In a career spanning nearly three decades, including over 60 album credits, singer Joe Lynn Turner has fronted such rock notables as Deep Purple and Rainbow. He remains one of rock and roll’s most distinctive vocalists. Two 2016 collections from different periods in the man’s long career express this distinction. Street Of Dreams – Boston 1985 is a live recording from the mid 80s, and Edge Of Tomorrow is the fourth release from Sunstorm, featuring Turner on lead vocals.
The Street Of Dreams – Boston 1985 CD is a powerhouse of energy from the heavy bass, key-soaring opener “I Found Love,” to Rainbow hits like “Street Of Dreams” and “Stone Cold.” This was Joe Lynn Turner’s first solo tour after Rainbow folded following Ritchie Blackmore’s return to Deep Purple. Turner’s band features Bobby Messano on guitar and background vocals, Al Greenwood (a founding member of Foreigner) on keyboards, Chuck Burgi on drums, and Barry Dunaway on bass. This quartet is a tightly-honed unit behind their leader Joe Lynn Turner, who sounds about as powerful as he ever was.
This is well recorded, in-your-face kinetic playing to what sounds like a very enthusiastic crowd and even a ballad like “Endlessly,” with its heady mix of keys and guitar with a plodding simple bass line comes across as big and anthemic, the very stuff of arena rock of that time. “Them Changes” is my personal favorite in a glitzy Las Vegas riff-tastic, over-the-top way. As a complete package, Street Of Dreams – Boston 1985 presents wonderful stuff from a bygone era to be sure.
Sunstorm’s 2016 studio album Edge Of Tomorrow presents a similar flavor of melodic heavy hard rock Turner has been mining with this project since its formation in 2006. “Don’t Walk Away From A Goodbye” features big splashy beats, Turner’s vocals sounding strong (though not as high reaching as 30 years ago) and a big chorus. This is pretty much the formula for most of what follows — lots of catchy choruses with layered backing vocals, big heavy hits from the drums and Turner riding high above it all.
“Heart Of The Storm, a lament for love, features drummer Francesco Jovino in fine form, while “The Sound Of Goodbye” showcases both a truly expressive guitar lead from guitarist Simone Mularoni and what might be the hottest vocal from Joe Lynn Turner. “Angel Eyes,” sees Alessandro Del Vecchio’s keys front and center with another solid vocal. You can hear the rough edge around Turner’s voice, yet all pistons are firing on this ballad.
“Tangled In Blue,” with its big heavy hits and bleed-through keys, sounds like mid 80s Foreigner, though the chorus and verse seem to be coming from two different songs. “Burning Fire” ends the CD with big chunky guitar parts from Simone Mularoni and staccato hits from Jovino. You get lots of good Joe Lynn Turner on both Street Of Dreams – Boston 1985 and Edge Of Tomorrow. Put together, you really a good stretch of the ‘then’ and ‘now’ from a man who still has one of the most resilient and rockin’ pipes around.
~ Ralph Greco
