Finally we found it; the Japanese remastered on SHM-CD release of “Queensrÿche“, the band’s self-titled 1983 debut EP, reissued with 10 bonus tracks. It has been reported at many audiophile forums that this SHM-CD is the one to get, where you can really hear a difference. Depends on you, but one thing is for sure; sound quality is outstanding.
In the early ’80s QUEENSRYCHE was known as The Mob, a cover band that played songs from popular heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Their line-up consisted of guitarists Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton, drummer Scott Rockenfield and bassist Eddie Jackson.
Without a singer, they performed several shows with Geoff Tate, who at the time was the front man of the local band ‘Babylon’, and later of ‘Myth’. Tate chose not to join The Mob, because he was not interested in performing covers.
Inspired by the positive responses from their performances at local rock festivals, The Mob decided to switch from playing cover songs to writing original music. The four members, who were between 17 and 19 years old, rehearsed five days a week in the basement of Rockenfield’s parents, and took on at least two jobs each to earn enough money to record a 24-track professional tape.
Tate was asked to join the band for the recording sessions, and in the same week write the lyrics to one unfinished song, which became “The Lady Wore Black”. They booked the graveyard shifts from Monday through Friday at Triad Studios in Redmond, Washington, to record four songs… the QUEENSRYCHE saga has begun.
Attempts to be signed to a record label were unsuccessful. Kim and Diana Harris, the owners of Easy Street Records, ultimately offered The Mob a management contract. As the band name “The Mob” was not available, it was changed to “Queensrÿche”.
Harris sent the tape and a band photo to a friend at the British music magazine Kerrang!, resulting in a glowing review and causing a growing buzz in both the United States and Europe, following which the Harrises released Queensrÿche’s recordings as a self-titled EP on their independent 206 Records label in 1983.
After the EP garnered international praise, receiving much airplay and selling an unusual number of copies for a small independent release, Tate agreed to leave Myth and become Queensrÿche’s permanent lead singer.
Kim Harris then convinced EMI-America A&R manager Mavis Brodey to see Queensrÿche perform as the opening act for Zebra in Portland and Seattle on June 29–30, 1983. Brodey offered Queensrÿche a contract with EMI, spanning 15 years and encompassing seven albums.
To support the EP, the band toured with Quiet Riot through the south, and with Twisted Sister to the East Coast and Canada, and played in Seattle opening for DIO.
After the tour had ended in November 1983, the band began preparations for their first full length studio album, The Warning.
This remastered edition adds as bonus live recordings of Queensrÿche’s second performance in the tour supporting The Warning, held August 5, 1984 at the Nippon Seinenkan in Tokyo, Japan. The performance was previously released on VHS in 1984 as ‘Live in Tokyo’, now out of print.
This SHM-CD captures the original 24-track analog recording like no-other, a must for Queensrÿche fans.
HIGHLY Recommended
ＵＮＩＶＥＲＳＡＬ ＭＵＳＩＣ ＪＡＰＡＮ 【ＵＩＣＹ～25519】
「ＳＨＭ－ＣＤ ＲＥＩＳＳＵＥ ＳＥＲＩＥＳ 」
01 – Queen Of The Reich
02 – Nightrider
03 – Blinded
04 – The Lady Wore Black
BONUS TRACKS:
05 – Nightrider [Live In Tokyo]
06 – Prophecy [Live In Tokyo]
07 – Deliverance [Live In Tokyo]
08 – Child of Fire [Live In Tokyo]
09 – En Force [Live In Tokyo]
10 – Blinded [Live In Tokyo]
11 – The Lady Wore Black [Live In Tokyo]
12 – Warning [Live In Tokyo]
13 – Take Hold of the Flame [Live In Tokyo]
14 – Queen of the Reich [Live In Tokyo]
Geoff Tate – lead vocals
Chris DeGarmo – guitars, backing vocals
Michael Wilton – guitars
Scott Rockenfield – drums
Eddie Jackson – bass, backing vocals