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Jack Blades (Night Ranger) and Tommy Shaw
(Styx) are no strangers to the music scene. With more
than three decades of music history between them,
there is no doubt that this duo has influenced and inspired
countless numbers of performers. They are now paying
homage to the sounds that influenced them. Influence is
an idea they had discussed for years and have now presented
as the first release from VH1 Classic Records. The album
is the follow up to their 1995 collaboration Hallucination.
The sophomore release does not disappoint.
The album is simply a collection of Tommy Shaw's and Jack
Blades' favorite songs. A cover album often can be dangerous territory
for an artist to venture into, but these classic vocalists
make raising the bar look easy. The album includes such
hits of the '60s and '70s as The Mamas & Papas' “California
Dreamin’,” Simon & Garfunkel’s “I
Am a Rock” and “The Sound of Silence,” Yes’
“Your Move” and the Zombies' classic “Time
of the Season." There isn't a single choice
on this album that will fail to satisfy the listener.
In addition to the timeless songs, the duo brings fantastic instrumentation
and production to the disc. What sets this disc apart
from many other covers albums is the vocal work by these
two seasoned rockers. Blades and Shaw sound better than
ever and are at the top of their game. Their classic vocal harmonies
combined with the crisp acoustic sound breathes new life
into these hits. The fresh takes on these songs make
the music of the past easily accessible to a generation that wasn't
necessarily brought up with these songs or the even the earlier
outings by Shaw and Blades.
Blades and Shaw shine on this album and bring what could only
be described as their unique presence or chemistry to each song.
It makes the listener wonder where the future will take them
and if an album of new material could be on the way.
1. Summer Breeze (Seals & Crofts, 1972)
2. Time of the Season (The Zombies, 1968)
3. Your Move (Yes, 1971)
4. I Am a Rock (Simon & Garfunkel, 1966)
5. Lucky Man (Emerson, Lake, & Palmer, 1970)
6. The Sound of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel, 1964)
7. California Dreamin’ (The Mamas & The Papas, 1963)
8. On a Carousel (The Hollies, 1965)
9. Dirty Work (Steely Dan, 1972)
10. For What It’s Worth (Buffalo Springfield, 1967)
11. Dance With Me (Orleans, 1975)
®2007 Live-Metal.net
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