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Rock Candy Records [release date 18.05.23]
Minnesota band Vixen made their major label breakthrough in 1987, after moving to Los Angeles. Two albums were recorded by the original Vixen lineup, Jan Keuhnemund, Janet Gardner, Share Ross and Roxy Petrucci. The second, Rev It Up (1990), has now been remastered and reissued by champions of the AOR/Melodic Rock era, Rock Candy Records.
Unsurprisingly, the huge success of Bon Jovi unknowingly provided a template for all up and coming rock bands on the US westcoast. And so bringing in writers with a proven track record in the genre, like Diane Warren (It Wouldn’t Be Love), Jack Conrad (How Much Love) and Steve Plunkett (Streets In Paradise) seemed the route to sure fire success.
But it was ‘Love Is A Killer’, an eminently durable power ballad, that helped propel the album into the US Billboard Top Twenty. It came from the pen of Harry Paress, who’d written standout material for Quiet Riot, Bobby Kimball, Fiona, Bangalore Choir and others.
The album failed to surpass or even equal the sales of the debut, and so an impatient, dissatisfied label let them go.
The jump from 1990 to today is not so huge in production quality terms as many of the other reissues on the label. Still, the upgraded clarity and punch on this remaster is impressive. ***
Review by Brian McGowan
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.
Latest session: Sunday 26 May
Next session: Sunday 29 September
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 25 August 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 September 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”
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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 16 September 2024
THE NOW Special Kind Of Stupid (indie)
NEW MONARCH Paper Noose (indie)
AD INFINITUM Surrender (Napalm Records)
KROOKED TONGUE Nothing Ever Grows (indie)
TRUCKER DIABLO Show Me The Way (Big Unit Records)
Featured Albums w/c 16 September 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)
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