Metalville (record label) has posted that TRAPEZE ‘Lost Tapes Vol. 2 will be released on November 15th! These will be songs never released (or presumably heard) from the 70s British band. ‘Vol. 1’ was issued last year, and is a must-have for any fans of classic British rock – lots of great lost gems, and performances from Glenn Hughes, Dave Holland, Mel Galley, Peter Goalby, etc… Love the artwork as well, again created by Marcus Galley who is (if you have ‘Vol.1’) “carrying on the theme of vintage tape box art.” *More details, track-listing, and ordering info to come.
LOST TAPES VOL.2: The Album once again brings together great songs that were created in the context of various album releases but have never been published until now. But now it’s time to finally present these hidden gems to the world.
When rock band Trapeze called it a day, they left behind them a series of now classic albums. Their influence on other groups has been immense; individual members themselves going on to join heavy weight rock acts such as Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Judas Priest & Uriah Heep. But their story’s not over, as TRAPEZE – LOST TAPES VOL. 2 continues to prove!
Recorded either side of album releases these are great songs, stockpiled, but never released; some with the intention of developing them even further later, as Trapeze hit the ground running, playing live relentlessly; honing their craft while rarely seeing home. Here too you’ll find rare lineups featured – previously only rumoured at, often considered fable at best – but now revealed proudly for the first time & given their deserved day in the sun.
Hard-wired guitars, wailing synthesisers, rhythm sections that kick-ass then get the funk out, with out-of-sight vocal performances throughout guaranteed. Be that on hard rockers such as Fighting and Loser, ballads like the exclusive early rendition of Coast To Coast, even near-country rock asides in Must Be In Love through to progressive AOR rock explorations on Welcome To the Real World. Then of course there’s their pioneering brand of funk rock on tracks like Can You Feel It? & Way Back To The Bone among others. Plus, the song that tells you exactly what made this English band tick; the heartfelt rush of Homeland.
Poignantly, TRAPEZE – LOST TAPES VOL. 2 also features Live Fast, Die Laughing, the last song ever recorded by founding member, band leader & guitarist/vocalist Mel Galley before his passing in 2008.
Having practically retired from the music business, except for the odd session, Galley had a change of heart. “He got his hunger back!” revealed his brother, songwriter & producer Tom Galley. “We started working on various things and he was very much up for putting Trapeze back together; we’d got the players he wanted to use, and were recording again.” The guitarist also played a sold out local solo gig, unaware what destiny had in store when he was later diagnosed with cancer. “He was still up for it. It was so special just to get him in the studio – What you hear is pretty much live single takes of him singing, laying down guitars and bass, with drum programming by Gary Alkins done out at Bloxwich in the UK.”
Rocking out with urgent vitality, in Live Fast, Die Laughing you feel Mel Galley’s zest for life; play it loud and he’s here with us again, offering sound advice with Trapeze style pizzaz.
TRAPEZE – LOST TAPES VOL. 2 was collated by Tom Galley with assistance from band manager Tony Perry, alongside Marcus Galley once more honouring his father’s legacy by designing this very special collection that features rare & exclusive photos by Carl Dunn.
(Bio courtesy of Paul H. Birch)
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