TKO – Total Knock Out: The Complete TKO [Cherry Red Records 5-CD Box Set] (2024)

Cherry Red Records is releasing “Total Knock Out: The Complete TKO“, a comprehensive 5-CD box set bringing together TKO’s three classic studio albums from 1979 to 1986, plus the posthumously released second album ‘Round Two’, along with numerous rarities, alternate versions and demos. All newly remastered.
Additionally there’s post-TKO band Suicide Squad’s EP, on CD for the first time ever.
To many, Seattle rockers TKO need no introduction, a pioneering US metal outfit that came out of the gate strongly with their first album 1979’s ‘Let It Roll’ establishing them as American metal leaders at least a year before the NWOBHM acts that were soon to come flooding in from the UK… and a good three years before the US power metal movement started to take hold Stateside.
Band leader Brad Sinsel led TKO through a number of line-up changes throughout the ’80s and on an, at times, uneasy path to success. A trip that established them as firm cult favourites with fans; and a highly influential act for many famous musicians.

Vocalist Brad Sinsel, a native of Yakima, Washington, got his start in rock in the early Seventies in Ze Whiz Kidz, a flamboyant, influential glam rock band that opened a Seattle show by the New York Dolls in 1974. Eventually, he joined a reformed version of the band Mojo Hand which featured co-founding members Mark Seidenverg (bass) and Darryl Siguenza (drums), along with former Whiz Kidz guitarist Rick Pierce. With the addition of Sinsel and Tony Bortko (guitar, keyboards) the band became TKO.

Represented by managers who also worked with platinum sellers Heart, the band signed a major label recording contract in 1977, though it would be more than a year before the first album Let It Roll would appear, went on to sell roughly 150,000 copies.
TKO toured the U.S. extensively, including shows with the Kinks, Cheap Trick, AC/DC, Van Halen as well as Heart and made their way to Japan.

Sadly, TKO’s initial momentum was quickly squashed when their label, Infinity Records, made a disastrous financial blunder by signing Pope John Paul II, with a non-recoupable $6 million dollar advance. It was an investment that forced the collapse of the label, leaving TKO cast adrift trying to pick up the pieces in a world that was always looking for new fresh talent rather than rescuing those who were left floundering in shallow water.

So TKO, needed to reinvent there selves. In this respect, the band, and Brad Sinsel, set about not only reconstructing their line up but also a new sound.
This time around they honed in on raw, in your face hard rock, crafting a sound that had more in common with European tastes than American acts. Enlisting musicians that included guitarist Adam Brenner (later known as solo artists as Adam Bomb) and signing a production deal with producer Rick Keefer, the band flew to Hawaii and recorded “In Your Face” in 1984, arguably one of the best American hard rock records of the era.

Despite the quality of their material, getting a deal proved problematic resulting in the band splintering, to be brought back into existence by Sinsel when Combat Records eventually offered a contract.
Ahead of its time, the riffs and aggression were raw, hard and unrelenting. In fact, the record was hailed as a genre milestone influencing much of the US hard rock scene for years to come.
This reissue features the original album completely remastered, plus the 2001 remix of the whole thing.

Looking to capitalise on the ”In Your Face” album and the positive critical feedback it received, Brad assembled another revised line up and looked to update their musical style with bolder and better riffs. Once again produced by Rick Kefer at his studio in Hawaii, the record succeeded on several levels.
The songs were hard hitting and precise, whilst the playing took no prisoners, mining a raw but melodic seam reminiscent of Ratt, Helix and Quiet Riot whilst always acknowledging that the hooks needed to punch home a message.
The band found a fresh new home for this record with premiere independent label Roadrunner Records.

Recorded in the mid-80s, that ‘big’ production style is present all over ”Below The Belt” including some Simmons drums (electronic) alongside Ken Mary’s (House Of Lords, Fifth Angel) great skin bashing, and the band show an improved songwriting adding catchy choruses to the proceedings.
Anyway, all the hallmarks of classic TKO are present: Brad Sinsel’s gritty streetweary vocals, sharp guitar riffs and memorable, catchy, well written tunes.

Once again, the critical reception was wildly enthusiastic, complimenting the band on their potent yet melodic approach that left no stone unturned in an effort to maximise the music’s impact.
Sadly however, sales were not strong enough to push the band to the next level. Again, another example of an act that, despite putting up a valiant fight, was forever destined to be a highly influential footnote in the hard rock ‘cult bands’ hall of fame.

A really complete TKO reissue including dozens of bonus tracks and a disc of rarities.
HIGHLY Recommended

CD1 Let It Roll (1979) +9
01 – Let It Roll
02 – Ain’t No Way To Be
03 – Only Love
04 – Gutter Boy
05 – Kill The Pain
06 – Come A Day
07 – Rock ‘n Roll Again
08 – Bad Sister
09 – What In The World
BONUS TRACKS:
10 – Introduction (Radio Session)
11 – Rock ‘n Roll Again (Radio Session)
12 – Bad Sister (Radio Session)
13 – What In The World (Radio Session)
14 – Gutter Boy (Radio Session)
15 – Kill The Pain (Radio Session)
16 – Only Love (Radio Session)
17 – Let It Roll (Radio Session)
18 – Ending (Radio Session)

CD2 Round Two – The Lost Demos (1979) +3
01 – Down To Tears (Demo, 1979)
02 – TKO (Demo, 1979)
03 – In For The Kill (Demo, 1979)
04 – Don’t Say No (Demo, 1979)
05 – My Memory (Demo, 1979)
06 – Mario (Demo, 1979)
07 – Gonna Get Out Of Here (Demo, 1979)
08 – Not A Kid No More (Demo, 1979)
09 – Survive (Demo, 1979)
10 – Point Of View (Demo, 1979)
11 – Better Let Me Know (Demo, 1979)
12 – Weekend (Demo, 1979)
BONUS TRACKS:
13 – End Of The Line (Live, Detroit)
14 – I Wanna Fight (Live, 1985)

CD3 In Your Face (1984) +10
01 – I Wanna Fight
02 – Run Out Of Town
03 – Give Into The Night
04 – End Of The Line
05 – Working Girl
06 – All I Want To Do
07 – Don’t Give It All Away
08 – I Can Do Without You
09 – So This Is Rock’n’Roll
10 – Danger City
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – I Wanna Fight (2001 Remix)
12 – Run Out Of Town (2001 Remix)
13 – Give Into The Night (2001 Remix)
14 – End Of The Line (2001 Remix)
15 – Working Girl (2001 Remix)
16 – All I Want To Do (2001 Remix)
17 – Don’t Give It All Away (2001 Remix)
18 – I Can Do Without You (2001 Remix)
19 – So This Is Rock’n’Roll (2001 Remix)
20 – Danger City (2001 Remix)

CD4 Below The Belt (1986) + Suicide Squad EP
01 – Beware The Hunter
02 – With My Back To The Wall
03 – Below The Belt
04 – Can’t Let Go
05 – Chains Don’t Change
06 – Rock N’ Roll Remains
07 – Seventeen
08 – Doin’ Time
09 – Fallin’ To Pieces
10 – Sticks N’ Stones
11 – One Of The Boys
Suicide Squad (Ex TKO Project):
12 – Bad Boy Blues
13 – Can’t Use Ya
14 – Live It While You Can
15 – No Solution

CD5 In Your Face (Early Mixes)
01 – Working Girl (Early Mix)
02 – Give Into The Night (Early Mix)
03 – So This Is Rock N Roll (Early Mix)
04 – End Of The Line (Early Mix)
05 – All I Wanna Do (Early Mix)
06 – Run Outta Town (Early Mix)
07 – Without You (Early Mix)
08 – Danger City (Early Mix)
09 – Kingdom Come (Basement Version)
10 – End Of The Line (Basement Version)
11 – Bad Brad’s Blues (Basement Version)
12 – All I Want To Do (Live)

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