{"id":26425,"date":"2025-02-05T07:59:44","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T07:59:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skylight.gr\/?p=26425"},"modified":"2025-02-05T08:01:48","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T08:01:48","slug":"judas-priests-rocka-rolla-50th-anniversary-release-now-available-in-the-uk-and-all-of-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skylight.gr\/index.php\/2025\/02\/05\/judas-priests-rocka-rolla-50th-anniversary-release-now-available-in-the-uk-and-all-of-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"JUDAS PRIEST\u2019S ROCKA ROLLA 50TH ANNIVERSARY RELEASE NOW AVAILABLE IN THE UK AND ALL OF EUROPE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Judas Priest marked another milestone in their legendary career last year with the 50th-anniversary reissue of their debut album, Rocka Rolla. This special edition release \u2014 remixed from the original multitrack tapes and remastered \u2014 is now officially available in the UK and across all of Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally recorded in 1974 during late-night sessions on a shoestring budget, the album captured the raw energy of a young Judas Priest \u2014 Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Ian Hill, KK Downing and John Hinch \u2014 just as their journey began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the band felt positive about how the songs sounded in the studio, they were particularly disappointed when they received a finished copy of Rocka Rolla in the mail to listen to for the first time\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI took the record\u2026 and I put the needle onto the groove and I sat back. And I just slowly started to deflate, deflate.\u201d said Rob Halford. \u201cI was so disappointed with the way it was sounding\u2026 All of us were – we\u2019d all worked so hard to get to this place. And now this music that we know when we play live is roaring – the heavy metal is roaring even in those early primitive days – none of that was coming out of the speakers\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The band was not involved with Rocka Rolla in the intervening decades \u2014 the re-releases and early-era compilations\u2026 but that was about to change\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During Judas Priest\u2019s 50 Heavy Metal Years tour in 2022, something remarkable was happening behind the scenes. The label that originally signed Judas Priest in 1974, Gull Records and its owner David Howells, decided to sell the masters and publishing rights for the two albums the label owned, Rocka Rolla and Sad Wings of Destiny \u2014 and he contacted Glenn Tipton\u2019s music publisher, Michael Closter of Reach Music Publishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After discussing this opportunity and collaborating with Judas Priest\u2019s manager Jayne Andrews, an offer from Reach Music was made to Gull Records. Terms were accepted. An acquisition agreement was prepared, and after almost 50 years from the release of these albums, Reach Music – in partnership with Judas Priest, was now the owner of Rocka Rolla and Sad Wings of Destiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To celebrate this acquisition and ensure these landmark releases reach a new generation of fans, Reach Music Publishing launched a label, Exciter Records, dedicated to re-releasing these classic albums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first order of business for Exciter Records was to retrieve the original multitrack tapes of Rocka Rolla from storage (which miraculously still existed and which the prior owner kept in usable condition for all these decades) \u2014 and to begin the process of resurrecting Rocka Rolla from these multitrack recordings\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the task of delving back into time and putting the tapes of Rocka Rolla back on the recording studio console, Judas Priest and the label put their full faith in Tom Allom \u2014 known in the Judas Priest world for producing the iconic British Steel and Screaming For Vengeance albums among many others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Tom Allom stated, \u201cWhat we did with the multitracks is quite unusual, to completely remix an album from that era, from scratch. So to clarify what we\u2019re doing, we\u2019re not adding anything musically. We\u2019re not re-recording any of the musical parts\u2026 We\u2019re remixing them, rebalancing them using the technology we have, the modern tools we have now, to sonically upgrade them, and make them sound more powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The results of this remixed version are now available for posterity \u2014 the artist-approved version of Rocka Rolla is here for fans to add to their Judas Priest collection and to re-experience the album that started it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now available in all formats, including a special edition 180G blue vinyl specifically for the European market \u2014 released on Exciter Records and distributed in Europe by Cargo Independent Distribution. https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/3uu5yfvu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rob Halford: \u201cIt\u2019s great to look back and see our future unfurl \u2014 from little metal acorns mighty metal oaks do grow. One small step for metal, one giant leap for metalkind \u2014 a lifelong metal journey began with these songs. This album lit the eternal metal flame \u2014 as real and fresh as ever five decades on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glenn Tipton: \u201cThis is where it all started for us and 50 years later, we have a great re-mixed and re-mastered version of the original\u2026and the band are still going strong!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ian Hill: \u201cRecorded during nighttime sessions to save costs, over a few weeks in June and July 1974, on a shoestring budget, Rocka Rolla was always going to have its flaws! But walking into my local record store and seeing it on a shelf amongst all your idol\u2019s records was the proudest feeling in the world, and I thought, \u2018Whatever happens now, nothing can change that!\u2019 Now re-mixed by Tom Allom and re-mastered, Rocka Rolla has finally got the production it deserved!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KK Downing: \u201cAt last! This! The first Judas Priest album can be listened to and enjoyed in the way it was always intended to be!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

TRACK LISTING:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Order Track Listing Timing
1 One For The Road 4:44
2 Rocka Rolla 3:25
3 Winter 2:59
4 Deep Freeze 2:07
5 Winter Retreat 1:33
6 Cheater 3:01
7 Never Satisfied 4:51
8 Run of the Mill 8:21
9 Dying to Meet You 6:17
10 Caviar and Meths 2:09<\/p>\n\n\n\n

L to R clockwise: Ian Hill, John Hinch, Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, KK Downing<\/code><\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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