MelodicRock Records is excited to announce the release of one of the finest melodic hard rock records for 2018 – JK Northrup & David Cagle’s first collaboration together, titled ‘That’s Gonna Leave A Mark’.
There is no doubt whatsoever that this record is gonna leave a mark on fans of hard rocking, guitar driven melodic rock, with a production to die for and songs dripping in hooks and melodies.
JK Northrup & David Cagle ‘That’s Gonna Leave A Mark’ arrives March 30 worldwide.
PRE-ORDER JK NORTHRUP & DAVID CAGLE - 'That's Gonna Leave A Mark'
$15 + $5 worldwide shipping
MARCH MRR DEAL - TOTO TRIBUTE & JK NORTHRUP & DAVID CAGLE
$32 + $5 worldwide shipping
MRR’s Andrew McNeice: “I’m immensely proud and excited to finally be releasing this killer record from JK and David. I’ve worked with JK since the very first MR.com compilation over 15 years back and he’s been there for me as a mastering engineer every time since. His work with me remastering some important archive releases in the last couple of years has only further emboldened my respect for him as a first rate professional and someone who can bring out the very best results in any situation. On top of that, he is a Grade A gentleman who I value as a friend and college.
Everyone I have recommended Jeff to as an engineer or producer has ended up using him and continuing that relationship. But I’ve long felt that his name is undervalued as a writer and guitarist and I think this record is his finest achievement to date and a truly stunning release – in all facets – the guitar playing, the writing and production and David Cagle is one hell of a vocalist who I think we need to work with again ASAP!”
Jeff Northrup: “David Cagle and I had worked together in the past and started this album back in 2014. Unfortunately, it was shelved due to 'circumstances'. We knew we had something special even then, and the time was right to pull out this great collection of songs, dust it off and polish it up. The result is 12 of the best songs put together on any album I've been a part of!
Fast forward to 2017… After rewriting some of the lyrics, some arrangement changes, re-recording guitars and vocals, then bringing in the powerful rhythm section of Larry Hart - bass (Montrose, Gypsy Soul, King Kobra) and Steve Brown - drums (Montrose, Oleander-and Mick Brown's younger brother), the album has truly come to life!
Larry and Steve have been playing live together for a couple years and are TIGHT. I've played on a few albums with Larry including King Kobra, Shortino-Northrup and Gypsy Soul, which began in 1987.
When you hear the opening track 'The Night Is Mine', you'll know right away that you are going to Get Rocked HARD!!! David's modern approach on vocals is a breath of fresh air and I pull no punches on guitar!! With some heavy, powerful rock songs, to more main stream rockers and a couple killer ballads, it's all here!!!
Although a predominately guitar driven album, Eric Ragno does a masterful job playing keyboards on 6 songs.
The title track, 'That's Gonna Leave A Mark' was written by myself several years back, but sounds as fresh and powerful as if written today. Some of the lyrics are based on true life experiences about love, hate and a relationship gone bad, which is reflected in the artwork that was done by the great Nello Dell'Omo. 'The Siren' cuts out your heart and leaves you still alive, clutching your chest. Been there, done that!!! I truly am excited for everyone to here this album!! Cheers!" ~ JK Northrup
Produced, Recorded, mixed and mastered by JK Northrup at Alien Productions Music Studio
Not only will the Michael Thompson Band be appearing at Frontiers Rock Festival this April 28-29th for their first live performance in Europe, but they are also working on a new studio album! Today, we are pleased to offer you a preview of the new music they are working on with the song, "'72 Camaro"
This video was filmed when Craig Bauer (mixing engineer) was approached by Hear Technologies with the idea of capturing video of a recording session in Sphere Studios, owned by Francesco Camelli (tracking engineer), in LA. They wanted well known, reputable musicians in the video since it was ultimately going to be used at their booth at the NAMM Show. Craig approached Michael Thompson and Larry King, who are in the middle of the recording new albums from Michael Thompson Band and Soleil Moon and they were more than happy to call in some friends to be the subjects for the video with them. So Vinnie Colaiuta, Leland Sklar - Bassist, and Ricky Peterson came in and now you have this video to watch!
“We will see if and how we will use this song later on,” says singer Larry King, “but in the meantime we wanted the fans to be able to properly enjoy this song in preparation of the band’s performance at the Frontiers' Festival. We hope you can enjoy this and see you soon in Italy!”
Frontiers Music Srl welcomes AOR cult heroes Fortune to the label for the release of a new studio album in early 2019! Mick Fortune says, "[w]e are looking forward to working with Frontiers in both a recording and a touring capacity! Exciting times ahead!"
Fortune’s lineup is comprised of:
Mick Fortune (drums)
Richard Fortune (guitar)
Larry Greene (vocals)
Ricky Rat (bass)
Mark Nilan (keyboards)
The seeds of Fortune were planted by brothers Richard and Mick Fortune, who came from a family of professional musicians; their mother was a singer and their father a singer and bassist. Richard started playing the guitar when he was 16, and went on to play guitar and tour with Buddy Miles, Booker T & The MGs and Spirit, while Mick started out as an accordion, keyboard, and trombone player before switching to drums. The brothers cut an album, "Fortune" for Warner Brothers in 1978, but by 1982 had totally revamped the group with a new key acquisition being the recruitment of Roger Scott Craig. A classically trained pianist from the age of 8, the Irish born keyboard player was known for a successful stint with the Scouse pop group Liverpool Express in the '70s. With a lineup rounded out by Larry 'L.A.' Greene, also of Top Gun soundtrack fame, on vocals, and Detroit studio and Elton John bassist Bob Birch, Fortune eventually released their self-titled debut album in 1985 to a warm reception, especially in Japan and Europe.
Camel/MCA Records (the same label that had launched Night Ranger and Giuffria to stardom) released the debut and it is still highly regarded today by fans of the genre. For many fans of the genre, it is indeed considered one of the best, if not THE best AOR albums of all-time. While this is of course very much open to debate, the reality is that Fortune’s album is one of those lost gems from yesteryear that has aged like fine wine while the years have passed.
Shortly after that legendary self-titled album's release, Camel Records unexpectedly declared bankruptcy for undisclosed reasons and refused to give up the masters of the album, making an album re-release impossible until fairly recently. The band remained silent for years and while Larry Greene and Roger Scott Craig started working together with the band Harlan Cage (who released several albums in the second half of the 90’s and early 00’s), the Fortune brothers started the band back up again as a trio in 2006, until a proper band reunion happened in 2016 when the band performed at the Rockingham Music Festival in 2016 and then - thanks to the acclaim that followed that performance - in 2017 as well. These appearances ultimately led to discussions with Frontiers about a new studio album.
Cheap Trick brings the first single collection April 4 in Japan. Disc 1 (Blu-spec CD2) includes all the tracks from their singles released in Japan in their EPIC era (1977-1990). Track list of them are listed in order of their release dates, and they are the US original versions. Also, the tracks features 2017 DSD mastering. Disc 2 (DVD) includes all the music videos released their EPIC era, including clips from "at Budokan." Comes with a booklet with cover artworks of all the singles.
Disc 1 (Blu-spec CD2) includes all the tracks from their singles released in Japan in their EPIC era (1977-1990). Track list of them are listed in order of their release dates, and they are the US original versions. Also, the tracks features 2017 DSD mastering.
Disc 2 (DVD) includes all the music videos released their EPIC era, including clips from "at Budokan." Comes with a booklet with cover artworks of all the singles.
DISC 1
1 I Want You To Want Me
2 Clock Strikes Ten
3 Surrender
4 California Man
5 Voices
6 Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace
7 Dream Police
8 Everything Works If You Let It
9 Stop This Game
10 (Love Comes) A Tumblin' Down
11 If You Want My Love
12 Dancing The Night Away
13 Tonight It's You
14 Mighty Wings
15 The Flame
16 Don't Be Cruel
17 Stop That Thief
18 Ghost Town
19 Can't Stop Fallin' Into Love
20 Wherever Would I Be
21 Ain't That A Shame (Live at Budokan, Single Version)
Disc 2 - [DVD/Music Video]
1 I Want You To Want Me (Live at Budokan 1978)
2 Surrender (Live at Budokan 1978)
3 Ain't That A Shame (Live: 1980 American Music Awards)
Progressive metal powerhouse Eldritch have released a lyric video of their new single 'As The Night Crawls In', taken from their upcoming new album 'Cracksleep', which will be released on March 23, 2018 on Scarlet Records.
As U.S. rockers MASS begin work on their long awaited new studio album, frontman Louis St. August will be providing exclusive updates - text and audiio - from the process. Here's the final entry; number 5!
Peering out my window this afternoon, I watch the falling snow after just having an amazing 75 degree day yesterday here in Boston. New England... you got to love it.
Well, a few last minute minor tweaks were done last week on a few tracks and our fantastic engineer Kenny Lewis has now uploaded all the files to Philadelphia's own Brian J Anthony who will be mixing and mastering the new MASS album. Brian comes highly recommended by our label and has done a superb job on the first few song mixes. Brian is just coming off the mixing of KANSAS vocalist Steve Walsh's outstanding new record and we look forward to working with him throughout the completion of all mixes.
Now with the album artwork underway (revealed soon) and the album in full blown mix stage, we anticipate a May 23, 2018 release.
Special Guest Announcement:
Michael Sweet of STRYPER makes a special guest appearance on the power ballad song "Stand Alone." Michael adds his flawless guitar playing to the song and creates an amazing melodic solo which compliments the song beautifully.
Our PR man Michael Robinson had the opportunity to ask Michael Sweet a few questions during his MASS studio session. Check out what MS had to say below. But before you do, I would like to thank Andrew McNeice for posting my blogs, and to everyone who took the time to read them. Cheers, and hope to see some of you on the road and that you all dig the new album!
Q&A with Stryper's Michael Sweet @michaelhsweet
Question
On which song will you be appearing on the new MASS album, and what can you tell us about the tune (ballad, mid-tempo, rocker), and your specific contribution (vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, etc.)?
Michael Sweet:
"I've always been a fan of the band MASS and the guys are some of the best you'll find. They asked me to play a guitar solo on a song called "Stand Alone," a really cool guitar ballad that's straight ahead and classic MASS."
Question
You have a long history with MASS. Looking back at your work as Producer on Voices in the Night (1989), what are you most proud of on that record, as far as the sound, performances, songwriting, etc.?
Michael Sweet
"That album just has "it". There's a special chemistry that took place on VITN and everything came together. The songs, performances, production, energy, everything. It was an honor to be a part of it!"
Question
While thinking back to the making of the Voices record, do you have any funny or particularly interesting stories/memories you can share from that period that MASS and Michael Sweet fans would be surprised (and amused) to hear?
Michael Sweet
"The guys stayed at our home for almost two months and everyday was a blast. We laughed a lot. I talked in my Tony Montana accent and they would talk like me. The running line is "You've gotta be coo coo to go to Coco's" - we say it to this day! Man those were fun times with lots of amazing memories......"
Question
Since Voices, MASS has continued to produce outstanding rock records, with this upcoming record, When Two Worlds Collide, their first in seven years. Having worked so closely with the band in the past, and now hearing their new material, do you have any thoughts/comments you can share with MASS (and Michael Sweet) fans so they know what to expect from this long-awaited, upcoming release?
Michael Sweet
"MASS has always been about the songs and that's the foundation. You have to have great songs or you have nothing. MASS has always had great songs and they've been doing it for a long time. That's unusual in this business. They're legendary and I'm proud to know them."
