Jorn - Heavy Rock Radio

[Stefan]

 

 

Press release from Frontiers Music:

 

BREAKING NEWS: Frontiers Music Srl is excited to announce JORN’s new album, “Heavy Rock Radio”, due for release on June 3rd!

One of the greatest rock singers of our time, Jorn Lande returns with a unique album of covers of classics from artists and bands that have meant something special to him, and helped forge this talented man's own unique style.

Through Jorn's extensive career, which includes more than 40 albums of mostly original songs, he has also recorded great versions of several rock classics such as Thin Lizzy's "Are You Ready", UFO's "On and On", Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers", and many more. Jorn also recorded a successful Ronnie James Dio tribute album, released in 2010. Every song JORN covers is treated with the utmost respect and "Jorn-ized" accordingly. A good example is his heavy sounding version of "I Walk Alone", first released by Tarja Turunen (ex-Nightwish).

"Heavy Rock Radio" is not an ordinary album of cover songs, it is truly a songbook of hits. Featured – among others - are great versions of the Eagles' "Hotel California" and Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill", which gets the Jorn style treatment to become very powerful and epic, without losing its commercial touch. More great classics included are John Farnham's "You're The Voice", Queen's "Killer Queen", and two absolute melodic rock evergreen gems in Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" and Foreigner's "Rev On The Red Line".

The original concept of the album was to create a sort of jukebox of radio hits, but to avoid leaning too much on the pop side of rock, JORN decided to blend the tracklisting with a few more up tempo rock tracks as well, such as "The Final Frontier" by Iron Maiden ("probably the closest you get to anything commercial with Iron Maiden," says Jorn), "Live to Win" by Paul Stanley (a song which was also featured on the popular television series South Park), and a few hard rock classics show up as well from Deep Purple ("Stormbringer"), Dio ("Rainbow In The Dark") and Black Sabbath ("Die Young") to complete the mix.

Jorn says: "The most important thing was to treat these songs with respect towards the original versions, my goal was always to think that the original artist would be honoured and find my version relevant. At the same time my intention was never to try to compete with the original song and artist, but make it a strong alternative version to enjoy. At the same time it is a well deserved homage to these artists and bands, who influenced me strongly, and I have wanted to record these songs for quite some time but was always too busy writing and recording my own songs to make it happen. Originally I had a list of 40-50 songs I wanted to do, but I had to strip it down to about 15 songs before deciding on the final tracklist. This means that there are some unfinished business musically, and I will most likely record more of these songs in the future."

Since releasing the critically acclaimed Dracula "Swing of Death" album last year, Jorn has also been working on an album of brand new songs, which will be the successor to the 2013 Jorn album "Traveller", to be released in early 2017. Jorn's catalogue is getting too long to include in brief press statements, and his innovative and creative skills have led to him selling millions of albums worldwide and being a frequent entry on sales charts around the world including Billboard. Worth a mention is his years with German based MasterPlan, whom he recorded three albums with. Claimed to be the biggest selling Norwegian musical export, since the pop band A-ha, Jorn continues his rock crusade, and there are no signs of him slowing down yet.

The title "Heavy Rock Radio" came quite naturally, as the sound of this album feels like if it's tailor made for any rock radio station, and while Jorn's voice can be enjoyed on more than 40 albums in different rock and metal styles, this record is a special treat which will tide over all the fans waiting for the new original album which is being worked on at the moment. Enjoy!

Jorn Lande: Vocals
Trond Holter: Guitars
Francesco Iovino: Drums
Thomas Bekkevold: Bass
Alessandro Del Vecchio: Keyboards

Except as follows:

“Rainbow in the Dark”
Jimmy Iversen and Tore Moren – guitars
Nic Angileri – bass
Willy Bendiksen – drums

“Stormbringer”
Jorn Viggo Lofstad – guitars
Sid Ringsby – bass
Willy Bendiksen – drums

www.jornlande.com

www.facebook.com/OFFICIALJORN

1. I Know There's Something Going On
2. Running Up That Hill
3. Rev On The Red Line
4. You're The Voice
5. Live To Win
6. Don't Stop Believin'
7. Killer Queen
8. Hotel California
9. Rainbow In The Dark
10. The Final Frontier
11. Stormbringer
12. Die Young

[KarpetRydOFunk]

Did he really need to add another Dio track? And it was clearly recorded during his tribute album, as it's the same band. Probably why he's including it; he probably figured he already had this track recorded and just lying around.

 

Anyway, I like the album cover. The cover is him listening to this very album.

[Glen]

The track listing is ludicrous imo.

[Darkstone]

Great to see him working with Trond Holter again.

I like the diversity of the tracks and the fact he doesn't go with safe choices for his covers. His past versions of "Ride like the wind"(Christopher Cross) and "Run to you"(Bryan Adams) were brilliant.

Thrilled to hear about the upcoming album in early '17.

 

I don't mind the fact that he's released another Dio track, but i do wonder why he's

re-released "Stormbringer" when according to his press release he had over 40 songs that he had to whittle down.

 

Thanks for posting Stefan!

You should be getting a promoters fee from all these artists.

You do a great job of keeping us all informed.

Thanks again.

[Darkstone]

Anyway, I like the album cover. The cover is him listening to this very album.

It's a good one. I'ts actually an image of him holding the cover with an image of him holding the cover with an image of him holding the cover with an image of him holding........... you get the idea.

[Stefan]

That's a great cover. I loved the original but I love this too.

 

 

[Guest theczar]

Had this album for about a month now (promo) - Running Up That Hill is my pick: a simply superb reinvention of a song/artist that I'd never have listened to - now that's skill.

[kourosofsteel3]

Good lord, this is just like a playlist of the recent JLT gigs...

[Glen]

Had this album for about a month now (promo) - Running Up That Hill is my pick: a simply superb reinvention of a song/artist that I'd never have listened to - now that's skill.

You cannot reinvent Kate Bush

[Darkstone]

 

Had this album for about a month now (promo) - Running Up That Hill is my pick: a simply superb reinvention of a song/artist that I'd never have listened to - now that's skill.

You cannot reinvent Kate Bush

It wasn't until my latter years that i grew an appreciation for the Kate Bush tunes i grew up with. Back then she was just some weird chick, hot, very hot, but weird.

 

"Don't give up" with Peter Gabriel is still one of the most emotional songs i've ever heard.

 

I'm off now to check out the "Babushka" clip on youtube.

[Stefan]

[Darkstone]

^

Great song. I wasn't familiar with the Paul Stanley original. I've just checked it out on youtube. Nice.

I love how Jorn just adds a certain darkness to his songs. Brilliant.

Can't wait for the album.

[Glen]

Sorry but for me that is inferior to the original - it loses its differential between verse and chorus.

 

Anyway he should have picked this one which the best song on the album by a mile -

 

[AlphaMale]

Jorn still looks like he is in need of some Ex-Lax.

[Geoff]

Sorry but for me that is inferior to the original - it loses its differential between verse and chorus.

 

Hugely, hugely inferior. This version just seems to miss the entire (highly inspirational) point of the song.

[Stefan]

[Guest theczar]

I very recently interviewed Jorn for the forthcoming issue of Fireworks, he's a really obliging, engaging character.

[Stefan]

[Glen]

Sucked all meaning and life out of the song.

 

My overall feeling towards this album is that Jorn has completely missed the original messages & vibe in the songs which is what made them great in the first place

[Stefan]

[AlphaMale]

Sucked all meaning and life out of the song.

 

My overall feeling towards this album is that Jorn has completely missed the original messages & vibe in the songs which is what made them great in the first place

 

Agree 100% Glen.

[DaHun72]

Have only listened to this a couple of times but I'm glad Jorn has finally hooked up with a good guitarist. Am liking some of this, especially the non-rock covers. The biggest letdown is that 2/3 through its obvious the songs were recorded at another time and don't sound as good. I have hope for Jorn with Trendt but this is not essential by any means but hopefully the build up to something much better.

[CureTheSane]

Hotel California wasn't too bad.

The rest.... meh...

[Stefan]

[CureTheSane]

You're The Voice is an excellent cover.

All Australians had this song rammed down their throats for a good 12 months so it's kind of an anthem.

But if you're going to cover a song do it this way. Heavier, doesn't deviate from the original too much, but enough to be different.

Only gripe I have is the song is missing the first few "whoa-ooooooo-ooooo-ooo"s

 

Listened to the other covers posted here again, and i enjoyed them more than the first time.

Not bad.

I don't mind a varied song list.

Remember Black Sweden who did all ABBA songs? Pretty cool.

There was also that band that blended ABBA and Metallica songs?