Rockcandy

GAMMA ‘2′ CANDY113

sinful1 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:56:30 +0000

WINNIPEG BASED five piece Harlequin were a fine example of an act that benefitted from what was called CanCon. It didn’t hurt either that they were ‘accidently’ signed to the giant, international, CBS corporation, following the absorption of an independent production company that the band had signed to earlier in their career.

‘Love Crimes’, originally released in 1980, was produced by Jack ‘Aerosmith’ Douglas in New York, at the famed Record Plant Studios. It was an album that achieved Platinum status in Canada, making inroads into the US where the band played shows with the likes of Survivor, Triumph and John Waite. Featuring an amazing vocalist (George Belanger), superbly crafted songs and a melodic yet hard hitting sound, ‘Love Crimes’ remains a classic creation. AOR, for sure, with rough-hewn guitar work, memorable melody and hugely satisfying hooks.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 3,500 word essay about the making of the album, band involvement and additional photos spread out over a 12 page full colour booklet.

TRACK LISTING: 1. INNOCENCE 2. LOVE ON THE ROCKS 3. THINKING OF YOU 4. IT’S ALL OVER NOW 5. HEAVEN (DIAL 999) 6. SAYIN’ GOODBYE TO THE BOYS 7. WAIT FOR THE NIGHT 8. CRIME OF PASSION 9. CAN’T HOLD BACK 10. MIDNIGHT MAGIC

GAMMA ‘2′ CANDY113

sinful1 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:53:07 +0000

GAMMA, FORMED, in the late 70s, allowed band leader Ronnie Montrose to take the template laid down by his former outfit Montrose and reposition it closer to contemporary sounds without losing sight of his hot-shot reputation for guitar playing. Reuniting with former Montrose drummer Denny Carmassi, then unknown Scottish vocalist Davey Pattison, bassist Glen Letsch and managed by impresario and concert promoter Bill Graham the band dug in hard to create ‘Gamma 2’, a record that is regarded as the bands best effort.

Originally issued in 1980 and produced by Gary Lyons (Foreigner, UFO, Aerosmith), it is a record erupting with hail and brimstone including a brace of classic hard rock cuts including ‘Mean Streak’, ‘Dirty City’, ‘Four Horsemen’ and a brilliant interpretation of Thunderclap Newman’s timeless ‘Something In The Air’. Man of the match? If it ain’t Ronnie blasting away on his trusted Gibson Les Paul then it must surely be vocalist Davey Pattison, a voice of pure blues soaked brilliance.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 3,500 word essay about the making of the album, band involvement and additional photos spread out over a 16 page full colour booklet.

TRACK LISTING: 1. MEAN STREAK 2. FOUR HORSEMEN 3. DIRTY CITY 4. VOYAGER 5. SOMETHING IN THE AIR 6. CAT ON A LEASH 7. SKIN AND BONE 8. MAYDAY

Le Roux ‘Up’ CANDY125

sinful1 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:50:52 +0000

Formed IN Baton Rouge, Louisiana, LeRoux had previously cut two albums in a rural rock style before switching allegiance to their firebrand version of melodic pomp rock. Produced by feted session musician Jai Winding (Jackson Browne, Boz Scaggs), the ‘Up’ album exploded out of the starting gate to huge approval by those that took notice. Although sales may have been somewhat limited, their influence was persuasive and powerful, especially in Europe where ‘Up’ was hailed as a masterpiece by a number of connoisseurs of the genre.

Stuffed to the brim with astonishing tracks including ‘Let Me Be Your Fantasy’, ‘Get It Right The First Time’, ‘Mystery’ and the truly impressive ‘Roll Away The Stone’, the album oozes both class and control, delivering maximum melody at every available opportunity. The sound is big, bold and crystal clear propelling the contents to the stars and beyond.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, 3,500 word essay about the making of the album, band involvement and additional photos spread out over a 12 page full colour booklet.

TRACK LISTING: 1. LET ME BE YOUR FANTASY 2. GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME 3. MYSTERY 4. ROLL AWAY THE STONE 5. IT COULD BE THE FEVER 6. I KNOW TROUBLE WHEN I SEE IT 7. WAITING FOR YOUR LOVE 8. CRYING INSIDE 9. I WON’T BE STAYING

MORE ‘Blood & Thunder’ CANDY110

sinful1 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:49:11 +0000

EMERGING AS part of the burgeoning NWOBHM scene and playing every nook and cranny up and down the country, MORE’s stock in 1982 was certainly in the ascendance. Album number two was expected to springboard them into the hard rock stratosphere but - as is often the case - things started to go wildly astray. Before long the band had fallen into a state of almost irreversible disrepair, a predicament complicated by internal rancour and managerial shenanigans.

Under such circumstances you’d normally expect a somewhat disappointing and ultimately patchy affair. Remarkably, however, nothing could be further from the truth as ‘Blood & Thunder’ is one of the most impressive of all the NWOBHM releases. Built on little more than armour plated perseverance and gargantuan riffs, the sound is utterly uncompromising. Just like the sound of a jet engine preparing for take-off, this is a record is impossible to ignore.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, previously unreleased in Europe, 3,500 word essay about the making of the album, band involvement and additional photos spread out over a 12 page full colour booklet.

TRACK LISTING: 1. KILLER ON THE PROWL 2. BLOOD AND THUNDER 3. I JUST CAN’T BELIEVE IT 4. I’VE BEEN WAITING 5. TRAITORS GATE 6. ROCK AND ROLL 7. I WANNA TAKE YOU 8. GO HOME 9. THE EYE 10. NIGHTMARE

MORE ‘Warhead’ CANDY112

sinful1 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:14:07 +0000

BASED IN London, MORE’s roots actually lay in the very same avenues and alleyways frequented by Iron Maiden. Indeed, vocalist Paul Mario Day had been - alongside Steve Harris - a member of pre Iron Maiden outfit Gypsy’s Kiss. Both went their separate ways, of course, with Day reappearing as front man for MORE, a ball-busting rough and tumble five piece with a volatile two guitar line-up laying waste to a bunch of catchy hooks.

Signed to Atlantic Records, Warhead was originally issued in 1981 and produced by none other than Henry ‘H-Bomb’ Weck, leader of seventies cult US hard rock combo Brownsville Station (‘Smokin’ In The Boys Room’), the album features a fine selection of tracks primarily designed to bludgeon the listener into boot-licking compliance. Fortunately it’s a game they won hands down.

24-bit remastering from original source tapes, includes bonus track, 3,500 word essay about the making of the album, band involvement and additional photos spread out over a 12 page full colour booklet.

TRACK LISTING: 1. WARHEAD 2. FIRE 3. SOLDIER 4. DEPRESSION 5. ROAD ROCKET 6. LORD OF TWILIGHT 7. WAY OF THE WORLD 8. WE ARE THE BAND 9. I HAVE NO ANSWERS BONUS TRACK: 10. ATOMIC ROCK

Harlequin ‘Love Crimes’ CANDY109

sinful1 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:17:00 +0000

Le Roux ‘Up’ CANDY125

sinful1 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:16:15 +0000

GAMMA ‘2′ CANDY113

sinful1 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:15:41 +0000

MORE ‘Warhead’ CANDY112

sinful1 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:11:27 +0000

MORE ‘Blood & Thunder’ CANDY110

sinful1 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:06:52 +0000