Sha-La Music Inc. announces the 25th Anniversary release of the Forget The Rain album by US Prog-Rockers Shotgun Symphony on June 17. This is the 1st time that the album will be available in digital, 25 years after its initial release, distributed worldwide via The Orchard/Sony Music. Pre-orders are now available on Amazon and Apple Music. Deko Entertainment, in a cross-promotion with Sha-La, is making the original Forget The Rain cd available via ADA/Warner Music.
"This album is a bold and courageous step from a band who are expanding their horizons, and I for one have nothing but admiration for an outfit who are willing to re-invent themselves for the better." Frontiers Magazine UK 1997
Forget The Rain contains the original 10 album tracks plus 2 bonus tracks, remastered for the 25th Anniversary. The original CD was released on Sha-La Records back in 1997, 2 years after Sha-La prez Robert Allen flew to LA to meet with producer/engineer Tom Fletcher (Ozzy Osbourne, Scorpions, Yes) to talk about working with Shotgun Symphony. At the time Robert was managing Shotgun Symphony (Tracy White-vocals, Charlie Calv-keyboards, Mike Maino-guitar/vocal, Ed Avila-bass/vocal, Ron Sivulich Jr-drums) and meeting with Fletch (as known by friends) to ask him to mix a live album the band had recorded in London at the Camden Underground, a few years before Smashing Pumpkins played the legendary club made famous in the 2000s by Amy Winehouse.
"A well-mixed 70s style into a 90s sound. In addition, the progressive feel, like a spice for food, helps the sound." Burrn! Japan 1997
Shotgun Symphony was primarily known in Europe & Japan, and while on tour with former Geffen act Tyketto, the band met Fletch in London doing sound for Toto's Steve Lukather. Fletch told the band to look him up when they got back to the States. Robert did just that and Fletch agreed to come to New York to mix the live album, but only if the band would also record some new material with him. This would be the genesis of Forget The Rain.
"New Jersey's Shotgun Symphony crank in a most psychedelic way…Impressive." Aquarian Weekly US 1997
By the mid-90s, prog-rock was nearly extinct, as Alternative was the mainstream of the day. After mixing Shotgun's Live In London album, Fletch and the band regrouped for recording what would become the first half of the Forget The Rain sessions. Just how good were the sessions? Back in LA Fletch was introduced by Lukather to prog-rock legends Yes founder and bassist, Chris Squire. Fletch played some of the tapes from the Shotgun sessions for Squire, who was impressed enough to ask Fletch to work with the newly re-formed classic lineup of Yes!
"Dip in anywhere and you'll come up with an exotic, chunky soundbite, muddily fashioned in the image of contemporary rock. Psychedelia for the nineties." Hard Roxx UK 1997
Forget The Rain is the missing link for the Prog-Rock of the 70s to the 21st Century. Years ahead of its time, the album was a high watermark for Shotgun Symphony, which disbanded a few years later. Together with Tom Fletcher, the album they created unleashed a torrent of creativity that deserved a better fate. 25 years after its release, Forget The Rain is finally getting its due.
"This time around they've made a real effort to ignore the rule book combining '70s psychedelia with some surprising heaviness." Kerrang! UK 1997
For more information visit:
Comentarii