April Wine – Remasters
BGO Records
www.bgo-records.com

Rating:
Animal Grace B-
Walking Through the Fire D
Nature of the Beast A+
Power Play B+

BGO Records is a company based in London, England that is doing some very cool repackaging of classic rock and roll records. This time out they have released two double albums by April Wine, each remastered.

The first double-disc contains Animal Grace and Walking Through the Fire. Animal Grace, depending on who you talk to, is either a great album, or a weak album. In some ways, both are true.

The band was coming down off a high and this one does not quite reach the highs of its predecessors Nature of the Beast and Power Play. However, some of the songs are strong. “This Could Be the Right One” was a hit while “Without Your Love” and “Rock Tonite” have that classic April Wine sound. “Too Hot Too Handle” and “Gimme That Thing” are both sleepers. This is an album that will grow on you with time.

The other disc, Walking Through the Fire shows April Wine at the end of their rope. They tried to recreate the glory days but “Rock MySelf to Sleep” just comes across as silly instead of cool. The rest of the album fails. The band was out of gas and it didn’t live up to expectations.

The other BGO release combines two of the best albums the band ever released in Nature of the Beast and Power Play.

April Wine mastermind Myles Goodwyn was on fire, creatively on Beast. The album contains the classic tunes “Just Between You and Me” and “Sign of the Gypsy Queen.” The rest of the tracks are just as strong and include “All Over Town,” “Tellin’ Me Lies,” “Future Tense,” “Crash and Burn” and “One More Time.” This is the best album the band ever made, hands down.

The other disc features the follow up to Nature of the Beast, Power Play. While not quite as solid, beginning to end, the album contains a massive hit for Wine in “Enough is Enough” and also the minor radio hit “Anything You Want.” These two tunes are a couple of killer rock tracks that never get old. Add to that the songs “If You See Kay” and “What If We Fall in Love” and you have a more than decent album.

Hats off to BGO as they continue to release these albums and, in this day and age, when both the music being released, and the music industry are in the toilet, it is important to keep music that is both real and matters out there.

If you own these then buy them for a younger person and give them to them to show them what real music sounds like. If you have not replaced your vinyl versions of these albums then visit the web link above, get out your credit card and get ready to rock.

By Jeb Wright