The “Lost UK Jewels” Vol.15 ; WINTERS REIGN – The Mini Album +9
After many requests, today we bring to you in exclusive at 0dayrox “The Lost UK Jewels Vol.15 ; WINTERS REIGN – The Mini Album +9“, one of the most recent – and best – release from these series.
Released before the band’s more well known ‘The Beginning’ album, “The Mini Album” is really one of the rarest and most obscure albums in the AOR history.
Issued in 1985, this is pure Classic ’80s AOR with lots of keyboards, comparable to the monster FORTUNE ’85 and HARLAN CAGE LP’s. Add also some Pomp influences like LE ROUX.
As bonus tracks, there’s recordings from TOUCHDOWN and THE FOUNDATION, both post Winter’s Reign outfits led by vocalist Billy “Bo” Larkin and guitarist Leo Larkin. All these tracks for the first time ever on CD, limited to 500 copies.
WINTERS REIGN released the LP ‘The Beginning’ in 1987, their full length debut album, but here is the big suprise. The band previously recorded this mini-album somewhere around 1984 that even at the time resulted extremely hard to get.
This lost ‘Mini Album’ contains some brilliant pure classic 80s AOR melodies with many keyboards, beautiful vocals and choruses as well as lovely hooklines. Opener “Save it” is maybe one of the best kept secrets between AOR aficionados. This is superb classy early 80s AOR / Pomprock that has influences from FRANKE AND THE KNOCKOUTS, BE TAYLOR GROUP, LE ROUX, TOUCH, ROADMASTER and SHELTER. Basically a Classic AOR gem of a song with lots of keys, harmony vocals, an infectious chorus and a great guitar solo… yes, ticks all the right boxes.
“I’m getting Out” is more a Canadian typed uptempo AOR rocker with a pompous beat, a bit like QWEST. Then comes the first version of “Karen”, titled Kared 1. This song is later featured in it’s original version. “Karen 1” is a classic 80s keyboard AOR / Radiorocker that sounds like the perfect mixture between SURVIVOR, THE INNOCENT (‘Livin’ in the Streets’) and STEEL BREEZE circa ‘Heart on the Line’.
Then “I close my Eyes” is a sweet, midtempo AOR ballad so 1984.
“Is this the End” has a super 80s AOR keyboard ound and a huge Pomp chorus. A wonderful crossroad between FORTUNE (1985) and the old SHY. What a great tune.
“Miss you” is a true Eighties keyboard based AOR ballad like SHY again very melodic and crying for radio airplay. Another winner comes with “Can you Keep a Secret”, a fantastic pomp-procker in the style of LE ROUX and ROADMASTER.
For decades impossible to find, it’s great to hear these classy 80s AOR tunes now with an really good remastered sound. And we have the great bonuses too, a standalone 7” WINTERS REIGN single, and the singles the guys recorded uder the names TOUCHDOWN and THE FOUNDATION
Awesome 80s AOR collector’s stuff
A MUST HAVE
Only at 0dayrox
“The Mini Album” 1985 Remastered
1. SAVE IT
2. I’M GETTING OUT
3. KAREN 1
4. I CLOSE MY EYES
5. KAREN
6. IS THIS THE END
7. MISS YOU
8. CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET
Bonus Tracks:
9. WITHOUT TELLING YOU
(Off the TOUCHDOWN “Without Telling You” 7” single, 1987)
10. FINGER ON IT
(TOUCHDOWN unreleased track, 1987)
11. DO I HAVE TO CALL YOUR NAME AGAIN
(Off the “Do I Have To Call Your Name Again 7” single, 1986)
12. BAD GIRL
13. HIGH TIME
(Off THE FOUNDATION “Bad Girl / High Time” 7” single, 1989)
14. STILL LOVIN’ YOU BABY
15. DON’T SAY IT’S OVER
(Off THE FOUNDATION “Still Lovin’ You 7” single, 1989)
16. HOOKED ON LOVE
17. TIME
(Off THE FOUNDATION “Hooked On Love / Time” 7” single, 1989)
Bo Larkin – lead vocals, keyboards
Leo Larkin – lead guitar, vocals
Paul Dixon – bass, vocals
Mick Cavanaugh – keyboards, lead guitar
Stuart Macmillan – drums
Try here:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Winters-Reign-the-Mini-Album-CD-Lost-UK-Jewels-Vol-15-Limited-500-New-Sealed-/164036748731
