TYGERS OF PAN TANG – The MCA Years [5-CD Box-Set remastered + bonus] (2018)

“TYGERS OF PAN TANG – The MCA Years” is a fantastic ’80s career-spanning of this great and underrated British act, housed into a Box-Set including all their albums from that era remastered and as invaluable bonus tracks B-sides / remixes impossible to find.
As plus, we find an extra disc with a live collection of BBC recordings / Reading Festival which are outright rare.

1980’s “Wild Cat” is a NWOBHM gem, full of riff-driven killer songs, swirling melodious solos, and awesome lead vocals in a ‘metal singer’ fashion by Jess Cox – his only album with the band.
For many, Tygers Of Pan Tang best album. Key tracks: ‘Wildcat’, ‘Euthanasia’, ‘Killers’, ‘Fireclown’ and ‘Suzie Smiled’. All very catchy classic tunes that are irresistible.

Second album ‘Spellbound’ is also a must have LP, with new singer Jon Deverill much more melodic in its delivery.
The great John Sykes joined the band as guitarist taking the Tygers to another level, the sound and production are a much improvement, great solos and infectious songs. Key tracks: ‘Spellbound’: ‘Gangland’, ‘Tyger Bay’, ‘Hellbound’ and ‘Blackjack’.

Third album ‘Crazy Nights’ was released the same year – remember those glory days when bands put out 2 albums in a row, and both of great quality?
More melodic, catchy heavy numbers plenty of soaring vocals and kick @ss guitar work (again with Sykes into the line-up).
‘Crazy Nights’ also has one the best cover art from the ’80s, which is a good idea to choose this one as the box-set’s front cover. Key tracks: ‘Never Satisfied’, ‘Raised on Rock’ and ‘Down and Out’.

On disc 4 there’s 1982’s ‘The Cage’; Tygers Of Pan Tang going Melodic Hard Rock with an Americanized sound. While some kind of shock when originally released, I loved it from its first bit.
Catchy radio ready choruses, keyboards and a smooth, polished production. Key tracks; ‘Tides’, ‘Rendezvous’, ‘Lonely At The Top’, ‘Making Tracks’, ‘Life Of Crime’, but all are goodies.
On ‘Love Potion #9’ (which rocks like hell) Sykes still play guitar, and among the bonus we find the very hard to find ‘Making Tracks (12” Version)’.
Pure ’80s – I love this album.

And on disc 5 we have very good live recordings from ‘BBC In Concert’, ‘BBC Friday Rock Show’ and ‘Live At Reading Festival’, all really well captured showcasing the band’s evolution from 1980 to 1982.

“TYGERS OF PAN TANG – The MCA Years [5-CD Box-Set remastered + bonus] (2018)” is an essential Box Set documenting the first half of the Eighties British Rock scene development by the hand of this talented band.
The sound quality of these remasters is superb, especially the first two albums and the bonuses. This Box appeared last year, but it was re-released few months ago by Geffen Records now available world-wide.
HIGHLY Recommended

CD 1: Wild Cat remastered +4
01 – Euthanasia
02 – Slave To Freedom
03 – Don’t Touch Me There
04 – Money
05 – Killers
06 – Fireclown
07 – Wild Catz
08 – Suzie Smiled
09 – Badger Badger
10 – Insanity
11 – Rock N Roll Man (Bonus Track)
12 – Alright On The Night (Bonus Track)
13 – Tush (Bonus Track)
14 – Straight As A Die (Bonus Track)

Robb Weir – Guitars, Vocals
Jess Cox – Vocals
Brian Dick – Sticks, Kicks and Gong
Richard ‘Rocky’ Laws – Bass, Vocals

CD 2: Spellbound remastered +3
01 – Gangland
02 – Take It
03 – Minotaur
04 – Hellbound
05 – Mirror
06 – Silver And Gold
07 – Tyger Bay
08 – The Story So Far
09 – Blackjack
10 – Don’t Stop By
11 – Don’t Give A Damn (Bonus Track)
12 – Don’t Take Nothing (Bonus Track)
13 – All Or Nothing (Bonus Track)

Jon Deverill – lead and backing vocals
Robb Weir – lead guitar, backing vocals
John Sykes – lead guitar, backing vocals
Richard “Rocky” Laws – bass, backing vocals
Brian Dick – drums

CD 3: Crazy Nights +3
01 – Do It Good
02 – Love Don’t Stay
03 – Never Satisfied
04 – Running Out Of Time
05 – Crazy Nights
06 – Down And Out
07 – Lonely Man
08 – Make A Stand
09 – Raised On Rock
10 – The Stormlands (Bonus Track)
11 – Slip Away (Bonus Track)
12 – Paradise Drive (Bonus Track)

Jon Deverill – lead and backing vocals
Robb Weir – lead guitar, backing vocals
John Sykes – lead guitar, backing vocals
Richard “Rocky” Laws – bass, backing vocals
Brian Dick – drums

CD 4: The Cage
01 – Rendezvous
02 – Lonely At The Top
03 – Letter From L.A.
04 – Paris By Air
05 – Tides
06 – Making Tracks
07 – The Cage
08 – Love Potion No. 9
09 – You Always See What You Want To See
10 – Danger In Paradise
11 – The Actor
12 – Making Tracks (7” Version) (Bonus Track)
13 – What You Saying (Bonus Track)
14 – Making Tracks (12” Version) (Bonus Track)
15 – Love’s A Lie (Bonus Track)
16 – Life Of Crime (Bonus Track)

Jon Deverill – vocals
Robb Weir – guitars
Fred Purser – guitars, keyboards
Richard “Rocky” Laws – bass guitar
Brian Dick – drums
John Sykes – guitar on Love Potion No. 9, Danger in Paradise

CD 5: Rare Live
01 – Introduction (Live At BBC In Concert, London / 1981)
02 – Take It (Live At BBC In Concert, London / 1981)
03 – Rock’n’Roll Man (Live At BBC In Concert, London / 1981)
04 – Blackjack (Live At BBC In Concert, London / 1981)
05 – Gangland (Live At BBC In Concert, London / 1981)
06 – Slave To Freedom (Live At BBC In Concert, London / 1981)
07 – Hellbound (Live At BBC In Concert, London / 1981)
08 – Raised On Rock (Live At BBC In Concert, London / 1981)
09 – Euthanasia (Live At BBC Friday Rock Show / 1980)
10 – Don’t Take Nothing (Live At BBC Friday Rock Show / 1980)
11 – Wild Catz (Live At BBC Friday Rock Show / 1980)
12 – Don’t Touch Me There (Live At BBC Friday Rock Show / 1980)
13 – Lonely At The Top (Live At Reading Festival, UK / 1982)
14 – Blackjack  (Live At Reading Festival, UK / 1982)
15 – Tides (Live At Reading Festival, UK / 1982)
16 – Making Tracks (Live At Reading Festival, UK / 1982)
17 – The Actor (Live At Reading Festival, UK / 1982)
18 – Slave To Freedom (Live At Reading Festival, UK / 1982)
19 – Love Potion #9 (Live At Reading Festival, UK / 1982)

BUT IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/MCA-Years-Tygers-Pan-Tang/dp/B071DL28LJ
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