SHOUT – It Won’t Be Long +4 [Limited Edition Remastered] (2019)

Formed in the second half of the 80s by talented guitarist Ken Tamplin, SHOUT released 2 killer melodic hard rock records in the late 80s. Titled “It Wont’t Be Long“, this is their debut LP for years out of print but fortunately reissued / digitally remastered with the addition of their ‘Shout 4-track’ shopping labels first professional demo.
One heck of a melody soaked album plenty of anthem hair raising songs. This fresh remaster makes it feel brand new.

The in depth band insights provided by vocalist Chuck King and Tamplin in the complete 8 page booklet are nothing short of amazing and explain the miracle that almost never was, stories from the road, as well as photos and even some surprises which we are not announcing quite yet, but will soon.

In 1987 Chuck was playing with the AOR band Idle Cure but looking for more of a permanent role in music and simply trying to find the right path. Ken Tamplin was a guitarist for hard rockers Joshua and was himself wanting to try something new.
Shout was born.

Shout signed a deal with Frontline Records in 1987 after submitting a demo and went on to record their first album, “It Won’t Be Long”, released in 1988.
It was recorded with session musicians including Lanny Cordola (Magdalen, House Of Lords), Marty Friedman (Megadeth) and Michael Angelo (Nitro) but soon after recruited the bassist Loren Robinson and drummer Joseph Galletta from Tamplin’s former band Joshua.

Tamplin and King made quite the duo and were able to not only put together amazing harmonies, but had the screaming guitar hooks and vocal chops that rival some of the biggest bands of the day.
Shout commanded immense and almost instant respect from the growing mainstream metal community immediately the disc hit the market.

Shout focused its efforts on music quality, something that the Christian rock fans were really clamoring for. Too many bands of that era focused 90% on ministry and 10% on music.
Shout had no interest living ministry behind, but new that the industry needed top quality musicianship. The Encyclopedia of Christian Music cites them as begin even more competent than Stryper.

‘It Won’t Be Long’ begins with the fast paced glammy hard rocker ‘Never Stop’ that includes one of the best bridges you’ll ever find on an album of this genre. ‘Winners Or Losers’, the 2nd song was an anthem that took fans by surprised. It included over the top melodies and fist-pumping onslaught of drums and duo-guitar work.

But when the title track ‘It Won’t Be Long’ starts off, you find out that this album is going to have one hit after another, with arena ready anthems through-out and one of the best front-to-back run of songs of any album to come out of the 80s.
The song titled ‘Shout’ summed it all up with it lyrics; “Shout it out, never let it take you down. Shout it out, livin’s what it’s all about.”

As bonus tracks on this reissue is the never heard Shout 4-track demo. Tamplin and King worked long and hard to not only locate the original demo but get it transferred off of 1/4 tape and added to the release.
These do not sound like home demos at all, they are in-fact the exact professional demos that Ken shopped to Atlantic, Enigma and Capitol Records looking for a mainstream deal after landing with Frontline Records.

‘Shout’, fittingly the first demo song is a bit stripped down, more raw without all the flying guitars and straight up in your face heavy-rock-hitter. It has a really cool guitar solo version on the tail end right before the bridge. It’s really great.
‘Timeless Love’, the second song on the demo it a bit faster a more peppy that the finished album version. Ken’s vocals are clear and crisp with little over-production. Some keyboards were added through out this song giving it more of that mid-80s feel especially when the song breaks 3/4 of the way through.

‘Find a Way’, the third song and ballad has a bit of a different layout and arrangement although it starts and ends almost exactly like the album version.
‘Without You’, the last song is heavier and much more edgier with this incredible sense of urgency. I was stunned this first time I listened to it. Ken stated that it really captured the magic and energy that often comes with your first takes of a song. He said it’s like going to Time Square for the first time with all the wow factor. The album final version, although it’s great, is more like re-visiting time square. It’s still cool but not over the top.

Remastered by Rob Colwell at Bombworks Sound, this remaster edition sounds better than ever and can prove that even after 30 years of it’s original release, “It Won’t Be Long” still sound relevant today, rocking, catchy, glossy in production and 80s LA rock punchy.
What else could you ask for?
HIGHLY Recommended

01 – Never Stop
02 – Winners Or Losers
03 – It Wont Be Long
04 – Find A Way
05 – Dancin Round The World
06 – Shout
07 – Showdown
08 – Timeless Love
09 – Without You
BONUS TRACKS (Original Shout 4-track demo)
10 – Shout (Demo)
11 – Timeless Love (Demo)
12 – Find A Way (Demo)
13 – Without You (Demo)

Lead Vocals, Guitar – Ken Tamplin
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Chuck King
Bass, Backing Vocals – Loren Robinson
Drums – Joseph Galletta
Keyboards – Marc Hugenberger
Lead Guitar:
Lanny Cordola (Magdalen, House Of Lords)
Marty Friedman (Megadeth)
Michael Angelo Batio, (Nitro)

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