CIRCLE OF FRIENDS – Cherokee Moon [Japan Edition +1] (2024) *HQ* Exclusive

Featuring the who’s who in the current melodic hard rock scene, the debut CIRCLE OF FRIENDS album, “The Garden”, was received by fans of the genre with wide open arms. But the project was only ever meant to be a special one-off.
However, and due the success of the first CD, here’s CIRCLE OF FRIENDS second album “Cherokee Moon“, again delivering covers of famous songs from the genre, and with a generous helping of originals, “Cherokee Moon” was realised.
Among the top class musicians we find lead vocals from Jeff Scott Soto, Darby Mills, Mick Devine, Robin Beck, Harry Hess, Robin McAuley, while players are terrific too; Steve Mann on keys / lead guitar (MSG / Lionheart), Steve Morris (guitars / Heartland), Tommy Denander (guitars & keys / Radioactive), Work Of Art Robert Säll on keys & guitar, and many more.
This Japanese edition includes an exclusive bonus track performed by Jeff Scott Soto.

Among the great covers, the Saxon song “Princess Of The Night” must surely be one of the classic tracks from the NWOBHM era. It was decided to cover the track, and to make it that little bit more special, add Hammond organ into the mix. Jeff Scott Soto, who once toured the USA supporting Saxon, does Biff proud with his vocals.
For “Cherokee Moon” it was decided to redo the classic Rainbow / Joe Jynn Turner era track “Can’t Let You Go”. The incredible vocals here are supplied by Harem Scarem’s Harry Hess.
The Europe album “Prisoners In Paradise” is one of the band’s best, and having worked with female singer Tanya Rizkala on ‘The Garden’ it just seemed a logical choice to have an actual girl from Lebanon singing “Girl From Lebanon”.
Elsewhere we have MSG’s Robin McAuley doing a wonderful version of the Van Zant song “Midnight Sensation” from the wonderful debut. Paul Manzi (The Sweet) does an incredible job on TEN’s “The Robe”.

But it’s just not fantastic covers, there are also 6 awesome originals, with the album opening with the great Rainbow-fueled “Starlight”, sung by Robin Beck’s daughter Olivia Dei Cicchi. Robin herself shows up on a duet with Seven’s Mick Devine with “Lying Here Beside You”.
We have a tight rocker on the Mark Boals fronted “Eternal Love”. Darby Mills returns for the powerful “House Of Shadows”, and Thomas Vikström supplies the vocals for the Steve Overland (FM) written “Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark”.
Gathering Of Kings vocalist Rick Altzi performs on “Eye Of The Hurricane”, the only song this time provided by the writer of most of the debut album, Mikael Rosengren.

And the ice on the cake on this Japanese edition is “No Candle in the Window “, performed by the mighty Jeff Scott Soto.

“Cherokee Moon” is a heavier animal than the debut but still retains the melody and sheer power that has become synonymous with the name Circle Of Friends. All this has been meticulously arranged & produced with a phenomenal mix by Fredrik Folkare (Nordic Union / ex- Eclipse).
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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01 – Starlight (Olivia Dei Cicchi)
02 – Eternal Love (Mark Boals)
03 – Princess Of The Night (Jeff Scott Soto)
04 – House Of Shadows (Darby Mills)
05 – Lying Here Beside You (Mick Devine, Robin Beck)
06 – Can’t Let You Go (Harry Hess)
07 – Eye Of The Hurricane (Rick Altzi)
08 – Midnight Sensation (Robin McAuley)
09 – No Candle in the Window (Jeff Scott Soto) [Japan Bonus Track]
10 – Girl From Lebanon (Tanya Rizkala)
11 – Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark (Thomas Vikstrom)
12 – The Robe (Paul Manzi)

Jeff Scott Soto – Vocals
Harry Hess – Vocals
Robin McAuley – Vocals
Robin Beck – Vocals
Mark Boals – Vocals, Bass
Darby Mills – Vocals
Rick Altzi – Vocals
Paul Manzi – Vocals
Thomas Vikstrom – Vocals
Tanya Rizkala – Vocals
Olivia Dei Cicchi – Vocals
Mick Devine – Vocals
James Christian – Backing Vocals
Fredrik Folkare – Guitars, Bass
Steve Mann – Keyboards
Nalle Pahlsson – Bass
Tom Croucier – Bass
Tommy Denander – Guitars, Keyboards
Gregg Hart – Guitars
Steve Morris – Guitars, Keyboards
Kjell Haraldson – Hammond Organ
Robert Sall – Guitars, Keyboards
Brian Anthony – Bass
Johan Kullberg – Drums
Josh Devine – Drums

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www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/RBNCD-1393