Song picture
JOLLY ROGER'S RETREAT
Like
Playlist
1 Comment Share
Single   $1
Album   $11
INSTRUMENTAL ROCKER WITH A DISTINCT SOUTHERN VIBE AND A TEXAS FEEL...
melodic hard rock classic rock mainstream original rock political rock arena rock the road less traveled songs with a message avalanche hard rock band michael foster will there be tomorrow
Artist picture
HARD ROCK BAND THAT BLENDS HEAVY BRITISH AND SOUTHERN ROCK styleS. TOUR DATES INCLUDE GIGS WITH AC/DC, DERRINGER, PAT TRAVERS BAND...AND WERE CONSIDERED AS
AVALANCHE is defined by Webster's as: "an unstoppable natural force"...and this all-original rock band certainly seems to fit that definition...overcoming the odds to produce some of the very best original hard rock anywhere! With an unorthodox strategy for success in 1978 (which included 18 months of intense rehearsals, their own record label, $75,000.00 worth of state-of-the-art stage gear, and a record on over a dozen New England radio stations for three months...all before ever playing a live gig) AVALANCHE's debut show was attended by over 3500 people..and the band was immediately playing to sold-out shows and standing room only crowds wherever they appeared. Within a month after their first gig, AVALANCHE was headlining in large club venues, and shortly after that, the band was opening tour dates and sharing concert stages on AC/DC's "Highway To Hell" tour, as well as with DERRINGER, and THE PAT TRAVERS BAND. They were also considered as a tour opener for TOTO's First U.S. Tour. A tight and well rehearsed rock-n-roll machine...this band did whatever was necessary to bring studio-quality hard rock to the live-concert stage...and they did it without the support of a major record label. Now recording again, with all the surviving members of the original lineup...here is the first new AVALANCHE music in over twenty years...as well as some of their old music too, (most of the recordings have never been available before). AVALANCHE continues to defy the odds with their staying power and persistence...and by remaining "unstoppable"...they are here NOW....for you to sample and enjoy! Click here for official Avalanche band website GOLDEN SUN RECORDS
Song Info
Genre
Rock • Rock General
Charts
Peak #134
Peak in subgenre #20
Author
Music and Arrangement: MICHAEL FOSTER
Rights
COPYRIGHT 2005 by Crystal Magic Music (ASCAP)
Uploaded
September 15, 2006
Track Files
MP3
MP3 3.8 MB • 192 kbps • 4:11
Story behind the song
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON JOLLY ROGERS RETREAT Recording Produced by: Michael Foster. Coyright 1980, 2005 by Crystal magic Music (ASCAP) CREDITS: Michael Foster: Acoustic and Electric guitars. Gene Melendraras: Drums Warner "Doc" Schwepke: Bass Ed Bradley: Slide guitars Engineered by: Peter Solak Mixed by Michael Foster and Peter Solak This song (also subtitled "Backpedaling Fearlessly") is one of two instrumental tunes on COMPLETE AVALANCHE! It was recorded during the Studio Sessions in 1981. As on virtually every song from those sessions, I did the best I could to try to recreate what the original band had done live on stage...and on this song...I think we actually may have improved on the original version...due to the appearance of a guest, slide guitarist, Ed Bradley, who at the time had a very well-respected band in New England called POISON... their original name was DURBAN POISON...but they shortened it (this was way before the band that most people know as POISON even existed). Ed is a fabulous musician, he is still playing today, and his contribution to this song is clearly evident. When Ed was playing his solos, it was after the initial tracks had been laid down, and I was in the control room with Peter. Even though I could have easily accepted his first take, I told Ed to do it again...and unknown to him, I saved the first track he had done...and opened up another, thinking I would compare them later on, and pick the best one. During that comparison process, the two very different tracks sounded awesome when played TOGETHER...and so that is why you can hear two slide guitar parts that begin about half way through his solo. I guess some of the best music can happen accidentally! It takes awareness, and luck...to recognize when it happens. The original band wrote and rehearsed three sets of music for six to eight hours a day, six days a week, for over eighteen months before ever playing a live gig, and then there was nearly a year and a half of live gigs...most of them concert dates...before the band broke up. Because of that, the tightness and energy of the Studio Sessions, which consisted of hiring musicians to learn and practice each song for about eight to ten hours before laying down the basic tracks... just doesn't do justice to what this band was really like in its original form. But on this song...I think we outdid ourselves.
Song Likes
On 7 Playlists
Comments 1
Please sign up or log in to post a comment.
The SolitaireOne
Jul 21, 2008
Wow that's some southern rock'n guitar work. Moving right along with the pedal to the metal on open highway. Really digg'n this sound. Excellent work guys. 5 stars all around.