Rich’s Rapidfire Recommendations – bite-sized metal morsels to let you know about albums that have grabbed Rich Davenport by the ears, that we hope you’ll enjoy too! ROCK ON!
Artist: JIM PETERIK / MARK SCHERER
Album: “Risk Everything”
Label: Frontiers Music Srl
Released: April 17th 2015
Tracklisting:
Risk Everything
Chance of a Lifetime
Cold Blooded
Desperate in Love
Thee Crescendo
The Dying of the Light
How Long is a Moment
Brand New Heart
Broken Home
Milestones and Independence Day
Jim Peterik / Mark Scherer – Risk Everything. The pairing of Messrs Peterik and Scherer has been a long time coming, their paths having crossed on numerous occasions in the past, with Marc’s voice making a big impression on Jim on first hearing. Years later, Jim overheard Marc working on a session in another room in the studio he owns, and, recognizing that golden voice once again, seized the chance to finally see what a pooling of their combined talents might achieve. The result is an album that shows the AOR genre at its absolute best. Marc Scherer’s voice is indeed impressive, and on the evidence of “Risk Everything”, we can add another name to the list of world class singers Jim Peterik has worked with and written for over the years. Scherer matches a soaring range with passionate delivery, at times bringing to mind Dennis De Young (Styx), but possessing his own clear character. And Mr Peterik has written a tailor-made set of songs which sound like the work of a man not content to rest on his musical laurels; as one of the songsmiths who defined the AOR / Melodic Rock sound, it would be easy for Jim to rely on familiar musical and lyrical moves, but instead he delivers eleven fresh tracks which offer melodies, chord sequences and overall arrangements that hold the attention by heading somewhere new, and his production allows plenty of Rock grit to seep through from the guitars. It’s hard to choose favourites among the likes of “Risk Everything”, “Cold Blooded”, “Broken Home” and “Milestones”, ‘cos every song on the album is a winner. If you’ve enjoyed Jim’s past work with Survivor and Pride of Lions, “Risk Everything” will float your boat clean across the ocean of your choice!
Lead Vocals: Marc Scherer
Guitar: Mike Aquino, Jim Peterik
Keyboards: Jim Peterik
Drums: Ed Breckenfeld, Nick Rich
Bass: Klem Hayes, Bob Lizik, Bill Syniar
Guest and Backing Vocals: Toby Hitchcock, Alex Ligertwood, Shoshana Bean