PHENOMENA II – Dream Runner [Japanese Remastered reissue +2] (2017)

Japanese new label Wasabi Records has been doing an amazing work reissuing true ’80s classics, and few months ago released the three first essential PHENOMENA albums in a cardboard sleeve packaging replicating its UK edition LP design and a terrific, fresh 2017 remaster.
“Phenomena II – Dream Runner” was the second effort from this Tom Galley & Wilfried Rimensberger project, here including 2 bonus tracks.

Released in that magical year for the AOR / Melodic Rock genre – 1987 – “Phenomena II – Dream Runner” is just that: a true represention of mid-Eighties AOR / Melodic Rock done to perfection.
Big label BMG / RCA saw potential in Phenomena and signed them for the release, the most successful album from the project, especially in UK.
However, “Phenomena II – Dream Runner” adds a strong ‘Americanized’ feeling compared with debut LP, plenty of catchy, accessible choruses and loads of synths.

Personnel is even more impressive than on the first album: again Glenn Hughes doing lead vocals, but also the tremendous voice of Ray Gillen (Badlands), John Wetton (Asia) at the peak of his vocal prowess, and talented, AOR vocalist Max Bacon (GTR).
All together with the likes of Neil Murray, Mel Galley, Scott Gorham and more, formed a fantastic line-up.
The result is one of the most awesome collection of ’80s AOR tunes.

Overwhelming songs such as ‘Did It All For Love’ (a huge hit in South America), the killer ‘Stop’, ‘Hearts on Fire’, the keyboad driven ‘Move-You Loose’, etc, this is what the 80s is all about.
… and ‘No Retreat-No Surrender’… wow, this is pure magic folks, punchy, action-movie AOR of the first order.

Put it simple; “Phenomena II – Dream Runner” is a mandatory album in your 80s AOR / Melodic Rock collection.
And this fresh 2017 remaster sounds million bucks plus a couple of bonus tracks.
ESSENTIAL

You’ve seen it first here, at 0dayrox

ＷＡＳＡＢＩ ＲＥＣＯＲＤＳ ~ WSBAC-46
Ｐ Ｈ Ｅ Ｎ Ｏ Ｍ Ｅ Ｎ Ａ 「 ＲＥＩＳＳＵＥ ＳＥＲＩＥＳ 」

01 – Stop
02 – Surrender
03 – Did It All For Love
04 – Hearts On Fire
05 – Juke Box
06 – Double 6, 55, 44…
07 – No Retreat-No Surrender
08 – Move-You Loose
09 – Emotion Mama
10 – It Must Be Love
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – Did It All For Love (New Recording)
12 – Forever

Vocals – Glenn Hughes
Vocals – John Wetton
Vocals – Max Bacon
Vocals – Ray Gillen
Keyboards – Leif Johansen
Bass – Neil Murray
Drums – Michael Sturgis, Toshihiro Niimi
Guitar – Mel Galley, Scott Gorham, John Thomas, Kyoji Yamamoto

Bonus Tracks:
Vocals, Bass, Guitar – O’Ryan
Guitar – Huwey Lucas
Keyboards – Jason Fillingham
Steve Bray – drums

BUY IT !
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/WSBAC-46
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