New sounds from great rockers

MANILA, Philippines — It is always nice to be reminded that while pretty much anybody can make a hit record nowadays, we still need that great voice for a wondrous, even transforming effect on us listeners. Admit it, there is not much of those in the hit lists nowadays. So coming across these stunning albums from late last year was quite a surprise.

All of these albums are the latest releases by three of the greatest rock vocalists of all time. Their distinctive sounds made their mark 40 or 50 years ago. They have since then sold millions of albums and to this day continue to create music that are as current as anything by Ed Sheeran and as saleable. They are Rod Stewart, Steve Perry and the late Roy Orbison. They all answer to the description legendary.

Now, Roy  died on Dec. 6, 1988. So it is not possible for him to have recorded these albums. But clap, clap, clap for the wonders of modern technology, his vocals from his old recordings are now heard accompanied by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London. It is often said that if rock music were opera, then Roy would be its Pavarotti. This is because of the power and tremendous range of his voice that lent itself so beautifully to heartbreak ballads.

Two Roy Orbison albums with the Royal Philharmonic have been released. The first, A Love So Beautiful came out in 2017.  It was made up mostly of his compositions. In Dreams, Crying, I’m Hurtin’, Oh  Pretty Woman, It’s Over, Dream Baby, Blue Angel, Love Hurts, Mean Woman Blues, Only The Lonely (Know The Way I Feel), Running Scared, I Drove All Night, You Got It, A Love So Beautiful and Pretty Paper.

Roy singing with a full orchestra was a combination made in heaven and the first album became a huge hit. As with what usually happens in such cases, another album with the Royal Philharmonic came out late last year. Titled Unchained Melodies, it is made up of Roy’s versions of popular classics like Unchained Melody, Blue Bayou, She’s A Mystery To Me, The Great Pretender, Danny Boy, Too Soon To Know, Heartbreak Radio, Unchained Melody and others.  Just like before, the result is music to be treasured for all time.

I am sure Rod endured being taken to task for years by his devoted followers for selling out his rock chops in exchange for his massively successful American Songbook series. I do not blame Rod for taking on the project. Any vocalist worth his salt would grab the chance to record those classics. That did not mean though that Rod had given up on being a rocker. And the proof is here in his latest album of new rockers, Blood Red Roses.

Singing-wise, Rod at 74 years old still hits the mark. The raspy, bluesy delivery remains the same. The rock swagger is as endearing as before. And you really have to hand it to this guy, he has also co-written almost all of the songs. At the stage of life when one is prone to taking stock of the way things went before and the way they are now,  Rod presents a variety of nostalgic themes set against also very varied rhythms. 

Listen now to Rod sing about an old friend in the sad Farewell, remember his early days in Cold Old London featuring Bridget Cady, put on the EDM feel in Look In Her Eyes, or go all Irish folksy in Blood Red Roses, or put on some gospel in Give Me Love, or just be his usual pop-rocking self in Rest Of My Life. All great sounding but the best one is the emotional Didn’t I, also featuring Cady, where Stewart takes on the part of a father talking about drug addiction to his child.

Steve was the voice of Journey. Don’t Stop Believin’, Faithfully, Separate Ways, Anyway You Want It were all recorded with Steve on lead vocals. Some years ago, Steve and Journey came to a parting of ways. Journey continues on with Arnel Pineda on lead vocals and Steve most of the time remains the retired statesman of rock but on occasion would come out with special recordings.

Titled Traces, it was said that Steve composed and sang these new originals as a tribute to his late wife. It is a sad album born of pain and that is what rock music is most of the time. The titles speak for themselves. No Erasin’ We’re Still Here, Most Of All, No More Cryin’, In The Rain, Sun Shines Gray, You Belong To Me, Easy To Love and I Need You. And Steve sings them from the heart in that familiar Journey voice, as expressive as ever.