Requested in "Request & Fill Corner" section...This one is a real treat."Long Overdue", the first recording by American multi-instrumentalist MICK POWELL was released privately in 1993, in extremely limited copies.Much sought after by AOR / Melodic Rock rabid collectors, "Long Overdue" contains 12 tracks in the pure '80s style of the genre.Although the 'cult status' of this kind of rarities not always go by hand with quality, Powell managed to craft a really good bunch of tunes here, well performed, arranged and produced for an indie.Songs like the hooky opener "Save This Love" or the gloriously melodic "Fade Away" are strong AORsters in the Stan Meissner vein, then the catchy hookline of "Overnight Success" recalls the first Brett Walker.The keyboard driven "Masquerade" seems extracted from any eighties Stan Bush disc, "Everything She Wants" has a typical Loverboy Canadian AOR imprint all over, while the dreamy "Someday I'll Be Over You" is adorned with nice orchestrated synths.There's a couple of flaws in the weak ballad "Hourglass", but we have another two solid compositions on the catchy uptempo "I Can't Keep Holding On To Love" with all that '80s magic, same with the radio-friendly "Let The Light Shine Down No Me" (it is correct, no typo here)."Long Overdue" is an obscure, unknown yet good indie US Melodic Rock / AOR private recording packed with lovable '80s styled melodic songs.Uber Rare.01 - Save This Love02 - Overnight Success03 - Let The Light Shine Down No Me04 - Hourglass05 - Masquerade06 - Can't Change That07 - Fade Away08 - Everything She Wants09 - Someday I'll Be Over You10 - I Will Always Be There For You11 - I Can't Keep Holding On To Love12 - Long OverdueKen Sutherland: Lead & Backing VocalsBob Catalano: BassMick Powell: Lead & Backing Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, DrumsMICK POWELL Long Overdue.
Requested in "Request & Fill Corner" section...Honeyoon Suite was without a doubt one of the finest Canadian Melodic Rock / AOR acts during the eighties, being their founder, singer JOHNNIE 'DEE' DEGIULI, the man behind those lovable melodies.HS returned the last decade with a couple of albums, but the general new sonic approach disappointed most the fans. In-between, Johnnie managed to release his debut solo album titled "Songs In Dee".In this CD we find many tracks that easily could have been taken from the early works from Honeyoon Suite, although sonically Johnnie goes here for a guitar-rich Melodic Rock blending electric with acoustics, Hammond B3 organs and earthy drums.Together with Dee in the studio were his HS band mates Ray Coburn on keyboards and Derry Grehan on guitars (the other responsible musicians of the 'classic Honeymoon' style) so the fine musical melodies are granted here.Also other legendary Canadian icons like Rik Emett (Triumph) and Kim Mitchell (Gowan, Max Webster, solo) went into the recording sessions to provide a couple of guitar solos enriching the album's quality.Songs like "Seriously", "Buch 15" or "Everybody Falls" indeed display that mid-eighties AOR nerve through charming melodies and Dee's special way to phrasing.Catchy numbers as "Holiday", "Out Here" and "How" are more Melodic Rock oriented, the latter with an unmistakable Honeymoon Suite feel, while softer moments can be heard on the solo Richie Sambora-like "Setting Sun", the midtempo "The Light" and the extremely melodic closer "Life" (love the chorus), one of the highlights of this very good and complete album.
There was some troubles with the release of "Songs In Dee" at the very end of 2003: it was retired soon and then made officially available the next year but poorly distributed by a small Canadian label.So it passed unnoticed for the major AOR/MR audience and still remains unheard by many fans of the genre, not to mention the CD is almost impossible to find these days. And believe me, it worth every bit of it. Quite Rare and Very Good.01 - Seriously02 - Holiday03 - The Light04 - Everybody Falls05 - Out Here06 - How07 - Setting Sun08 - Buch 1509 - Train10 - LifeJohnnie Dee Degiuli - Lead & Background VocalsRob Laidlaw - Bass, Guitar, Background VocalsDerry Grehan - GuitarRay Coburn - Keyboards, Hammond B3Randy Cooke - Drums, PercussionRik Emmett - GuitarKim Mitchell - GuitarTimothy Welsh - E-Bow, GuitarPeter Nunn - StringsTara Slone - Background VocalsJOHNNIE DEGIULI Songs In Dee.
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Requested in "Request & Fill Corner" section...GRACE was a short-lived Swedish band mostly known for his European hit "Ingen Kan Älska Som Vi" ("No One Can Love As We Do"), the main theme from the movie of the same title.The group was formed by singer Krister Linder (aka Chris Lancelot), Claus Bergwall on guitar, bass player Janne Persson, keybordists Mikael Lundgren & Erik Holmberg and 'Drutten' (Roger Hansson) on drums.All these fine musicians recently returned into the scene under the name Bad Radiator with a delicious album, except singer Krister Linder who still continues as solo artist..gif)
Grace only officially released the single "Ingen Kan Älska Som Vi" in 1988 and the promo-song "Half Of Me" the following year before disbanding.But there's a bunch of tracks composed and performed by the band for the aforementioned movie soundtrack. All this rare material at excellent quality is compiled here for you to enjoy, a collection of Scandi lite AOR tunes with a clean sound and stylized arrangements.And something for those who miss my soundtrack compilations... :-)1 - The Deal2 - Marionetter3 - Ingen Kan Alska Som Vi4 - In And Out Of Love5 - 3.096 - RuM7 - Half Of Me8 - The Deal (demo version)Chris Lancelot (Krister Linder): VocalsClaus Bergwall: GuitarJanne Persson: BassMikael Lundgren: Keyboards, VocalsErik Holmberg: KeyboardsDrutten (Roger Hansson): DrumsGRACE (Sweden) The Complete Recordings.
Re-post as requested, quite rare and good material.Perhaps the most controversial post ever on this blog; check reader's comments in the original HERE.
One of the biggest myths in the Melodic Hard Rock / AOR ground. Does ARTI TISI really exist? Some people argue that this band was actually a well known group of musicians who never revealed their names.False.ARTI TISI (born Arthur Tisi Jr.) it's alive 'n kickin' and lives in NY. Songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist, has been writing and recording music since the mid '80s.Around 1988, Tisi joined forces with keyboardist Al Greenwood (FOREIGNER, SPYS, JOE LYNN TURNER, HOLY WATER) to write & record songs for a Melodic Hard Rock / AOR album. Most tracks were penned by the team Arthur Tisi Jr. / Jordan Stanley / Al Greenwood. With the skilled Al Pitrelli (DANGER DANGER, ALICE COOPER) on guitars, the result was this impressive collection of songs, superb melodic rockers with punch and melody.Gossips of mainstream bands members (Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Deep Purple) participating in the studio sessions are uncertain.As example, seems JR Blackmore (Ritchie's son) play guitar on "A Little Too Early", or Joe Lynn Turner did backing vocals on "Knock Knock" (this one was co-written and recorded by himself later), but I'm not sure.Believe it or not, the album remains unreleased, incredible due the remarkable quality and production-wise.The file containing this bunch of songs floating the web only has 11 tracks, known as 'Unreleased second demo'. But there's much, much more recorded. 
I added 8 extra tracks from these recording sessions plus a mid nineties song ("Alone Forever").In fact, Arthur Tisi Jr. has done tons of demos (I have 5 folders from different years), covering several styles like funk rock, modern rock, etc.But what I offer here is the melodic rockin', awesome kick ass stuff from 89/90.Do yourself a favor, don't miss this collection...01 - Guilty Heart02 - A Little Too Early03 - Can't Face Another Night04 - Limits Of Love #05 - Love You Too Much06 - I' ll Be There07 - She Lights Dynamite #08 - One Bad Habit09 - Momma Sweet Evil #10 - Love Finds You Guilty11 - Responsible12 - Change Of Heart #13 - The Cut & Run14 - Can't Live Without You15 - New York City16 - Can't Stop Breaking Down #17 - When It's Over # (awesome!)18 - Joanne #19 - Knock Knock #20 - Alone Forever ## added tracksARTI TISI The Definitive Collection.
This year marks 20 years since the death of RAY GILLEN, one of the greatest singers from the eighties / nineties international Hard Rock scene. The American vocalist had a short but fruitful career which is covered in its entirety in this blog humble tribute.Every project where Gillen was involved is present here: from his first official recording as part of Bobby Rondinelli's band to his final, posthumous released work with Sun Red Sun. He was featured as guest in a Savatage track, but as he only appears in a vocal duet at the end of the song I chose to leave out this one.We have Ray's guest leads in the Atsushi Yokozeki Project and George Lynch's solo album, his wonderful participation in Phenomena as main vocalist and of course his own US band Badlands.But as this tribute was done in a first place because a reader of this blog requested some Gillen's unreleased material, I offer you some rare stuff as well.Ray was called by Tony Iommi to record Black Sabbath's album 'The Eternal Idol' in 1986, an although recorded most of the tracks he quit before the album was ever released due to internal troubles never clarified.Gillen was eventually replaced by Tony Martin (another great singer), but Ray's pre-production takes are really awesome. These sessions finally saw the light of day in the 2-disc expanded set of the album released few years ago. I have chosen "Nightmare", a monster of a song.Ray toured extensively during his stay in Sabbath and some of these concerts were caught on tape, but never released. Just listen Ray's performance on the classic "War Pigs", it is truly thrilling.Also featured here is a rare early demo of "Stop" - one of the best tracks from the Phenomena album 'Dream Runner' (1987) - in a more 'aural' version.There's also a demo, a never released song from the Badlands days, and the only known track recorded by Gillen as part of John Sykes' Blue Murder. He was in the band only few months, leaving the project when Sykes decided to handle vocals himself.All these unreleased tracks were sonically cleaned by me, and I also did a really nice artwork to accompany this deserved tribute to one of the greatest shouters in Hard Rock history.Tracklist, CLICK HERE: 
RAY GILLEN - The Fire Still Burns.
![PRiSM - Small Change [remastered + bonus] (1981)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRU7bUjQeGSBKdpFYZDD7pSSPFy8O4C74UIzV1jDdLXQ8bWgedt0SJCHEzZOon9kRiYfhdadJtwEXIiZxiZdjRiDAZYf62gsXGqlW0Zp3fDp5wxa2tGjaZbkSipSb3viImx3QNXJkui1z/s280/PRISM+-+Small+Change+remastered+++bonus.gif)
Requested in "Request & Fill Corner" section...PRiSM were one of Canada's AOR pioneers for sure. The band never found a stable line-up, but all their recordings are prime examples of quality melodic rock, with an accentuated AOR inclination with each record released.In 1981, presumably by the band's new label (Capitol) wishes, original singer Ron Tabak was fired, replaced by Henry Small for the 6th album wisely entitled "Small Change".It was not only a change at the mic, but also in the general musical approach, more commercial and radio friendly AOR.For this matter, external songwriters and future super stars were brought in, like Jim Vallance & Bryan Adams contributing the lead single "Don't Let Him Know", a wonderful fluffy AOR tune with a killer chorus. Both Vallance & Adams also wrote the brilliant AOR ballad "Stay", very much in the REO Speedwagon style."Turn On Your Radar" is classic, lightweight CanCon mid-tempo AOR, the punchy "Hole In Paradise" is pure Melodic Rock Heaven, and "Rain" a dreamy ballad with great atmosphere.The Bruce Turgon (later in Shadow King and Foreigner) penned AOR rocker "Heart And Soul" keeps you moving with style, in the intense "When Love Goes Wrong" Henry Small sounds like a young Mark Free, while Prism does a very cool rocking rendition on Jimmy Rodgers' "In The Jailhouse Now".The album ends with the Foreigner / Sheriff sounding semi-ballad "Wings Of Your Love", adorned with pianos and nice bluesy guitars.![PRiSM - Small Change [remastered + bonus] (1981) back cover](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJ-CMUd-q7nSBOgsolJel8EEeMA45PGvSbLGMNqmClULqiIfifXCYuFBFx330MDTEbc17kh0tBwhb9e_9uQL4hltY9ObgSfaJs-M8cNMQrTZN5C2dAKUpVMBgsIUDgQWvl1Y7bhj3__7j/s280/PRISM+-+Small+Change+remastered+++bonus+back+cover.gif)
Although it scored a couple of US Top40 singles and went platinum in Canada, "Small Change" incredibly wasn't properly released on CD by Capitol years after.The now defunct -and great- German label ATM picked up the challenge and released this (and follower 'Beat Street') on CD for the first time in 1997 (there's also a Renaissance reissue) including 6 bonus tracks.These are the prev. unreleased "Cadillac Club", the rocking "N-N-N-No!" from the previous recording and four alternate takes / mixes from the main album. Honestly, I hear few differences, the most noticeable are the louder guitars on "Heart And Soul".All are included here in my file, but the main "Small Change" is ripped from the rare promotional only, special limited edition, remastered version. There's only few copies of this one on vinly and CD.Classy!Limited Edition remastered:01 - Don't Let Him Know02 - Turn On Your Radar03 - Hole In Paradise04 - Rain05 - When Will I See You Again06 - Heart And Soul07 - Stay08 - When Love Goes Wrong09 - In The Jailhouse Now10 - Wings Of Your LoveATM label bonuses:11 - Cadillac Club12 - When Will I See You Again (Alt. Version)13 - Heart Ans Soul (Alternate Version)14 - Stay (Alternate Version)15 - Rain (Alternate Version)16 - N-N-N-No!Henry Small: vocals, bass, guitar, keyboardsLindsay Mitchell: guitar, vocalsAllen Harlow: bassRocket Norton: drumsPRISM Small Change remastered.
Re-posted as requested. Hard to find album and even more in its CD version. Get it while it's hot, it won't be featured again.Renowned singer-songwriter Daniel Hill born in Ontario, Canada, of US parents. He studied guitar in his teens, leaving high school at 17 to work as a songwriter for RCA.Through his career has won a Grammy, five Canadian Junos, five SOCAN Awards for outstanding radio airplay, six ASCAP Awards and one BMI Award for airplay in the USA. As solo artist is mostly known by smooth L.A WestCoast hits, but around 1983 he couldn't resist the sound that was ruling the airwaves."Love In The Shadows" is his more AOR, 'hip' album to date. The title track is a nifty, radiable poppish AOR tune with clean guitars and compressed drums. "Helpless" is another AORish tune adorned with quirky keyboards, a truly '84 'soundtrack - type' song.You can't deny the quality of the syruped ballad "In Your Eyes". Cheesy, yes, but awesome. Next, "Just In Time" is an infectious pop in the Alan Gorrie or Adrian Gurvits mood. The WestCoast / AOR ballad "You Pulled Me Through" contains the greatest Hill's vocal performance on this album. Deep and emotional.The AC (Adult Contemporary) AOR "Where You Gonna Run To" is pure class, followed by "Something Ain't Right" were Dan sounds like AOR masters Maxus. "Don't Know Where It Comes From" is a wonderful and inspired ballad focused on electric piano and filled with ethereal synth orchestrations."Thru To You" ups the tempo again, a great keyboard driven AOR track, simple but effective, in the Little River Band style. Last track, the slow "Old Lady Song" features another inspired performance by Hill, with real strings in the background.As bonus, I've added the 1994 version of "In Your Eyes" (duet with Rique Franks). This song became an international smash hit for George Benson, also to Jeffrey Osborne whom recorded his own version in 1986.
"Love In The Shadows" obviously, it's on the lightweight side of the AOR genre. Production as usual on Dan Hill albums is top notch, and the musicians involved done their job with class."Love In The Shadows" is real hard to find, as never has been released in the USA. Even more rare is this Japanese-only CD version.A collector's item.01 - Love In The Shadows02 - Helpless03 - In Your Eyes04 - Just In Time05 - You Pulled Me Through06 - Where You Gonna Run To07 - Something Ain't Right08 - Don't Know Where It Comes From09 - Thru To You10 - Old Lady Song11 - In Your Eyes (duet with Rique Franks) [bonus]Lead and Backing Vocals, Keyboards – Dan HillGuitar – Neil Chapman, Mike FrancisGuitar, Keyboards – John Lewis ParkerKeyboards – John SheardBass – Tom SczcesniakDrums – Jørn AndersonDrums [Steel] – Dick Smith (4)Percussion – Dick SmithStrings – Dick ArminBacking Vocals, Piano – John SheardDAN HILL Love In The Shadows CDrip.
Requested in "Request & Fill Corner" section...Keyboardist PAUL BLISS has a vast musical background having played with artists such as The Moody Blues or The Hollies to name a couple, and wrote songs for big names in mainstream music.In the late seventies Paul cut a couple of good albums with the Bliss Band, and meanwhile recorded his own songs during the eighties.In 1997, Bliss selected the best of these tapes and released by himself "The Edge Of Coincidence". All these tracks were recorded at different stages during the '80s, with detailed production and pure sweet AOR feeling.You can't go wrong here; you have songs co-writen with Steve Kipner, Peter Beckett and his former Bliss Band guitarist Phil Palmer.Perhaps you've heard some of these tracks performed by other artists, such as "Castles On Quicksand" by Think Out Loud (Beckett/Kipner's band) or performed by the 'California Dreams TV series' cast (featured on this blog in one of my AOR TREASURES - The Soundtracks compilations), while the lite AORish "If Love Is Out Of The Question" was made popular by Celine Dion.Both Bliss takes here are more AOR oriented of course.My favorites are the Canadian AOR inspired "One In A Million" (check the video below) and the awesome midtempo "Chicago", resembling other Cannuck artists as Paul Janz or Ian Thomas.But all tracks sums quality like the L.A. WestCoast groove of "Heartache To Heartache" and "How Do I Survive?" and the smooth arrangements in "Unsung Heroes" and the elegant ballad "Musical Pictures".More Canadian influences can be heard in "Valiant Heart", "Hand On Your Heart" and "Innocent Eyes". Other cuts go more poppy but really well crafted.
Although released by Paul Bliss is the nineties, "The Edge Of Coincidence" is a pure exponent of the '80s. Some guest singers add variation to this album, as said, well recorded and mixed.The quality here was soon picked up by Japanese label Cool Sound, but this HQ rip was taken from the original, self Paul Bliss release.A real musical 'bliss'01 - Castles On Quicksand02 - Heartache To Heartache03 - How Do I Survive?04 - Musical Pictures05 - Chicago06 - Rio07 - I Used To Love The Radio08 - One In A Million09 - Valiant Heart10 - The Eyes Of A Child11 - Hand On Your Heart12 - Unsung Heroes13 - If Love Is Out The Question14 - Telepathy15 - Law Of The Jungle16 - Innocent EyesPaul Bliss - vocals, keyboardsPhil Palmer - guitarsSusie Benson - vocals (Track 4)Micky Feat - vocals (Track 9)Jackie Rawe - vocals (Track 13)Ian Palmer - vocals (Track 14)Sharon Campbell - backing vocalsPAUL BLISS The Edge Of Coincidence.
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![PRiSM - Small Change [remastered + bonus] (1981)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRU7bUjQeGSBKdpFYZDD7pSSPFy8O4C74UIzV1jDdLXQ8bWgedt0SJCHEzZOon9kRiYfhdadJtwEXIiZxiZdjRiDAZYf62gsXGqlW0Zp3fDp5wxa2tGjaZbkSipSb3viImx3QNXJkui1z/s1600/PRISM+-+Small+Change+remastered+++bonus.gif)
![PRiSM - Small Change [remastered + bonus] (1981) back cover](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJ-CMUd-q7nSBOgsolJel8EEeMA45PGvSbLGMNqmClULqiIfifXCYuFBFx330MDTEbc17kh0tBwhb9e_9uQL4hltY9ObgSfaJs-M8cNMQrTZN5C2dAKUpVMBgsIUDgQWvl1Y7bhj3__7j/s1600/PRISM+-+Small+Change+remastered+++bonus+back+cover.gif)
