Share the post "Album review : THE LADDER – S/T (Remaster)"
Rock Candy Records [Release date : 24.05.24]
Another “obscure” 1980’s American AOR album, rescued by Rock Candy Records. It was “big in Japan” though. Aren’t they all.
The Ladder – writers Joe and Lou Parente, with vocalist Frank Mancano – came and went in 1986 without getting near any best selling charts. In fact, their album hardly registered a blip on the music media’s radar.
Since then, it has gradually risen in AOR consciousness, being compared by aficionados to the likes of Van Stephenson and Jeff Paris.
It became one of those long lost recordings that’s been suspended in aspic, frustratingly out of reach (except as a poor quality bootleg) until now.
It’s most certainly of its time, the layered effects, the delays and reverbs carbon date the sound to the mid eighties. Rock Candy’s remastering plays this down, making sure the moods and images don’t shift too far from the band’s lush, widescreen style of AOR.
And anyway, the sheer quality of Mancano’s earnest vocals, and the high calibre songwriting transcend the decades.
‘Time Soldier’ and ‘Double Shot’ are the picks, one mimicking Mr Mister’s sophisticated balladry. The second pulling together the melodic and muscular strengths of Foreigner into a powerful, hard hitting love song.
That said, album standout, by a huge margin, is the finely wrought, richly textured ‘Don’t Turn Me Away’, the best AOR/MOR ballad that David Foster and Chicago never wrote. ***1/2
Review by Brian McGowan
PS. most of the songs were written by Philadelphia brothers, Joe and Lou Parente. Lou was president of the city’s musicians’ union. Must have given him a pretty strong bargaining position with the label, ATCO :-)
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
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 9 June 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 11 June 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 24 June 2024
BRAVE LIAISON No Two Sides The Same (indie)
RHABSTALLION Going Nowhere (indie)
THE MERCURY RIOTS LA Girls (indie)
RENDEZVOUS POINT Presence (Long Branch Records)
MINE ROAD Tightrope (indie)
SAINT TRAGEDY Asking For A Ghost (indie)
THE HOME TEAM Walk This World With Me (Thriller Records)
Featured Albums w/c 24 June 2024
09:00-12:00 ATLANTIS DRIVE (Pride & Joy Music)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 IANN BRENNAN Getaway (AGR Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to an X (Twitter) account
Please note that as at 12.06.24 the X/Twitter embedded timeline appears to be broken. Please click the text link until this is resolved.
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review : THE LADDER – S/T (Remaster)"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
