STONE FURY – Burns Like A Star [Japan SHM-CD remastered MiniLP] Out Of Print 2014, MP3+FLAC

One of the most overlooked hard rock albums from the ’80s, “Burns Like A Star“, the debut by STONE FURY was requested here in its pretty hard to find remastered version. This is the Japanese Cardboard Sleeve / mini LP replica on SHM-CD [Limited Release] appeared only a couple years ago, but already out of print.

Stone Fury was formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist Lenny Wolf, later known for being the founder of platinum sellers Kingdom Come. The band was essentially a collaboration between Wolf – born in Germany who moved to L.A. to become a rockstar – and super talented guitarist Bruce Gowdy (Unruly Child, Fergie Frederiksen, etc).
After a recording demo, MCA Records offered a recording contract, but as band. So Stone Fury become a full-on band completed with drummer Jody Cortez (Cinderella) and bassist Rick Wilson (Danny Wilde Band).

Produced by renowned Andy Johns – who worked on classic albums by Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Van Halen and many others – Stone Fury’s debut “Burns Like A Star” appeared in 1984.
Yes, Lenny Wolf started to show his Robert Plant influences here, but it’s Bruce Gowdy who brings the melodic hard rock sheen that makes this album truly great.

‘Break Down The Walls’ is one of my all-time favorite ’80s Hard Rock songs, while ‘Life Is Too Lonely’ is a midtempo AOR gem. I even remember a quote from long time ago with Don Dokken stating how much he liked this song.
‘I Hate To Sleep Alone’ rocks hard, ‘Don’t Tell Me Why’ and ‘Hold It’ are both another solid melodic hard rockers, while ‘Mamas Love’ and ‘Tease’ are good examples of what would become Kingdom Come; US hard rock blended with blues.

 

“Burns Like A Star” rocks like few, it’s highly melodic, offers superb musicianship and a brilliant production, in short; one of the best recorded albums in this genre in America during the first half of the ’80s.
This Japanese remastering / SHM-CD sounds terrific, compared with my wasted original vinyl this is punchier, full of dynamics.
HIGHLY Recommended

01 – Break Down The Wall
02 – I Hate To Sleep Alone
03 – Life Is Too Lonely
04 – Don’t Tell Me Why
05 – Mamas Love
06 – Burns Like A Star
07 – Tease
08 – Hold It
09 – Shannon You Lose

Lenny Wolf: lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Bruce Gowdy: lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Rick Wilson: bass, backing vocals
Jody Cortez: drums, percussion
Peter Parnegg: add. bass
George Perilli: add. drums

turbo FLAC