Escape Music [Release date 19.01.18]
If like me you were one of those who spent every fortnight reading Kerrang! and the Wimpwire column by Derek Oliver, Jon Butcher’s name came up quite often and indeed he got a feature in the AOR/melodic rock edition of ‘Mega Metal Kerrang!’
This debut album was released back in 1983 and is only getting a full CD release now – an event eagerly anticipated judging by the comments on Amazon asking why this album and the follow-up, ‘Stare At The Sun’, are not on CD.
This album reached No. 91 in the Billboard album charts on its original releases and the video ‘Life Takes a Life’ became one of the first videos by a black artist to receive airtime on MTV. It has an 80′s sound in the drums and effects, heck there is even a song called ‘Fairlight’, which uses lots of programmed percussion presumably on a Fairlight synth. ‘We Will Be As One’ uses programmed percussion, coupled with nimble acoustic guitar on the intro before the guitar crashes in and it is another classy piece of melodic hard rock.
‘Life Takes A Life’ and ‘Ocean In Motion’ (not unlike the solo work of Jude Cole) are sublime melodic rock, with Jon Butcher’s melodic vocals soaring above the music. ’Send One Care Of’ is a lost gem of a melodic rock classic, this should have been a hit and then some, with a strong guitar riff and a passionate guitar solo. Along with ‘Ocean In Motion’ one of the album’s stand out songs.
After the Axis disbanded in 1991 Jon Butcher followed a blues musical path and today is a member of Chris Pearce’s band. To finally have this album on CD will please many and it is an enjoyable piece of 80′s melodic rock, plus you get sleeve notes from Dave Reynolds, once of Kerrang! ****
Review by Jason Ritchie
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
