New releases by Melodic Rock Records
MelodicRock Records will release the next two titles –
TAXXI – AUGUST 29
RIVERDOGS – SEPTEMBER 30
TAXXI – Traxx
RELEASE DATE: August 26
GENRE: AOR / Melodic Rock
CAT#: MRR009
01. Writing On The Wall (4:17)
02. I Just Want To Be With You (3:54)
03. I Want You Back (4:20)
04. Last Of The Red Hot Lovers (4:51)
05. Never Lived A Dream (4:14)
06. One Man One Voice (3:58)
07. Cupids Arrow (4:14)
08. Lust For Gold (4:10)
09. It Ain’t Over (4:14)
10. Hot Shot (3:29)
11. Restless Heart (4:26)
Taxxi are a British rock band best known for the songs “I’m Leaving” and “Cocktail Queen“. The band first came to prominence in the early 1980s with several AOR hit singles and heavy MTV airplay.
Scottish-born singer/guitarist David Cumming, keyboardist Colin Payne, and drummer Jeffrey Nead met in London in the late 1970s. Through an association with Kit Lambert (The Who) the band recorded demos and were eventually signed by Berkeley’s Fantasy Records. Teamed with producer Phil Kaffel the band recorded three albums for the prestigious indie label. Filling out the trio’s sound were session musicians including bassist Randy Jackson, keyboardist Tim Gorman (The Who), guitarists Marlon McClain and Danny Chauncey (.38 Special), saxophonist Steve Douglas and Journey drummer Steve Smith who lent a hand on tambourine on their second album, “States of Emergency”. Moving labels in 1985, Taxxi recorded their 4th album “Exposé” with Tom Dowd (Cream, Rod Stewart).
In 2001, “Chequered Past”, a compilation CD was remastered with participation by the band and their original producer – released by Fantasy Records.
Singles such as “Girl (New York City)”, “I’m Leaving”, “Cocktail Queen“, “Still In Love”, “Forever“ and “The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter” saw the band get airplay in the US and Europe and a build up in their fanbase. On tour, the band opened in concert for The Police, Triumph, Foreigner, Loverboy and the Motels, and released five music videos.
After the late Colin Payne left the band, the duo of Cumming/Nead continued to work on new material following the successful “Exposé” release. This material would continue in the direction set out by Expose – more commercial 80‘s AOR with that Taxxi twist. That material would remain unreleased. Until now.
Following an approach by MRR’s Andrew McNeice to the band in 2009, the guys dug back into their archives, and pulled out 11 lost gems that now make up the album “Traxx”. The material was written and recorded from 1987-1988. To get these songs to the release stage, tapes first had to be baked in a controlled environment to recover the files, before being passed to engineer/producer Jeff Northrup in L.A. to remaster.
The result is a bright and rejuvenated set of songs that if released back in the day, would have been classed as Taxxi’s best record to date. The songs speak for themselves and the performances are typical Taxxi – highly emotional, instantly catchy and perfectly crafted classic-style AOR.
TAXXI is: David Cumming – Vocals, Guitars, Synthesizers Jeffrey Nead – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals With: Kevin Russell – Guitars, Backing Vocals Arthur Barrow – Bass, Keyboards Earl Slick – Guitars (Cupid’s Arrow) The Fowler Brothers – Horns (Lust For Gold)
RIVERDOGS – World Gone Wild
RELEASE DATE: September 30
GENRE: Melodic Rock
CAT#: MRR010
01 -World Gone Mad 02:38
02 – Big Steel Town 02:36
03 – Best Day of My Life 04:06
04 – Just A Little Higher 03:15
05 – For You 04:03
06 – This Empty Room 02:51
07 – Glitter Town 02:46
08 – No Matter What (Live) 02:59
RIVERDOGS Bio:
Riverdogs was formed by vocalist/guitarist Rob Lamothe and bassist Nick Brophy. Following an introduction to the guys, Vivian Campbell (Def Leppard, ex-Dio, ex-Whitesnake) agreed to produce Riverdogs’ first demo. Vivian was so impressed by their talent, he joined the band for their debut-album, released on Epic Records in 1990, winning a prestigious Edison Award in The Netherlands. Soon after, drummer Marc Danzeisen joined the band to complete the line-up.
Though fans and critics gave the album a warm reception, lack of support from their record label eventually led the band to go independent, with Campbell departing the line-up. Releasing another two albums in Europe, the band continued to pick up fans before eventually disbanding.
Campbell settled into the Def Leppard lineup and Nick Brophy become and continues to be a respected engineer and producer.
Rob Lamothe continued an acclaimed solo career and Marc Danzeisen an in-demand session player.
In 2003 the band gathered again to record new material and play a few reunion shows. Those new songs were recorded as demos, but never completed.
In 2010 MelodicRock Records approached band manager Paul Liszewski about a possible release of these songs. The band liked the idea so much an agreement was reached and over the course of a few week long get-togethers, the line-up of Lamothe, Campbell, Brophy and Danzeisen recorded final versions of the 2003 tracks as well as writing a couple of brand new songs.
Added to the new World Gone Mad album is one live cut from the band’s 2004 re-union shows, a cover of the Badfinger classic.
World Gone Mad is the fulfillment of a long promised release of new Riverdogs material. The band’s faithful fanbase are rewarded with 7 new Riverdogs classics, issued at a special price.
RIVERDOGS are:
Rob Lamothe – Vocals, Guitar
Nick Brophy – Bass
Marc Danzeisen – Drums
Vivian Campbell – Guitars
Source: www.melodicrockrecords.com
