Two years ago, MelodicRock Records gave songwriter Mark Baker a chance to compile some of his best songwriter demos onto a release under his own name for the first time.
Now under the new label name MelodicRock Classics, its time to deliver another Volume of tracks, with a couple of limited edition options giving fans the chance to own the entire collection of Mark Baker melodic rock demos.
Sharing a similar name, the new release ‘The Future Still Ain’t What It Used To Be’ pays homage to the first album, sharing the epic title track ‘The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be’ over both releases.
However, on the new release, the song is sung by the great Caryl Mack Parker.
The rest of the album consists of fresh unreleased material, but some of the songs may still sound familiar.
The album contains an amazing original Signal demo for the Van Stephenson/Mark Baker co-write Wake Up You Little Fool; also a David Roberts sung demo of the Boulevard track In The Twilight; An Aina sung version of the James Christian track ‘No Pleasure Without Pain’ and more.
Track Listing & Vocalist Featured:
01. Talk Too Much (Marcie Free) 3:15
02. Wake Up You Little Fool (Original Demo)(Signal) 3:49
03. Feels Like Love (Vocalist Unknown / James Christian Backing Vocals) 4:42
04. Too Bad 4 My Own Good (Caryl Mack Parker) 3:31
05. The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be (Caryl Mack Parker) 4:03
06. No Pleasure Without Pain (Aina) 4:57
07. What Are We Fighting For (David Roberts) 3:50
08. When You Hear My Car (David Roberts) 3:49
09. In The Twilight (David Roberts) 5:01
10. How Are We To Know (David Roberts) 5:23
11. Parallel Lines (Peter McIan) 4:10
12. Livin’ Without My Love (Billy Trudel) 4:48
13. As Long As I Know (Vocalist Unknown) 4:27
14. Walkin’ Talkin’ (James Christian) 4:43
15. Saved By Rock (Marcie Free) 3:29
16. The Long Goodbye (Marcie Free) 4:27
But wait…there’s more!
‘The Future Still Ain’t What It Used To Be’ will also be available in two limited edition formats featuring even more unreleased demos.
While working on compiling the material for this release, several tracks were uncovered that didn’t fit the normal audio quality level required of an official release. The masters just couldn’t be uncovered. But the songs are still great and deserve some form of preservation.
ALL TRACKS featured on both CDs have once again been loving remastered by JK Northrup at Alien 11:11 Studios.
1000 units will be pressed as a Double CD featuring a bonus ‘B Disc’ of tracks featuring the awesome vocalists Marcie Free, Lee Aaron, Gary O, Aina, David Roberts & more…
Volume 2 ‘B Disc’ – Track Listing & Vocalist Featured:
01. Show Me (Marcie Free) 4:01
02. Fascination (Marcie Free) 3:30
03. Gonna Make A Believer (Marcie Free) 3:37
04. Innocent (Marcie Free) 4:06
05. Don’t Talk About My Love (Gary O) 3:17
06. For True Love (Vocalist Unknown) 4:11
07. Some Hearts (Cal Curtis) 4:41
08. Can You See Me Now (Aina) 4:27
09. Say You’ll Stay (Vocalist Unknown) 3:24
10. State Of My Heart (Lee Aaron) 4:41
11. Saigon (David Roberts) 4:17
12. Too Bad For My Own Good (Gary O) 3:15
13. Could It Be (Chako) 4:20
Mark Baker is the man behind the iconic Signal‘Loud & Clear’ album as well as many other songs including tracks for 38 Special, Paris Black, Triumph and Boulevard.
He was also the main co-writer on House Of Lords’ acclaimed ‘Demons Down’ record, re-joining as co-writer on some of the band’s more recent albums too.
‘The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be’ is a compilation of Mark’s songwriter demos from the 80s and 90s. The songwriter demos feature various singers, including the best session vocalist of them all – Mark Free. I’m pleased to say there are several unreleased Mark Free vocals.
PRE-ORDER MARK BAKER 'The Future Ain't What It Used To Be' ($15 + $5 Airmail Shipping Worldwide)
PRE-ORDER DEALMARK BAKER 'The Future Ain't What It Used To Be' & OUTLASTED 'Waiting For Daybreak' ($30 + $5 Airmail Shipping Worldwide)
Track Listing & Vocalist Featured:
01. Nobody Gets Out Alive (Mark Free) 03:38
02. The Future Ain't What It Used To Be (Mark Free) 04:35
03. Demons Down (Demo Version)(James Christian) 03:34
04. No Pleasure Without The Pain (Demo Version)(James Christian) 05:00
05. Someday You're Gonna Love Someone (Mark Free) 03:45
The name Mark Baker may not be immediately recognisable to many, but for liner note/album credits junkies, it signifies top shelf AOR songwriting. Whether it be anthems or ballads, a Mark Baker song means memorable hooks and a big chorus.
Mark Baker is the man behind the iconic Signal‘Loud & Clear’ album as well as many other songs including tracks for 38 Special, Paris Black, Triumph and Boulevard.
He was also the main co-writer on House Of Lords’ acclaimed ‘Demons Down’ record, re-joining as co-writer on some of the band’s more recent albums too.
‘The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be’ is a compilation of Mark’s songwriter demos from the 80s and 90s. The songwriter demos feature various singers, including the best session vocalist of them all – Mark Free. I’m pleased to say there are several unreleased Mark Free vocals.
But that’s not all – there are some original demos from the House Of Lords‘Demon’s Down’ record as well as an appearance from Chicago’s Bill Champlin on an amazing AOR anthem.
Several of these demos have been traded online for years and MRR is thrilled to be able to bring one disc of this material to light in July. The tracks come from DAT masters and will as always be remastered by JK Northrup.
NEW AUDIO!
Mark Baker ‘The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be’ will be released worldwide July 26 alongside Outlasted ‘Waiting For Daybreak’.
You can pre-order the album now as well as hear a couple of the songs right now!
Track Listing & Vocalist Featured:
01. Nobody Gets Out Alive (Mark Free) 03:38
02. The Future Ain't What It Used To Be (Mark Free) 04:35
03. Demons Down (Demo Version)(James Christian) 03:34
04. No Pleasure Without The Pain (Demo Version)(James Christian) 05:00
05. Someday You're Gonna Love Someone (Mark Free) 03:45
