Share the post "Album review : GLENN HUGHES / ROBIN GEORGE – Overcome"
Cherry Red [Release date : 24.11.23]
Label wars resulted in the Glenn Hughes / Robin George 1990 album, Sweet Revenge, being confined to the dustbin of rock’n’roll history.
Until now.
Resurrected, remastered and retitled by the UK’s leading reissue label, Cherry Red, we’re now getting the opportunity to hear some compelling rock (and funk rock) from two seriously talented English artists.
They met up post Notorious, in George’s Cannock Studio, while he was recording a few tracks for his imminent solo album. Apparently Hughes liked what he was hearing and soon became part of the writing and recording process.
And so, what was to be a solo Sweet Revenge, became a collaboration between two immense talents, now titled Overcome.
In these days of mediocrity, where even the rock charts are full of nondescript uniformity, this is a breath fresh air. It’s not the best melodic rock album you’ll ever hear, but it aims high, and gets close to the target on most tracks.
Some powerful lyrical images, perfectly spliced with memorable music, bring the album to life immediately. Openers, the sparkling, chiming, faintly Proggy ‘Flying’ and the soulful title track, ‘Overcome’, which slips’n’slides through some old school, loose limbed funk rock grooves, are classy introductions. The latter is the perfect partner to the snake hipped, dance floor dazzler ‘I Want’.
Already we’re impressed, and wondering how bad must label relations have been that allowed this album to be shelved 20 plus years ago.
This is Hughes ten years before he washed the toxins from his system.
And yet, he sounds totally invested in the music, his voice unaffected by “self medication”.
The feverish funk of ‘Sweet Revenge’ and the more commercial, sharper ‘Machine’ are probably the picks on the album’s second half, each bookending the James Brown meets INXS song, ‘The American Way’, a neat rock/funk invention.
On second thoughts, maybe it was best waiting until now to release Overcome. If it had been released when planned, it would no doubt have been sucked into the cultural vacuum that killed off Melodic Hard Rock at the end of the eighties.
Timing is everything. ***1/2
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 18 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 20 August 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 2 September 2024
ONE LAST DAY No Chemical Reimagined (indie)
RED SKY JULY Misty Morning (Shadowbirds)
BLACK LAKES Dark Glass (indie)
THE NEW ROSES Attracted To Danger (Napalm Records)
BEARDFISH In The Autumn (Inside Out)
ROBERT JON & THE WRECK Rager (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 2 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)
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review : GLENN HUGHES / ROBIN GEORGE – Overcome"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
