By Wes Haskins
*Lost Gems*
Continuing reviews of lesser known or overlooked melodic rock/hard rock albums with the debut from the Frontiers Records Sunstorm project. The project was a vehicle for the legendary voice of Joe Lynn Turner(Rainbow/Malmsteen/Deep Purple) and featured new recordings of songs that were demoed in the 80s that had been written by various songwriters including the great Jim Peterik(Survivor), Jack Ponti, Van Stephenson, Dan Huff(Giant), and more. Produced by the great Dennis Ward the sound is excellent.
“Keep Tonight” – Upbeat and a good drum beat drives this song. Big backing vocals and huge melodic chorus and JLT’s voice is brilliant as always. Written by JLT and Jack Ponti the lyrics are about a one night stand but from a perspective that the narrator is hoping it leads to more.
“Fame and Fortune” – Good riff and beat and slightly heavier rock in the verses and gets more melodic in the chorus and it’s very catchy. Supposedly written around the time of Joe’s departure from Rainbow the lyrics are about dealing the glamour life of being in a well known rock band but also losing one’s private life.
“Heart Over Mind” – Just an amazing AOR ballad with a haunting melody and Joe’s vocal is brilliant. What a great song and it should have been huge. It screams mid 80s movie soundtrack. About a loss of a lover or relationship or even the death of a spouse and the struggle to find the strength to go on. Heartbreaking but also uplifting.
“This is my Heart” – Great guitar melody and very melodic verses and chorus gets to rock a little more that’s really driven by the drums. About being self reliant and not giving in and not letting anyone in.
“Strength over Time” – Melodic rock ballad checking all the boxes that made Survivor, Foreigner, and Journey great. How this song wasn’t a huge single and video in 1985 I’ll never know. Joe can sing the phone book and when he sings “I believe I believe I believe” it makes the listener want to believe in every word he’s singing. About life experience and learning from the good and the bad that we all deal with as we get older.
“Another You” – A much softer AOR ballad with a touch of R&B written by the genius that is Jim Peterik. The song goes up another level in the last minute with backing vocals coming in opposite of Joe’s lead vocal. Like many songs on the album I hear it on a mid 80s movie soundtrack. About him falling in love after just meeting someone and hoping their new romance leads to something more and long term.
“Fist Full of Heat” – Hard rocking song that’s one of my favorites on the album. Written by Van Stephenson, It’s a nice change of pace to offset the big ballads. This would have made a great JLT era Rainbow song. The solos are killer too. Lyrically seems to be about some family trauma the narrator experienced as a child and staying tough through their life making it hard for them to ever get close to someone romantically.
“Love’s Gone Wrong” – Another more rocking song but still with plenty of melody that’s driven by an almost funky guitar riff and Joe bringing a soulful vocal. About the end of a relationship and how one moves on trying to get over the loss.
“Night Moves” – Drums and a keyboard riff with a longer opening that builds slowly into a monster of a melodic rock track. Joe’s vocals are just amazing and that melody is so good and the same goes for the chorus. About a secret tryst or relationship that is dangerous for those involved.
“Danger of Love” – More melodic and an almost ballad beginning but the chorus picks up the pace somewhat. A great pre-chorus and chorus melody. Another Peterik written song. A dangerous attraction that has an exciting thrill of the chase but both know it could lead to a bad ending.
“Making Up for Lost Time” – Keyboard driven ballad that starts with keyboards and Joe’s voice before the drums and guitars join in. Another Peterik co-written song with a big melody and great chorus. I can definitely hear this as a Jimi era Survivor song. About falling in love with someone for the second time after separating for sometime but finding their way back to each other.
“Arms of Love” – Big melodic rock song with a fantastic memorable melody. Just a great song that should have been a hit. Another genius Peterik written song. About being away from the ones you love and that feeling of missing them when you’re away.
Recap: It’s hard to explain the impact this album had on me at the time. I was never an AOR guy. Sure there were albums or songs I liked but I was always a heavier rock fan and metal but this album flattened me at the time. It was also an earlier Frontiers Records release for me along with the Allen/Lande debut and From the Inside with Danny Vaughn. Just an impressive collection of AOR/MHR songs and Joe’s voice is unbelievable and proves why he’s one of the best ever.
Favorite songs: Keep Tonight, Arms of Love, Fist Full of Heat, Strength Over Time, Heart Over Mind, Loves Gone Wrong, Night Moves, Danger of Love.