The Black Chapel-All Things Black Sabbath EP 41 Ray Gillen Final

Send us Fan Mail Phenomena project moved into its second faze with “Dream Runner” in 1987, featuring enormous guitars and shimmering keyboards contrasted by an astounding assortment of genuine vocal aptitude. Adding a touch more variety in the vocals department, Glenn Hughes is joined by one-time Black Sabbath singer Ray Gillen, whose clean and lean vocal lines define chunks of synth vamped numbers like “Stop!” and “No Retreat – No Surrender”. Another star vocalist joining the Phenomena caravan is John Wetton, Asia main man adding a decent touch of his AOR magic to the likes of “Did It All For Love”, a song that actually scored a No. 1 spot in South America (of all places). Hughes, on the other hand, handles the project’s irrefutable turn towards radio-oriented rock with vivid bravura. All this extraordinary singing talent is accumulated around contemporary hard rock, and since it was 1987, the album’s mountainous sound clearly has US market in its nostrils. The more streamlined approach is more guitar oriented and is heavy on synthesiser use.  Choruses are big and bouncy, some harmonious lullabies like “Double 6, 55, 44”, others true fist throwing anthems such as “Move - You Lose”, and there’s even a touch of boisterous manliness oozing out of “Juke Box”.  And while the album lacks that true standout moment, it is this combination of polished hard rockers and hooks that generally holds interest. Tracks:1. Stop!2. Surrender3. Did It All for Love4. Hearts on Fire5. Jukebox6. Double 6, 55, 44...  7. No Retreat, No Surrender8. Move - You Lose!  9. Emotion Mama  10. It Must Be Love Musicians:Ray Gillen: lead vocals (1, 7-9)Glenn Hughes: lead vocals (2, 4, 6)John Wetton: lead vocals (3)Max Bacon: lead vocals (5, 10)Kyoji Yamamoto: guitars (1, 4-7)Mel Galley: guitars (2-3, 5-10)Scott Gorham: guitars (3)Big John Thomas: guitars (8)Neil Murray: bass guitar (1-10)Michael Sturgis: drums (1-5, 7-8, 10)Toshihiro Niimi: drums (6, 9)Leif Johansson: keyboards (1-10)Support the show