gener8tr

Not a big surprise in my opinion. It's their 20th. anniversary, and they've ALWAYS been adored in Japan. I'm guessing the Japanese gigs will all sell out, but I don't think a US tour will gather much momentum. I saw these guys for the first time in Salem, Oregon the summer of 1992 with Hardline opening. What an awesome rock show! While I love LEAN INTO IT and the Japanese LIVE albums, I didn't much care for the music that followed. Martin's voice is oh-so-80's (which I like a lot), but trying to sound "grungy-tuff" in the mid-90's just didn't work for me. Honestly, save for LEAN, I prefer his ERIC MARTIN BAND stuff. Will I go see Mr. Big for $20.00 here in Portland at the Roseland if they come? Sure. Will I buy a new album if they try to sound "modern?" Not a chance.

Now, Sam, what's the potential to have a professional soundboard crew record some of the "main" acts? A double-disc compilation of the best-of-the-best would be SWEET!

They'll play at the Clark County Ampitheatre again, count on it. Every time Leppard plays there it's jam-packed. I always throw a big party at my place (about 10 minutes from the venue right near Vancouver Mall) before the show. ALL Portland-area locals are invited... I have a kegerator and love to mix drinks as well! Technically Clark County is up in Vancouver WA.... And, no public transport there yet witch SUCKS!! I was hoping for maybe the Rose Garden?? OR PGE Park maybe?? Saw them there with Bryan Adams in 2005.. Standing room only but what a show!! Well Def Leppard anyways, luckily Bryan Adams went on first or I woulda left after Def Leppard..... Oh contrare! There are buses that run every 5 minutes from the PARK N RIDE at 134th. St. to the Ampitheatre... Buses from Portland are available to the new station in Hazel Dell, then a transfer from HD to 134th and a bus from 134th. to the gig. Sounds like a lot of time, but I'm guessing downtown PDX to the show in Clark County would be less than one hour, at a total cost of about $5.00. Getting home at midnight might be a bit more difficult, however. I don't think buses run from Vancouver to Portland at that hour? I'm 99% sure Def Leppard and Poison during the summer will be an outdoor event and if so it will take place at the CC Ampitheatre. DL hasn't played the Rose Garden ever I don't think (that I can remember, anyway)? Obviously they used to play the Coliseum back in the day (I first saw them there in 1983), but the last time I saw them there was 1993(ish) on the Seven Day Weekend / Retro-Active tour in the round. Since then (1993) I've seen them at least 3 times at the CC Ampitheatre, once at PGE and once down in Salem, a couple times in Seattle / Auburn, and even once clear up in Everett. I really don't think they've ever played the Rose Garden... guess it's time to check my ticket stubs. I feel like a Dead-Head... I honestly think I've seen Def Leppard 15 (maybe more) times, including my younger years in San Diego. Saw them with Motley Crue among others at Sky Show 8 in September 1983 at Jack Murphy Stadium. 55,000+ fans. I think that's still to this day the largest crowd they've played for in the States.

They'll play at the Clark County Ampitheatre again, count on it. Every time Leppard plays there it's jam-packed. I always throw a big party at my place (about 10 minutes from the venue right near Vancouver Mall) before the show. ALL Portland-area locals are invited... I have a kegerator and love to mix drinks as well!

Not going to get that kind of cash anymore since the lead singer's brother (or whomever) released a bunch of old stock a couple of years ago, but trust me, I sold a used copy in only decent shape to a collector in Japan for $399.00 on ebay about 8 years ago... and it had only been listed for like 5 minutes. I think I left money on the table.

It was due to come out this summer... I was the one who spoke with Woop at the BNB gig earlier this year, snapped a few photos and posted them here and Andrew also used them and did a little write-up on Melodic Rock. I was told then the album "should" be released Summer 2008... obviously that didn't happen, but I think we're getting close (at least closer). And I think Tommy is still involved at least behind the scenes. He was the one who played guitar earlier this year (not the new guy), and since he lives in Portland I wouldn't be surprised if he shows up to next month's gig so long as he isn't busy with KISS. Who knows, maybe he and his brother will at least be involved with the production / mastering. John and Tommy used to own a record label here in town.

Well shit I live near Portland and I missed this.. Damnit.... But I am looking forward to hearing anything new from Keel.. Been a fan for about 20 years.. Thanks to My man Keith of course.... Black N' Blue is playing at Dante's in downtown Portland December 20th. in case you're interested. I wouldn't miss this one for anything... I've been told they are going to unleash songs from HELL YEAH!

I saw Marc Ferrari earlier this year guest with Black N Blue here in Portland, Oregon. The dude can still SHRED, but he looks more like an IBM executive than an 80's rocker now-a-days I've been a fan of Keel dating back to like 1984, so of course I'm looking forward to this!

How could I forget JOHHNY LIMA? The S/T debut, SHINE ON and MADE IN CALFORNIA are all very good, and Johnny's voice is actually quite Poley-esque.

If you're looking for the majesty that was Danger Danger's debut album your search may come up empty. The only one that matches the absolute brilliance is Blue Tears in my opinion (as far as late '80's / early '90's stuff goes). Ted's voice is unmistakable and impossible to match... that said, if you're looking for similar albums rather than similar vocals, check out the following bands whose compositions have the same fun-loving / summery-feel to them: Brighton Rock - Young, Wild And Free Da Vinci - S/T Fate - A Matter Of Attitude Flyweil - S/T Fortune - S/T (One of the greatest AOR albums of all-time. This is the one with THRILL OF IT ALL) Giuffria - Silk + Steel Hardline - Double Eclipse Honeymoon Suite - The Big Prize Mr. Big - Lean Into It (This one never gets talked about any more?) Malloy, Mitch - S/T Network - Crashin' Hollywood Dan Reed Network - S/T Shooting Star - Silent Scream Shy - Excess All Areas Smilek - Sentimental Highway Michael Stanley Band - Cabin Fever (If you haven't heard this late 70's gem you're missing out) Survivor - Vital Signs (May seem too obvious, but you'd be surprised how many newcomers to AOR don't own this one) Joe Lynn Turner - Rescue You Tyketto - Don't Come Easy Uriah Heep - Equator (This ain't your daddy's Uriah Heep!) VU (The) - Phoenix Rising Again, none of these SOUND like Ted Poley, but all of them have the same DD "summertime" feel to them, and get my highest recommendation!

Wow, how the mighty have fallen. I guess if selling bootlegs is cool, how about this... I have all three original Japanese pressings of WRABIT on CD and if anyone wants downloads FREE OF CHARGE I can upload them to my computer then email them out. I've never done this before so I might need some schooling, but I'd be willing to take time out ouf my day to keep them (schmankerl) from profiting off bogus releases. Let me know if you're interested. Hell, I have hundreds of rare and OOP titles... If you know of other bootlegs and don't want to pay for them, I'll upload and send them all for free (if I have them), but only if there are bootlegs already out there.

Great advice so far guys, thanks! While I have 90% of the stuff mentioned here, there are a few I do not but most certainly will look add shortly. I guess it's just been so long since I've had that OH MY GOD feeling... seriously, the last time that really happened for me was with BLUE TEARS. Mabey our Aussie freind is right, and there isn't anything out there quite as good? I need to revist my CHINA collection. I have all of the original West Germany CD's, but it's been a while since I've listened to them. I'd love to find an entire album with songs as good as PRIDE OF LIONS' - "Gone" Now that one moves me!

So I was going through my CD and LP collection last night and it never ceases to amaze me that no matter how many titles I have, I still don't know what to play... you ever get that feeling? Anyway, what I want to accomplish here is to compile a SMALL / SELECT list of discs that have that special something. A SMALL / SELECT group of discs that are unknown to the masses, that (if) pushed by the label in say 1985 would have been monster hits rather than unknown / lost gems. The perfect example (for me, anyway) is the BLUE TEARS debut CD. Seriously, how many of us knew about these guys in 1990? If you did, more power to ya! I'm not sure how these guys eluded me so for long, but I don't think I discovered the CD until about 2001 or so... and I've been looking for others like it (with not very good success) ever since. That said, I am NOT looking to compile a list of artists / albums that everyone here knows. No need to mention Def Leppard, or Harem Scarem, or Giuffruia... I think you know what I mean. I am looking for artists that I know little about that will give me the same rush I felt the first time I heard the Blue Tears debut. I know that's asking a lot, but I also know this is THE place to ask. So, with that said, think long and hard and give some some names. Again, be VERY frugal with your recommendations. You may know of only one or two... you may not know of any... and that's okay. I'd rather add one "Oh My God" CD to my collection than 50 "So-So's." Again, I'm looking for strong AOR / Melodic Rock only. BIG chorus, BIG hooks, BIG appeal to my 80's self. Thanks for the help!

ABSOLUTELY! But unless you have a "good" turntable with a "good" cartridge and know how to clean a record my opinion will mean little to you, but trust me, the sound from vinyl destroys 90% of the CD's out there. CD mastering has become nothing short of a joke since about 1992 with volume level maximizing and digital compression squeezing the very life out of the best of recordings... with REMASTERS being the biggest culprits. Metallica's latest album may be the biggest mastering joke of all time. I guess most people will just have to take my word for it... those with nice turntable set-ups know exactly what I mean. It's a lot of fun, and a whole other world!

They also have the potential to make a 3rd-rate Modern Rock disc. This one could go either way.... Anyone checked out the samples? If this was some new band I'd be saying "Hey, these guys are pretty cool and I love the fact they're trying to sound a bit 80's!" But this is NOT a new band, and this is not "FEEL IT AGAIN." For me this is just another 80's band trying to sound modern (unfortunately). I'll keep spinning "THE BIG PRIZE," thank you.

I would have liked to go back to that point ($5.00 offer) a few years ago before more sealed copies surfaced. I found one more used copy at a pawn shop about 6 years ago and sold it on ebay to a guy in Japan for $399.00 with BUY IT NOW. I "think" PJ got a lot more than that for the copies I sent him back in 1999. Live and learn

Here's what I know FOR SURE... I purchased my first copy of this CD from a place called LOCALS ONLY in Portland, Oregon in spring 1993. Locals Only is (was) just that... a small music shop that only sold material from local artists (Portland and the Northwest). I knew the owner a bit as I would drop by his store regularly looking for Dan Reed Network information (starting in about 1988). Anyway, he just so happened to be playing the Hot Boy CD when I strolled in one afternoon. I'll never forget how great I thought it was. What a refreshing change from Nirvana, Pearl Jam, etc. Let me tell you, if you think you guys heard your fair share of those bands from 1991 - 1994, you should have walked a mile in my shoes. Living 150 miles from Seattle I couldn't get away from those guys. Anyway, back to the story. I asked the owner who he had playing. He actually had to look at the CD to tell me. He said it was some local 80's rock band who was no longer together and that the lead singer was now selling used cars. Didn't mean much to me then, but I remember the conversation well. Anyway, I purchased one Hot Boy CD for like $7.99. He told me he had about 10 more copies and said he'd sell them all for $5.00 each if I wanted them. He said they's been on the shelf for years... That is a TRUE story as best I can remember the conversation. I am not making any of this up! I didn't think much more about Hot Boy until about 1999 when I became friends with PJ. He and I did a good bit of business before he ever became KISS MY DISC, etc. I'm talking about his days on the Meatl Ring site, even before ebay took off. Again, sorry for the side bar, but it's semi-relevant. PJ sent me a WANT LIST that had Hot Boy - Barely Legal listed on it. I asked him if he'd ever heard them. He said no, but that several Japanese buyers were looking for copies. Well, I found four used copies at a place in Beaverton (Portland suburb) called Canyon Exchance. I purchased all four and sent them to PJ for like $15.00 each in trade. I'm sure he made a few bucks off that transaction, but he and I were friends and I was happy to help. Again, this is before ebay so I had no idea how much this CD was selling for. Back on track now. I can tell you for sure this recording is authentic, and it was released in 1989. Not only do I have a timeline from Locals Only, but check this out... last year this time I was sadly going through all of the inventory at another locals shop called FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH RECORDS. Dude was going out of business after like 30 years in Portland. He I went back to 1984 when I was at his shop for a WASP in-store signing. Anyway, when I was going through a bunch of stuff he had in sealed boxes under a bunch of other boxes, posters and a bunch of dust, I found three brand new / still sealed copies of the Hot Boy cassette tape. That's right, the cassette tape. You think the CD is rare, have any of you ever seen the cassette? Well now you can as I will post a photo here: Take a look at the price tag and the date. 5-17-90. The owner of FWIW Records put a date on every price tag on every item in the shop. I purchased a bunch of albums that same day, some of which dated to 1983. How he still had all of those is beyond me? Naturally I purchased all of the cassettes he had. I searched for hours hoping to find more, and I was really hoping to find some CD's, but there were none. So, I can say with certainty the CD / Cassette Tape was released in 1989 as stated on the back cover. I can also tell you by looking at the cover of the CD and frame-by-frame captions of the video that the drummer and bass player are the same on the CD as in the video. Scream looks a little different in the video, I'm not Perry Mason, so who knows? So, now that the CD has been authenticized to 1989, I can say with certaintly the video is also from that general time frame. The drummer looks identical. Check it out for yourself. Also, I mentioned the Z100 thing, this also helps establish the timeline. What I cannot say is wheteher or not HOT BOY was actually a real band, or just a lead singer with some hired guns to play music. My email conversations with the drummer lead me to believe Scream was the singer, but the rest of the guys really weren't in the band, although they did play as studio musicians. So, they were a "band," I just don't think they ever played together outside the studio... at least that's what I was lead to believe. Mike (drummer) and I were going to meet and discuss the situation, but our schedules conflicted and it never happened. Follow this link to get a bit of the story from Mike himself: http://www.heavyharmonies.com/cgi-bin/glam...me=Barely+Legal That's all I have! I hope that helps a bit?

I can tell you FOR SURE this video was filmed in Portland, Oregon (at least the outside street shots and on the Willamette River in the boat). The venue looks like the old Starry Night (now the Roseland). The drummer and bass player are absolutely the same guys from the CD cover. The lead singer in the video doesn't really look like SCREAM to me. His hair is shorter, more blonde, and he's just a little better looking (can't believe I said that). Check out your CD covers and let me know what you think. I can tell you the shots inside the Z100 radio station look authentic. Those decals are old-school and haven't been used since the early 90's at the latest when they changed formats. I wish there were more shots on the street with the City as the backdrop... Anyway, I had several email conversation with Michael (drummer) a couple of years ago (Michael was not his real name). We were going to meet so I could get the whole story, but it never happened. Maybe I should try to get in touch with him again?

Restless & Wild... Yep, dumped some cash his way as well. I remember buying a copy of EYES (Jeff Scott Soto) from him one time and he actually begged me not to. Said he couldn't sell in good faith such a miserable excuse for metal. What a great guy. Yeah, those were some good times back in the pre-ebay days. I know some others are still around a bit, but not like they once were... even P.J. (way before KISS MY DISC) and Ryan from METAL MAYHEM used to get a lot of my dough. How about MOLTEN METAL (not sure if that's been mentioned in this thread or not)? I loved that dude's selection as well. I have a couple of his HALLOWEEN reissues and they are VERY good. He literally up-and-quit one day. I was on his website on a Monday, and Tuesday itr was down... of course that was a long time ago as well. Locally (Portland, Oregon) I used to go to FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH RECORDS AND TAPES. He'd been around town since the 70's and just finally went out of business this past February. What a crime! I actually went to his shop when I was a sophomore in high school in 1984 to see WASP at and in-house record signing. Man, those really were the days. How quickly they vanish.

Actually, my friend, Japanese CD's with SAMPLE around the hub of the disc are far more rare and valuable than the standard issue.

I used to buy import CD's for them all the time back in the very early 90's ('92ish). I just found an old catalog last night and some of the stuff they had listed KILLS me. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (Original Japanese pressing) for $32.00. That was a lot of money back then, but any guess on how much that CD sells for now? About 20 times that amount! Their selection was awesome... you need to remember, the internet wasn't that big in 1992, and there was no such thing as ebay. Finding import CD's was not an easy task back then. I remeber the woman who used to answer the phone as well. Super cool. I think they were headquartered in Michigan. Anyone else remember them?

Where is PINK FLOYD - THE WALL? How many other of you late 30-somethings remember that one getting a TON of play in 1979? I was in 5th. grade that year and remember "Another Brick In The Wall" getting played while at the rollerskate parties (first Friday night of every month). Man, that was a LONG time ago

I used to order from IMPULSE and never had a problem. Hope all goes well for you guys.

You guys have to check out the 1983 Self Titled release from CHARLIE. One of the best AOR CD's in my collection (and I have a lot). Their 70's stuff is great, but this one is PURE 80'S AOR. You will not be disappointed, I promise!!!

This makes me very sad. I've been friends with PJ since late 1998 or early 1999 (before I even joined ebay). I used to buy rare CD's from his shop on the WETAL WEB RING (or something like that). Personally, I've never had a problem with Peej. He came through for me time and time again, and once when I did receive a CD in less than MINT CONDITION (which I require), I was sent a full-refund AND he found the CD for me later and sent that for free as well. Unfortunately my last few emails (via ebay) have gone unanswered, so I hope all is well. Peej, if you drop in here be sure to send me a message. And Koogs, if you hear anything please keep us posted.