Rock Candy Records [release date 07.05.21]

US rock band, Silent Rage’s worldwide hit song, ‘Don’t Touch Me There’ (1989) gained them considerable notoriety. Perhaps a surprise then that once you peel away the risque lyrics, you reveal a band of considerable talent.
It was the second of two releases now reissued in remastered form by Brit label, Rock Candy Records.

The band was formed by guitarists/ songwriters, Mark Hawkins and Jesse Damon. Paul Sabu produced their debut album, Shattered Hearts, in 1987.

It’s an album is very much of its time, highly derivative. There was a formula, strictly adhered to by the mid range practicioners of Melodic Rock like King Kobra, Giuffria and Black’n'Blue. Silent Rage had all the pieces – shout-it-out choruses; ringing guitars; a bright, brash studio production; tales of lust, love and heartache, and loads of studio polish. On most tracks here, they just can’t get them to fit. And too often decent melodies and choruses are spoiled by cliched lyrics.

The title track,’Shattered Hearts’ and ‘Make It Or Break It’ may reveal some surprisingly grown up observations on life and love, and the teasingly poptastic ‘Sarina’ might reach out confidently to MTV and FM radio. But elsewhere and too often the formula they are seeking to emulate is out of range.

Don’t Touch Me There (1989) changed all that.
We can immediately see that their songwriting skills and individual talents have blossomed in the two years since Shattered Hearts. They were now on Gene (Kiss) Simmons’ label, and he had a hand in the production.

The album was hugely popular in the UK and Europe generally, hitting the top spot on the import charts for several weeks. No surprise. ‘Runnin On Love’, ‘Rebel With A Cause’ and the title track, amongst others, were all switched on melodic rock nuggets, in tune with the times and imbued with honest conviction.
Their covers of the Isley Brothers’ ‘Touch Me’, and ‘All Night Long’, originally written by Curtis Lewis for Aretha Franklin, showed a willingness to stretch out into other forms of rock and soul (not to mention good taste).

The remastering is extremely well done, protecting the integrity of the original dynamics while creating an improved clarity of sound.

No bonus tracks though…shame.

Review by Brian McGowan

---

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

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 1 December 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 3 December 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 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

---

---

Popular (last 10 days)

---