Year : 1993 / 1988-89 (Japan Edition 1993)
Style : Melodic Hard Rock , AOR
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 127 mb
Bio:
Takara was an American melodic rock band, formed in 1987 in Los Angeles, California.Takara recorded 5 studio albums for several different record labels in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Founding member and lead guitarist Neal Grusky, and bassist Carl Demarco remained permanent fixtures in the band since its early days.Takara was formed in August 1987. After a few months of rehearsals the band made their debut in October with a show in Hollywood, California. The band proceeded to play many more shows throughout 1987-88. In November 1988, Takara went into the studio to record their first demo with producer Jeff Scott Soto. As they entered the studio it became apparent that the original singer was not ready to record. In order to finish the new Takara demo, Soto was asked to help out by providing vocals for the demo. This was the beginning of a long relationship between the band and Jeff Scott Soto.In 1990, Takara went back into the studio to record what would eventually become their debut album, Eternal Faith. In 1992 Takara regrouped and added new members who would perform in Eternal Faith. The line-up was ultimately completed with Jeff Scott Soto on vocals, Neal Grusky on guitar, Gary Schutt on bass and Bob Duda on drums. In August 1993, Zero Corporation (Japan) and Now and Then records (Europe) offered Takara a deal to release Eternal Faith in December 1993.After a short break the band began to work on what was to become their second album. Before rehearsals began, bassist Carl Demarco replaced Schutt and they returned to the studio to record Taste of Heaven. The band enlisted Bob Daisley on bass for guest performances on two songs. Taste of Heaven was released in May 1995 by Zero Corporation (Japan) and Long Island records (Europe). Upon its release, Taste of Heaven had commercial success, and Long Island records brought Takara to Germany for a promo tour.In 1996 Saraya Recordings, a new US label, asked permission to re-release Eternal Faith and Taste of Heaven as its first releases. Feeling that there was momentum starting to build, the band wasted no time in working on their third album. In 1998 they released Blind in Paradise through Zero Corporation (Japan), Point Music (Europe), and Saraya Recordings (US). Shortly after the release of ‘Blind in Paradise’, all of Takara's labels released a greatest hits album Eternity: Best of 93 - 98.In late 1998, the Takara went through significant lineup changes, leaving only guitarist/band leader Neal Grusky and bassist Carl Demarco to rebuild begin writing new material. The band found drummer Chad Clark and keyboardist Brook Hansen. Brook and Neal had known each other for years and always shared similar ideas on music. The last to come aboard was vocalist Michael J. Flatters, who Grusky found through a mutual friend. With the band complete, Takara re-entered the studio in February 2000 to record their fourth album, Perception of Reality. One year later, it was completed and released on the Avalon Marquee (Japan), Lion Music (Europe), and Metal Mayhem (US) labels.After a hiatus of several years, Grusky decided to reform Takara in 2008, once again with a new lineup. This lineup saw the arrival of several new members including Bjorn Englen (bass), Patrick Johannson (drums), and vocalist Gus Monsanto. Keyboardist Brook Hansen returned to the lineup. Jeff Scott Soto also returned after ten years to provide harmony vocals for the resulting 2008 album entitled Invitation to Forever. This album, released by Progrock Records, marked a turning point for Takara with Grusky taking his powerful songwriting to a much harder edge than on previous Takara albums. The album subsequently gained mass approval by fans and progressive rock critics alike.After the release of Invitation To Forever guitarist and bandleader Neal Grusky was faced with some tough decisions. Feeling that the band had gone too far in the direction of a studio project with hired musicians contributing internationally, he opted to change the lineup once again in hopes of finding fresh local talent willing to pursue the local LA club scene. Grusky brought back Carl Demarco now "Carla DeMarco" "on bass, reuniting the core of Takara. After a long search for a suitable vocal talent, the band found Jamie Kelli, who had been regularly performing in the LA area. Drummer Gene McEwen, also active in the local scene, completed the lineup. With Kelli filling in temporarily on keyboards, Takara proceeded to prepare for a series of live shows intended to re-introduce the modern LA rock scene to both new and old material from the band. On October 30, 2010, Takara's new lineup performed their first live show to showcase new vocalist Jamie Kelli at Paladino's in Los Angeles, California. In October 2011, Takara announced they would be contributing a song to a Randy Rhoads/Ozzy Osbourne tribute album which was released in the spring of 2012 by Versailles Records. Takara recorded a version of the song "Little Dolls" from the 1981 album "Diary of a Madman".In 2019, Grusky announced that the then current members of Takara would be moving on to alternate projects, and that for the time being Takara would no longer be active. Neal Grusky went on to form the LA progressive metal band Prey For Sunday, releasing their first self titled EP in 2021. Vocalist Jamie Kelli relocated to the Boston area where he has since formed the hard rock band Jasper Lane, releasing their debut self titled album in September 2020.
Album:
Eternal Faith is the first studio album by hard rock band Takara. It was released in December 1993 on Now and Then Records.The album was released to a very receptive audience.This new album entered the Burrn! Charts at #16 and European charts at #8. It went on to sell 15,000 worldwide. These were very impressive numbers for a band that didn't even tour Japan or Europe.. This is the original Japanese Edition from 1993, later released in other countries.Additionally, we have in exclusive the “Eternal Faith Demos 88-89“, officially released by Jeff Scott Soto, recordings with a very good quality production sound.The story of Jeff Scott Soto and Takara starts way back in 1985 when Jeff met guitarist Neal Grusky, who is a founding member of the band. They quickly became friends through their mutual love of rock n’ roll music. Neal started Takara in 1987, but it wasn’t until November 1988 that Jeff really got involved. He agreed to help produce a set of demos for the band.When original Takara lead singer Mark Del Papa couldn’t do the vocals due to drug issues, Jeff jumped in and sang on the demos as well. The demos were strictly to help the band find a lead singer. But Soto ended singing all lead vocals, producing, and even playing the keyboards, plus some bass and drums.“Eternal Faith” is pure ’80s sounding melodic hard rock, with catchy choruses and some superb multi-layered / vocal harmony arrangements by Jeff Scott Soto. If you prefer a rawer, hard rockin’ sound, the professionally recorded demos do the job. Great stuff!Back in 1988, Jeff’s job was to produce and do the scratch vocals. They would bring in other singers to sing as well and Jeff would help produce and mix those. This went on for a number of years and they had done demos from 1987 to 1991. There was no intention to release these, it was strictly to get the band moving forward. Also, Jeff had never produced or mixed before so it was a trial by fire process.Somehow, the tapes wound up with EMI / Toshiba in Japan and the label really liked them and showed interest in the band. But there was a catch… isn’t there always?.They didn’t want to release an album with the other singers, they only liked Jeff’s versions and would only release it with Soto as the lead singer on all tracks. Neal went back to his friend and Jeff being the fantastic dude he is, agreed to let that happen.To get the album ready, Jeff jumped in with both feet and helped produce the album and clean up the songs. He didn’t think the drummer was very strong so he redid all the drums through either a drum machine or setting up a rough kit and playing it himself.He also brought in his friend Gary Schutt to play bass (a musician that will work with Jeff in the future). You had Neal on guitar and then the drummer is listed as Robert Duda (who apparently had all his parts re-done by Soto).So, in December 1993, Jeff Scott Soto held up his end of the bargain and introduced Takara to the world, but he had no intentions of making this a one of his bands… well… Takara recorded two more albums!The first track, “Spotlight”, sounds like you are right back in 1985 with the keyboards and heavy guitar riffs. It has the obligatory guitar solo and Jeff’s vocals have that higher register tone which was key for 80’s rock. Wait, this album was released 1993? Oh yeah, thanks Takara for keeping this sound & style alive.Next, “Two Hearts Together” is more in your face 80’s melodic hard rock (okay, the whole album is). You could place any band’s name in here during that era and you’d be right and this time it could easily be Dokken. Jeff is Mr. Melodic Vocals as his style and tone fits it so well. And if this was 10 years earlier than 1993, we might have a hit on our hands. The chorus is catchy and got some hooks and you got the gun slinger of Neal Grusky shredding away on guitar.“Don’t Walk Away” is up next and it has some funky bass line from Schutt (who funny enough is a killer guitar player).The song’s tempo has slowed a little with a slightly darker tone making it less bouncy like the other songs. The drum parts sound good here and more Grusky soloing. Catchy enough chorus, Jeff sounds great.And all the rest of the songs are keepers, including the demos. Production could be better but considering the band was only given $2,500 to pretty up the record, Jeff did a miracle!
Line-Up:
Jeff Scott Soto – Vocals, Keyboards, Drums, Bass on 3, 7, 8
Neal Grusky – Guitar
Gary Schutt – Bass
Robert Duda – Drums
Tracklist:
Eternal Faith (1993) (Japan Edition)
01. Spotlight
02. Two Hearts Together
03. Don't Walk Away
04. Just Like Yesterday
05. Restless Heart
06. First Attraction
07. I Don't Believe
08. Fallen Angel
09. Colors Fade
10. Passions Of The Heart
Eternal Faith Demos 88-89
11. Spotlight (Demo)
12. Colors Fade (Demo)
13. Passions of the Heart (Demo)
14. Two Hearts Together (Demo)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
