After Hours - Take Off (1988) (AOR Heaven Classix Edition 2010)
Napísané: 03 Sep 2026, 08:08
After Hours - Take Off (1988) (AOR Heaven Classix Edition 2010)
Year : 1988 (AOR Heaven Classix Edition 2010)
Style : Melodic Hard Rock , AOR
Country : United Kingdom
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 90 mb
Bio:
AFTER HOURS was formed in 1987 by John Francis (vocals), Tim Payne (lead guitar), Martin Walls (bass guitar), Mark Addison (drums) and Rick Young (keyboards). Soon after, the band recorded the album “Take Off”. After a showcase in London’s Marquee Club the band’s management inked a deal for this record with BMG Ariola based in Munich, Germany. The band was flown out to Germany to do a photo shoot and interviews with magazines prior to the release of “Take Off” in 1988, they also secured a sponsorship deal with Adidas an did photo shoots for them, promoting their new range of sports clothing also called Take off.From that point on the promotion in Germany, England and Scandinavia was relentless, concerts in England and Scandinavia, Radio interviews and an appearance on Germany’s version of top of the pops, finishing the year recording a live concert for Metal Hammers Christmas Party Video in Bochum, Germany.The band then started writing the follow up album but had to look for a new keyboard player, because Rick Young had left. They were put in contact with Andy Nye who had played keyboards for Michael Schenker, he met the band and agreed to join.AFTER HOURS then embarked on writing the second album. Within a few months the band had gone into Rockfield Studios in Wales and started to demo the new songs. The management at this point had secured a new deal with a record company called Global Satellite based in Munich. Global then took over and wanted the band in Munich, at their studios to record the second album. At this point three of the band members decided to leave, Martin Walls, Mark Addison and Andy Nye. Martin emigrated to Canada, Mark went to university and Andy moved on to another project.This then left John and Tim to complete the recording of the second album. So with help from the producer, Mal Luker and his staff at the studio, they set about making the self titled album “Afterhours”. This proved very stressful to John and Tim and after a stint recording single ideas for the American market at a recording studio in Chipping Norton, England, They both decided to call it a day. The album was released in 1992.February 14th 2008. A chance meeting of Martin Walls, Tim Payne and John Francis, materialised into the reformation of AFTER HOURS, after agreeing to write and record a song for old time’s sake, it seemed after recording the song it unearthed a new passion in each of them, they wanted to write and record a new album which came from their heart and souls, with no interference from producers, record companies and management.And so the task of writing and then recording the new ideas started. They invited old friend’s, Chris Pope on drums and Sean Mcmenemy on keyboards and guitar to help, and the new AFTER HOURS was born. The new album is called “Against the Grain”. It’s a mixture of sounds running through a theme of well put together songs, a strong vocal performance and masterful guitar work. It was recorded at Aubitt Recording Studios in Southampton England. The engineer was Rob Aubrey and the album was co-produced by AFTER HOURS and Rob Aubrey, who the band now fondly regard as their sixth member.“Against The Grain” has released on German label AOR Heaven on 29.04.2011 whilst the “Take Off” album was already re-issued in 2010 on AOR Heaven Classix.
Album:
Unfortunately went out of business, the AOR Heaven Records and their ”AOR Heaven Classix” series brought some truly amazing, much sought after albums finally reissued with a superb remastered sound. That’s the case with “Take Off“, the first ’80s record from Bristish Melodic Rock / AOR band AFTER HOURS.This was a strictly limited edition of 1000 copies (now out of print, with used copies seldom appearing on auction sites—the last one sold for over € 410) containing unreleased photo material plus liner notes by specialist Dave Reynolds.The Southampton based AORsters had a brief foray into the world of Adult Orientated Rock that was short-lived and only consisted of a couple of albums (‘Take Off’ -1988- and the self-titled from 1989) before splitting up and going their separate ways.Lead singer John Francis had a brief tenure with SHY (check out the demo of ‘What Love Can Make You Do’ on the Shy Anthology) before disappearing completely with nothing being heard of any of them until 2011 when the band returned with a new album.Opener ‘Love Attack’ is an AOR masterpiece that deserves its place in the hearts of every AOR fan. How this band never broke the big time is a case for the criminal justice system or merely a case of bad timing. John Francis has the voice of crushed velvet with the soul of a man who has loved and lost a thousand lovers.‘Better Late Than Never’ is up next and is a statement that can be attached to this reissue… a belter of a song is this. The guitars of Tim Payne gel together the THAT voice… and I’m 16 again. This is pure ’80s AOR folks…A point I must bring up is the remastering. Not only has Chris Lyne done a fantastic job here, but he has made the album even better with the crisp and clear sound that belies its two and a half decades!‘Another Lonely Night’ is just another AOR gem, a hit that never was. I mean if Journey released this song it would have been classed as a mega hit, but as it came from a UK band it was destined to be an undiscovered pearl.AFTER HOURS heavily worked the backing vocals / harmony layers, so the choruses are top class.Title track is an urgent, punchy melodic rocker full of magic and great keys / guitar interplay, ‘The Game’ is a keyboard-driven feast with a hook to die for, while ‘Without You’ harkens back to the early ’80s AOR sound with a bright set of guitars / vocals.This is the basic rule for this album and the one that followed. AFTER HOURS and especially John Francis were and are destined to be so much more.And given that the original members have reformed some time ago and seems are currently working on another album, maybe this time they will be given a fair crack of the whip! I mean check out their cover of the Stones’ ‘Paint It Black’ which in my mind is the best version of the song EVER! And I don’t like that song at all. So for a band to register it listenable to these ears is a feat done by no other.Requested by many in HQ, this AFTER HOURS “Take Off” AOR Heaven Classix remastered reissue is a mandatory listen to every fan of the classic, keyboard-driven AOR from the ’80s.
Line Up:
John Francis - vocals
Tim Payne - guitar
Martin Walls - bass
Mark Addison - drums
Andy Nye - keyboards
Tracklist:
01. Love Attack
02. Better Late Than Never
03. Stay By My Side
04. Another Lonely Night
05. Rock ‘N’ Roll (Body ‘N’ Soul)
06. The Game
07. Without You
08. Paint It Black
09. Take Off
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
Year : 1988 (AOR Heaven Classix Edition 2010)
Style : Melodic Hard Rock , AOR
Country : United Kingdom
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 90 mb
Bio:
AFTER HOURS was formed in 1987 by John Francis (vocals), Tim Payne (lead guitar), Martin Walls (bass guitar), Mark Addison (drums) and Rick Young (keyboards). Soon after, the band recorded the album “Take Off”. After a showcase in London’s Marquee Club the band’s management inked a deal for this record with BMG Ariola based in Munich, Germany. The band was flown out to Germany to do a photo shoot and interviews with magazines prior to the release of “Take Off” in 1988, they also secured a sponsorship deal with Adidas an did photo shoots for them, promoting their new range of sports clothing also called Take off.From that point on the promotion in Germany, England and Scandinavia was relentless, concerts in England and Scandinavia, Radio interviews and an appearance on Germany’s version of top of the pops, finishing the year recording a live concert for Metal Hammers Christmas Party Video in Bochum, Germany.The band then started writing the follow up album but had to look for a new keyboard player, because Rick Young had left. They were put in contact with Andy Nye who had played keyboards for Michael Schenker, he met the band and agreed to join.AFTER HOURS then embarked on writing the second album. Within a few months the band had gone into Rockfield Studios in Wales and started to demo the new songs. The management at this point had secured a new deal with a record company called Global Satellite based in Munich. Global then took over and wanted the band in Munich, at their studios to record the second album. At this point three of the band members decided to leave, Martin Walls, Mark Addison and Andy Nye. Martin emigrated to Canada, Mark went to university and Andy moved on to another project.This then left John and Tim to complete the recording of the second album. So with help from the producer, Mal Luker and his staff at the studio, they set about making the self titled album “Afterhours”. This proved very stressful to John and Tim and after a stint recording single ideas for the American market at a recording studio in Chipping Norton, England, They both decided to call it a day. The album was released in 1992.February 14th 2008. A chance meeting of Martin Walls, Tim Payne and John Francis, materialised into the reformation of AFTER HOURS, after agreeing to write and record a song for old time’s sake, it seemed after recording the song it unearthed a new passion in each of them, they wanted to write and record a new album which came from their heart and souls, with no interference from producers, record companies and management.And so the task of writing and then recording the new ideas started. They invited old friend’s, Chris Pope on drums and Sean Mcmenemy on keyboards and guitar to help, and the new AFTER HOURS was born. The new album is called “Against the Grain”. It’s a mixture of sounds running through a theme of well put together songs, a strong vocal performance and masterful guitar work. It was recorded at Aubitt Recording Studios in Southampton England. The engineer was Rob Aubrey and the album was co-produced by AFTER HOURS and Rob Aubrey, who the band now fondly regard as their sixth member.“Against The Grain” has released on German label AOR Heaven on 29.04.2011 whilst the “Take Off” album was already re-issued in 2010 on AOR Heaven Classix.
Album:
Unfortunately went out of business, the AOR Heaven Records and their ”AOR Heaven Classix” series brought some truly amazing, much sought after albums finally reissued with a superb remastered sound. That’s the case with “Take Off“, the first ’80s record from Bristish Melodic Rock / AOR band AFTER HOURS.This was a strictly limited edition of 1000 copies (now out of print, with used copies seldom appearing on auction sites—the last one sold for over € 410) containing unreleased photo material plus liner notes by specialist Dave Reynolds.The Southampton based AORsters had a brief foray into the world of Adult Orientated Rock that was short-lived and only consisted of a couple of albums (‘Take Off’ -1988- and the self-titled from 1989) before splitting up and going their separate ways.Lead singer John Francis had a brief tenure with SHY (check out the demo of ‘What Love Can Make You Do’ on the Shy Anthology) before disappearing completely with nothing being heard of any of them until 2011 when the band returned with a new album.Opener ‘Love Attack’ is an AOR masterpiece that deserves its place in the hearts of every AOR fan. How this band never broke the big time is a case for the criminal justice system or merely a case of bad timing. John Francis has the voice of crushed velvet with the soul of a man who has loved and lost a thousand lovers.‘Better Late Than Never’ is up next and is a statement that can be attached to this reissue… a belter of a song is this. The guitars of Tim Payne gel together the THAT voice… and I’m 16 again. This is pure ’80s AOR folks…A point I must bring up is the remastering. Not only has Chris Lyne done a fantastic job here, but he has made the album even better with the crisp and clear sound that belies its two and a half decades!‘Another Lonely Night’ is just another AOR gem, a hit that never was. I mean if Journey released this song it would have been classed as a mega hit, but as it came from a UK band it was destined to be an undiscovered pearl.AFTER HOURS heavily worked the backing vocals / harmony layers, so the choruses are top class.Title track is an urgent, punchy melodic rocker full of magic and great keys / guitar interplay, ‘The Game’ is a keyboard-driven feast with a hook to die for, while ‘Without You’ harkens back to the early ’80s AOR sound with a bright set of guitars / vocals.This is the basic rule for this album and the one that followed. AFTER HOURS and especially John Francis were and are destined to be so much more.And given that the original members have reformed some time ago and seems are currently working on another album, maybe this time they will be given a fair crack of the whip! I mean check out their cover of the Stones’ ‘Paint It Black’ which in my mind is the best version of the song EVER! And I don’t like that song at all. So for a band to register it listenable to these ears is a feat done by no other.Requested by many in HQ, this AFTER HOURS “Take Off” AOR Heaven Classix remastered reissue is a mandatory listen to every fan of the classic, keyboard-driven AOR from the ’80s.
Line Up:
John Francis - vocals
Tim Payne - guitar
Martin Walls - bass
Mark Addison - drums
Andy Nye - keyboards
Tracklist:
01. Love Attack
02. Better Late Than Never
03. Stay By My Side
04. Another Lonely Night
05. Rock ‘N’ Roll (Body ‘N’ Soul)
06. The Game
07. Without You
08. Paint It Black
09. Take Off
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/