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Track Listing
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· She's On Top (3)
· Before Tonight Is Over (1)
· Monkey House
· Racing Time (2)
· Desire
· All The Kings Horses
· Lose The Night
· Don't Turn Away
· Who Do You Run To
· How Many Tears
· Further Down The Line
· Written In Fire
(*) Best Tracks
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Buy it if you liked:
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Surgin'
Baton Rouge
Jack Ponti
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VARIOUS ARTISTS
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Jack Ponti Presents Vol. 1
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Majestic Rock
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· Produced By: Jack Ponti
· Running Time: · Genre: Melodic Rock
· Release Date: Out Now · Released: UK
· LabelLink: Majestic Rock
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Jack Ponti is a legend within the melodic rock/AOR scene. His production credits are secondly only to his songwriting ones. His work with his own band Surgin', as well as Baton Rouge, Nelson, Doro and Alice Cooper are all well known.
But there is even more. This compilation highlights a range of songs Jack wrote himself, or with the artists he was working with at the time.
And what a list - the album boasts performances by Sebastian Bach, Kelly Keeling, baton Rouge, Will Sexton, Matt & Gunnar Nelson, Richard Black (Shark Island), Glen Burtnick, Fiona and Stan Bush.
I doubt I have to say it, but in case I do, every track featured here is an absolute melodic gem. The unfortunate thing is that the source is all from original tape and those tapes haven't survived that well.
While it's great to have these compiled onto a CD, it's not much of an improvement over recording tape to CDR via your PC. That's going turn a lot of people off - sadly, as these really are great songs!
In two instances, there are even moments where the page has been chewed. Reminds me of listening to my old demo cassettes.
On a couple of occasions the sound is at least 20% below the volume of the album's other tracks, which is off-putting and in Stan Bush's case, he has already featured the same song on his own album in CD quality.
One of the album's best tracks (Nelson's Don't Turn Away) is sadly one of the worst affected.
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The Bottom Line
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Great songs from famous names before their heyday, and generally great performances also. If the source was from DAT or digital, I'd have no problem recommending this release to the entire melodic community.
But as it is, I think it rates as a collectors piece only and for fans of the artists involved.
The quality of the sound from tape source leaves a lot to be desired in places. It's varied and hard to put aside while enjoying the songs.
Collectors and AOR purists will love this, as an historical document, the release has strong merits. But others should listen first.
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