THE JOE PERRY PROJECT – Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker [Japan SHM-CD mini-LP remastered] Out Of Print

And to complete THE JOE PERRY PROJECT request here’s their 3rd album “Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker“ in its Japanese SHM-CD mini-LP remastered reissue, now out of print. It was a limited edition, and the sound quality is superb.

After the band’s great second album ‘I’ve Got The Rock ’N’ Rolls Again’, Joe Perry completely reformed the whole project and recruited three new band members: Cowboy Mach Bell (vocals), Joe Pet (Drums) and Danny Hargrove (Bass).
With this new line-up and the determination to climb back up to stardom with his band, the musical orientation for “Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker” was slightly more commercial, focused on radio ready songs yet rocking storming anyway.

Mach Bell’s vocals brought a new dimension to the band, and overall he rocks with a strong, distinctive delivery.
The opening title track, ‘Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker’ is a short (just under 3 minutes) but a kickin’ rock and roller, very bluesy based. Next is one of the highlights, ‘Black Velvet Pants’. The intro to this song is outstanding with Joe’s guitar solo and then a cool rhythm.

‘Women In Chains’ is one of my favorites, not strange as it was co-written by talented AOR-related Tom DeLuca. This is an excellent mid-paced song with interesting arrangements and lyrics about how women are sometimes mistreated or ignored.
‘Crossfire’ sounds like a lost Aerosmith song with Bell’s vocals similar to Steven Tyler, and there’s some fine sax playing at the end.

All members find room to shine on ‘King Of The Kings’ (love the rounded bass sound on this one), and then we find a fine cover of T. Rex’s ‘Bang A Gong’.
More classic Joe Perry Project from their first era is the straight rock’n’roll of ‘Walk With Me Sally’, which alongside Joe’s shuffle riffs there’s some great honky-tonk piano playing courtesy of guest Harry King. The LP close with ‘Never Wanna Stop’, a funky rocker with a fun guitar work including a ‘slide solo’ by Joe.

After the “Once a Rocker, Always a Rocker”, Perry started conversations with Tyler, ditched the Project and returned to his original compadres, Aerosmith, in 1984.
This final Joe Perry Project album rocks with a melodic, focused songwriting, and this rarely seen SHM-CD release blows out of the water any other version out there in terms of sound quality.
Highly Recommended

ＵＮＩＶＥＲＳＡＬ ＭＵＳＩＣ ＪＡＰＡＮ ～ 【UICY-94448】
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01 – Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker
02 – Black Velvet Pants
03 – Women In Chains
04 – 4 Guns West
05 – Crossfire
06 – Adrianna
07 – King Of The Kings
08 – Bang A Gong (Get It On)
09 – Walk With Me Sally
10 – Never Wanna Stop

Joe Perry – Guitars, Vocals, Six-String Bass
Cowboy Mach Bell – Lead Vocals
Danny Hargrove – Bass
Joe Pet – Drums, Congas, Gong
Harry King – piano
Mark Parenteau – chains (“Women In Chains”)
Rick Cunningham – Saxophone

Out Of Print
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICY-94448