Review RUSS BALLARD “Songs from the Warehouse / The Hits Rewired”

The name Russ Ballard should not be new to people who like well done rock. Not only has he released some fine solo albums. Ballard is also known for being responsible for some great hits in rock and hard rock. He wrote and/or co-wrote songs like “Since You’ve Been Gone” which is one of the later highlights of the legendary Rainbow. “God Gave Rock’n’Roll to You” is another mega hit written by Russ Ballard, and it was Kiss that pushed the song into the charts. Speaking of which, Ballard was also involved in the creation of Ace Frehley’s “New York Groove” and the list goes on.

These days Russ Ballard is releasing a new album called “Songs From the Warehouse / The Hits Rewired”. As the title suggests, this is a double album, which is a rare thing these days. The second part of the release, “The Hits Rewired”, contains the already mentioned hits by Ballard. He re-recorded the songs and tunes like “Voices”, “Winning” (Santana) and “I Surrender” (Rainbow) never lost their sparkle.

The first part of this double album features 13 new songs by the British singer/guitarist. “Songs From the Warehouse” is a product with roots in the pandemic. Ballard began writing and recording songs at a time when the world stood still. It was a way for him to deal with this abnormal situation and what started as “Lockdown Tapes” became an entire album.

The album starts rocking as “Resurrection” combines the sense of melody and the rocking sound, both of which are even more present in “Last Man Standing”, which in a way reflects the feeling of the time.

“Courageous” begins with the sound of piano and Ballard’s great voice as the song builds and gains strength. A certain bluesy vibe adds to the dynamics of “Journey Man,” but there is also plenty of room on the album for softer moments. “Charlatan” is one of them. It is a dark tune with a lot of melancholy swinging with every note before “Soul Music” reflects the emotional counterpart. “Soul Music” is the sunbeam in the darkness and a treat for the ears. “The Family Way” is another song you shouldn’t miss if you appreciate great rock music. The beginning even reminds me of “Dad’s Gonna Kill Me” by Richard Thompson before “The Family Way” goes in a different direction.

Russ Ballard’s new effort features new songs that represent well-crafted rock music, while the second disc of this release takes you back to the heyday of rock and hard rock. Each of these songs shows talent, experience and a passion for music that comes from the heart.