Category: ROBBY VALENTINE

ZINATRA – Rockumentary Part 2 [”The Great Escape” +3 remastered] out of print

Here’s a request of two albums that everybody need into their classic AOR collection: ZINATRA‘s self-titled debut “Zinatra” and their next / final disc “The Great Escape”. This 2-CD Box including both albums housed into individual jewel case is the one to get – if you find it as it’s out of print – as both LP have been remastered with a resulting pristine sound, plus a bunch (10 in total) of bonus tracks.
This is the real Box / physical release titled Rockumentary Part 1 & 2“.
This second Zinatra album, “The Great Escape”, originally released in 1990, is an AOR / melodic (hard) rock fest at its own right. The songwriting and instrumental part of the album is more focused and to the point, frontman Joss Mennen has stepped up as the singer raising his game manifold, but most importantly there is a young Robbie Valentine behind the keyboards also taking a leading role in terms of songwriting.
Robby, for that matter, seems to have remained the outsider for his brief time in Zinatra having single handedly composed four of the songs on the album including the ballad “Lover Never Dies” a vocal duet between Valentine and Mennen as well as the midtempo AOR epic “Too Blind to See”, both glimpses of Robby’s solo work that would follow in the ‘90s.
Interestingly enough Canadian AOR hero Paul Laine (Danger Danger) contributes four songs to the set list including the outstanding single “Two Sides of Love”, the melodic rocker “Only Your Heart” and the irresistible “Hold On”.

ROBBY VALENTINE – The Magic Infinity +2 [Japan HR-HM 1000 Vol.5 series] (2022) HQ

Universal Music Japan did it again, a new campaign of their ‘HR/HM 1000‘ series – the Limited Release reissue of long time out of print albums from their Hard Rock / Heavy Metal catalog at the price of 1000 Yen = about 9 USD.
Now it’s time for the second 2022 batch, ”HR-HM 1000 Vol.5”. And as part of these there’s ROBBY VALENTINE‘s “The Magic Infinity” including 2 bonus tracks.
It was the year of 1993 when Robby Valentine, the multi talented Dutch musician released his sophomore CD that should have become one of the top AOR / melodic rock albums of the 90s (not only in Japan).
This album has it all. There isn’t single filler; ranging from fast rockers to slow ballads, all the songs carry presence of melody and richness of sound.
If you have a soft spot for pompy AOR / Melodic Rock laced with keyboards, emotion and delicately virtuous vocals then this is an essential purchase. One thing is certain: This is a little gem…

ROBBY VALENTINE – The Queen EP 2 (2021) *only at 0dayrox*

In recent years Dutch virtuoso ROBBY VALENTINE has been doing an amazing Queen Tribute Show with a great full-band performance and at the same time recorded his own studio versions of these timeless songs.
Robby’s love for Queen is endless, and he needed to make his own versions of other, lesser known songs from Brian May & Co. “The Queen EP 2” was released at the end of 2021 limited to 300 CDs, the only format available.
There’s a dramatic take of 1975’s A Night at the Opera ‘Death on Two Legs’. A really, really impressive cover. Robby also does the rocking ‘Brighton Rock’, a very emotional take on ‘Teo Torriate’, and a surprise cover of Queen’s ’80s song ‘Flash’, as Robby usually performs early-era Queen.
Really good
You’ve seen it first at 0dayrox

ROBBY VALENTINE – The Beatles Album (2021) *only at 0dayrox*

ROBBY VALENTINE is a musical centipede who has already released many releases under his own name and with others. Also a man who was never guided by what others thought or thought was better for him. His albums have always had a bombastic slant with quite a bit of Queen and classical influences.
Queen was his first love as a kid, then Electric Light Orchestra followed, and at the age of twelve The Beatles treasure chest opened to him. The band that ultimately influenced Robby’s two first loves. A journey of discovery in reverse order.
After releasing excellent Queen covers, for Robby it was a logical step to record a Beatles album. The project was primarily a private exercise for Valentine, born out of a fascination with The Beatles’ work and some of Lennon’s solo songs. But the stock of recordings grew and Robby suddenly had a collection of eleven Beatles songs.
So it’s here; “The Beatles Album” was released at the end last year, only 300 CDs, the only format available.
These incredible songs take a new life in Valentine hands. And the Dutch genius still has sense of humor despite his health troubles. The album’s art is an ‘Abbey Road’ parody in which he bravely shows how his life has changed in recent years. We see Robby crossing the road with dark sunglasses and a guide stick for the blind, pulling a cart with instruments.
Due to an eye disease, Robby Valentine is now practically blind. But he learned to play the piano and guitar again, and never will stop creating music.
You’ve seen it first at 0dayrox

ROBBY VALENTINE – Separate Worlds [Japan Edition +5] (2021)

Dutch maestro ROBBY VALENTINE returns with a new album titled “Separate Worlds“, just released in Japan including 5 bonus tracks. Robby is not afraid to do things different to what people might expect and he always finds a way to surprise his fans and followers, and “Separate Worlds” is the perfect example.
Where his previous CD “The Alliance” was a blend of many different genres molded together into a bombastic piece of art, “Separate worlds” is quite different, an album of contrasts mixing Pop/Rock with his love of the Classical music.
And the result is simply outstanding…

PETER STRYKES (1st Avenue) Sings Robby Valentine (2020 Reissue)

Dutch vocalist PETER STRYKES already worked with Robby Valentine while the former was the lead vocalist for melodic rockers 1st AVENUE, where Robby was involved in songwriting. Years later, Strykes performed vocals on Robby’s album ‘Androgenius’, and a year after, both musicians decided to record this “Peter Strykes sings Robby Valentine” album, released in limited quantities.
We have here a bunch of terrific songs composed by Valentine where he sings in a duet with Strykes. While Strykes is the main lead vocalist, Valentine sings some parts of the songs and does almost the entire instrumentation. There’s drums by longtime collaborator Juan van Emmerloot, and a guitar solo by their friend Valensia Clarkson, but essentially this is Strykes / Valentine stuff.
If you love Robby Valentine’s music you can’t miss this wonderful piece of music, with Strykes providing his unique pipes to craft a very unique sound & style.
HIGHLY Recommended

ROBBY VALENTINE – Robby Valentine [Expanded Edition] (2020)

Universal Music Catalogue label division has started a reissue of ROBBY VALENTINE early works, Expanded Editions of these albums including as bonus tracks songs never officially released outside Japan. The Dutch genius first album “Robby Valentine” is a must have for any AOR / Melodic Rock fan, and at this point, a classic. Having left awesome AOR / melodic hard...

1st AVENUE – Tears And Triumph [Japan Edition] Out Of Print

Regarded by many as the best AOR / Melodic Rock band ever coming out from the Netherlands, 1st AVENUE music include all the elements which made this genre so lovable: loads of keyboards, melodious guitars and catchy choruses. “Tears And Triumph” is their awesome debut album, and this Japanese edition is the best sounding ever appeared. A young Robby Valentine...

VALENSIA – Valensia VI • Gaia III • Aglaea • Legacy [Japanese release]

Aldous Byron Valensia Clarkson, in short VALENSIA, has been created unique music since the ’90s. If you never heard about him, his compositional style does not differ much to the other famous Dutch genius: Robby Valentine. In fact, Valensia / Valentine have released a couple of albums together.Ten years after the release of his latest solo album, Valensia returned with...

VALENTINE (Robby) – A Tribute To Queen 2 + Save Myself EP

This one was requested here with the recent ROBBY VALENTINE posts of rare material: “A Tribute To Queen 2“.In 2011 Valentine released ‘A Tribute To Queen’ featuring his own studio versions of Queen songs. Due its success, and the Dutch’s love for Queen music, in 2012 he released this second album, “A Tribute To Queen 2” including new covers. Then,...

VALENTINE (Robby) – The Queen Album 2014

In recent years, Dutch master ROBBY VALENTINE has been done an amazing Queen Tribute Show with a great full-band performance and at the same time recorded his own studio versions of these timeless songs. Because his first two Queen tribute albums ‘A tribute to Queen 1’ (2011) en ‘A Tribute to Queen 2’ (2012) are sold out, Valentine has decided to combine them together with 5 brand-new recorded songs into his ultimate Queen tribute record: “The Queen Album“.
Apart from his incredible take on Queen hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “We Will Rock You” or “We Are The Champions”, Robby offers a set that has not only covered the classic songs, but also some lesser known gems from the Queen catalog.

ROBBY VALENTINE – Unreleased & Japan Bonus Tracks

Waiting for the really good new ROBBY VALENTINE 2018 album, in recent posts we have been featuring here his rare and hard to find singles and EP’s. Today we bring to you some Robby’s Japanese album edition bonus tracks plus lots of unreleased material taken from a private collection. Valentine is a prolific musician, and many of his recordings still...

Robby VALENTINE – The Alliance [Japan Edition +1] (2018)

And finally it’s here: “The Alliance” (this Japan Edition with an exclusive bonus track], 11th album from Netherlands’ borderline genius musician, Robby VALENTINE, and what an accomplished affair it is. The vocalist / multi-instrumentalist has come through considerable personal turmoil these last few years, reflected here in a recording that is equal parts constructive artiness, romantic longing and bleak reflection....

ROBBY VALENTINE – The Legendary 1st Promo CD + Veronica’s Music Rock Experience Festival 1994 (unreleased) + Singles

Talented ROBBY VALENTINE will release his new 2018 album soon, and this is the right time to revisit the Dutch genius hard to find side of his discography, many of these rarities only released in Japan, and many unreleased as featured in this post. What we have here is a real gem; The Legendary 1st Promo CD (1992), pressed in...

ROBBY VALENTINE – Christmas In Heaven + Live & Demos [Japan Releases Only]

Mr. ROBBY VALENTINE will release his new 2018 album soon, and this is the right time to revisit the Dutch genius hard to find side of his discography, many of these rarities only released in Japan.In the case of “Christmas In Heaven (1997)” and “Live & Demos (1994)“, both albums were released in Japan only, now collector items fetching over...