coast. Indeed, for a few exciting weeks the project looked set to explode when the track ‘Breaking Away’ caught fire at radio, reaching the dizzy heights of #22 on the US chart. Sadly, however, the momentum quickly dissolved leaving the band unable to capitalize on their good fortune.

Compared, at the time, to similar sounding acts such as Journey, Foreigner and Toto this album, originally released in 1981, contained a stunning array of top notch AOR with vocals and arrangements to die for. A finer combination of melody and muscle you will not find.”

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album and a new interview and full involvement from the band. Additional photos and memorabilia spread out over a 12 page full colour booklet.

Track Listing: 1. (Looking For The) Magic 2. I’m Through Loving You 3. Breaking Away 4. No Getting Around My Love 5. Fly Through The Night 6. American Dream 7. Haunting 8. Falling In Love 9. Hot Summer Nights 10. It’s So Strange

It is often simplicity that makes the biggest splash; banal lyrics, play-in-a-day riffs and shouty vocals are two a penny but, at the outer regions of the rock ‘n roll solar system some more interesting examples live and thrive. Step forward the Reggie Knighton Band, an ensemble fronted by - no prises for guessing - a certain Reggie Knighton and his quirky, some might say eccentric, views on life, love and long distance space travel.
 

For Reggie all topics are game. If not singing about a ‘Clone In Love’, with obvious reference points to genetic modification, strange aerial phenomenon in ‘UFO’, the ever popular Walter Mitty fantasy touched on with ‘Lear Jet’ and the extraterrestrial conundrum examined in ‘Rock ‘N Roll Alien’, he’s off with the fairies singing about the bizarre imaginary bond between him and Elvis in the ‘King And I’.

 
It’s all trippy stuff for sure, but if it wasn’t for rock solid musical backing this album might not sound so appetizing. Produced by Roy Thomas Baker (Queen, the Cars, Journey) the sound is enormous incorporating John Bonham style drumming, razor-sharp guitar work and flamboyant backing vocals in the mould of classic Queen. That this album rocks hard is a revelation in itself. So, climb on board for an extraordinary journey into the world of melodic, if quirky, hard rock by a man whose creativity has few boundaries.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album and a new interview and full involvement from Reggie Knighton. Additional photos and memorabilia spread out over a 12 page full colour booklet.

Track Listing: 1. Breakin’ Up Inside 2. Rock ‘n’ Roll Alien 3. The King And I 4. Clone In Love 5. Lear Jet 6. Highway Patrol 7. UFO 8. Ooh Girl 9. Magnum Sally 10. Behind A Rock ‘N’ Roll band

AUTOGRAPH’S DEBUT album ‘Sign In Please’ contained a surprise hit single, the infectious ‘Turn Up The Radio’, whilst a sell out tour supporting Van Halen elevated them into the upper echelons of the eighties hard rock elite. Things were looking more than good. However, when a Stateside tour supporting Mötley Crüe was secured, RCA, their record label, hit the panic button, insisting that in order to keep momentum rocketing the band should get back into the studio and cut a follow up album as quickly as humanly possible.
It was inevitable that things began to slide; a rushed choice of producer, a lack of preproduction time and a touring deadline that was looming ever closer. Amazingly, when the album was released its cover had to be changed due to bungled copyright issues. And if that wasn’t enough, in order to combat the appearance of Russian band Avtograf (pronounced Autograph), RCA thought it might be a good idea for Autograph to record a cover of Grand Funk Railroad’s classic ‘We’re An American Band’ adding it to the record half way through the campaign.
Under any other circumstance this set of events might have spelled disaster but for Autograph it was just a one more river to cross and one more hurdle to jump. ‘That’s The Stuff’, despite all the pressures baring down on them, was hailed as another solid slice of prime-time American hard rock, big on hooks and crammed with some of the best guitar playing that Steve Lynch ever recorded.

 
24-bit remastering from original source tapes, one bonus track, 4,000 word essay about the making of the album and a new interview and full involvement from Steve Plunkett. Additional photos and memorabilia spread out over a 16 page full colour booklet.

Track Listing: 1. That’s The Stuff  2. Take No Prisoners 3. Blondes In Black cars  4. You’ll Get Over It 5. Crazy World 6. Six String Fever 7. Changing Hands 8. Hammerhead 9. Built For Speed 10. Paint This Town  Bonus Track: 11. We’re An American Band