OT: Neal's HARDLINE project and Johnny Gioeli

[Badcotune]

Long story short, I found an old cassette (yes, they still made them in 1992) of HARDLINE: Double Eclipse, and remember it being one of those rare offerings you can play from start to finish -- no filler. Killer vocals, Killer production, Killer writing, and Neal unleashed in a rockin' way I dare say he's not done before or since.

Then I discovered this tune on youtube I never heard from the same album, as it was only on the JAPAN release -- and GEEZ! -- it's one of the BEST AOR melodic rock songs I've ever heard! It encapsulates a lost era the way "Only the young" does. A fist pumpin anthem that surely would've been a hit had it been released on the U.S. version and the album hadn't suffered from the breaking wave of grunge -- anyway -- have a listen, it's a find:

HARDLINE Japan Bonus Track: Love Leads the Way

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zAS3C7Ix-A

And if you dig that, check out what Gioeli has been up to with Axel Rudi Pell:

Song: Don't say Goodbye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeYlSSXqC6Y

Song: Cold Heaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym28vUA4ZZg

Song: Cover of U2's Beautiful Day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS4Bu64waCg

Song: Heartbreaker -- cool ballad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewjqzl8yH3g

Song: A surprising cool version of "Love Gun"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g04rOcOCOP0

This guy's voice is incredible, and his delivery is heartfelt. Kind of sounds a little like the guy in Linkin' Park-- very cool. A shame this music is "underground" now, but at least youtube presented an avenue for discovery. Best "new" ROCK I've heard in YEAAARS.

~Badcotune

[finalfight]

Wouldn't it be cool if the following link led to an mp3 of Love Leads the Way...
http://download.yousendit.com/527972A3766B1589

Interesting to note that on the following Hardline release 'Hardline II' in 2002 Neal's spot was taken by Josh Ramos.

[Badcotune]

Hi Finalflight,

Thanks for that, but when the music is this good, I'm happy support the artists and buy and burn from the mp3 store at Amazon.com. I just got Hardline 2 and thought Ramos did a fine job. It sounds more modern and definitely influenced by Linkin' Park -- but I dug it. Don't expect "Double Eclipse" the sequel, just expect a good rock record and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

I just burned myself a little rock album that has a nice flow. Give these a shot and see what you think:

Artist: Axel Rudi Pell

1. Beautiful Day: Album: Diamonds unlocked
2. Fool's Game: Album: Diamonds unlocked
3. Don't say Goodbye: Album :ballads 3
4. Heartbreaker: Album: Shadow Zone
5. Cold Heaven:
6. broken heart: Album: ballads 2
7. Like a child again: Album: Diamonds unlocked
8. Love Gun: Album: Diamonds unlocked

[finalfight]

Hi Finalflight,

Thanks for that, but when the music is this good, I'm happy support the artists and buy and burn from the mp3 store at Amazon.com. I just got Hardline 2 and thought Ramos did a fine job. It sounds more modern and definitely influenced by Linkin' Park -- but I dug it. Don't expect "Double Eclipse" the sequel, just expect a good rock record and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

I just burned myself a little rock album that has a nice flow. Give these a shot and see what you think:

Artist: Axel Rudi Pell

1. Beautiful Day: Album: Diamonds unlocked
2. Fool's Game: Album: Diamonds unlocked
3. Don't say Goodbye: Album :ballads 3
4. Heartbreaker: Album: Shadow Zone
5. Cold Heaven:
6. broken heart: Album: ballads 2
7. Like a child again: Album: Diamonds unlocked
8. Love Gun: Album: Diamonds unlocked

A wonderful thought, people should ALWAYS support the artist when able but it doesn't appear to be available on Amazon (I checked before uploading).
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_f2_all?i ... usic-track
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_dmusi ... ay&x=0&y=0

Your playlist looks interesting though - I will definately give it a proper look this evening.

[nikki]

Absolutely love Johnny Gioeli...one of my top 10 rock favorite vocalists. His vocals and Axel's music mesh so well. These are older, but really good

The Line--- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=donPqQ4OhAk

Oceans Of Time--- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NOm-zlMHos

Stone--- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxV2A27FrPE

[Rip Rokken]

LOVED Hardline, though I never got the 2nd disc without Neal. "Hot Cherie" was one of my favorite songs for a long time. I read an article a few years back that the Gioeli brothers had gotten popped for running some sort of mail order scam... very strange. Johnny Gioeli has a GREAT voice!

[Arkansas]

Always thought it was Neal Schon's best rock guitar sound.
It had a webby texture to it, yet still kinda loose. And it also had a nice crunch (a la, John Sykes).

Btw, Soto's 'Believe In Me' may have sounded better if it had this Hardline guitar sound.


later~

[larryfromnextdoor]

Always thought it was Neal Schon's best rock guitar sound.
It had a webby texture to it, yet still kinda loose. And it also had a nice crunch (a la, John Sykes).

Btw, Soto's 'Believe In Me' may have sounded better if it had this Hardline guitar sound.


later~

hmm.. very interesting.. i bet your right!! big smooth 80's thing.... that Hardline album is incredible!!

[larryfromnextdoor]

HARDLINE Japan Bonus Track: Love Leads the Way

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zAS3C7Ix-A

Song: A surprising cool version of "Love Gun"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g04rOcOCOP0

Wouldn't it be cool if the following link led to an mp3 of Love Leads the Way...
http://download.yousendit.com/527972A3766B1589

Interesting to note that on the following Hardline release 'Hardline II' in 2002 Neal's spot was taken by Josh Ramos.

thanks guys ,, this thread took me back to '91...17 YEARS AGO!!! i was 13 or something back then..

[brywool]

Always thought it was Neal Schon's best rock guitar sound.
It had a webby texture to it, yet still kinda loose. And it also had a nice crunch (a la, John Sykes).

Btw, Soto's 'Believe In Me' may have sounded better if it had this Hardline guitar sound.


later~

YUP! I don't dig Neal's rhythm sound in Journey at all. His lead sound's good but his rhythm sound just doesn't cut through. As an example, the sound of "Escape", that guitar should be huge and it just sounds watered down to me. When he produced the Hardline album, man, that album sounded awesome. I still wish Castronovo's snare was deeper (like Smith's) but the SOUND of that album was just awesome. I prefer that project to Bad English and I liked them too, but not nearly as much as Hardline.

[Badcotune]

[/quote]

thanks guys ,, this thread took me back to '91...17 YEARS AGO!!! [/quote]

Frightening isn't it? Sometimes -- often times to be honest -- I feel like the fast forword button on my life has gotten stuck -- but that's a whole other thread.

What's amazing to me about music is the sensory association it has with a time and a place. All of my memories from 1992 are programmed in my psyche with the sonics of this disc. And some of them were pretty damn ones...

Sad that Rap and Pop absolutely buried Rock. Nothing should be all consuming and dominating in the marketplace -- there should be a fair representation of actual tastes -- not just what you are forced to taste because it's all that's being served.

~Badcotune

[Arkansas]

Always thought it was Neal Schon's best rock guitar sound.
It had a webby texture to it, yet still kinda loose. And it also had a nice crunch (a la, John Sykes).

Btw, Soto's 'Believe In Me' may have sounded better if it had this Hardline guitar sound.


later~

YUP! I don't dig Neal's rhythm sound in Journey at all. His lead sound's good but his rhythm sound just doesn't cut through. As an example, the sound of "Escape", that guitar should be huge and it just sounds watered down to me. When he produced the Hardline album, man, that album sounded awesome. I still wish Castronovo's snare was deeper (like Smith's) but the SOUND of that album was just awesome. I prefer that project to Bad English and I liked them too, but not nearly as much as Hardline.

I have never really liked DC's snare. Jimbaround (former roadie) said that Deen liked it tuned high. And while I understand that, I've never understood weakening it. It was like he sacrificed balls for pitch. I think you can have a nice high pop, but still have some power & thunder under it. DC's Journey snare often sounds weak...like there's no guts to it. His Hardline snare was a little deeper & broader, which sounded good without too much thud.

Maybe just me...dunno.


later~

[Journey69]

Great thread! Hardline was so underrated! Just shows you that Neal can write music! They were actually going to do another album,but Neal reformed Journey..I saw Hardline live and I was right in front..It was spectacular..Neal started playing wheel in the sky.. Everyone went nuts.. It was said when Neal was forming Planet Us,that some of the songs for the next Hardline were going to be used..I really think they used some on Soul SirkUs..Listen to some of the songs... Periled Devide=Hardline Another World=Hardline Higher Ground=definitely Hardline.. Joey is a great singer,love his voice!! Hardline 2 is decent,but they are really missing Schon's writing and guitar..Some really good songs on it tho..

[ProgRocker53]

I love Hardline. Kick-ass rhythm and some nice soloing from my boy Neal.

In fact, back when I played college football, Hardline's first album had several cuts on my pump-up playlist, which also had some other powerful melodic cuts on there. Everyone else would listen to Lil' Wayne and Young Jeezy or Pantera and Disturbed.... while I'd get myself sufficiently amped to the sounds of "Hot Cherie," "Life's a Bitch," and "Takin' Me Down."

[maverick218]

Long story short, I found an old cassette (yes, they still made them in 1992) of HARDLINE: Double Eclipse, and remember it being one of those rare offerings you can play from start to finish -- no filler. Killer vocals, Killer production, Killer writing, and Neal unleashed in a rockin' way I dare say he's not done before or since.

Then I discovered this tune on youtube I never heard from the same album, as it was only on the JAPAN release -- and GEEZ! -- it's one of the BEST AOR melodic rock songs I've ever heard! It encapsulates a lost era the way "Only the young" does. A fist pumpin anthem that surely would've been a hit had it been released on the U.S. version and the album hadn't suffered from the breaking wave of grunge -- anyway -- have a listen, it's a find:

HARDLINE Japan Bonus Track: Love Leads the Way

I actually have Double Eclipse on CD, some really cool songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zAS3C7Ix-A

And if you dig that, check out what Gioeli has been up to with Axel Rudi Pell:

Song: Don't say Goodbye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeYlSSXqC6Y

Song: Cold Heaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym28vUA4ZZg

Song: Cover of U2's Beautiful Day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS4Bu64waCg

Song: Heartbreaker -- cool ballad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewjqzl8yH3g

Song: A surprising cool version of "Love Gun"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g04rOcOCOP0

This guy's voice is incredible, and his delivery is heartfelt. Kind of sounds a little like the guy in Linkin' Park-- very cool. A shame this music is "underground" now, but at least youtube presented an avenue for discovery. Best "new" ROCK I've heard in YEAAARS.

~Badcotune

[brywool]

Always thought it was Neal Schon's best rock guitar sound.
It had a webby texture to it, yet still kinda loose. And it also had a nice crunch (a la, John Sykes).

Btw, Soto's 'Believe In Me' may have sounded better if it had this Hardline guitar sound.


later~

YUP! I don't dig Neal's rhythm sound in Journey at all. His lead sound's good but his rhythm sound just doesn't cut through. As an example, the sound of "Escape", that guitar should be huge and it just sounds watered down to me. When he produced the Hardline album, man, that album sounded awesome. I still wish Castronovo's snare was deeper (like Smith's) but the SOUND of that album was just awesome. I prefer that project to Bad English and I liked them too, but not nearly as much as Hardline.

I have never really liked DC's snare. Jimbaround (former roadie) said that Deen liked it tuned high. And while I understand that, I've never understood weakening it. It was like he sacrificed balls for pitch. I think you can have a nice high pop, but still have some power & thunder under it. DC's Journey snare often sounds weak...like there's no guts to it. His Hardline snare was a little deeper & broader, which sounded good without too much thud.

Maybe just me...dunno.


later~

YUP. Alex Van Halen's snare is a high snare and it kicks ass. Deen's... no thanks. I remember the first time I saw him live with Bad English and I was like "YUK! Whatta shitty sounding snare!". Great drummer, horrible snare.

[X factor]

Long story short, I found an old cassette (yes, they still made them in 1992) of HARDLINE: Double Eclipse, and remember it being one of those rare offerings you can play from start to finish -- no filler. Killer vocals, Killer production, Killer writing, and Neal unleashed in a rockin' way I dare say he's not done before or since.

Then I discovered this tune on youtube I never heard from the same album, as it was only on the JAPAN release -- and GEEZ! -- it's one of the BEST AOR melodic rock songs I've ever heard! It encapsulates a lost era the way "Only the young" does. A fist pumpin anthem that surely would've been a hit had it been released on the U.S. version and the album hadn't suffered from the breaking wave of grunge -- anyway -- have a listen, it's a find:

HARDLINE Japan Bonus Track: Love Leads the Way

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zAS3C7Ix-A

And if you dig that, check out what Gioeli has been up to with Axel Rudi Pell:

Song: Don't say Goodbye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeYlSSXqC6Y

Song: Cold Heaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym28vUA4ZZg

Song: Cover of U2's Beautiful Day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS4Bu64waCg

Song: Heartbreaker -- cool ballad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewjqzl8yH3g

Song: A surprising cool version of "Love Gun"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g04rOcOCOP0

This guy's voice is incredible, and his delivery is heartfelt. Kind of sounds a little like the guy in Linkin' Park-- very cool. A shame this music is "underground" now, but at least youtube presented an avenue for discovery. Best "new" ROCK I've heard in YEAAARS.

~Badcotune

Wow- listening to that cover of LOVE GUN is one of the most surreal moments I've had in a long time...very strange...

[Journey/Survivor]

thanks guys ,, this thread took me back to '91...17 YEARS AGO!!! [/quote]

Frightening isn't it? Sometimes -- often times to be honest -- I feel like the fast forword button on my life has gotten stuck -- but that's a whole other thread.[/quote]

Lets see, I was in the 20 year-old age range at that time. It all seems like yesterday. Really since I turned 16 the years have flown by. I don't know if I'm going through a mid-life crisis or what, but lately I find myself thinking back to the 1980's a lot, and wishing I could go back and live a month or two back then.

[Journey/Survivor]

Wouldn't it be cool if the following link led to an mp3 of Love Leads the Way...
http://download.yousendit.com/527972A3766B1589

Interesting to note that on the following Hardline release 'Hardline II' in 2002 Neal's spot was taken by Josh Ramos.

Thanks for posting that!

I remember finding out at the time that the CD came out that there was a bonus track on the Japanese version. I had always wanted to get it, but I forgot all about it. It's great to finally get to hear it. It's not as hard Rocking as most of the other songs on the album, but it's still a damn good song. And it's still somewhat of a Rocker.