I really dig when an artist goes back and re-visits their old catalog to find some lost gems. Over the past several years, Twisted Sister (Jay Jay French and MarK Mendoza) have been digging through the archives and been releasing some previously un-released material. Well over the next several months, get ready, because the guys are at it again. There will be several re-issues of the Twisted Legacy including some extras. The first two to be released are Club Daze: Volume 1, The Studio Sessions and You Can't Stop Rock N Roll.
Club Daze first hit shelves back in 1999, after the guys had unlocked the vaults and pulled out some unreleased early material from the band. Recently the boys, with the help of Armoury Records, took a look at re-issuing the CD. Club Daze is an allotment of tracks recorded back in the late 70's. The music was written and recorded in the early days of the band, before they became megastars in the mid-80's. This is Twisted as true and raw as you have ever heard them before. Club dazes represents the band in their infancy stage, before they truly found their sound. The songs are styled with the sound of the time i.e. New York Dolls. MC5 as well as some early NWOBHM.
Not all of the songs on this CD are keepers, but they are entertaining. I would have to say that my favorite tracks were Pay the Price, Big Gun, Follow Me and I'll Never Grow Up Now. These songs could of ended up on one of the earlier releases from the band. The rest are interesting but not as strong. You will be surprised by some of the elements of blues and rockabilly that are present in some of the tracks. Another bonus was getting to hear the raw renditions of tracks that we are more familiar with like Shoot em Down and Under the Blade. This is definitely a gem for TS fans.
The next re-issue is of my favorite Twisted Sister album ever You Can't Stop Rock N Roll. For this re-issue the guys went in and remastered the whole album, and what a difference it made. The album now sounds as fresh as anything you would hear produced today. The sound is much more full and the CD just seems to have more punch. Songs like Ride to Live, Live to Ride, The Kids are Back and I Am (I'm Me) will light up your speakers. Keep a fire extinguisher close by. Not only do you have one of the band's best CD's sounding better than before, you also get 3 bonus tracks. The bonus tracks are good, but they are raw. I believe they were remastered, but when they were cut, I think they were just demos, so aurally they aren't quite as pleasing. A nice package from both releases. TS fans will rejoice when they get there hands on these puppies.
Bottom Line: Re-issue of a classic record as well as some old gems give new life. Both CD's are done well and warrant a purchase if you don't own them. I will say in regards to the re-issue of You Can't Stop Rock N Roll, that this one warrants a re-purchase if you already own it. This re-issue is how the it should be played. This one sounds amazing.
-Ragman is looking forward to more re-issues.