0dayrox

Melodic Rock, AOR, Hard Rock, Prog, Classic Rock news

Category: TOUCH

DRIVE SHE SAID / KEYS (Mark Mangold) / TOUCH

KEYS (Mark Mangold of Drive She Said) – Keys (2022)

KEYS is a collaboration between keyboardist Mark Mangold (Touch, Drive She Said, Michael Bolton, Cher, Paul Rogers and others) and singer Jake E (Cyhra, Amarenthe, and others), which self-titled debut “Keys” is being released by Escape Music.
Featuring live performances with three keyboardists using a huge battery of keyboards, this ambitious band brings keyboard and instrumental prowess to new heights while playing songs that run the gamut from scathing progressive melodic forays to catchy and melodic rock anthems led by keyboards… and Jake’s award winning voice (Burrn Magazine Vocalist of the Year 2020).
As fan of keyboards, piano, synths, etc I really enjoyed this album, properly titled ‘Keys’. There’s strong songwriting and clean vocals all over very melodic tunes with a lot of Pomp AOR on it!

DRIVE SHE SAID / REMASTER / TOUCH

DRIVE SHE SAID – Drive She Said [AOR Heaven Classix remastered +2]

Here you have another album countless times requested at 0dayroz: DRIVE, SHE SAID self-titled debut remastered by AOR Heaven Records plus 2 previously unreleased bonus tracks. As part of their ongoing ‘AOR Heaven Classix’, the label reissued the much sought after first two albums from DRIVE, SHE SAID remastered by expert Chris Lyne and with juicy liner notes by Dave Reynolds.
The demand for both CD were so huge that despite of being released not so long ago, “DRIVE SHE SAID – Drive, She Said AOR Heaven Classix” is already out of print, with used copies being sold for over € 100.
“Drive, She Said”, the self-titled debut of the project consisting of Mark Mangold (ex Touch, legendary Pomp-AORsters) and multi-instrumentalist / vocalist Al Fritsch is undoubtedly considered a true classic from the AOR / Melodic Rock genre.
This album is what a I call ‘mid-tempo AOR genius’. All songs are marvelous, strong, beautifully crafted…

DRIVE SHE SAID / REMASTER / THE SIGN / TOUCH

DRIVE SHE SAID – Drivin’ Wheel (AOR Heaven Classix digitally remastered +3) Out of Print

Here’s another one you need in your AOR / Melodic Rock collection: “Drivin’ Wheel“, one of the best albums from DRIVE SHE SAID, in this Digitally Remastered release by specialized label AOR Heaven through their ‘AOR Heaven Classix‘ series, including 3 previously unreleased bonus tracks.
Unfortunately, this CD is out of print, with remaining copies being sold for over EUR 115.
DRIVE, SHE SAID’s “Drivin’ Wheel” is not usually mentioned on Melodic Rock / AOR ‘top of all time lists’, but it’s a genre milestone. All tracks a simply awesome, the arrangements are unique, and the melodies top notch.
Digitally Remastered by Chris Lyne, this AOR Heaven remaster sounds fantastic, and we have 3 excellent previously unreleased tracks (really good pre-production sound). Don’t miss the ‘action movie AOR’ of “Never Say Never”… its title says all…

DRIVE SHE SAID / TOUCH

DRIVE SHE SAID – Dreams Will Come [The Best Of & More]

Formed in 1988, DRIVE SHE SAID released their first album in 1989. Put together by American Tears and Touch keyboard-man Mark Mangold and vocalist / guitarist Al Fritsch, you’ll be hard pushed to find a better selection of AOR songs than on their debut album.
“Dreams Will Come” is some kind of Greatest Hits, featuring 4 new songs, some re-recordings, and the remaining tracks remastered. A must for fans of the genre.
“Fools Game” was a hit for Michael Bolton and “I Found Someone” was one of Cher’s big comeback hits. Both were written by Mark Mangold, and now he gets do to his versions with Jon Bivona doing the guitar honors.
Also new songs were written & recorded for this release, like the very melodious title track “Dreams Will Come”, or the heavier kick ass rocker “Try To Let Go (FukUUp)” showcasing the magic trade off between Mark and Al in a keys / guitar battle.

DRIVE SHE SAID / REMASTER / TOUCH

DRIVE SHE SAID – Real Life [Re-Mixed / Re-Mastered]

DRIVE SHE SAID founder and main songwriter Mark Mangold has Re-Mixed / Re-Mastered the band’s 4th album “Real Life”, as according to him these songs needed a refresh. Released via Escape Music, the results on “Real Life [Re-Mixed / Re-Mastered]” are excellent.
If you are reading this blog, DRIVE SHE SAID needs no introduction… it’s simply one of the greatest AOR / Melodic Rock bands in history.
The original release of “Real Life” suffered from a slightly muddy mix. Now this Mangold Remix / Remaster really improves the brilliance of these tunes. The awesome title track ‘Real Life’, the AOR gold of ‘Stronger’, power ballad ‘We Live for Love’, the melodic rocker ‘Whats It Gonna Take’, the Toto-like midtempo ‘Believe’, all are little pearls from the genre you must own…

TOUCH

TOUCH – Touch II [2nd unreleased album Deko Entertainment 2021 remaster]

Mark Mangold and TOUCH‘s record label Deko Entertainment (distributed by Warner Music Group in the USA and Cargo Records in Europe) have just released “Touch ll”, the second unreleased album from the band recorded in 1982, produced by the recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Todd Rundgren. The record never came out and TOUCH disbanded thereafter.
While these recordings were officially released years ago (now out if print) this is the first time that are available world-wide thanks to the digital format.
With a cover artwork inspired / similar to TOUCH’s new 2021 album, the songs on this ”Touch II” release have been remastered by Deko’s resident Alan Douches.
Highly Recommended collectible

DRIVE SHE SAID / TOUCH

TOUCH – Tomorrow Never Comes (2021) *EXCLUSIVE*

Mark Mangold (keys, DRIVE, SHE SAID, AMERICAN TEARS) finally did it: he reunited the original line up of TOUCH for a new album, “Tomorrow Never Comes“. TOUCH was one of the first Pomp AOR bands and their self-titled debut LP is a must have.
Well, fast forward 2021 TOUCH didn’t lost the magic of their legendary first album; bombastic melodies and amazing arrangements as well as a stunning artwork by Stan Decker. Wow!
It’s time that Mangold gets the recognition he clearly deserves, at least among AOR circles. “Tomorrow Never Comes” not only is ‘the comeback album of the year’ ; it’s one of the best overall.
AWESOME
Only at 0dayrox

DRIVE SHE SAID / REMASTER / TOUCH / UNRELEASED

TOUCH – The Complete Works / Definitive Edition [Japan only 2-Disc release remastered]

While waiting for the new TOUCH album (on sale, not yet distributed) many of you asked for this excellent release “The Complete Works”. This 2-CD compiles the first album plus some bonus tracks, while the extra disc features TOUCH’s second album recorded 1981 but never released back in the day.
“The Complete Works” was released by Japanese label Bareknuckle in the late ’90s, but this is the rare, limited 2008 “The Complete Works / Definitive Edition” by Shaniatrek Music Japan, with better sound quality and packaging, including full lyric booklet with the 2 discs in a gatefold paper sleeve album replica.
This 2008 version appeared in Japan only, however the original late ’90s also was released in Europe by Frontiers Music (one of the label’s first) including an extra track, which 0dayrox added here to make your TOUCH collection really complete.
This is a gem, an essential album, even more the collectible second unreleased Touch record, co-produced by Mark Mangold & Todd Rundgren.
Only at 0dayrox

DRIVE SHE SAID / REMASTER / REMASTER ROCK CANDY / THE SIGN / TOUCH

TOUCH – Touch [Rock Candy remastered +2]

This ‘Touch‘ remaster by Rock Candy Records was requested to compare to ‘The Complete Works / Definitive Edition’ also featured here at 0dayrox.
Rightfully considered one the pompy AOR / Melodic Rock genre’s pillars, the first, self-titled album from TOUCH has been remastered by Rock Candy specialists resulting into a superbly sounding CD including 2 rare cuts as bonus tracks.
Led by a veteran of the scene Mark Mangold (ex- American Tears and later in Drive She Said), the band locked into a style of Melodic (hard) Rock / AOR music that would eventually father multi-platinum artists such as Survivor, Journey and Foreigner in years to come.
Focusing on supremely crafted songs with huge hooks, luscious vocals, stabbing keyboards, razor sharp guitars and impressive arrangements, their debut self-titled album immediately struck a chord with fans…

AMERICAN TEARS / TOUCH

AMERICAN TEARS – White Flags (2019)

Due to the very well received 2018 AMERICAN TEARS comeback album last year, the band has recorded a new record entitled “White Flags” which kicks it all up a notch. The only original member is Mark Mangold (Drive She Said), who also performs all instruments. Formed in the fertile musical environment of Long Island, New York, the band was initially...

AMERICAN TEARS / DRIVE SHE SAID / TOUCH

AMERICAN TEARS (Mark Mangold) – Hard Core (2018)

Superb keyboardist Mark Mangold (Touch, Drive She Said) has resurrected his very first band AMERICAN TEARS for a new album titled “Hard Core” released by Escape Music on physical CD only.American Tears first surfaced in the Seventies and were a power trio focused around the keyboards of Mangold, who is the sole remaining original member on this album, and indeed...

HOUSTON / NEW ENGLAND / TOUCH

HOUSTON – Truth Slips EP + Singles + Cover Versions

After the recent, awesome new album by Swedish AOR wonders HOUSTON some of you asked for the band’s rare “Truth Slips [EP]”, presented here on the blog at the time of its release, which now seems to be unavailable at retail stores. Additionally, we have compiled a bunch of rarities; a single edit, a B-side, a non album track, all...

FLESH & BLOOD (Danny Vaughn) – Blues For Daze [remastered 2015]

BURNING KINGDOM / DANNY VAUGHN / DRIVE SHE SAID / FLESH & BLOOD / SARAYA / THE SIGN / TOUCH / TYKETTO

FLESH & BLOOD (Danny Vaughn) – Blues For Daze [remastered 2015]

After the recently featured here reissue of Mark Mangold’s The Sign two albums, one of you asked for his project FLESH & BLOOD and its only album titled “Blues For Daze“. Well, as happened with The Sign, Mangold himself remastered the album last year to celebrate its 20th Anniversary and made it available again after years out of print. FLESH...

TOUCH

TOUCH – ST [Rock Candy Remaster] (2013)

* Time’s changing… one of the few labels still firmly planted on releasing CD-only material, Rock Candy Records, has launched a Digital Store.One of the first albums available on this format is the debut of TOUCH, the great American pompy AOR / Melodic Rock band, considered one the genre’s pillars. During the late seventies and early eighties the American rock...