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AOR HEAVEN ::: N E W S L E T T E R ::: 22/10/2021 |
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Howdy melodic rockers,
What a week and I really mean it with CAPITAL LETTERS !
I can easily say after being more than 25 years in the
business that we have almost that we have dealt with all
possible madness over the years, but what happened this
week is hard to describe.
After receiving the shipment with the Nestor CD and both
Lost U.K./U.S. jewels releases from Hagan and Monro the
madness is pretty much unstoppable !
We have sold almost 400 copies of the Nestor CD within 4
days and it still goes on and on ! Me and my wife are
working almost 14 hours per day to get the stuff out,
but please bare with us if it takes a day longer as
usual - we're doing our very best to satisfy you !
I assume there will be more good business coming our way
as the mr.com releases from Andy Qunta and Mark Edwards
should hopefully get delivered by Monday - fingers
crossed !
And there are more stuff from the past like Cinderella,
Teaser and Mad Margritt plus the new LastWorld CD -
crazy !!
wishing you a great week
Georg & Monika
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AOR HEAVEN RELEASES:
OSUKARU - Starbound
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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AOR and melodic rock from Sweden at its best, even if album number six sounds a bit rougher or harder in comparison to the first five efforts. Given the genre, there are quite versatile arrangements and surprise here and there. And frontman Fredrik Werner sounds pretty rough at times which is a cool counterpart to the partly sugar sweet compositions. Definitely check out the mid tempo monster “Somewhere Sometime Somehow“ with a guest appearance by Mark Holden (sax, BOULEVARD) or the fascinating “Joker (In The House Of Cards)“. No fillers whatsoever and production is first class! A really cool record! OSUKARU definitely plays the same league as fellow Swedes TREAT, H.E.A.T. or ART NATION by now.
MARTIN STARK |
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watch: https://youtu.be/XUZA3FPjf98 |
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SIX SILVER SUN - As Archon Fall
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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Finnish outfit SIX SILVER SUNS and their debut “As Archon Fall“ sound like a hybrid of THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA and BLUE ÖYSTER CULT. This record is a fascinating journey through the sound of the seventies with some eighties flavour. A really beautiful artwork completes the picture of a breathtaking record here. Tracks like “Children Of The Stars“, “Lord Of The Southern Tower“ or “Cosmic Bitter Blues“ for instance make the listener constantly discover new exciting details. Let’s keep track of these guys from up North!
MARTIN STARK |
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watch: https://youtu.be/5N_x8HM1leA |
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EXPECTED NEW RELEASES !!
ANDY QUNTA - Legend In A Loungeroom + bonus CD (deluxe edition) |
B: 14,5 € |
B: 17,5 € |
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Andy Qunta (pronounced
'Kunta') is a British keyboard player, songwriter, vocalist and part-time
guitarist. He moved to Australia in 1982 to join the popular band Icehouse,
co-writing one of their biggest hits; "Crazy". He also
co-wrote "You're The Voice", which has since become something of an anthem since John Farnham had a worldwide #1 hit with
it, and songs for the Manfred Mann's Earth Band (penned together with Chris
Thompson. By 1988, Andy ink a contract for a solo album,
"Legend In A Loungeroom", recorded in Los Angeles with renowned session
musicians. Superb AOR stuff next to Tom Kimmel, Brian Spence and Glen Burtnick,
with a touch of his former band Icehouse. Digitally remastered plus 15 track
bonus CD.
watch:
https://youtu.be/0zL-d8cGyn0 |
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MARD EDWARDS - Land Of The Living + bonus CD (deluxe edition) |
B: 14,5 € |
B: 17,5 € |
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Following the
split of the band "The Runners", Australian singer and songwriter Mark Edwards
signed with WEA Records and released one album in 1986 entitled "Land Of The
Living". Mark Edwards spent two years writing, performing, and producing "Land
Of The Living" with collaborator Michael Hegerty. The result was a a collection
of fine poppy AOR songs showcased well by a production that is clean and
polished. The album itself was subject to a very limited CD run in the late 80s,
pressed before the use of barcodes and long since designated a true Australian
rarity. Overall a nice collection of classic 80s singer / songwriter AOR next to
Daryl Braithwaite. Digitally remastered incl. 11 bonus tracks, limited to 1000
copies.
watch:
https://youtu.be/MPSSVdJfoSs |
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CINDERELLA - Night Songs + bonus CD
(digi pack, digitally remastered) |
B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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This is
the debut album from these Philadelphia rockers, and did it ever set the world
on fire! Cinderella showed the masses that they weren’t afraid to rock with
songs such as “Night Songs,” “Shake Me” and “Push Push”. “Nobody’s Fool” is a
great power ballad and charted at #13, followed by the unstoppable “Somebody
Save Me.” At this point in their career, Cinderella had the looks and talent to
reach the top of the glam scene. Tom Keifer‘s gritty and wailing vocal delivery
put Cinderella on the pop-metal map. This classic easily gets two thumbs up! On
top Jon Bon Jovi discovered these guys and hooked
Cinderella
up as the opening act on
Bon Jovi‘s
mega everything "Slippery
When Wet" tour of 1986! Bad Reputation re-issue.
watch:
https://youtu.be/MCOrtJMQmVs |
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TEASER - Teaser +5 (digitally remastered)
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B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Born in The Hague in the
Netherlands in 1954, Ad van den Berg started to take his guitar playing more
seriously at the age of 17. After moving to Enschede in the east of the country
in his teens, Ad later played in local bands, such as Mother of Pearl and
Darling making his recording debut with the latter at the age of nineteen. After
joining a local outfit Maddogs, Ad wrote all the songs for the only album by
the band by then known as Teaser. This eponymous work recorded for the Vertigo
label in 1978 on the selftitled Teaser album carried a superb slice of bluesy
hard rock in the vein of BAD COMPANY, FREE and WHITESNAKE. Digitally remastered
re-issue from Bad Reputation records incl. 5 bonus tracks.
listen:
https://youtu.be/mG7FWFiFPrQ |
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JULLIET - Julliet (digitally remastered)
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B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Julliet
was a
Tampa-based band was born in 1985 by lead guitarist Jimmi DeLisi
and bassist Ty Westerhoff. After cycling through various
lead vocalists, they found their perfect match in Kenny McGee.
During this time, Julliet caught the attention of Kevin
DuBrow of Quiet Riot, who went on to produce their first album entitled
“Passion” (which was shelved until 2004). After moving to L.A. in 1988 things
got rolling and they got signed by Enigma / Capitol Records in 1989. What's
interesting here is that Survivor guitarist Frankie Sullivan produced their
selftitled debut in 1990 which showcased a superb slice of commercial hair metal
stuff in the vein of White Lion, Cinderella and cohorts. Digitally remastered
re-issue.
listen:
https://youtu.be/G_xS7otcmKk |
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FREAKSHOW - Freakshow
(digitally remastered)
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B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Singer Markus Allen Christopher was the singer, songwriter and bandleader of
MISS CRAZY, which has released two strong albums so far. After hooking up with
drum legend Frankie Banali (QUIET RIOT) FREAKSHOW was born and Frankie invited
his friends Jeff La Bar (CINDERELLA) and Tony Franklin (BLUE MURDER) to joyn him
as well. With nearly all songs penned by Markus the musicial direction pretty
much follows the same direction of MISS CRAZY – typically 80s US arena rock in
the vein of CINDERELLA, AC/DC, TESLA and Y & T, which got pushed to the max by
the fantastic rhythm section of Banali / Franklin, while M. A. Christoper still
sounds as the younger brother of CINDERELLA’s Tom Keifer.
listen:
https://youtu.be/K4h1LXzhodE |
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LASTWORLD - Fractured Mirror
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B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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LASTWORLD is a melodic
rock/AOR project by Jim Shepard (all instruments) und David Cagle (v, MARTY &
THE BAD PUNCH). Even though the first rather heavy rocker “Save Yourself“ might
be slightly misleading, most of the rest is rather melodic rock. Album number
three is quite a collection of good or even strong songs. The Chicago-based
Americans definitely deserve attention. Although the sound might not always be
comparable to competitors from e.g. Sweden, the song material certainly is for
the most part.
MARTIN STARK
watch:
https://youtu.be/SPWmY2gVHWI |
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MAD MARGRITT - The Best Of 1999-2021
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B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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MAD MARGRITT from the US
play eighties infused hard rock. Fifteen track in total (including three
previously unreleased ones) of which “Nothing Can Keep Me Away“ with Derek St.
Holmes (v, TED NUGENT) sticks out. Sleazy hard rock which probably can only
emerge from America. MAD MARGRITT, a name to be remembered if you are into hard
and melodic rock. This Best Of is the perfect introduction to the band, not only
because the previous records are a hard find.
MARTIN STARK
listen:
https://youtu.be/L37ux7CejuQ |
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NEW RELEASES IN STOCK!!
NESTOR - Kids In A Ghost Town (digi-pack)
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B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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NESTOR from Sweden easily
put the album of the years with just their debut. Eighties sound without any
compromises including a guest appearance by Samantha Fox (v)! Tracks like “On
The Run“, “Tomorrow“ or “1989“ would have been huge hits back in the day for
sure. Without question, record of the year - no matter what might come up later
this year. An album like a travel in time. And the production is huge… I mean
really huge!
MARTIN STARK
watch:
https://youtu.be/B1PkYFv76LA |
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MONRO - Monro +7 (digitally remastered)
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B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Hailing from
Wales, these guys were on the prowl the same time as fellow countrymen
Kooga, though Monro's style of rock is much streamlined and glossy than
the counterparts. Released in 1987 on the small Spellbound Records label,
MONRO’s debut had the same potential as FM’s “Indiscreet”, “ATLANTIC’s “Power”,
the 2nd YA YA album or FATE’s “A Matter Of Attitude” and it’s still a
mystery why this band ended as a typically one off shot. They even supported LEE
AARON in Europe to promote this album, but that didn’t changed their situation
and the band broke up after just one killer album. Vol. 23 of the mage classic
"Lost U.K. jewels" series incl. 7 studio bonus tracks and limited as usual to
500 copies !!
watch:https://youtu.be/VExd1VGdPPE |
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HAGAN - Bang! Bang! (digitally remastered)
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B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Coming from New Orleans,
HAGAN was primarily influenced by seventies bands like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith,
Van Halen and Black Sabbath, but also embraced the sounds of their ‘80s
contemporaries like Dokken, Dio, Def Leppard and Ratt and definitely leaned the
heavier end of the Hard-Rock spectrum. The band cut a 4-tracks demo-tape in
1986 (something that became a cult-item from then!) plus 6 more tracks in the
studio during 1989 with a different singer under the moniker of Bang!Bang! and
recalling the sound of classic 80s acts like Icon, Queensryche or Crimson Glory
this re-issue contains also 3 more additional tracks and has been fully
remastered. Vol. 11 of the "Lost U.S. jewels" series, limited to 500 copies.
listen:
https://youtu.be/t1pjSOe-N1A |
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BROTHERS IN ARMS - Sunset And Clark (digi pack)
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B: 14 € |
B: 16,5 € |
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Guitarist / songwriter JACK
FROST (Savatage, Seven Witches) already pleased us some time ago with his album
‘Out In The Cold’ feat. a wide list of star vocalists / musicians from the ’80s
/ early 90s melodic hard rock scene. BROTHERS IN ARMS is Frost’s new project, a
wonderful 10-track collection of killer melodic hard rockin’ tunes plenty of
super singers / musicians involved. Feat. the likes of Keith St. John (Burning
Rain), Steve Overland (FM), Andrew Freeman (Last In Line), Paul Shortino (Rough
Cutt), Jesse Damon (Silent Rage), Dave Amato (REO Speedwagon) plus a few more
you can be sure to get high quality stuff ! This is great late ’80s sounding
album with some of the best in the genre involved.
watch:
https://youtu.be/DyMTXkrPmGM |
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DAUGHTRY - Dearly Beloved
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B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Chris Daughtry has been
rocking stages from 2007 when his self-titled debut arrived and he hasn’t looked
back since. A stellar vocalist Chris
and his band have delivered a level of consistency across their subsequent
releases that have garnered him more than 9 million album sales and 16 million
single sales. With "Dearly Beloved"
Daughtry has again delivered a couple of hits, some great ballads, and an anthem
or two for the road. This is damn catchy modern rock with hard rock touches,
modern but very well done and with a wide appeal from young people to old-school
fans. Yet another classic to sit alongside an already impressive back catalogue,
"Dearly Beloved" will no doubt keep his army of fans happy for a while yet.
watch:
https://youtu.be/5PPjXHC_NkU |
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U.D
.O. - Game Over (ltd. edition digi pack)
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B: 14 € |
B: 16,5 € |
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“Game Over“ is a typical
U.D.O. record even though some songs are pretty political or let’s rather say
critical with society nowadays. “Kids And Guns“ or “Holy Invaders“ to mention
just two. A little less hard as most of the last efforts of the band but still
rocking like hell showcasing traditional metal made in Germany. What else would
you expect? Udo Dirkschneider (v) is one of the last originals out there.
Hopefully the game not over anytime soon.
MARTIN STARK
watch:
https://youtu.be/sv29zn_gXY8 |
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TONY
MITCHELL - 11/26
EDGE
OF THE BLADE - 11/26
PETER
GOALBY - 11/05
CRAZY
LIXX - 11/05
GROUNDBREAKER - 11/12
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