ROADMASTER re-issues

Sweet Music/Hey World

Fortress

Rock Candy 2012

Formed in the early 70s and releasing their first debut album in 1977, Roadmaster are a fine melodic hard rock group who should have been huge.

Sweet Music, the second album from 1978 (on Mercury) opens with the cracking “It Doesn’t Mean A Thing” and then things get even better with “I Must Be Dreaming”, a driving number with vocal harmonies, crunchy guitar and plenty of melody. There’s a hint of Boston in there, and Steven McNally has a great voice, wide ranging, powerful, that adds both glam and pomp to the sound. Rick Benick’s guitar and Michael Read’s keyboards both stand out, they balance and intertwine well. “Ya Move Me” could easily mix Boston and Mott The Hoople, and there’s a touch of Styx, Kansas and Trillion in there too.

The following year’s Hey World add more dimension, a harder smoother sound and multi-layered arrangements. The opening title track and “My Eyes Have Been Opened” both really are superb, the sleevenotes rate this album as one of the greatest of the genre and rightly so.

The band’s fourth and final album, 1980’s Fortress has a sharper guitar edge and is less pomp, but is equally melodic. The vocals remain defining and the guitar work really does stand out, some great solos from the outset. Production from Flo and Eddie, a new swagger, and a Journey like sound, it’s criminal that the band bowed out after this.

Roadmaster briefly reformed 10 years later, and sadly singer McNally later died of cancer. But three fantastic albums given great treatment here, long overdue on CD.

All 4/5

Joe Geesin

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)