GOTTHARD - Firebirth (Released: June 1, Nuclear Blast)

Is not easy to fill the space left by Steve Lee and new singer Nic Maeder doesn't do that but it's fair to tell this guy is a very good singer. After three years and the tragic death of their lead singer these Swiss guys return with a strong and good rockin' album but songwriting is weak so probably Gotthard's diehard fans will be a little dissappointed with this album.


Sounds:








 Remember It's Me (official video)

PRISM - Small Change (Released: 1981, Capitol Records)

Small Change was the first album released with new singer Henry Small and that meant a turn into a more Soft Rock sound. Their highest charting single in the USA was from this album, the guitar driven Don't Let Him Know, a rockin' masterpiece writen by Bryan Adams and Jim Valance that reached Billboard Hot 100 # 39. Another two singles were released from this album Hold In Your Heart and Turn on Your Radar that reached USA # 64 while the album climbed to Billboard 200 # 53.
These Vancouver guys are another example of a very good band unfairly underrated.








Sounds:

Don't Let Him Know

AEROSMITH's NEW SINGLE - Legendary Child from the upcoming album Music From Another Dimension

CHRISSY STEELE - Magnet Against Steele (Released: 1991, Chrysalis)

Though Chrissy was officially lead singer for the Headpins the band never released an album with her on vocals, actually she only toured with the band in 1990. The reason for this is that Brian MacLeod, the only original member of the Headpins at that time, was fighting against cancer so the label decided to release this album as solo work by Chrissy Steele and not as an album by Headpins as planned but soon she was dropped by the label. The album was produced by MacLeod that sadly passed away in '92.
This album is a great collection of rockin' tunes but the most important are the awesome, raspy and powerfull vocals by this lady. Not many people can rock like this woman does but the story of Chrissy Steele is the story of how unfair is the music industry, she should had been a queen of Rock but could only release an album.


Sounds:






Love You 'Till It Hurts (official video)  

Love Don't Last Forever (official video)

MIKE + THE MECHANICS - S/t (Released: 1985, WEA) - Living Years (Released: 1988, WEA)

Mike + The Mechanics is a superband formed in 1985 by Mike Rutherford (Genesis), Paul Carrack (Ace), Paul Young (Sad Cafe), Adrian Lee (Red Hot) and Peter Van Hooke (Headstone, Ezio...). Their sound is a mix of AOR, Progressive, Rock and Pop with exceptional production and terrific songwriting.
Their S/t debut album was released back in '85 enjoying massive success all over the world reaching USA # 26, CAN # 10, GER # 9... Three singles were released, the epic and impressive Silent Running  was the first reaching # 6 on Billboard Hot 100 and the top ten almost all over the world. The song was chosen to appear in the science fiction movie Choke Canyon (aka On Dangerous Ground )
The second single released was the amazing All I Need Is A Miracle. The song also enjoyed massive success reaching USA # 5, CAN # 10, IRE # 1... while Taken In was the third reaching USA # 32.
The album was produced by Christopher Neil and it's an absolute masterpice.

Their second was released in '88 and entitled Living Years. The album enjoyed bigger commercial success than its predecessor but though it's another impressive collection of tunes didn't reach the creativity and musical impact of their previous effort. Living Years reached USA # 13, UK # 2... and their only USA # 1 single was the second released from this album and titled The Living Years. This song also reached # 1 in Canada, Australia, Ireland and # 2 in the UK. The song was writen by Rutherford and B.A. Robertson and it's about a lack of communication between Robertson and his father before he died... precious song.
The rest of singles from this album were Nobody's Perfect, Seeing is Believing and Nobody Knows.





Form Mike + The Mechanics:

Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground) (official video)

 

All I Need Is A Miracle (official video)

 

Taken In (official video)



From Living Years:

Nobody's Perfect (official video)

 

The Living Years (official video)

 

Seeing Is Believing (official video)

RICHARD MARX's NEWS:

Richard Marx's new single Wouldn't Let Me Love You is here... man, this song is good.

POCO - Legacy (Released: 1989, RCA)

Poco is a country-Rock band formed in L.A. by Jim Messina and Richie Furay when they left Buffalo Springfield. Despite their original sound the band released in '89 and AOR-oriented album though their roots are kept in some cuts. The album was entitled Legacy and meant the reunion of the original line-up. It enjoyed big success reaching USA # 40 and five singles were released, Call It Love was the first one enjoying massive success reaching Billboard Hot 100 # 18 and a precious ballad writen by Richard Marx and Bruce Gaistch called Nothin' To Hide reaching Billboard Hot 100 # 39. The rest of the singles were The Nature of Love, Where It All Began and What Do People Know.

Fantastic album with the highlight of a gem titled Call It Love.



Sounds:









Call It Love (original video)

Nothin' To Hide (original video)