WARRANT 'DIRTY ROTTEN FILTHY STINKING RICH' CANDY343
AS ONE OF the main movers and shakers of the Los Angeles Sunset Strip rock scene during the late 80s, WARRANT made a huge impact at every level, helping to define not only a musical movement but also establishing a commercial breakthrough that astounded the naysayers. It was a golden time for not only the music of the era but also WARANT directly, whose presence on MTV was virtually permanent.
Like most bands, the formation of WARRANT mutated through a number of line ups, but it eventually settled to feature vocalist Jani Lane, an appointment that ignited the band’s creativity and placed them on the path to gold and glory. But it wasn’t an easy ride, with a number of setbacks frustrating progress, including a brief encounter with the Prince’s Paisley Park organisation which bankrolled a demo that then received a number of rejections from most record labels. Eventually however, with the help of major management, the band signed to Columbia records and commenced their rise to stardom.
Originally issued in January 1989, the album was produced by Beau Hill (RATT, KIX, Winger etc) and set in motion a rapid rise to fame, which came as little surprise to those who had been following the band from the sidelines. The compelling production, trademark riffs and Lane’s superb vocals elevated the songs to another level. ‘Down Boys’ the first track to radio accelerated sales and the ballad ‘Heaven’ made it to #1 on the US singles chart, giving them sales upwards of double platinum.
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED SOUND, 16 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 4,000 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE ALBUM, NEW INTERVIEWS AND ENHANCED ARTWORK
TRACK LISTING: 1. 32 PENNIES IN A RAGU JAR 2. DOWN BOYS 3. BIG TALK 4. SOMETIMES SHE CRIES 5. SO DAMN PRETTY (AGAINST THE LAW) 6. D.R.F.S.R. 7. IN THE STICKS 8. HEAVEN 9. RIDIN’ HIGH 10. COLD SWEAT
WARRANT 'CHERRY PIE' CANDY344
IF YOU APPLIED a microscope to the late 80s American hard rock scene, looking for one pivotal song that encompassed the period, then you’d be hard pressed to get past ‘Cherry Pie’, a track that was all conquering at the time, firmly establishing itself as one of the era’s calling cards. With MTV embracing the accompanying video, and US radio elevating the track into overdrive, WARRANT could do no wrong and deservedly so.
Emerging out of the Los Angeles Sunset Strip hotbed, the band initially struggled to gain a foothold, but eventually attracted major management and a coveted contract with industry heavyweight Columbia records. Their debut album surpassed expectations, and produced a #2 hit single, spring boarding sales way in excess of gold status. The scene was set for their sophomore album but nobody was ready for the explosion of success that followed.
‘Cherry Pie’, once again produced by veteran studio wizard Beau Hill (Winger, RATT, KIX) and originally issued in 1990, launched the band to even bigger success; the title track becoming one of the most played songs of the year and a virtual prime time MTV staple. In addition, the band’s front man Jani Lane had become a poster boy for the movement, with his, and the band’s, faces splattered over virtually every music magazine around. Musically the album was far superior to their debut and decidedly heavier, featuring such brazen rockers as ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’, ‘Love In Stereo’ and, of course, the superbly crafted title track.
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED SOUND, 5 BONUS TRACKS, 16 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 4,000 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE ALBUM, NEW INTERVIEWS AND ENHANCED ARTWORK
TRACK LISTING: 1. CHERRY PIE 2. UNCLE TOM’S CABIN 3. I SAW RED 4. BED OF ROSES 5. SURE FEELS GOOD TO ME 6. LOVE IN STEREO 7. BLIND FAITH 8. SONG AND DANCE MAN 9. YOU’RE THE ONLY HELL YOUR MAMA EVER RAISED 10. MR. RAINMAKER 11. TRAIN, TRAIN 12. ODE TO TIPPER GORE. BONUS TRACKS: 13. GAME OF WAR (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED DEMO) 14. THE POWER (DEMO) 15. THIN DISGUISE 16. I SAW RED (ACOUSTIC VERSION) 17. CHERRY PIE (SINGLE VERSION)
MOTHER’S FINEST ‘IRON AGE’ CANDY324
ARGUABLY MOTHER’S FINEST were the greatest funk rock band of all time. Formed in the early seventies they entered the scene as a full-on rock band, but with a unique sound that fused lean and mean bad ass funk with crunchy guitar driven white boy rock. Their debut album took the music world by the short and curlies, attracting praise from fans of both funk and traditional rock. They were equally at home being compared to Funkadelic as they were to Led Zeppelin.
It was this unique musical mash-up that not only attracted praise but also caused a degree of confusion. Many critics, journalists and radio jocks couldn’t quite place them into a specific bag; a problem that restricted their commercial progress, despite crafting some of the most exciting music of the era. This confusion also influenced the band’s sound which had, on occasion, been wandering between styles.
For ‘Iron Age’ the band made a concerted effort to underscore their commitment to rock, crafting a record that simply confounded any notion that they were easing off the gas pedal. For many, this album is the pinnacle of the band’s output, as it unleashes a torrent of hard and fast songs, including such riff laden classics as ‘Luv Drug’, ‘Movin On’, ‘Evolution’ and the jewel in the crown ‘Illusion’. Hats off to hostess with the mostest Joyce ‘Baby Jean’ Kennedy whose vocal is as good, if not superior, to both Tina Turner and Chaka Khan.
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED SOUND, BONUS TRACK, 16 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 4,000 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE ALBUM, NEW INTERVIEWS AND ENHANCED ARTWORK
TRACK LISTING: 1. MOVIN’ ON 2. LUV DRUG 3. ROCK ‘N ROLL 2 NITE 4. U TURN ME ON 5. ALL THE WAY 6. EVOLUTION 7. ILLUSION (C’MON OVER TO MY HOUSE) 8. TIME 9. GONE WITH TH’ RAIN 10. EARTHLING
FRANK MARINO & MAHOGANY RUSH ‘LIVE’ CANDY 325
THE COMMONLY HELD belief about Frank Marino, leader of Mahogany Rush, is that he was motivated by the dead spirit of Jimi Hendrix. Of course this was a misquote taken from an early interview which persisted throughout his career and, to a degree, still dogs his activities to this very day. Of course it was pure hokum and a myth utilized to successfully advance his presence in the market place.
Born and raised in Canada, Frank commenced his musical career as a drummer before moving to guitar and forming Mahogany Rush who issued five well received studio albums prior to this live album. Harnessing a wealth of strong material the band recorded several dates on their 1977 world tour in order to compile a comprehensive selection of choice cuts including ‘Dragonfly’, ‘The Answer’, ‘I’m A King Bee’, ‘Talkin’ ‘Bout A Feelin’ and the impressive ‘World Anthem’.
Of course Frank’s guitar is the prominent instrument showcasing incredible fluidity and aggression as well as an obvious nod in the style of Jimmy Hendrix, but as a power trio the dexterous support of bassist Paul Harwood and drummer Jimmy Ayoub makes the recordings all the more arresting. As an authentic live album, one devoid of studio overdubs, the contents are hugely impressive allowing Frank to showcase endless solos. We’ve added two bonus tracks taken from the bands performance at the 1978 California Jam II festival held in front of an impressive 350,000 fans.
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED SOUND, 2 BONUS TRACKS, 12 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 3000 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE ALBUM AND ENHANCED ARTWORK WITH PREVIOSULY UNSEEN PHOTOS.
TRACK LISTING: 1. INTRODUCTION 2. THE ANSWER 3. DRAGONFLY 4. I’M A KING BEE 5. (EXCERPT FROM “BACK DOOR MAN”) 6. A NEW ROCK & ROLL 7. JOHNNY B. GOODE 8. TALKIN’ ‘BOUT A FEELIN’ 9. (EXCERPT FROM “WHO DO YA LOVE”) 10. ELECTRIC REFLECTIONS OF WAR 11. THE WORLD ANTHEM 12. PURPLE HAZE. BONUS TRACKS: 13. I’M A KING BEE 14. JOHNNY B. GOODE
FRANK MARINO ‘WHAT’S NEXT’ CANDY 326
AMAZINGLY THIS WAS Frank Mario’s seventh studio album in almost as many years, an accomplishment made even more impressive by the amount of live work that he had stashed under his belt. Marino had become a notorious road dog, playing everywhere and anywhere, helping to establish him as one of the great showmen of the era. Of course, his comparison to Jimi Hendrix’s playing style served as an ideal introduction, but Marino’s appeal was so much more than that.
‘What’s Next’ was an important milestone in Frank’s career, not only because the music was getting far more precise but because the band had expanded to a four piece after years working as a power trio. And it wasn’t any old expansion either, with Frank enlisting his brother Vince on rhythm guitar, lending the unit a far broader appeal – bigger, bolder and effortlessly streamlined, to take advantage of the changing times.
Produced as usual by Frank and originally issued in 1980, the album made a strong impact, attracting healthy reviews and an impressive placing on the all important Billboard top 100 chart. It also featured some of Frank’s most impressive playing thus far, with tracks such as ‘Mona’, ‘Something’s Comin’ Our Way’, ‘Loved By You’ and a surprising cover of ‘Roadhouse Blues’, originally penned by the Doors. There is no question that this album is one of the many triumphs of Frank Marino and its reappraisal is long overdue.
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED SOUND, 12 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 3000 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE ALBUM AND ENHANCED ARTWORK WITH PREVIOSULY UNSEEN PHOTOS.
TRACK LISTING: 1. YOU GOT LIVIN’ 2. FINISH LINE 3.ROCK ME BABY 4. SOMETHING’S COMIN’ OUR WAY 5. ROADHOUSE BLUES 6. LOVED BY YOU 7. ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HALL OF FAME 8. MONA
FRANK MARINO ‘THE POWER OF ROCK AND ROLL’ CANDY 327
FRANK MARINO HAD been developing a solid reputation throughout the 1970s as the figurehead of his band Mahogany Rush, an impressive power trio rooted in electric blues, that gave Frank a platform to showcase his tremendous guitar prowess, all set within a wide screen musical landscape. In a bold move, for this, his eighth studio album, he was encouraged to drop the Mahogany Rush handle altogether and set sail purely under his own name. It was a brave step but one that made perfect sense considering the momentum that he had already achieved.
Released in 1981 and once again self produced, ‘The Power Of Rock And Roll’ was a triumph, seeing Frank setting fire to convention with a collection of hard hitting, no nonsense rock that sounded like a defiant call to arms. It also signalled other major changes; splitting with long time management Leber-Krebs and cementing the appointment of his brother Vince Marino, on rhythm guitar, as a full time member of the group.
Sharper, infinitely more focussed and taking no prisoners, the eight tracks are veritable firecrackers, making good on his intent to deliver a record that, by all rights, should have catapulted him to sizeable success beyond his cult appeal. Songs such as ‘Ain’t Dead Yet’, ‘Runnin’ Wild’, ‘Crazy Miss Daisy’ and the frenetic, almost speed metal, pace of ‘Go Strange’, leave little room for any argument that Frank was losing his focus or resting on his laurels.
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED SOUND, 12 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 3000 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE ALBUM AND ENHANCED ARTWORK WITH PREVIOSULY UNSEEN PHOTOS.
TRACK LISTING: 1. THE POWER OF ROCK AND ROLL 2. PLAY MY MUSIC 3. STAY WITH ME 4. RUNNIN’ WILD 5. CRAZY MISS DAISY 6. GO STRANGE 7. YOUNG MAN 8. AIN’T DEAD YET
FRANK MARINO ‘JUGGERNAUT’ CANDY 328
FOR THE MOST part, Frank Marino was perceived by the music business, and the majority of his fans, as a red-hot guitar player capable of laying down riffs and solos like they were going out of fashion. However, that overall impression belied his musical depth as a musician with a deep understanding of composition and arrangement. For Frank, despite his reputation for endless soloing, the goal was always about crafting songs that had meaning and weight. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than on the ‘Juggernaut’ album.
Recorded and released in 1982, the record showcases Frank in spectacular form, setting out a stall that solidly welds his penchant for blistering hard rock and memorable songs. The title track alone is arguably his greatest triumph, fusing a rock solid riff with a synthetic dusting of melody. Indeed, it became one of Frank’s most successful tracks, nearly nudging him into the upper reaches of the American rock charts. And that song is not alone as there are several equally impressive examples, such as ‘Midnight Highway’ and the brilliantly evocative ‘Stories Of A Hero’.
Sadly for Frank, this was the point, after seven albums recording for Columbia Records, at which he and the label reached a creative impasse, resulting in him leaving the company and vowing never to record for a major label again. It was certainly a shame as, at long last, it seemed that he’d made a creative breakthrough, pointing him to a whole new level of creativity.
SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION, FULLY REMASTERED SOUND, 12 PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET, 3000 WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE ALBUM AND ENHANCED ARTWORK WITH PREVIOSULY UNSEEN PHOTOS.
TRACK LISTING: 1. STRANGE DREAMS 2. MIDNIGHT HIGHWAY 3. STORIES OF A HERO 4. FREE 5. MAYBE IT’S TIME 6. DITCH QUEEN 7. FOR YOUR LOVE 8. JUGGERNAUT
