During the Covid Pandemic, Jeff had time on his hands since he wasn’t touring the world. However, that doesn’t mean he sat around twiddling his thumbs. Nope. Instead he decided to revisit some old songs. Now, he wasn’t thinking of doing another album like ‘Revisions’ and thank goodness for that. Instead, he re-recorded a bunch of his classic songs throughout his career and the twist was he invited a bunch of his fellow musical friends that could sing and do the songs as duets. And the line-up he has is second to none. They are some of the most exciting new melodic rock singers in the field and some that are legends in their own right.

He used a bunch of his bandmates and friends also to handle the music. Most of these names you will recognize if you’ve been following along on this series. He had Jorge Salan (guitars), Howie Simon (guitars), Leo Mancini (guitars), Tony Dickinson (bass) and Edu Cominato (drums). And let me tell you, they really brought these songs to life and made them sound fresh and more modern in some cases. These guys are playing songs by Yngwie Malmsteen, Axel Rudi Pell and Marcel Jacobs so they have to step up their game and let me tell you they do just that. The combination of this band, Jeff’s powerhouse vocals and these incredible guest singers actually surprised me with an album that at first I went…”really?”… but by the end I was like…”Hell Yeah!!”. The album came out on October 8, 2021 and continued his run with Frontier Records and what a run it has been. Enough chit chat, let’s get to the music.

The album opens with a high energy, bombastic guitar rocker called “Livin’ the Life” from the Rock Star soundtrack and what a way to open the album. Jeff had his W.E.T. bandmate, Erik Martensson, dueting with him and this one and if you’ve heard the W.E.T. albums, then you know what a lethal combo these two are together. This is not a song Jeff plays a lot, so what a pleasure to have this one covered and a sign of great things to come. If you were expecting an album full of ballads, you’d be so wrong.

Next up is an Yngwie Malmsteen song called “Don’t Let it End”. This one was from Jeff’s time with Yngwie and another exciting song and the choice of singers is awesome as well as Dino Jelusick is one of the most exciting new melodic rock singers out there today. He is from the band Animal Drive and Whitesnake. The soft opening makes you think ballad, but when the song kicks in, hold on tight. Dino’s vocals have a grit to them and blend them with Jeff’s smoothness, it is simply an amazing combo. They play so nicely off each other. And let us not forget the guitar playing on this one…damn!! Yngwie who??? Jeff’s band holds its own and then some.

Now, you know Soto is going to pick Talisman songs and the first one he does is the classic “Mysterious” with the legendary Eric Martin on vocal sharing duties. I think you’ve heard of the Mr. Big singer so nothing more to say on him. When you put two of the best melodic rock singers next to each other, you get pure magic. I love how Jeff lets his guest take the first verse and he has no ego in making sure they shine throughout and Eric does that and more.

Then we get one of Jeff Scott Soto’s best solo songs with “Believe in Me” and being one of his best, the guest singer needs to be one of the best and he is that in spades. The guest is the brilliant Nathan James from the band Inglorious. He is another of the new breed of singers that is so exciting and I am huge fan. Nathan sings the hell out of this song and even carries the weight of most of the singing and Jeff gladly lets him do what he does best.

Then we get an unexpected track from Jeff’s former band Soul SirkUS with the ballad “Coming Home”. And what is great about this one is the connection to the guest singer, Deen Castronovo who was the drummer of that band for a very brief minute. And if you’ve heard Revolution Saints, you know Deen can sing. Hell, he reminds me a lot of Steve Perry and why he didn’t take over the singing on Journey, I don’t know. Oh, Jeff was the singer of Journey briefly as well when Deen was the drummer there too! Love all the connections. Anyway, this a beautiful song to begin with when Jeff sings it, but when you throw in the emotion of Deen’s singing along with Jeff and it is a very powerfully brilliant song. The notes they hit are nuts.

“I’ll Be Waiting”, another Talisman song is up next and this time Jeff has Alirio Netto (Shaman, Queen Extravaganza) singing along with him. Alirio is a new one for me, but that doesn’t mean the man can’t sing because he holds his own with Jeff and if he is singing Queen songs like Jeff does, you know the man has some power. This Talisman is another classic and fan favorite and they do a great job, but I feel the song is missing something musically and maybe that is Marcel on bass. It is just lacking something. This was the first song that felt a little Karaoke to me.

Another surprise track for me was “Callin’ All Girls” from Jeff’s band Eyes. A very obscure band, but a great song. Along for the ride on this one is the great Russell Allen. Jeff worked with Jeff on Joel Hoekstra’s 13 debut album where they both shared vocal duties like they do here. The two together are great and such compliments to each of their styles. A fun, rocking track and I love this choice of song too!

Then the last Talisman song we get is “Colour My XTC” with Electric Mob’s Renan Zonta on duet duties. The first thing I notice is the bass on this one. This is another Marcel famous bass line song and Tony Dickinson handles his own here as it sounds like Marcel would’ve played it. Renan’s classic 80’s rocker sound & style is sounds so amazingly fresh on this one. I like how is style contradicts Jeff’s but instead of being a distraction, it is a great dichotomy. But the star here for me is the musician’s as they really capture the energy of the original song.

Jeff is picking a great variety of songs and this time we get an Axel Rudi Pell song with “Warrior” and a song like that you need a great singer so why not get the current Axel Rudi Pell singer with Johnny Gioeli (also from Hardline). Both guys sang with Axel so this combo for me is really cool. And they destroy this song in a great way. Is this my favorite version of the song now…quite possibly.

There is a song that Jeff doesn’t play live unless he is doing it at the Frontiers Rock Fests and that is the song “Holding On”. It is a favorite Soto solo song of mine so I was thrilled to see it on here. And his choice of singer was a surprise and a pleasant one at that. He choice his keyboardist/guitarist of his current band SOTO, BJ. I didn’t know BJ sang, I thought he was just a master at his craft, but man he can sing and they really kill this one. It is a ballad and they both sound so emotionally connected to the song.

The final Track is from a side project of Jeff’s called Humanimal that was basically Talisman minus maybe one person. The song “Again 2 B Found” and the singer is Mats Leven from Candlemass. Jeff I believe would know him from TSO, but Mat has worked with Yngwie as well. Anyway, Like Dino, Mats has a grit that plays nice against Jeff’s smooth vocals. It adds a different dimension and texture to the song that I thing adds a little more umph to it. And again I need to give props to the band as they really take this song up a notch as their playing is amazing. They really do this song justice and make me miss this short lived project.

I will tell you, I didn’t want to like this album and I don’t. I actually love this album. It really gives these songs a new life, a new voice and since they were already great songs, they somehow made them even better. A lot of these projects like this can be a disaster, but not this one. Jeff was able to get some of the best voices on the scene right now. Some new and young and some legends in their own right like Jeff. Jeff’s choices of songs was pretty key here and he hit it out of the park. A great selection from throughout his career and some unexpected choices made this a fun and exciting listen. The band backing him were on freaking fire as they kept the heart of the songs while making them feel current and fresh. A truly brilliant project and the fact that this is called Vol. 1 makes me excited to think there is more coming. But can it match up to this…we will have to see. My Overall Score is a 4.5 out of 5.0 Stars. If you want an example of what Jeff can do and songs that are all what I would call classic Soto songs, this is a good place to start. If you want to get a taste of great singers that are around today and worth checking out…then this is a good place to start as well. You can’t go wrong here.

UP NEXT: JEFF SCOTT SOTO – ‘COMPLICATED’ (2022)

THE JEFF SCOTT SOTO SERIES:

1. Panther – ‘Panther’ (1986) – recorded in 1984
2. Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – ‘Rising Force’ (1984)
3. Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – ‘Marching Out’ (1985)
4. Kuni – ‘Lookin’ For Action’ (1988)
5. Kryst the Conqueror – ‘Deliver Us From Evil’ (1989) / ‘Soldiers of Light: The Complete Recordings (2019)
6. Eyes – ‘Eyes’ (1990)
7. Eyes – “Nobody Said It Was Easy” (1990) – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition
8. Talisman – ‘Talisman’ (1990)
9. Talisman – “I’ll Be Waiting” (1990) – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition
10. Skrapp Mettle – ‘Sensitive’ (1991)
11. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Eternal Prisoner’ (1992)
12. Bakteria – ‘Deficate! Suffocate! Mutilate! Masturbate!’ (1992 / 2009)
13. Eyes – ‘Windows of the Soul’ (1993)
14. Talisman – ‘Genesis’ (1993)
15. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘The Ballads’ (1993)
16. Biker Mice From Mars – ‘Biker Mice From Mars (Soundtrack)’ (1993)
17. Takara – ‘Eternal Faith’ (1993)
18. Talisman – ‘5 Out Of 5 (Live in Japan)’ (1994)
19. Talisman – ‘Humanimal’ (1994)
20. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Between the Walls’ (1994)
21. Gary Schutt – ‘Sentimetal’ (1994)
22. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Love Parade’ (1994)
23. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Made in Germany (Live)’ (1995)
24. Takara – ‘Taste of Heaven’ (1995)
25. Talisman – ‘Life’ (1995)
26. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Black Moon Pyramid’ (1996)
27. Human Clay – ‘Human Clay’ (1996)
28. Talisman – ‘Best of’ (1996)
29. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Magic’ (1997)
30. Human Clay – ‘U4IA’ (1997)
31. Boogie Knights – ‘Welcome to the Jungle Boogie’ (1997)
32. Takara – ‘Blind in Paradise’ (1998)
33. Talisman – ‘Truth’ (1998)
34. ‘Rock Star: Music from the Motion Picture (Soundtrack)’ – Various Artists (2001)
35. Humanimal – ‘Humanimal’ (2002)
36. Humanimal – Find My Way Home: Limited Edition E.P. (2002)
37. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Holding On E.P.’ (2002)
38. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Prism’ (2002)
39. Talisman – ‘Live at Sweden Rock Festival’ (2002)
40. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘JSS Live at the Gods 2002’ (2003)
41. Talisman – ‘Cats & Dogs’ (2003)
42. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Believe in Me E.P.’ (2004
43. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Lost in the Translation’ (2004)
44. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live at the Queen Convention 2003’ (2004)
45. Soul SirkUS – ‘World Play’ (2004/2005)
46. Talisman – ‘Five Men Live’ (2005)
47. Talisman – ‘World’s Best Kept Secret DVD (2005)
48. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Essential Ballads’ (2006)
49. Journey – ‘Live from Atlanta (Bootleg)’ (2006)
50. Talisman – ‘7’ (2006)
51. Talisman – The Albums Ranked Worst to First
52. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘B-Sides’ (2006)
53. Redlist – ‘Ignorance’ (2007)
54. Jeff Scott Soto – LA Rocks Demo / Vinnie Vincent Demo 1988 (2008)
55. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Beautiful Mess’ (2009)
56. Jeff Scott Soto – “21st Century” / “Gin & Tonic Sky” CD Single (2009) – Bonus Edition
57. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘One Night in Madrid’ (2009)
58. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – ‘Night Castle’ (2009)
59. W.E.T. – ‘W.E.T.’ (2009)
60. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live at Firefest 2008’ (2010)
61. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Damage Control’ (2012)
62. W.E.T. – ‘Rise Up’ (2013)
63. W.E.T. – ‘One Live in Stockholm’ (2014)
64. Jeff Scott Soto – The Authorized Biography (2014)
65. SOTO – ‘Inside the Vertigo’ (2015)
66. Joel Hoekstra’s 13 – Dying to Live (2015)
67. SOTO – ‘Divak’ (2016)
68. Sons of Apollo – ‘Psychotic Symphony’ (2017)
69. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Retribution’ (2017)
70. W.E.T. – ‘Earthrage’ (2018)
71. SOTO – ‘Origami’ (2019)
72. Sons of Apollo – ‘Live With the Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony’ (2019)
73. Sons of Apollo – ‘MMXX’ (2020)
74. Talisman – “Never Die (A Song For Marcel)” – 7″ Single (2020)
75. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live and Loud in Milan 2019’ (2020)
76. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)’ (2020)
77. SOTO – ‘Revision’ (2020)
78. W.E.T. – ‘Retransmission’ (2021)
79. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘The Duets Collection, Vol. 1’ (2021)
80. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Complicated’ (2022)
81. Jeff Scott Soto – The Solo Albums Ranked Worst to First
82. Ellefson/Soto – ‘Vacation in the Underworld’ (2022)
83. Slam – Slam (2023)
84. Jeff Scott Soto – ALL THE ALBUMS Ranked Worst to First
85. Jeff Scott Soto / Jason Bieler – Live In Concert (2022) – Bonus Edition
86. Jeff Scotto Soto / Jason Bieler – Live in Concert (2023) – Bonus Edition