Mama’s Boys – Runaway Dreams 1980-1992 (HNE Recordings Ltd.)

 

Mama’s Boys were a hard rock trio from Ireland.  All three members of the band were brothers, and they even used a traditional Irish fiddle in their music.  The McManus brothers were extremely creative, and their approach to hard rock was unique.  Many dismissed this band based on their name or the Iron Maiden font logo, but they were certainly one of the hidden treasures of the genre.  Mama’s Boys toured on both side of the Atlantic, and they always managed to win the crowds over with their music and enthusiastic shows.

What we have here is a set of five discs, and a detailed look into Mama’s Boys golden years.  Official Bootleg was released back in 1980, and it was the band’s demo pressed on vinyl.  For many years this release was impossible to find, and when it did show up, it was rather an expensive buy.  The sound leaves a lot to be desired, but the spirit captured here is priceless.  Official Bootleg rocks hard.  The second disc is Plug It In, another self-financed album from the band.  This one truly got the ball rolling, got some great exposure for Mama’s Boys.  The next disc is Turn It Up, and this was the big breakthrough album for the boys, it opened a lot of doors.  Mama’s Boys never made it huge, but it was enough for the industry and the fans to take a serious notice.  It got the band to tour Europe, and eventually lead to deals that would allow the band to be visible in America.  The next two albums, Power and Passion and Growing Up the Hard Way, are not represented here.  They were most likely on a different label, and not available due to contractual ownership.  The fourth disc is the band’s final album Relativity from 1992.  Once again, the addition of Relativity was very thoughtful as this album is difficult to track down.  By 1992, traditional hard rock/heavy metal bands were put on a backburner in favor of grunge groups.  Relativity is a great record, but it wasn’t heavily promoted at the time its release.  Many of the fans may not even be aware it existed.  The final disc is a compilation of singles, b-sides, live, and rarities.  It complements this set very nicely.  As always with such releases, it is accompanied by a very informative booklet.

Runaway Dreams 1980-1992 is a nice partial summation of band’s beginnings and its final step.  The music still holds up, and sounds actually quite charming.  Mama’s Boys were definitely an original bunch, and the Irish accent in their music does set them apart from other bands.  They were a solid group that was reliable and consistent.  Sadly, Thomas McManus (drums) is no longer with us, and this is a great tribute to his legacy.  All this writer can say, that getting through those recordings was a lot of fun.

Mark Kadzielawa

Trojan -The Complete Trojan & Talion Recordings ’84-’90 (Dissonance Productions)

 

It’s about time someone put this Trojan/Talion mess in one place!  Having said that, what a marvelous release!  Trojan and Talion are literally the same band, and they’ve made two very distinctive records under each moniker.  The band changed their name because of the dispute with their former management.  When the group regrouped in 2019, they came back as Trojan/Talion, but eventually went back to using the name Trojan.

This box has all you could wish for that involves both versions of the band.  It includes 5 discs of music.  Now can you believe that?  Trojan’s album, Chasing the Storm, was originally released back in 1985, the next disc is a live show, Capturing the Storm-Live at the Dynamo Club from 1986.  This is already hot, and it’s only getting hotter.  The third discs is the Talion’s Killing the World album from 1989.  While Trojan’s album was reissued a few years back, Talion’s disc was a lot harder to come across.  Next disc is a combination of live recording from Bulgaria in 1990, and some demos.  The final disc combines all of the demos the band made in the early days.    All of this is being accompanied by a very informative booklet.  It has text, images, and lyrics.  A treasure trove indeed.

Trojan was definitely a heavy metal band.  They started out during the NWOBHM time-frame, but continues to progress and branch out.  There are elements of speed metal in their music as well.  They simply reflected the times in which they existed.  Underneath it all, there is a very strong British feel, and in many ways it’s what makes them very unique.  All of the discs sound great, and guarantee a listening pleasure.  The music this band plays captures certain spirit and atmosphere that will never be duplicated again.

All in all, this box is absolutely wonderful.  It connects all of those recordings in one place, and adds some great bonus features as well.  Everything about this release spells out a true labor of love.  A long time Trojan/Talion fans will cherish this whereas the new fans will be thrilled to discover a truly great band.

Mark Kadzielawa

Jim Capaldi – The Outside Years (Esoteric Recordings)

 

Jim Capaldi came to be known as a member of Traffic.  He was the drummer, but in reality, he was a lot more than a drummer.  Here we have the two final solo albums from Capaldi.  They come in a very nice box, and there are some extra goodies as well.

Living on the Outside, and Poor Boy Blue are the two albums in question.  Originally released in 2001, and 2004.  In 2005, Jim Capaldi, sadly passed away.  This fact makes the albums in this box his final recordings.  The boxset includes 4 discs total.  Both albums come in expanded versions with bonus tracks.  In addition, there is a disc of various live recordings dating back all the way to 1993.  It’s a very nicely put together compilation of shorter segments.  The final disc is perhaps the most unique, it’s a live show from Cologne, Germany, in 2002.  It’s a very cool show that reflects the Living on the Outside release.  All of it sounds very good, and creates a very special mood.

Jim Capaldi was a very capable songwriter, and his solo output supports it.  He was not an accidental writer either.  There are 12 solo albums that prove that point quite clearly.  The two albums here capture him at the end of his musical journey.  Living on the Outside is an interesting record.  It has some great people playing on it.  For starters, George Harrison, plays guitar on Anna Julia, a cover track by a Brazilian band Los Hermanos.  In addition to Harrison, the album features, Steve Winwood, Gary Moore, Ian Paice, and Paul Weller.  Poor Boy Blue is less flashy when it comes to such appearances, but it’s a solid album that will keep you humming along. 

The Outside Years allows you to come back and reexamine records that might have been put on the backburner, or completely skipped due to small runs in the first place.  As is with such releases, often a hidden treasure gets discovered.  It’s definitely the case here.  Each listen becomes more enjoyable, and you wonder why you stopped listening to those albums, or why you never got them in the first place when they were first released. 

Mark Kadzielawa

Family – It’s Only a Movie (Esoteric Recordings)

 

Family made a huge mark on British rock in the early 70s.  They’ve released couple of great records that simply stood the test of time.  While not overly popular in the United States, the band has a steady number of cult followers who swear by Family as one of the originals.

It’s Only a Movie was the last album from the Family, released back in 1973.  The band toured, and simply called it a day.  At the time of its release the album wasn’t too popular, which probably explains why it was not easy to be found for many years.  This reissue allows the fans to hear it once again, and of course it comes with some great bonuses.  Namely, the album is now expanded to a two-disc set.  The second disc includes live BBS sessions, and In Concert.  Both come from 1973 as well, so it’s very much representing the actual time frame of the album’s release.  The album itself includes some bonus tracks that were initially b-sides of the singles.  In other words, everything is here for you to enjoy.

Musically, the album very much sounds like Family, all of the progressive rock elements are there.  It is not the finest hour from Family, and the album didn't do well when released.  This of course contributed to the eventual demise of the Family.  It’s still a pleasant and rewarding listen.  What you hear is a band with a definite style, and as always, the charismatic vocal delivery from Roger Chapman.

It’s Only a Movie is a great find.  The album is beautifully packaged with the collector in mind.  There is a very informative booklet that explains the times and the mindset of this record.  Musically, as mentioned above, there is a lot to explore and enjoy.  Esoteric Recordings are doing an incredible job with finding and restoring these long-lost albums.

Mark Kadzielawa

Baker Gurvitz Army – Neon Lights - The Broadcasts 1975 (Esoteric Recordings)

 

If the last live recording from Baker Gurvitz Army was a treat, this box is a Christmas gift!  This is a combination of two live shows.  If that wasn’t enough, there are two DVDs.  The BBC TV Appearances, In Concert, and a Musikladen appearance from Bremen, Germany.  In other words, this box has it all!  If you like Baker Gurvitz Army, or simply are a fan of 70s rock, this release is a must have.

The first disc comes from Paris Theater in London.  It’s a solid representation of the highlights from the 1975 run.  The next two discs show the band in its natural flow while on tour.  This set comes from Kings Hall in Derby, and it captures the entire performance from the group.  It is also possibly the highlight of the entire box set. 

In case hearing is not enough, you have the option of hearing and seeing.  The two DVDs included here truly show the nature of this band on stage.  What you notice right away is the incredible skills with which these players perform.  Not only that, you can see them having fun on stage, letting loose, and improvising here and there.  It’s cool to see these songs come alive, and sometimes take a slightly different shape than what’s on the official album.  1970s were very creative and interesting times when it comes to music.

Baker Gurvitz Army how a band that wasn’t super big at the time of its existence still managed to create absolute greatness.  This tells you how populated was the market with incredible bands.  The sound heard here and elsewhere is what defines the classic rock radio to this day.  If you followed Baker Gurvitz Army you are no stranger to these words, but if you are just discovering this band now, there is a lot of joyful digging ahead.  This is an outstanding set of archival live recordings!

Mark Kadzielawa

KK's Priest - The Arcada, St. Charles, Illinois, March 15, 2024 (words and images by Mark Kadzielawa)

 

There was a lot of anticipation with the first ever KK’s Priest show in the Chicago area.  The band released two records, but haven’t really been touring yet.  This was the first time the band faced a live audience, and completely floored everyone from start to finish!

Burning Witches from Switzerland were the opening act.  This all-female group brought a lot of excitement onto the stage from the moment they walked on.  Their songs were heavy, melodic, and carried a lot of punch.  The crowd was instantly into them, and it appeared they already had a faithful audience prior to this show.  Burning Witches were excellent, and were able to create some magic during their short stay on stage.  There is definitely more to come from this rocking camp for sure.

L.A. Guns were initially not supposed to play this show, but somehow they made it happen.  They represented the more sleazy side of hard rock.  Their show was slick, to the point, and spiked with many popular tunes.  While admitting not being in the best disposition, vocalist, Phil Lewis, delivered the songs with conviction and finesse.  Guitarist, Tracii Guns, was firing on all cylinders, twisting and shoving his guitar, as if it was a protective shield.  L.A. Guns relied on experience, clearly had fun on stage, and delivered a very solid show.

KK’s Priest took the stage, and started to unleash the fury with each note.  Opening with Hellfire Thunderbolt, they were very heavy, extremely tight, and visually entertaining.  One More Shot at Glory followed, and it assured everyone on the other side of the stage that this will be a night to remember.  The band was moving fast like a runaway train crushing everything in its path. 

K.K. Downing was very energetic, unleashing heavy riffs, and shattering solos.  He clearly was the star of the concert, but this felt more like a unit rather than a one man show.  Vocalist, Tim Ripper Owens, sounded perfect.  He was nailing every note with precision, and often managed to stretch his vocals to add that special live feel.  No song, old or new, was a challenge for him.  In many ways, Owens is singing at his absolute best right now.  Despite how he was looked upon while fronting Judas Priest in the past.  One thing is clear, he is K.K. Downing’s secret weapon!  Guitarist, A.J. Mills was a great match for K.K. Downing.  Mills is obviously a very skilled player in his own right, and his dialog with K.K. Downing was very impressive.  Drummer, Sean Elg, and bassist, Tony Newton, formed a very strong and dependable rhythm section.  They made the band sound big!

The set list consisted of many new tracks from The Sinner Rides Again album, and those songs sounded heavy and powerful when played live.  There were also several tracks from Downing’s time with Judas Priest.  Tracks like The Ripper, Beyond the Realms of Death (video available,) or Victim of Changes brought back the classic Judas Priest sound, and very delivered perfectly.  Burn in Hell reminded the audience of Owens’ time in Judas Priest, and it was great to hear a track like that.  All of those songs sounded heavier, yet not losing any of their original feel. 

As it is with such band members split situations, the big question is which Priest is better?  You could compare, argue this or that, but at the end of the day this review was written to celebrate the music, and not to stir bad emotions or cause problems.  So why not like both?  It’s a double win for the fans.  One thing however stands out, Judas Priest appears to be going up against their classic catalog while K.K. Downing embraces the essence of Judas Priest, and moves forward with his new project.  This makes both of the recent releases extremely enjoyable for different reasons.

KK’s Priest surprised everyone with the intensity of their performance.  It was flawless, and extremely well executed.  The production of the concert was also quite impressive too.  Lots of smoke and lasers, and some cool animation to go with that.  All of that was good, but the bulk of the audience was more concerned whether K.K. Downing can still deliver the goods?  That question was instantly answered after the first two tracks.  K.K. and his band crushed everything that was crushable.  The band encored with Strike of the Viper, and Raise Your Fist, and called a night, and what a night it was!

Mark Kadzielawa

GALLERY

BURNING WITCHES

L.A. GUNS

KK's PRIEST