RAVEN – Rock Until You Drop : The 4-CD Over The Top Edition [Cherry Red remastered + bonus] (2022)

Cherry Red Records are about to release via his Rock division label Hear No Evil RAVEN’s first album under the title “Rock Until You Drop : The 4-CD Over The Top Edition”. Originally appeared in 1981, ‘Rock Until You Drop’ is an essential LP from the NWOBHM movement.
This mega expanded 4-CD box includes ‘Rock Until You Drop’ remastered plus single B-sides / compilation only tracks, a disc of rare 1978 – 1980 recordings / demos, and two discs of incendiary live performances from 1982.
Raven released their debut LP ‘Rock Until You Drop’ in 1981 successfully capturing the energy of their live shows, the album picked up instant champions across the influential UK rock press, with key features in Kerrang! and Sounds. These would lead to important shows with Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake and Motörhead, among many others.
These self-styled “athletic rockers” were a huge influence on countless future bands which mentioned Raven as a huge influence, like Megadeth, Testament, Metallica, etc just to name a few.

Although Raven were very much part of the NWOBHM of the late ’70s and early ’80s, brothers Mark and John Gallagher had formulated the idea of creating their own rock group way back in 1972.
With John on bass and vocals and Mark on lead guitar, they played their first gig in 1975, building up a loyal following across the North East of England. Recording a rudimentary demo in 1978, included here on CD2.

Signed to Neat Records, they recorded further demos, by which time they had trimmed down to a power-trio when the Gallaghers were joined by Rob “Wacko” Hunter on drums. Neat would release their debut 45 RPM single ‘Don’t Need Your Money’ in 1980, and make Raven the lead act with ‘Inquisitor’ on the cassette compilation, ‘Lead Weight’ (included here as bonus track).
Their live sound was captured illicitly by a fan on tape while on tour in Italy in December 1982, and is featured here in its entirety, the collection completed by their May 1982 performance at Manchester’s Apollo. The sound quality of the former is audience recording, but it’s cool to have them for its historical importance.

A classic album from the early ’80s British metal scene, essential for fans of NWOBHM, and to newbies to understand the formative sound of the genre.
Highly Recommended

DISC 1 :
ROCK UNTIL YOU DROP (1981) remastered
1 Hard Ride
2 Hell Patrol
3 Don’t Need Your Money
4 Over The Top
5 39/40
6 For The Future
7 Rock Until You Drop
8 Nobody’s Hero
9 Hellraiser/Action
10 Lambs To The Slaughter
11 Tyrant Of The Airways
BONUS TRACKS:
12 Wiped Out (Don’t Need Your Money B- Side)
13 Crazy World (Hard Ride B-Side)
14 Let It Rip (from Brute Force compilation)
15 Inquisitor (from Lead Weight compilation)

DISC 2 :
NEAT RECORDS LIVE TO 2-TRACK DEMO (1980)
1 Don’t Need Your Money
2 Let It Rip
3 Wiped Out
TRACK DEMO SESSION (1978)
4 Inquisitor
5 Come Up And See Me
6 Cry Wolf
7 Hitting The Road
8 On The Hunt
9 Going Home
10 Turn It Down
11 Hit And Run

DISC 3 :
SASSO MARCONI BOLOGNA (2ND DECEMBER 1982) pt1
1 Faster Than The Speed Of Light
2 Hard Ride
3 Hell Patrol
4 Read All About It
5 Tyrant Of The Airways 6 Drum Solo
7 Crazy World
8 Firepower
9 Hold Back The Fire
10 Rock Until You Drop
11 Hellraiser/Action
12 Crash Bang Wallop
13 Guitar Solo
14 Wiped Out
15 For The Future

DISC 4 :
SASSO MARCONI BOLOGNA (2ND DECEMBER 1982) pt2
1 Don’t Need Your Money
2 Bass Solo
3 Chainsaw
MANCHESTER APOLLO, UK (21ST MAY 1982)
4 Hard Ride
5 Hell Patrol
6 Rock Until You Drop
7 Tyrant Of The Airways
8 Bring The Hammer Down
9 For The Future
10 Don’t Need Your Money
11 Radio Metro interview with Alan Robson

John Gallagher – lead vocals, bass, classical guitar
Mark Gallagher – electric guitar, backing vocals
Rob Hunter – drums, backing vocals

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www.amazon.co.uk/Rock-Until-You-Drop-Over/dp/B09V2QVTTQ