Speedway Blvd. - Speedway Blvd.


Year of Release: 2002
Label: Rewind Records
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 00:00:00

The debut from Speedway Blvd. featuring Jordan Rudess, was originally released on Epic Records in 1980, this recent release is now repackaged by Rewind Records, a division of Song Haus Music.

The advantage of being in an internationally recognized band like Dream Theater is that a growing fan base is interested in hearing just about everything you ever recorded including solo material from every member of the band, including bands that members were in prior to becoming famous worldwide. Jordan Rudess, acknowledged as one of the best keyboard players in the world (he recently played on Bowie's 2002 album Heathen, putting him in a very select group of musicians), was part of the rock group Speedway Blvd. long before his DT days ever began and he achieved any degree of success. His road was long and his triumphs earned through many years of hard work and countless hours year after year studying classical music at the Juilliard School of Music in New York.

Your first thought when looking at this CD may be "Oh no, another arena rock group that was a byproduct of the 80s" -- this is not so. Not only does this album provide a few hints from whence Rudess came, it displays a rock 'n' roll machine that pumps out song after song of lively rock that could have easily graduated to effusive prog-rock if they had made a few more albums. Featuring the loud up front guitar of Gregg Hoffman, the soaring vocals of Roy Herring, with Glen Dove (drums) and Dennis Feldman (bass) anchoring a rock steady rhythm section, and Rudess filling in their sound with his keyboard wizardry, this band put together a real classic album worth another shot at a new group of listeners with this reissue. They never played live; they were a true studio band.

"Telephoto Lens" hinted around that they were more progressive than your average rock band and certainly qualifying as art-rock for their day, and that was due in large part to Rudess and his blistering keyboard playing. Then on the other hand, they sounded like spirited rockers sewing their wild oats on "(Call My Name) Rock Magic." The bottom line is that I think they came up with a nice mix without being too flashy or overbearing. Rudess contributes the liner notes and gives a newly found audience young and old alike an opportunity to hear his story behind the music.


Tracklisting:
Speedway Boulevard (3:57) / Chinatown (3:22) / (I Think I Better) Hold On (2:55) / Dog In The Distance (4:00) / Out Of The Fire (2:59) / Telephoto Lens (3:28) / Prisoner Of Time (4:29) / Money Money (3:02) / (Call My Name) Rock Music (4:18) / A Boulevard Night (2:58)

Musicians:
Glenn Dove - drums
Dennis Feldman - bass, vocals
Roy Herring - percussion, keyboards, vocals
Gregg Hoffman - guitar, vocals
Jordan Rudess - keyboards

Discography:
Speedway Blvd. (1980/2002)

Genre: Rock

Origin US

Added: February 1st 2003
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: dreamtheater.net
Hits: 1700
Language: english

  

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