Album review: JOHNNY LIMA – Johnny Lima/Made In California

MelodicRock Records [Release date 01.03.17]

These two albums by Johnny Lima – his self-titled debut from 1996 and 2003′s ‘Made In California’ – have been made available again by MelodicRock Records and not before time I say!

Johnny Lima’s debut album was financed with the help of his parents and it was very much against the musical flow back in 1996 being full of hook filled 80′s style melodic rock. The album has been something of a collector’s item and easy to see why with the Motley Crue flavoured ‘Little Runaway’ and ‘If I Had A Heart’. The reissue adds two bonus songs, the Bon Jovi sounding ‘Fire Of Love’ (Johnny Lima does sound uncannily like Jon Bon Jovi at times) and the upbeat melodic rock of ’Drift Away’. Had this album been originally released back in the late 80′s it would have been a monster. ****

Made In California should be in any self-respecting lover of melodic rock’s album collection, a real ‘must have’. There are so many classic songs on here from the title track opener, through to the insanely catchy chorus on ‘Go On, Go Away’ and the lighters-aloft ballad ‘We’ve Got Tonight’. There is even a decent rocked up cover of the Beatles’ classic ‘Help!’.

There are again two bonus songs on this reissue, ‘Rock N Roll Generation’ and ‘She Gets Around’ (you could imagine Sum 41 covering this one), both feature tasty guitar riffs and big choruses, melodic rock at its best. ****1/2

What are you waiting for? If you don’t have these albums in your collection go grab a copy now and those who are lucky enough to have both on their original release, these reissues are worth having for the four bonus songs.

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)