The Sign - Signs Of Life/The Second Coming (reissues)

[Stefan]

 

From Escape Music:

Escape Music is pleased to announce the re-release of The Sign both titles “Signs Of Life” and 
"The Second Coming" as a Double CD Deluxe Digipack Boxset. "Sign Of Life" with two bonus tracks with 
the original mixes by Mark Mangold and Randy Jackson, and fully mastered by 
Jacob Hansen, and "The Second Coming" with one bonus track, fully re-mastered by 
Mats "Limpan" Lindfors", Limited Edition of 1000 copies only!

 

Release Date: 24th August 2018
Catalogue Number: ESM323
 

CD 1 : Sign of life

1. I’ M ALIVE    7.12
2. CROSSED THE LINE  4.44
3. ARYON  5.47
4. FOREVER AGAIN  5.04
5. STRANDED  3.43
6. ALL YOUR LIFE  4.26
7. THE WAIT  4.26
8. I WILL BE THERE FOR YOU  4.32
9. NOTHING BUT A HEARTACHE  5.36
10. WINE  3.57
11. DESPERATE HEART  4.09
12. SIGNS OF LIFE  5.08
*13. love is alive  4.45
*14. Aryon (Radio Edit)  4.41

(*BONUS TRACK)

CD2 The second coming

1. Aryon Overture  2.16
2. Stained (Gone)  4.17
3. The Morning After (Time To Run)  5.16
4. Motorcycle Messiah  3.30
5. Shine  3.11
6. Bliss  2.07
7. If For One Moment  1.54
8. Canyon (We Are One Tribe)  1.20
9. Flame Of The Oracle  4.02
10. The ooze  1.52  
11. Inner Child (Exorcise)  2.49
12. Black Mountain  3.49
13. Keep On Breathin'  4.39
14. Shine (Finale)  7.01
15. Trans Americana Symphony  2.05
16. Rapture (Ode to Aryon)  2.55
17. Maniacs  5.07  (BONUS TRACK)  

The Sign is:

TERRY BROCK:  Lead vocals of  STRANGEWAYS
RANDY JACKSON: Guitars of ZEBRA 
BILLY GREER: Bass of KANSAS, SEVENTH KEY and STREETS
MARK MANGOLD: Keyboards of DRIVE, SHE SAID, TOUCH and AMERICAN TEARS, Michael Bolton
BOBBY RONDINELLI: Drums of RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH and BLUE OYSTER CULT
JOHN BIVONA: Bass of  TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA

SIGNS OF LIFE (The first CD)

THE SIGN is made up of five very talented and seasoned stars of American hard rock music.  With keyboard player and singer MARK MANGOLD, who earned cult fame in melodic rock circles penning hit songs for Michael Bolton and Cher, as well as being in AMERICAN TEARS (Columbia and Escape), TOUCH (Atlantic), DRIVE, SHE SAID (CBS Associated) and most recently FLESH AND BLOOD (along with MEGADETH AND TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA guitarist AL PITRELLI and TYKETTO singer DANNY VAUGHN).  Joining Mangold are guitarist and singer RANDY JACKSON of ZEBRA (Atlantic) and LED ZEP SYMPHONY, and singer TERRY BROCK of STRANGEWAYS and LE ROUX, in addition to singing background on over 35 records for artists like MICHAEL BOLTON, KANSAS, VALENTINE and others, and of course his solo records.  The rhythm section of THE SIGN consists of the amazing BILLY GREER, the bassist of KANSAS and SEVENTH KEY, and famed drummer BOBBY RONDINELLI (drummer of RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH and BLUE OYSTER CULT).  

The band produced a phenomenal, critically acclaimed album with diverse styles, a mixture of the sounds of all their styles, with scathing musicianship, huge walls of vocals, and strong symphonic overtones.  All these elements combine to create a signature sound, from stellar "I'M ALIVE" and "ARYON", to classic ballads "FOREVER AGAIN" and "I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU", to the heavy riffy "STRANDED" and more melodic rockers like "NOTHING BUT A HEARTACHE", "THE WAIT" and "DESPERATE HEART" and the anthemic "LOVE IS ALIVE" and "SIGNS OF LIFE".  All the songs have a common lyrical theme, essentially a flowing rock opera that follows the contemporary story of ARYON, a young girl who was raped by a priest, who she kills, and then escapes across country to find herself.  This first record, originally mixed by Randy Jackson and Mark Mangold, has been remastered by Jacob Hansen and now sounds the way it was originally intended.  

THE SECOND COMING (The second CD)

The second record by THE SIGN marks the introduction of a second guitarist in the band, the stellar JOHN BIVONA (also TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA).  The CD continues the story of Aryon...and delves into her tale; the abuse, the murder, the escape and the epiphany...meeting such colorful characters as the MOTORCYCLE MESSIAH, the OOZE...having a revelation on BLACK MOUNTAIN (a killer ZEP style riff rocker with huge drums).  The exquisite STILL BREATHING stands out as a stellar melody and message.  The record also explores various symphonic melodies as well as some scathing musicianship, guitar and keyboard solos by JACKSON, BIVONA and MANGOLD.  This second record, the original mixes by Mark Mangold, Randy Jackson and Ed Douglas has been remastered by famed Swedish mastering engineer Mats "Limpan" Lindfors and now sounds as originally intended, far superior to any previous releases.

Finally, these two records have been combined with a LIBRETTO to tell the very contemporary and portending STORY OF ARYON.