VALENTINE 'S/T' CANDY352
“ROCK CANDY IS no stranger to bad timing and misfired opportunities. For most people the results are of no great consequence but occasionally, the repercussions – especially with years of hindsight to put the loss into perspective – are truly lamentable. The failure of ‘Valentine’s sole album is one such case in point. If any melodic rock band should have made a huge international splash then this should have been the one.
Formed in New York during the mid 80’s and fronted by the sensational vocalist Hugo Valenti, the band soon made friends amongst the NY music business cognoscenti, leading to major management opportunities (Michael Bolton’s manager Louis Levin) and a coveted major label deal with Columbia Records. It was easy to see why they attracted such a passionate reaction, armed with music that was not only powerful and memorable but also displayed a song writing ability that left the competition in the dust.
Amazingly the band’s fortunes took a nose dive when executive changes at the label left them high and dry, forcing them to switch to another company, Giant Records, helmed by industry heavyweight Irving Azoff. Produced by Neil Kernon (Autograph, Queensryche, Lynch Mob) the album was eventually released in late 1990, and it received a great reception from the melodic rock aficionados. Packed with incredible songs, ranging from gilt-lined AOR such as ‘Runnin’ On Luck Again’, ‘Too Much Is Never Enough’, to the pomp blast of ‘Where Are You Now’ and Once In A Lifetime’. But the icing on the cake must surely be ‘Never Said It Was Gonna Be Easy’, one of the greatest power ballads of all time.”
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED AUDIO, 12 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 3,500 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE ALBUM INCLUDING NEW INTERVIEWS, RARE PHOTOS AND ENHANCED ARTWORK
TRACK LISTING: 1. RUNNIN’ ON LUCK AGAIN 2. NO WAY 3. TEARS IN THE NIGHT 4. TOO MUCH IS NEVER ENOUGH 5. NEVER SAID IT WAS GONNA BE EASY 6. WHERE ARE YOU NOW 7. NAUGHTY GIRL 8. ONCE IN A LIFETIME 9. SOMEDAY 10. WE RUN 11. YOU’LL ALWAYS HAVE ME
ST. PARADISE 'S/T' CANDY285
“ST PARADISE WERE, it must now be said, an overlooked supergroup. A power trio that barely registered on the radar, despite the members’ impressive musical accomplishments, that were very much in keeping with the late 70s hard rock zeitgeist. It was, in all fairness, a strange state of affairs that belied the quality of the music and drew attention to the fast shifting sands and volatile nature of the music business.
They were formed by two former members of Ted Nugent’s band; singer/guitarist Derek St. Holmes and bassist Rob Grange. Nugent, of course, was one of the biggest names on the hard rock scene during the second half of the decade, but it remained largely unknown that the vocals on Ted’s records were mostly supplied by St. Holmes, a man that had lived in the shadow of Ted’s enormous presence. Joining them on drums was Denny Carmassi whose accomplishments already included a four album stint with Montrose, one of the era’s most revered acts. He was also a member of Sammy Hagar’s solo band, appearing on two of his albums.
Enlisting the help of producer Mike Flicker (Heart, Trooper) the band recorded their sole album in Seattle, for the Warner Brothers label, establishing a sound very much informed by their previous outfits, yet keeping a keen eye on the future. Issued in 1979, sadly the record underperformed despite its impressive content and potential to impress. Oh, check out a blistering version of ‘Live It Up’, originally found on Ted Nugents’s ‘Cat Scratch Fever’ album.”
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED AUDIO, 12 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 3,500 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE ALBUM INCLUDING NEW INTERVIEWS, RARE PHOTOS AND ENHANCED ARTWORK
TRACK LISTING: 1. STRAIGHT TO YOU 2. GAMBLIN' MAN 3. JACKIE 4. MIAMI SLIDE 5. HADES 6. LIVE IT UP 7. JESSE JAMES 8. TIGHTEN THE KNOT 9. BESIDE THE SEA
ATOMIC OPERA 'FOR MADMEN ONLY' CANDY346
“THE HEAT and humidity of Houston, Texas has nurtured many fine acts, not least of course ZZ Top. But scrape beneath the surface and you’ll find many more bands that ought to have made it big, including a religious leaning stable of acts led by the impressive and trail blazing power trio Kings X. Atomic Opera were one such outfit playing music that, in a way, was out of this world, fusing the progressive elements of days gone by while charting a contemporary path to future glory.
Led by talented frontman and guitarist Frank Hart, this enigmatic quartet were very much part of the spiritually inclined Houston cabal assembled by mogul, manager and producer Sam Taylor; a man who had discovered and nurtured Kings X to worldwide attention. Atomic Opera were, it must be said, cut from the very same musical cloth as Kings X, laying down a sound that was thick and boisterous but embedded with subtlety and intelligent arrangements. It was also a sound that fused the popular grunge movement with traditional hard rock styling.
Issued in 1994, ‘For Madmen Only’ looked set to make quite a splash. It’s solid and muscular sound garnered the attention of traditional metal heads but also appealed to those whose tastes craved a more contemporary fix. Tracks such as ‘Justice’ and ‘x’ made heads spin, but the jewel in the crown is undoubtedly ‘Joyride’, a mesmerising melange of riffs and melody propelled by an incessant musical mantra that elevated the band far beyond the ordinary.”
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED AUDIO, 12 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 3,500 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE ALBUM INCLUDING NEW INTERVIEW AND RARE PHOTOS
TRACK LISTING: 1. JOYRIDE 2. JUSTICE 3. ACHILLES’ HEEL 4. I KNOW BETTER 5. ALL FALL DOWN 6. WAR DRUM 7. BLACKNESS 8. DECEMBER 9. THIS SIDE OF THE RAINBOW 10. NEW DREAMS
GARY WRIGHT 'THE DREAM WEAVER' CANDY348
“IT’S HIGHLY unlikely that you’d have wagered that a former member of early seventies hard rock band Spooky Tooth would resurface later that decade with a major selling solo album and an all persuasive, soft rock, hit single ‘Dreamweaver’. It was a remarkable achievement and one that elevated Gary Wright to a new audience, allowing him the space to develop a solo career that continues to this day.
Born in the USA, Wright moved to the UK and joined Spooky Tooth at the suggestion of Island records Chief Chris Blackwell. It was a match made in heaven but, as these things often pan out, the band’s commercial appeal waned, leaving Wright with little choice but to return to the USA and contemplate a solo career. Securing a recording deal with Warner Brothers records, he set about taping a series of demos with just keyboards and a synthesizer. This combination of instruments produced a fascinating sound and one that he continued to pursue on the finished record.
‘The Dream Weaver’ album was issued in 1975 and spawned the enormously successful us #2 hit single of the same name. It was an instant classic and a song that continues to be heard around the world to this day on radio, TV and in movies. Remarkably, the album also contained a successful follow up hit single, ‘Love Is Alive’, a similarly structured track built on synths and a funky backbeat. Dig deeper and you’ll find the surprising presence of guitarist Ronnie Montrose flexing his considerable muscle on ‘Power Of Love’.”
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED AUDIO, 12 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 3,500 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE ALBUM, NEW INTERVIEW WITH GARY WRIGHT AND RARE PHOTOS
TRACK LISTING: 1. LOVE IS ALIVE 2. LET IT OUT 3. CAN’T FIND THE JUDGE 4. MADE TO LOVE YOU 5. POWER OF LOVE 6. DREAM WEAVER 7. BLIND FEELING 8. MUCH HIGHER 9. FEEL FOR ME
GARY WRIGHT 'THE LIGHT OF SMILES' CANDY349
“GARY WRIGHTS’ PLACE in musical history was undoubtedly secured by the huge international hit single ‘Dream Weaver’, a recording that still has an afterlife to this day. But that wasn’t the first time Wright had generated interest in his musical career. Back in the late 60’s this New Jersey born musician relocated to the UK and, on the encouragement of Island Records boss Chris Blackwell, joined forces with Spooky Tooth, one of the most respected acts of the time.
When Spooky Tooth broke up, Wright moved back to America and secured a prestigious solo deal with the Warner Brothers label, recording ‘The Dream Weaver’ album which proved to be an unexpected success, selling close to a million copies. Refocusing his attention, he quickly set about recording the follow up album, once again recorded in Los Angeles, and building on the minimalist, layered keyboard style that he had become known for. It also featured a few of his highly regarded touring musicians such as drummer Jim Keltner, keyboardist David Foster and future Toto bassist Steve Porcaro.
Partly spiritual in nature the tracks appear to conjoin both lyrically and musically. There is a decidedly progressive rock feel to the presentation, partly driven by precision musicianship and expansive arrangements. Tracks such as ‘Watersign’, ‘Time Machine’ and ‘Phantom Writer’ are impressive slices of prog with a defined AOR edge, bringing to mind Supertramp, Steve Winwood, Procol Harum and the Alan Parson’s Project.”
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED AUDIO, 12 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 3,500 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE ALBUM, NEW INTERVIEW WITH GARY WRIGHT AND RARE PHOTOS
TRACK LISTING: 1. WATER SIGN 2. TIME MACHINE 3. I AM THE SKY 4. WHO AM I 5. SILENT FURY 6. PHANTOM WRITER 7. THE LIGHT OF SMILES 8. I’M ALRIGHT 9. EMPTY INSIDE 10. ARE YOU WEEPIN’ 11. CHILD OF LIGHT
