Solo-efforts from axeman/vocalist Ken Tamplin, known from Shout and Magdallan. Started out as commercial 80's metal, but went softer by each release. He has now joined the resurrected Shout.
AN
AXE TO GRIND (1990) INTENSE
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Line-up: Ken Tamplin - Lead & Backing Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitars Joe Galletta - Drums on 1, 4 Chuck Wright - Bass on 1, 3, 6, 9, 13 Mark St. John - Lead Guitar on 1 Scott Van Zen - Lead Guitar & Rhythm Guitar on Lanny Cordola - Guitar on 2, 8, 14, 15 Ken Mary - Drums on 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15 Roger Mielke - Keyboard David Sikes - Bass on 4, 7, 10, 12, 14 Gary Buchanan - Lead Guitar on 4 Joey Tafolla - Lead Guitar on 13 Jeff Berlin - Bass on 15 Joe Diorio - Lead & Rhythm Guitar on 15 Ken Tamplin - Drum programming on 14 |
Solo-effort from guitar-heroes are almost usually filled with instrumentals. This is no exception. But it is also a record filled with great melodies. This guy has written songs together with Gene Simmons, from KISS. Another ex-KISS members plays on this album, namely Mark St. John. So melodic 80's metal is what we get, but with some blues and jazz influences also thrown in here and there for good measure. And Ken, mostly together with one Scott Van Zen, do a terrific job delivering memorable songs. In fact, if you'd taken away all the instrumental songs on this album, you'd be stuck with one heck of a killer melodic metal platter, not unlike those Shout released back in the days. A stellar collection of collaborating friends is also included. Lanny Cordola (ex-House Of Lords) & Ken Mary (Fifth Angel, Impellitteri, Alice Cooper) and Joey Tafolla (Jag Panzer) are some of the names. "Bouree In E Minor" is a rendition of a piece written by classical composer J.S. Bach, whilst "All The Things You Are" is an instrumental take of a Oscar Hammerstein II/Gerome Kern original, made famous by jazz artists like Ella Fitzgerald. They round up that instrumental by doin' "When You Wish Upon A Star" as an outro, but this part is not credited in the liner-notes. Unfortunately this record is very hard to find on CD, but I finally managed to replace my crappy cassette and CDR.
Killer tracks: Livin' For My Lord, Never Give Up (A Wife's Tribute), Not Alone, Straight Between The Eyes, I Hear Cryin'
IN
THE WITNESS BOX (1995) BENSON
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Line-up: Ken Tamplin - Lead & Backing Vocals, Lead, Rhythm & Bass Guitars, Keys & Sitar Stefan Svensson - Drums Alan Silva - Keyboards on 1 Joey Tafolla - Lead Guitar on 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 Lanny Cordola - Rhythm Guitar on 4, Acoustic Guitar on 9 Tad Dery - Bass on 3, 6, 8 |
A surprise gift from a friend. And what a delight it was to hear this disc. I always thought that Ken had mellowed down throughout the years, but this is just as heavy as the other album I own by him, if not even harder. Sure, there are some softer moments here too, but that only adds to the CD's diversity. The guest-list is also, as always on Ken's albums, fairly impressive. Joey Tafolla (Jag Panzer, Magdallan) is ever present, and so is Lanny Cordola (House Of Lords, Guiffra), contributing with some stunning guitar-work. "Sing Hallelujah" is a great, touching praise song. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" is a Stevie Wonder cover!
Killer tracks: Feed Me, Alma Rose, Sing Hallelujah, Luck?
Ken Tamplin guest appearances:
Angelica - 'Angelica' (also as producer)
Kiss - 'Carnival Of Souls' (as writer)
Laudamus - 'Lost In Vain'
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