Rock Candy [Release date 09.10.20]
1980: on the surface, Black Rose had little going for it. And yet Cher, guitarist Les Dudek’s part time girlfriend, fronted the band. Strangely, it played down Cher’s involvement. To its cost. The band’s one and only self titled album was a commercial failure.
And yet, it had half a dozen melodic rock songs written by genre giants like David Foster, David Paich, Bernie Taupin, Carole Bayer Sager, Mike Chapman and Vince Poncia. Check any of these out online and you’re faced with a unending list of best selling music.
The album was produced by movie soundtrack oscar winner, James Newton Howard, yet even this apparent advantage was squandered. The original recording was surprisingly underpowered and milkily mixed.
Cher over emotes occasionally, but we know that now, and there’s clear conviction in the band’s studio performance. But the album never really overcomes its handicaps. All the songs intend to do more or less the same thing, and none of them really fail. But considering their pedigree, none of them really standout. Which means that almost by default, ‘Never Should Have Started’, ‘Take It From The Boys’ and ‘You Know It’ are the picks, if only because they have developed some character, and step over the pre-defined musical limits occasionally.
40 years later, the recording’s sound is boosted here by Jon Astley’s remastering, and we get a taste of the fresh new band flavour that should have been. It helps bring a late focus on rising stars who were ready to take on Blondie, and indeed any of the other New Wave/Melodic Rock bands in the ascendant at the time.
A second album was mooted, but never took off. Cher went solo and turned into the Rockchick she always wanted to be (you can hear it on most tracks here), and signed for Geffen. The rest is history.
Review by Brian McGowan
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
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 2 March 2025.
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 on 4 March 2025
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
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 live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 24 March 2025
HARRI LARKIN Too Close To The Sun (Robot Distro)
SANDNESS Not Your Dog (Rockshots Records)
DOCTOR BLACK Drag Me Down (indie)
COHEED AND CAMBRIA Goodbye Sunshine (Virgin Music Group)
LEONI JANE KENNEDY Closer (indie)
SMALL TOWN POLITICS Red Lights (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 24 March 2025
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.
If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:
If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device
(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
