Tag: Bonus Track

My Sunday Song – “Straight Down the Line” by Shaw Blades

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For My Sunday Song #398, we are to the next Japanese Bonus selection in Mike’s Choices. This time around we have the song “Straight Down the Line” by the band Shaw Blades. This short lived band of two great friends consisted of Night Ranger’s Jack Blades and Styx’s own Tommy Shaw. The boys were also part of the supergroup Damn Yankees. This song was written by both and was the Japanese Bonus track on the stellar debut album simply titled Shaw Blades. Later, Tommy did include it on his album 7 Deadly Zens but with Kevin Cronan on backing vocals instead of Jack (and that is the one I have the video for…sorry).

The song seems to be about a woman Tommy loves but she doesn’t love him back. She is out trying to find herself and that one thing to complete her and they are all dead end roads like a trip to Mexico, voodoo, a new age guru, being a Hollywood Star. When she looks in the mirror, I don’t know if anyone is looking back. She seems empty. He still loves her and hopes she’s thinking of him and will come back to him. He believes she’s the one for him. I hope she finds herself. She reminds me of Jenny and Forrest Gump.

What does Mike have to say about the song…”Straight Down the Line” is the gem.  It’s the fastest song of the whole bunch, upbeat but light, and a blast in the car.  Tommy’s intricate little lightning fast guitar hook is a tasty delight.  Tracks like this are why collectors really seek out Japanese imports.  They are their own rewards.” And he isn’t wrong on his view of the song. There is a light, upbeat feeling despite the sadness in the lyrics of this lost go trying to find herself. The guitar work is great and it is such a catchy, airy song. I will have to go crank it in the car and see if he’s right about it being a blast. I have a feeling he is!

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My Sunday Song – “Scatter” by Ratt

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For My Sunday Song #397, we are on to a song by Ratt. Mike picked the Japanese bonus track for the song “Scatter” off the band’s comeback album from 2010, ‘Infestation’. Nothing better than a Ratt Infestation!! The song was written by Warren DeMartini and Stephen Pearcy like they do most of the on this album. It wasn’t much of a comeback album as it was the last album they have released so far. An amazingly good album, that saw the band turn in to mess with each other suing this one and that one. It is awful..but I’m off track. Back to the song.

I didn’t really find anything about the meaning of the song so I’m interpreting it my own way. The song makes the woman out to be thief, but I don’t think she’s a criminal. I think she’s a thief of the heart. Every time she gets to close to a guy, she runs, she…well…she scatters. She leaves the guy broken hearted as she stole his heart. Tell me what you think?

The song is a pure Ratt Rocker! You have Warren’s nasty guitar riffs and he is all over this thing and even on backing vocals along with Carlos Cavazo. Stephen’s vocals still have that grit, but at this point in time, it seems to have aged well as he still sounded like Stephen of earlier Ratt. And well, Bobby Blotzer and Robbie Crane keep the beat going effortlessly. This is a scorcher of an song, and the guitar is king on this one. This to me is actually one of the cooler songs on the album and it should’ve been on the U.S. pressing.

Mike’s review of the song when he review the album was as follows: “Their Japanese bonus track is a cool slow groove rocker called “Scatter”, with a great memorable chorus. This is the best song to me.”

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My Sunday Song – “I’m Not That Way” by Journey

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For My Sunday Song #396, we are now on to Mike Ladano’s sixth pick and this time around it is a ballad from Journey called “I’m Not That Way”. The song is on the 2000 album ‘Arrival’ and sees singer Steve Augeri on lead vocals. Of course you still have Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain two friends that will be friends forever…cough, cough. As well as Ross Valory and Deen Castronovo two other regulars of the band. This song was written by Schon, Cain, Augeri and Kim Tribble

The song seems to be about a guy who loves awoman and that woman was with another man. But they broke up and her heart is broken. He so wants to move in and tell her he loves her and he won’t do the things her old boyfriend did as he’s not that way. But he feels it might be too soon as she is still reeling as he holds her in his arms and she is still crying over the love she just loss. Yeah, dude…probably too soon. You will be a rebound and not the deep, true love you are wanting from her. Be patient…but not too patient as she might rebound with somebody else. Just my two cents.

The song is a ballad as Journey does do those well. A slow tempo, some soft guitar picking by Neal. Augeri’s vocals are as soft and tender as Neal’s playing. You can hear Ross’ bass line lay down a smooth groove. The song though for me, doesn’t pick up enough in the chorus for me to really get connected to it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good song as it is, but I don’t know if it is enough to have kept it on the album.

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My Sunday Song – “Weight Of The World” by Storm Force

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For My Sunday Song #395, we are on Mike’s next Japanese Only selection and this time around it is by the Canadian band Storm Force and it is from their fantastic album ‘Age of Fear’. The song is the “Weight of the World” and although not a single, it should’ve been on the album. I have the album on CD and my copy is missing this one, although it is autographed by the band. And that band is guitarist Greg Fraser, who Ladano has interviewed before, singer Patrick Gagliardi, drummer Brian Hamilton and bassist Mike Berardelli. And for those that don’t know, Greg is the guitarist for a band called Brighton Rock as well. Another killer band.

The song appears to be about someone under a great deal of pressure. They keep getting hit with one thing after another and the weight of it all is waving heavy on their soul. It gets to be so much they are having anxiety attacks as they are having trouble breathing. It is becoming too much to handle, but yet people keeping coming at you. I am sure he is not alone with that feeling. Now, the song came out in January 2020 and a couple months later Covid lockdowns occurred and I have a feeling this song would’ve been relatable to millions of people during that time.

The song opens with a wicked bass line from Mike Berardelli before the band joins in. Patrick’s vocals are the final piece to the puzzle and let me tell you he slays this one. He really digs deep and you almost feel like he is feeling the weight of the world. He is really the highlight for me as his vocals have just enough grit and yet silky smooth at the same time. He sounds so rock & roll here. Simply killer. That doesn’t mean the rest of the band doesn’t kill it either because when you have their talent, they make it seem so effortlessly. The final piece to the puzzle is Fraser’s solo and man does he deliver a great piece that really ties the song together. Simply wonderful song that should’ve been on the album everywhere. Now, I have to go buy the Japanese Edition to get this one song. Thanks Mike!!

Mike reviewed the album on his site and he had this to say about the song…“A solid rocker, “Weight of the World” might express how some of us feel right now.  “The weight of the world is tearing out the heart of me.”  Ever felt that way?”

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My Sunday Song – “Crossing Over” by Van Halen

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For My Sunday Song #393, we are on the third Japanese Bonus Track picked by Mike Ladano. This time around it is the Van Halen song “Crossing Over” off the band’s 1995 album ‘Balance’. The song was written by Van Halen (credited to all the members) and was not just a Japanese Bonus Track, but was also used as the B-Side to “Can’t Stop Loving You”. And if you recently bought the new Van Halen Collection II box set, you got the track on the 4th Bonus LP so that is really cool.

I read somewhere that the song was not actually written during the Balance recording sessions, but originated way back in 1983 when it was titled “David’s Song”. Eddie played all the instruments on the demo. The song wasn’t about Roth, it was about a friend of Eddie’s name David who had committed suicide. If you read the lyrics you can get that from them. Eddie is trying to reach out and see his friend one more time. To touch him one more time before he crosses over. It is a dark song and powerful too.

The song starts off with Eddie and the tone is really eerie and then the bass comes in with a little duh dum, and then the Alex is in on the drums and those drums are unmistakable Alex as he has such a unique sound. There are some electronic drum elements too. It all is very dark. Sammy finally comes in and sings and it isn’t all powerful. It is slow and the lyrics are very deliberate and meant to convey the dark tone to the song. There is an importance to the lyrics, to the sound, to it all. I read somewhere that Eddie’s demo was used for this track and they layered in Alex and Sammy and if that is true, that is cool. The song isn’t explosive and the chorus isn’t very catchy, but this is the mid 90’s and things were not always done the way we were used to hearing things. Overall, a really cool track.

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