MelodicRock Classics continues their partnership with acclaimed British melodic rock band RIO for the release of their second album – now presented with a new title and brand-new artwork – both driven by the band’s vision for what the second album should have looked like when originally released.
The band’s Steve Rodford sets the record straight: “We are finally be able to address the dreadful original album cover and name. Titled ‘Sex Crimes’, this was our 2nd and last album for Music For Nations and the fact that Elektra Records in the States (who had licenced the first album from MFN) hadn’t taken up the option of a 2nd album, meant the budget for this album was nowhere near what we had for ‘Borderland’. When it came to the cover art, the label had gone ahead and designed it without consulting us, and it was quite a shock to see they’d gone with a topless woman with angel wings and a whip! It all felt so seedy and we both hated it. Then they told us there was no budget left to re-design it! So it feels so good to be able to finally re-package the whole thing in a much cooler way, and also with a new name, both of us feeling that ‘Dangerzone’ is a better and more representative lead track for the record. Finally, to have the whole thing re-mastered is a real joy, getting it in a better place sonically rounds things off perfectly.”
So with that said, RIO‘Dangerzone’ will be released by MRC June 30, with new artwork from the band completed off by resident designer Nello Dell’Omo and remastered by JK Northrup.
Track Listing:
01. Pay For Love
02. Under Pressure
03. Atlantic Radio
04. Highschool Rock
05. Guilty
06. When The Walls Come Down
07. Danger Zone
08. Sex Crimes
09. Dirty Movies
10. Bad Blood
Bonus Tracks:
11. Atlantic Radio (Original Demo)
12. Guilty (Original Demo)
13. Pay For Love (Original Demo)
Vocals, Guitar & Backing Vocals – Jon Neil
Drums, Bass & Keyboards – Steve Rodford
Additional musicians: Backing Vocals – John Verity
All songs written and arranged by – Jon Neil, Steve Rodford
Producer and 1st Engineer – Steve Rodford
Remastered by JK Northrup
Additional tracks – Original demos produced and mixed by Steve Rodford.
MelodicRock Classics is thrilled to announce a new partnership with acclaimed British melodic rock band RIO for the first ever official release on CD of their classic catalogue, which will also feature a third unreleased album!
Starting with the band’s debut album ‘Borderland’, the freshly remastered release (thanks to JK Northrup) features an additional 4 bonus tracks.
The band’s Steve Rodford had this to say about the long-awaited release: “We recorded this album in 1984 as part of our first major record deal, self-produced and recorded at home, then finished off and mixed in London. We’ve been amazed at how it has become a bit of a cult classic over the years and are delighted to be able to present Borderland, in partnership with MelodicRock Classics, featuring exclusive bonus material. It’s so good to be able to present original ‘band’ mixes of “I Don’t Wanna Be The Fool” and “State Of Emergency” as they are closer to the original sound and vision we had for the record. It was a real labour of love recording this album, and it’s so great there’s still interest in it all these years later and would be wonderful to think some new people might discover it.
A very big thank you to Marcus Mason, Jamie and Matt at Sunfish and Andrew McNeice at MelodicRock Classics.”
Track Listing:
01. I Don't Wanna Be The Fool (Original Mix)
02. Straight To The Heart
03. Tommy Can't Help It
04. Better This Time
05. State Of Emergency
06. Shy Girl
07. She's A Virgin
08. Close To You
09. Borderland
Bonus Tracks:
10. I Don't Wanna Be The Fool (Single Mix)
11. Casualty (Previously Unreleased)
12. State Of Emergency (Band Mix)
13. I Don't Wanna Be The Fool (Band Mix)
Pre-orders for RIO and PINK ROSE available Tuesday Sept 12.
