I have been waiting a long time for this album of covers that have influenced Tommy Shaw (Styx/Damn Yankees) and Jack Blades (Night Ranger/Damn Yankees). Their first album 'Hallucination' was released way back in 1995 and since then they have both been busy with their respective main bands.

The duo handle all instruments on here bar drums which are handled in the main by ex-Foreigner/BLS sticksman Brian Tichy (Night Ranger's Kelly Keagy guests on one track), with Michael Lardie (Great White/Night Ranger) on keyboards and Jack's son Colin adding backing vocals to the Yes tune 'Your Move'.

As you'd expect the duo have their gorgeous harmony vocals in place and they tackle covers by either staying true to the original as is the case with Simon & Garfunkel's 'Sound of Silence' or they 'rock it up' like the other Simon & Garfunkel tune on here 'I Am A Rock'. Sadly the latter sounds too weird to my ears due to the heavy guitar chords which seem out of place on this tune. They make the Hollies' 'On A Carousel' their own and 'California Dreamin' was made for this pair, simply wonderful listening. What a dream team it would be having the Thorns teaming up with these two!

Pick of the album? Has to be ELP's 'Lucky Man', simply blissful.

Yes it is another covers album but Shaw & Blades have really put their heart and soul into these versions. Hopefully they will do an all original material studio album in the not too distant future but until then enjoy this album!

****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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