Out on 26th August 2002, to celebrate Glenn's 50th birthday, here is this double cd produced by Steamhammer SPV.
This "tribute" to Mr. Voice Of Rock covers his whole artistic career in a long voyage starting from Trapeze to the recent days of the great solo album "Building The Machine".
The compilation slightly honors the superb live album "Burning Japan Live", with its first piece Burn and last piece Stormbringer, as a connection ring. We're in the 1994, prosperous moment for Glenn: the "From Now On..." world tour ended just with this live explosive album.
BURN (LIVE) - You can imagine Glenn's vocal power by the fact that Burn was the opening song of every gig in that tour! So listen carefully to this version, where you can enjoy Glenn singing all the song, making also homework for Mr. Coverdale.
YOU KILL ME - Taken from "The Way It Is", 1999. An impact song, for this reason infact Glenn chose the song for the setlist of that tour. Look how anrgy is the guitar of Stevie "Marcelo" Salas.
HIGHBALL SHOOTER - Another Deep Purple classic, this is from "Building The Machine", the last solo work by Glenn (2001). Useless any comment: Glenn Hughes' fans who love to listen Deep Purple songs rearranged with contemporary sounds are pleased two times. The first time because you can listen Glenn singing every verse; the second time because altough this song is about 30 years old, it's got many things to teach.
MUSCLE & BLOOD (LIVE) - Who among you is not praying every night for Glenn to take another date with Pat Thrall? Waiting for a second (probable) episode, enjoy this monument dated 1982, taken from Hughes/Thrall, played really loud really live. You find it in "Burning Japan Live".
SAVE ME TONIGHT (I'LL BE WAITING) - Sorry for my direct participation in this phrase, but when I listen to this song something happens into my underpants... forgive me!!! Great ballad from "Feel" (1995).
ADDICTION - Powerful mid-tempo taken from the homonimous 1996 album. Glenn proves in every solo album that music is universal, exploring even the territories of grunge. You can't miss it.
YOU KEEP ON MOVING (LIVE) - Maybe I should tell you to by "Burning Japan Live" than this compliation. But I don't. Because you should already own Burning Japan. This live version of the Purple-Bolin classic makes you breathless. Great intro.
CAN'T STOP THE FLOOD - Opening anthem of the last "Building The Machine" (2001). Glenn shows his best essential rock. Yes, that's the right adjective. ESSENTIAL. This song has a linear structure, but hides a C4 inside. I guess that nobody can resist to scream: "I got my freak flag flying agaaaaaaaaaain"!
NO STRANGER TO LOVE (LIVE) - You do know Black Sabbath. This is one of that songs that turns your life upside down. Glenn in 1986 had a particular experience with Tony Iommi's Sabbath. This version is taken live 1999 from San Paolo Brazil, and only the lucky possessors of "Return Of Crystal Karma 2CD limited edition" already know it. Another reason to buy this compilation.
FROM NOW ON (LIVE) - Let's return to "Burning Japan Live", this song is the title track of the best seller "From Now On...", 1994. The "little" difference with the original version is the long, beautiful, killing scream that completes every chorus. I see your skin... oh my!
DEATH OF ME - The second compact disc of Different Stages opens with another song taken from "Addiction" (1996). More than the other, this piece points out a class grunge vein. In your face. Guitars are high-explosive, raw and (this next is for guitarists) tuned really down...
I GOT YOUR NUMBER (LIVE) - I can't praise "Burning Japan Live" more than this. So I will talk of this song taken from Hughes/Thrall, 1982. Compared to the original studio version, that's really faster. But live makes your heads shake more and more. "YA SHOULD BE HEEEEEEEEERE"!
THE STATE I'M IN - If you still haven't healed your wounds of Death Of Me, prepare to more serious scars. This song is really a train coming fast. I still remember ROCK tour live 2000 in Germany, my eardrum injury. The State I'm In opened all the gigs. Taken from "Return Of Crystal Karma" (2000).
YOUR LOVE IS ALRIGHT (LIVE) - Trapeze, one of the first Glenn's bands. This is a classic, taken live in Brazil (same concert of "No Stranger To Love", that I wrote some lines ago). Taken from "R.O.C.K. 2CD limited edition". Great duel between the keyboards of Hans Zermuehlen and the guitar of JJ Marsh.
GETTIN' TIGHTER (LIVE) - On and on with Burning Japan Live. Spectacular performance of this other Purple-Bolin classic, so I have no words. Whoever listens to the opening guitar riff agrees with me.
THIS LIFE - Taken from "R.O.C.K." (2000), this is an interesting song. It's an unusual piece, starring Hans Zermuehlen's keyboards, now hard, now funky. I think that ROCK is the album in which Glenn has best mixed his two personalities. But it's only my opinion. If you don't think so, let's meet in the discussion forum.
FREEDOM - Glenn makes his tribute to Jimi Hendrix with this just rearranged song . Honestly I don't like it too much. They could choose several other Glenn's own songs (for example the title track). But also this is my opinion. Meet me in the forum.
LADY DOUBLE DEALER (LIVE) - Another example for that Deep Purple can teach us a lot of things. And the five elements that follow Glenn in the Japanese From Now On Tour (Ian Haughland on drums, John Leven on bass and Mic Michaeli on keyboards, the axemen Thomas Larsson and Eric Bojfeldt) already know it. And they had learnt very well. From "Burning Japan Live" (1994).
REDLINE - Let's get back to the Glenn Hughes' School Of Music, Funk room. In this really good piece taken from "Feel" (1995) you can find a thin line of rock, marked by Pat Thrall's guitars. Yes, you read well. Pat appears in many songs, as author, as sessionman. Returning to Freedom (two songs ago), could they replace it with Speak Your Mind? Another time my opinion. Yeah, forum.
STORMBRINGER (LIVE) - Needles to say, the right ending of this anthology. We started with Burn, we conclude with Stormbringer. The more I listen to it, the more I die. Devastating. This is taken from "Burning Japan Live", but pay attention: Glenn proposes it often in his gigs all over the world. The last occasion was in couple with Joe Lynn Turner in the HTP tour. Who does know the live power of this song is now smiling. Who doesn't, instead, might have an idea listening to this version. "Gotta keep running, Stormbringer's coming", and when He goes away, the calm returns into your hi-fi, when finally you can eject the CD.
GIAMPIERO FRULLI