Year : 2017
Style : Melodic Hard Rock , AOR
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 160 mb
Bio:
MelodicRock Records is proud and excited to announce a partnership with MECCA to release their monumental new album Mecca 3 on October 14. Records like this don't come along very often. At least not in 2016 they don't. But this is one for the ages. Mecca will now find themselves sitting alongside genre classics from Toto, Mr. Mister, Survivor, Giant and Journey to name a few. Recorded over the last 3 years in Nashville, this is a record that would have topped AOR charts back in the day. Make no mistake - this is a classic. MRR's Andrew McNeice: "Joe has been a friend of mine since 1996 and I've seen him develop into one of the most reliable and mature songwriters in this game. On Mecca III he takes everything that came before as a launching pad for what must come next and Mecca III delivers. This is a monster record that is layers deep in rich textures that remain fresh to my ears even after first receiving the original writers' demos some 3 years ago. I'm so proud of my friend and I'm honoured to be given the chance to bring this exceptional album to the world. The instrumentation is nothing short of world class, the production is analogue all the way - you can hear it in every crisp, clear note. And the vocals are quite simply the most stunning and emotion filled tones that I have ever heard from Joe. I simply cannot wait to hear fan reactions to this album. It's a masterpiece." Joe Vana is equally as excited to finally reveal his masterpiece to the world. "Mecca III, here we are! I wanted to take all I had learned from the amazing list of players involved in Mecca up to this point...from Shannon Forrest to Pat Mastelotto...David Hungate to Tony Levin...Mike Aquino to Christian Wolff and my son Joey...and the production I learned over many years working closely with Jim Peterik on his songs as well as Mecca 1. But...I wanted even more...I wanted A TRUE Audiophile record...not a pro-tooled, over edited mess of 100 takes edited into one...and the groove less, lifeless carcass that playing to the grid creates, the ruination of vibe, groove and soul in music. I hope everyone digs the record....it's 8 tracks because that's all I needed to tell the story I wanted to convey...lyrically the record flows...All are separate but continuous chapters...vocally the songs even feel different as I move through different phases of my life." And what does Toto's Steve Lukather think about it? "Killer new music! Great songs! Great playing from everyone...and Joe's vocals are better than ever! Smooth, real and soulful. I love the 'surprise modulations' that are now his style which make this a great listen for fans of his and the entire genre of melodic rock music. Creative arrangements throughout and I love the synth/keyboard work. David Hungate is amazing as is Shannon Forrest on drums and production. Great sounds + killer guitars all over it! Can't say what is my fave yet cause I love all of it. Summing it up in 3 words...Well f-ing done!" Luke - 2016. The album was produced by new Toto drummer Shannon Forrest (Tim McGraw, Michael McDonald, Kenny Rogers, Don Henley), Associate Produced by Joey Vana and Recorded at Off The Grid Studios, Nashville Tennessee. Alongside drummer Shannon Forrest, featured on the album are some of Nashville's very finest musicians: Tim Akers - B3 and Piano (Rascal Flatts, Amy Grant, Kid Rock, Alabama); Toto's legendary bass man David Hungate; plus David Browning (Katy Perry, Amy Grant, Hollywood Heroes). Track listing: Take My Hand; Unknown; Alone; Gone; Cry; A Kiss On The Wind; Let It Go; Believe.
Album:
The name Mecca is synonymous with quality AOR and melodic rock. Each of the 3 albums released to date have been crafted over several years, with each song racking up a seriously impressive number of demos, alternative versions, rewrites and remixes before being labelled “done”. So, while we wait for a new set of songs to go through that lengthy process, Joe Vana has given MelodicRock Records the green light to delve back into the many folders of Mecca music that has built up since the 2002 debut, to bring you a very cool limited edition release: “The Demos”. But these aren’t any old demos, these are still of the highest quality and represent a rare insight into the recording process all artists go through.Mecca “The Demos” will feature songs from all three Mecca albums, plus the songs exclusively featured on several past MRCD compilations and several others that have never previously been released. Fans will hear songs you thought you knew, but with alternative lyrics or chorus hooks, plus work-in-progress home recordings, alternative mixes and even a couple of guest vocalists lending a hand.“The Demos” will be restricted to 1,000 units only. Joe Vana has asked that I make a digital download of this set available for free to all that purchased any of the Mecca 3 T-shirt and/or LP packs. Mecca 3 LP refunds are currently being discussed after plans to manufacture have been scrapped after multiple attempts to get quality units produced efficiently and economically. As a continuing gesture by Joe to get all of his fans squared away, he has asked that those few fans that still haven't received a refund and all those that ordered the Fan Pack get the free download ... and this will be expanded to free downloads of Mecca IV (in the works) and other exciting projects slated for 2018 release.
Line Up:
Joe Vana - Lead Vocals
Shannon Forrest - Drums and Percussion
David Hungate - Bass
Tim Akers - B3 and Piano, Background Vocals
David Browning - Synths
Joey Vana - Guitars
Mark Baldwin - Guitar
Tracklist:
CD1:
01. Blinded By Emotion (Rough Mix Feat. Fergie Frederiksen, Vocals) 05:36
02. I Know (Demo Feat. Christian Wolff, Guitar) 04:11
03. How Many Times (Original Demo) 04:47
04. Life's Too Short (Demo Feat. Thom Griffin, Backing Vocals) 04:21
05. Say The Word (2010 Demo) 03:47
06. The One (2006 Demo) 05:08
07. Morning Light (Original Demo of ‘I Believe’) 04:26
08. Set Me Free (Original Demo of ‘Cry’) 04:31
09. Since I Found You (2011 Writing Demo) 04:14
10. Wire 2 Wire (Inst. Demo) 04:52
11. Can't Stop Love (Rough Mix Feat. Fergie Frederiksen, Vocals) 05:36
12. From The Start (2011 Demo) 05:12
13. Unknown (Chorus Overdub Demo) 04:30
14. Time Spent (2013 Demo) 04:17
15. Pamela (2012 Final Demo) 05:34
16. It's On Us (2012 Inst, Demo) 04:13
17. Without You (2002 Inst. Live Studio Demo) 04:26
CD2:
01. Take My Hand (2014 Final Demo) 03:15
02. Perfect World (2011 Demo, ‘Joe Mix’) 04:01
03. Ten Lifetimes (Original Demo Feat. Thom Griffin, Backing Vocals) 05:46
04. Alone (2014 Piano Demo) 04:58
05. Mecca (First Take Vocal Demo) 05:34
06. Light (2006 Inst. Demo) 04:13
07. Out Of Love (Original Demo of ‘Alone’) 05:37
08. Down (2012 Scratch Vocal Demo) 04:24
09. Did It For Love (2011 Demo) 05:47
10. Alive (2012 Unreleased Inst.) 04:35
11. Still Falling In Love With You (2006 Unreleased Demo) 03:49
12. Open Your Heart to Me (2005 Unreleased Demo) 04:59
13. Falling Out Of Love (2011 Unreleased Demo) 04:42
14. Wasabi (2011 Unreleased Inst. Demo) 04:11
15. Yesterday (2012 'Mecca 3' Inst. Demo) 03:42
16. Wire To Wire (The ‘Fun’ Inst. Remix) 04:49
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
