While excellent reissue label AOR Heaven ceased operations, fortunately Pride & Joy Music take up the challenge of their ‘Classixx Series’ bringing back on CD long time out of print albums. Here’s in exclusive at plotn08 the eleventh issue of the Pride & Joy Classixx series with German hard rockers BACKBONE SLIDE sole album, 1994’s self-titled “Backbone Slide“, remastered 2024 and including 2 previously unreleased tracks.
Formed around ex- CZAKAN musicians Frank Schrafft (bass) and Olliver Güttinger (guitar) and including American singer Shaun Michaels, BACKBONE SLIDE delivers here classic bluesy hard rock with that clean, powerful early ’90s sound production from the genre, courtesy of expert Edd Miller (The Black Crowes, .38 Special).
Musically there’s some of Gotthard and Victory simlarities to the sound, but also American stylings from the genre such as Great White, Little Caesar, even a bit of House Of Lords.
This is a really good, fun, hard rockin’ record out of print for decades, now available again ready for its 30th anniversary, limited to 500 units.
Among the highlights check out the extremely melodic “That’s What Dreams Are For”, the kick ass “Shout it Out”, the catchy “Cold Hearted” or the really good ballad “No Matter the Faith” with some House Of Lords on it.
The pumping “Live Love Rock” will tap your foot for sure, while the acoustic, slow final track “You ‘N I” has wonderful atmospheres. The bonus tracks well worth the addition, ‘What Happened To My $ (previously unreleased)’ is a fun rocker, and there’s a hot live version of ‘Shout It Out’ (Live in Cologne 1993) showcasing this was a kick ass band destined for bigger things if existed in other time – not 1994.
Unknown by many, “Backbone Slide [Pride & Joy Music Classixx remastered +2]” is a really welcomed reissue, a quality album for all fans of timeless classic bluesy hard rock.
Highly Recommended
Backbone Slide – 01 – House Of Thunder 4:36
Backbone Slide – 02 – Rosi Lust 4:08
Backbone Slide – 03 – Cold Hearted 4:25
Backbone Slide – 04 – Come Home 4:35
Backbone Slide – 05 – Shout It Out 3:21
Backbone Slide – 06 – The Only One 4:27
Backbone Slide – 07 – Live Love Rock 2:49
Backbone Slide – 08 – That’s What Dreams Are For 5:09
Backbone Slide – 09 – Ya Do Ya 5:59
Backbone Slide – 10 – No Matter The Faith 4:41
Backbone Slide – 11 – Colors Bleed 5:56
Backbone Slide – 12 – You’n I 4:01
Backbone Slide – 13 – What Happened To My $ 3:47
Backbone Slide – 14 – Shout It Out – Live Version
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