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Melodic Rock, AOR, Hard Rock, Prog, Classic Rock news

Category: REMASTER

CHEAP TRICK / REMASTER / ROBIN ZANDER / SHM-CD

CHEAP TRICK – Busted +7 [Japan BluSpec CD2 remastered miniLP] (2017)

CHEAP TRICK have made an historic chart debut with their acclaimed new album, ‘In Another World’. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers’ 20th studio album enters at #1 on Billboard’s “Rock” chart — their highest first-week chart placement in the veteran band’s long, remarkable career.
Many of you asked for some of their other records, and we have the terrific Japanese BluSpec CD2 remastered versions with loads of bonus tracks.
Here’s one of our favorites from the band; “Busted“, and you know how an album released in 1990 sounds alike, even more if there’s master producer Richie Zito (fresh from producing Bad English) behind the desk.

ERIC MARTIN / MR. BIG / REMASTER / SHM-CD

ERIC MARTIN – Eric Martin [Japan remastered SHM-CD] Out of Print

“Eric Martin” is the self-titled debut by gifted vocalist ERIC MARTIN (Mr. Big), for many years hard to find and reissued by Universal Music Japan in their remastered SHM-CD 2016 reissue series. Unfortunately it’s out of print again.
Eric Martin, the man with the eternal babyface, achieved world-wide fame as Mr. Big frontman at the end of the ’80s, but the vocalist had a strong career before that. After playing with several bands in his native Long Island, NY, his moment arrived when his Eric Martin Band signed a deal with Journey management and Elektra/Asylum, who released their debut album ‘Sucker For A Pretty Face’ , also featured at 0dayrox.
“Eric Martin” is a treasure from the ’80s that no Melodic Rock / AOR enthusiast should be without. You have Steve Lukather, Randy Jackson, etc playing here, make no mistake. This Japanese SHM-CD sounds punchy & bright, and really worth hunt down at least for an used copy.

ERIC MARTIN / MR. BIG / REMASTER / REMASTER ROCK CANDY

ERIC MARTIN BAND – Sucker For A Pretty Face [Rock Candy remastered +5]

The first, major label solo debut of Mr. Big’s terrific vocalist Eric Martin has just been ‘Remastered & Reloaded‘ by Rock Candy Records, featuring 5 bonus tracks. In fact, this “Sucker For A Pretty Face” was the debut of his ERIC MARTIN BAND, originally named ‘415’.
Although the name Eric Martin is synonymous with the platinum selling melodic hard band rock band Mr. Big, there was a time when he was just another struggling singer, one of many trying to get a shot at the big time.
Eric’s calling card was, and still is, a one in a million voice; a golden rasp blessed with a silky smooth delivery that would eventually establish him as a contender for serious chart action.
A must for ’80s US Melodic Rock fans, Eric Martin Band’s “Sucker For A Pretty Face” is plenty of hooky rockers highlighting Eric’s awesome vocals.
The sound quality of this Rock Candy remaster is pretty impressive, featuring 5 bonus tracks including the studio track ‘Stop in the Name of Love’ plus 4 tracks recorded live at the ’83 Hawaii gig, also with a really good sound.

ERIC MARTIN / MR. BIG / REMASTER / REMASTER ROCK CANDY

ERIC MARTIN – I’m Only Fooling Myself [Rock Candy remaster]

Here’s another request – and I scratch my head thinking why this great album wasn’t featured here before… ERIC MARTIN‘s second solo album “I’m Only Fooling Myself” recorded before he joined MR. BIG. This is terrific ’80s AOR album including the ‘who’s who’ from the L.A. session musician scene. And this is the first time appeared on CD, remastered by Rock Candy Records specialists.
While production is top notch, I always found the original release a bit flat in terms of sound. This Rock Candy remaster revitalized all levels and brightness. There’s a world of difference between this pristine remaster and the slightly flat sounding original LP / cassette release.
Truly one of the greatest ‘solo artist’ AOR albums of the second half of the ’80s from unquestionably one of the world’s most revered Rock vocalists.

JAKOB MAGNUSSON / REMASTER

JAKOB MAGNUSSON – Jack Magnet [Japan 2-CD Special Edition remastered] (2021) *0dayrox EXCLUSIVE*

As well as being widely regarded as Iceland’s foremost musical icon, JAKOB MAGNUSSON is is arguably one of the most renowned Fender Rhodes players in the world. He studied Music in the USA and soon was part of several fusion bands where he performed with the big names of the genre.
For this, his third solo album ”Jack Magnet” (Jacob’s nickname at the time) the focus was completely different; rock&pop / Westcoast AOR song-format with FM radio appeal. For this matter, the cream of the L.A Session helped him to create that unique smooth WC AOR atmospheres; Jeff Porcaro, Vinnie Colaiuta, Neil Stubenhaus, Stanley Clarke, Bill Champlin, etc, with songwriting contributions from the likes of Jay Graydon, Richard Page and Steve George.
Yes, TOTO fans of their more ‘elaborated’ stuff will love ”Jack Magnet”. We always loved the artwork too, that kind of English art design group Hipgnosis works, whom created such iconic album covers.
This is the just released, stupendous Japanese Special Edition fully remastered, including as bonus disc Magnusson’s following LP featuring master Michael Landau on all guitars, impossible to find for decades.
Only at 0dayrox

CHEAP TRICK / REMASTER / ROBIN ZANDER / SHM-CD

CHEAP TRICK – Lap Of Luxury +8 [Japan BluSpec CD2 remastered miniLP] (2017)

With the very good new CHEAP TRICK album – a band which never fails in delivering quality material, many of you asked for some of their other records. 1988’s “Lap Of Luxury” was some kind of a ‘comeback’ album for CHEAP TRICK, and what a way to do it: the LP was a smash hit and scored three Top-40 singles, one of them, ‘The Flame’, #1.
This Japanese edition pressed on high quality BluSpec CD2 is the definitive, remastered version of this stupendous ’80s album including no less than 8 bonus tracks. Produced by the unique Richie Zito, there’s as well songwriting contributions by the likes of Diane Warren, Holly Knight and Gregg Giuffria.

REMASTER / REMASTER ROCK CANDY / ZODIAC MINDWARP

ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION – Tattooed Beat Messiah +9 [Rock Candy Remastered]

As requested here we have the now out of print, ‘remastered & reloaded‘ reissue by Rock Candy Records of ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION 1988’s album “Tattooed Beat Messiah“, including no less than 9 bonus tracks, b-sides taken from the various singles the band released back in the day, for the first time on CD. This was one of the few RC releases housed into a cardboard slipcase.
At the time, Motley Crüe, Guns N’ Roses and Bon Jovi were ruling the American rock, whilst the UK was struttin’ its stuff with The Cult, Rogue Male and… Zodiac Mindwarp!
The brainchild of Mark Manning, former music mag designer and professional raconteur, Zodiac Mindwarp And The Love Reaction (to give the project its full unexpurgated title) was brought into being with a single aim in mind, to live the sex, drugs & rock’n’roll dream like there was no tomorrow.
Choc full of kick ass riffs, sleazy grooves and swagger the album received critical acclaim in 1988…

JOHN FARNHAM / REMASTER

JOHN FARNHAM – Whispering Jack +1 [Australian Gold Series remastered 2017]

As requested here we have JOHN FARNHAM‘s most famous album ”Whispering Jack” in its 2017 Australian remastered CD reissue.
Including the #1 hit single “You’re the Voice” which still remains a staple of classic radio, the album is a gem of mainstream AC / AOR from the ’80s, with an incredible pristine slick production sound. On a couple of tracks, Farnham moves into more of a straight melodic rock territory in “Love to Shine,” and “Let Me Out”, showcasing the electric guitar skills of future NELSON guitarist Brett Garsed…

REMASTER / ZIGGURAT

ZIGGURAT – Melodic Scandal [The Complete Ziggurat] Retrospect Records Digitally Remastered

This is a really cool request, the now out of print (more than $900 for a used copy, go figure) remastered 2-in-1 CD of melodic pompsters ZIGGURAT, titled “Melodic Scandal [The Complete Ziggurat]” including their two LP’s, ”Ziggurat” and ”Melodic Scandal”.
This quintet, whose name was derived from a type of ancient Eastern structure, hailed from Atlanta and formed in the mid 70’s. Their self-titled debut has a definitive keyboard driven Pomp AOR sound yet adding some melodic bluesy touches, while ”Melodic Scandal” turns much more melodic indeed, with that polished commercial AOR style typical of the year of its release (1982).
Great stuff, rare CD…

KENNY LOGGINS / REMASTER

KENNY LOGGINS – Celebrate Me Home [Japan AOR CITY 1000 series / remastered] *EXCLUSIVE*

Requested by many of you some time ago, here’s more from the stupendous “AOR CITY 1000 series” by Sony Music Japan, a campaign featuring a low-priced reissue on classic AOR / AC albums from their back catalog (many of them out of print or hard to find).
To complete the KENNY LOGGINS‘ reissues from these series, here’s his solo debut album “Celebrate Me Home“, which in this case uses the last DSD mastering for optimal results.
This is smooth Westcoast AOR / soft FM stuff, filled with leisurely paces, sweet electric guitars courtesy of giants Robben Ford, Lee Ritenour and Dean Parks, electric pianos and easy attitude — so it’s no surprise when you discover this is a co-production by Billy Joel’s chief collaborator Phil Ramone and Bob James.
Remasters of “Celebrate Me Home” are not easy to find, mostly expensive Japan releases now out of print. So this is a nice chance to get it at a very affordable price.

BILLY IDOL / REMASTER

So80s presents BILLY IDOL – Curated by Blank & Jones [remasters] + New 2021 single

BILLY IDOL ’80s albums are a truly representation of that decade sounds, combining synthesized and sequenced rhythms with flashy guitar work into a rock&pop song-package. Although a bit cheesy at times, you can’t deny the catchiness of Billy’s stuff and the quality in Steve Steven’s six-string playing, one of my favorite rock guitarist ever.
Extended and alternate mixes were popular during the Eigthies, and Billy’s songs were one of most the prolific artists in that matter. The good thing about these versions is that they weren’t always designed as dancefloor alternates, most of these really rock.
Producer Keith Forsey and the other knob experts involved recorded and remixed these multi-track tapes with as much force as possible, and Stevens’s robot noises pierce the metronomic pulse.
The Blank & Jones is a team specialized in ’80s music, and together with Idol’s original label are publishing in Germany a CD series called “So80s presents“.

PAUL DAVIS / REMASTER

PAUL DAVIS – Cool Night [Japan AOR CITY 1000 series / remastered]

As part of the AOR CITY 1000 series, here’s another request from you; “Cool Night“, the excellent album by PAUL DAVIS finally released with a proper sound quality / remaster. It was so much demanded all over the years, that this reissue, pretty recent, it’s already out of print.
Sony Music Japan has started a campaign titled AOR CITY 1000 featuring a Low-priced Reissue on 100 classic AOR / AC albums from their back catalog, many of them out of print or hard to find. This was a limited offer with the incredible price around U$S 9 each CD – or 1000 Japanese Yen, hence the name of the campaign.
Paul Davis was (RIP) an American singer / songwriter best known for his FM radio hits and solo career during the Seventies delivering a bunch of very good FM soft-rock albums.

JACK BLADES / KELLY KEAGY / NIGHT RANGER / REMASTER / SHM-CD

NIGHT RANGER – Big Life [Japanese SHM-CD remastered]

Some time ago we already featured here “Big Life“, the last ’80s album recorded by NIGHT RANGER in its remastered Japanese SHM-CD version. It was a mini-LP replica limited edition / sold out, but few months after Universal Japan did a fresh reissue.
It supposedly uses the same, last remaster, the same manufacturing process, the same material for the physical disc, but… this one doesn’t sound the same.
Call me nuts, but while the original SHM-CD release delivered a bright sonic spectrum, this recent 2016 feels different; not better, not worse; different… and great.

KELLY KEAGY / NIGHT RANGER / REMASTER / SHM-CD

NIGHT RANGER – Man In Motion [Japan SHM-CD remastered Ltd mini-LP] Out Of Print

After several requests, here’ more from the Japanese High Quality SHM-CD remasters of NIGHT RANGER ’80s albums (all out of print). Here we go with the awesome, criminally underrated “Man In Motion“.
1988’s “Man In Motion” was definitely the album that marked the end of Night Ranger’s bombastic ’80s style. Many people, despite fans of this gente/ style, never properly heard “Man In Motion” or never heard it at all.
You NEED this album in your collection. After a couple of listens it will become an all time favorite of yours. This Japanese remaster on SHM-CD respects the punchy sound of the original vinyl (at least compared to mine) but of course richer on dynamics…

REMASTER / STEPHEN BISHOP

STEPHEN BISHOP – Bowling In Paris [Digitally Remastered Digipak] (2015)

As requested, here’s the quite rare recent remastered reissue of STEPHEN BISHOP‘s album ”Bowling In Paris”, of special interest not only for the pure ’80s rock&pop sound & style of the material, bur also the top cast of musicians involved.
It was 1989 and you know what to expect from a production of that year handled by expert Michael Omartian and Phil Collins (who also play drums).
We find the best guitarists from the LA session scene like Michael Landau, Dan Huff, Michael Thompson, Steve Lukather, alongside Eric Clapton, Sting, John Keane, Nathan East, etc, and songwriting contributions by the likes of Mark Spiro, Steve Kipner and more.
‘Nuff said; if you are an ’80s dude, this is for you.
Only at 0dayrox