Mark Mangold

Fri
05
Apr

AMERICAN TEARS New Album 'White Flags' Due June 21

Friday, June 21, 2019
Categories: 
News Feed
 
Escape Music and 12:12 Records are very pleased to announce the release of the American Tears brand new album "White Flags".

AMERICAN TEARS - White Flags
Release date: June 21

Track List:
1 TURN U ON   5:38
2 WAKE UP CITY  7:34
3 HELL OR HIGH WATER  5:25
4 WALTZ OF THE ANGELS  4:35
5 FIRE DOWN BELOW  9:21
6 GIVE ME MORE  3:58
7 LOVE IS LOVE  4:35
8 TURN THE PAGE (BLUE DOG) 7:48
9 PITCH BLACK 5:37
10 KEEP ON MOVIN' 5:28
11 WHITE FLAGS  4:19

Produced and Engineered by Mark Mangold
Keys, drums, bass and vocals: Mark

American Tears is an American keyboard trio that released it's first record, Branded Bad, on Columbia Records in 1974 and it's second, Tear Gas, in 1975.  Due to the very well received 2018 release last year of it's 4th record "Hard Core", the band has recorded a new record entitled "White Flags" which kicks it all up a notch.  Formed in the fertile musical environment of Long Island, New York, the band was initially made up of Gary Sonny, on bass, Tommy Gunn on drums and Mark Mangold on keys and vocals. For the second record Greg Baze took over the bass duties.  The band was a power keyboard trio, using keyboards of the day, Hammond organ, synths, mellotron, clavinet, electronic melodica and playing progressive music which showed the bands stellar musicianship.  Eclectic in their approach, their heartfelt music ranged from aggressive keyboard based extravaganzas to beautiful lush melodies circling pop of the day.

The band was fortunate to have toured major venues with such bands as Peter Frampton, J. Geils, Alvin Lee, Gentle Giant, Gary Wright, John McLaughlin and many others. They reached a wide audience and had an impressive show, topped off by Mangold doing handstands on his Hammond. Mark, surrounded by 12 keyboards, Tommy being almost invisible behind a huge battery of drums, with Gary, and later Greg, showing their bass virtuosity in front of a wall of amps, the band stressed musicianship and musicality, while exploring new sounds, and always pushing the envelope.
The third American Tears album, Powerhouse, added the guitarist and singer, Craig Brooks, and the band evolved into the critically acclaimed band Touch...but that is another story.

The fourth American Tears album "Hard Core" heralded the return by Mark to this keyboard based approach, using instruments only available in the 70's when the band made it's first foray.  WHITE FLAGS continues the flow with anthemic melodies, salient lyrics, virtuoso musicianship and creative, unpredictable musical journeys that defy formula or category.  In fact this band may be the only band on the planet playing exclusively keyboard rock.  With influences from his earlier work, tipping an occassional hat to ELP, Moody Blues and even Deep Purple, this record shows the daring, and pure emotion, that can be ripped out of those instruments.  American Tears defies the term "generic" as this purely original music, and scathing lyrics, have few if any standards for comparison.

www.Escape-Music.com and 12:12 Records
 

 

 
Fri
06
Jul

Escape Music Bring Back THE SIGN Remastered & Remixed

Artist: 
Friday, August 24, 2018
Categories: 
News Feed
Escape Music is pleased to announce the re-release of The Sign both titles “Signs Of Life” and "The Second Coming" as a Double CD Deluxe digipack. "Sign Of Life" with two bonus tracks with the original mixes by Mark Mangold and Randy Jackson, and fully mastered by Jacob Hansen, and "The Second Coming" with one bonus track, fully re-mastered by Mats "Limpan" Lindfors", Limited Edition of 1000 copies only!
Release Date: 24th August 2018
Catalogue Number: ESM323
The Sign is:
TERRY BROCK: Lead vocals of STRANGEWAYS
RANDY JACKSON: Guitars of ZEBRA 
BILLY GREER: Bass of KANSAS, SEVENTH KEY and STREETS
MARK MANGOLD: Keyboards of DRIVE, SHE SAID, TOUCH and AMERICAN TEARS
BOBBY RONDINELLI: Drums of RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH and BLUE OYSTER CULT
JOHN BIVONA: Bass of TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA
SIGNS OF LIFE (The first CD)
THE SIGN is made up of five very talented and seasoned stars of American hard rock music. With keyboard player and singer MARK MANGOLD, who earned cult fame in melodic rock circles penning hit songs for Michael Bolton and Cher, as well as being in AMERICAN TEARS (Columbia and Escape), TOUCH (Atlantic), DRIVE, SHE SAID (CBS Associated) and most recently FLESH AND BLOOD (along with MEGADETH AND TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA guitarist AL PITRELLI and TYKETTO singer DANNY VAUGHN). Joining Mangold are guitarist and singer RANDY JACKSON of ZEBRA (Atlantic) and LED ZEP SYMPHONY, and singer TERRY BROCK of STRANGEWAYS and LE ROUX, in addition to singing background on over 35 records for artists like MICHAEL BOLTON, KANSAS, VALENTINE and others, and of course his solo records. The rhythm section of THE SIGN consists of the amazing BILLY GREER, the bassist of KANSAS and SEVENTH KEY, and famed drummer BOBBY RONDINELLI (drummer of RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH and BLUE OYSTER CULT).
The band produced a phenomenal, critically acclaimed album with diverse styles, a mixture of the sounds of all their styles, with scathing musicianship, huge walls of vocals, and strong symphonic overtones. All these elements combine to create a signature sound, from stellar "I'M ALIVE" and "ARYON", to classic ballads "FOREVER AGAIN" and "I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU", to the heavy riffy "STRANDED" and more melodic rockers like "NOTHING BUT A HEARTACHE", "THE WAIT" and "DESPERATE HEART" and the anthemic "LOVE IS ALIVE" and "SIGNS OF LIFE". All the songs have a common lyrical theme, essentially a flowing rock opera that follows the contemporary story of ARYON, a young girl who was raped by a priest, who she kills, and then escapes across country to find herself. This first record, originally mixed by Randy Jackson and Mark Mangold, has been remastered by Jacob Hansen and now sounds the way it was originally intended.
THE SECOND COMING (The second CD)
The second record by THE SIGN marks the introduction of a second guitarist in the band, the stellar JOHN BIVONA (also TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA). The CD continues the story of Aryon...and delves into her tale; the abuse, the murder, the escape and the epiphany...meeting such colorful characters as the MOTORCYCLE MESSIAH, the OOZE...having a revelation on BLACK MOUNTAIN (a killer ZEP style riff rocker with huge drums). The exquisite STILL BREATHING stands out as a stellar melody and message. The record also explores various symphonic melodies as well as some scathing musicianship, guitar and keyboard solos by JACKSON, BIVONA and MANGOLD. This second record, the original mixes by Mark Mangold, Randy Jackson and Ed Douglas has been remastered by famed Swedish mastering engineer Mats "Limpan" Lindfors and now sounds as originally intended, far superior to any previous releases.
Finally, these two records have been combined with a LIBRETTO to tell the very contemporary and portending STORY OF ARYON.
 
Tue
20
Feb

AMERICAN TEARS Get 'Hard Core' In April

Monday, April 23, 2018
Categories: 
News Feed
 
Escape Music is pleased to announce the release of American Tears brand new album!!
 
AMERICAN TEARS - HARD CORE
Release date: 23rd April 2018
 
Keys, drums, bass and Vocals: Mark Mangold
BG Vocal on Fyre: Jake E
 
Track List:
1. HARD CORE  (3:03)
2. CARNIVORE  (4:56)
3. LOST IN TIME  (4.11)
4. FYRE  (4:29)
5. SMOKE AND MIRRORS  (5:06)
6. THE FERRYMAN  (4:23)
7. NUCLEAR  (4:10)
8. TEAR GAS  (4:17)
9. LORDS OF LIGHT  (5:29)
10. DEPLORABLE  (4:57)
11. BOTTOMS UP  (7:12)
12. AT LAST  (5:37)
 
Produced and Engineered by Mark Mangold
Artwork by: Nello Dell'Omo
 
American Tears is an American keyboard trio that released it's first record, Branded Bad, on Columbia Records in 1974 and it's second, Tear Gas, in 1975.  Formed in the fertile musical environment of Long Island, New York, the band was initially made up of Gary Sonny, on bass, Tommy Gunn on drums and Mark Mangold on keys and vocals. For the second record Greg Baze took over the bass duties.  The band was a power keyboard trio, using keyboards of the day, Hammond organ, synths, mellotron, clavinet, electronic melodica and playing progressive music which showed the bands stellar musicianship.  Eclectic in their approach, their heartfelt music ranged from aggressive keyboard based extravaganzas to beautiful lush melodies circling pop of the day..
 
The band was fortunate to have toured major venues with such bands as Peter Frampton, J. Geils, Alvin Lee, Gentle Giant, Gary Wright, John McLaughlin and many others. They reached a wide audience and had an impressive show, topped off by Mangold doing handstands on his Hammond. Mark, surrounded by 12 keyboards, Tommy being almost invisible behind a huge battery of drums, with Gary, and later Greg, showing their bass virtuosity in front of a wall of amps, the band stressed musicianship and musicality, while exploring new sounds, and always pushing the envelope.
 
The third American Tears album, Powerhouse, added the guitarist and singer, Craig Brooks, and the band evolved into the critically acclaimed band Touch...but that is another story.
 
This fourth American Tears album "Hard Core" heralds the return by Mark to this keyboard based approach, using instruments only available in the 70's when the band made it's first foray.  In fact this band may be the only band on the planet playing exclusively keyboard rock.  With influences from his earlier work, tipping an occassional hat to ELP, Moody Blues and even Deep Purple, this new album shows the daring, and pure emotion, that can be ripped out of those instruments.  American Tears defies the term "generic" as this purely original music, and scathing lyrics, have few if any standards for comparison.
 
 
Mon
22
Jan

DRIVE SHE SAID Sign To Escape For 'Real Life' Reissue

Friday, March 23, 2018
Categories: 
News Feed
 
Escape Music are pleased to announce the release of Drive, She Said “Real Life” album Completely Remixed and Mastered!!
 
Release Date: 23 March 2018
 
Track list: 1 Real Life  5:12 / 2 Stronger   5:33 / 3 We Live For Love  4:36 / 4 Whats it Gonna Take  4:22 / 5 Silverwhite   3:39 / 6 Overdrive    4:09 / 7 Find Your Place 5:10 / 8 All Your Heart   4:42 / 9 Hold Me    5:36 / 10 When WIll It Be Love 4:48 / 11 How Can I Be Sure 5:37 / 12 Always and Forever (Godz) / 4:43 / 13 Believe 4:45
 
Drive, She Said is:
Al Fritsch- Vocals, Guitars, Bass
Mark Mangold- Keys and Background Vocals
Jonathan Mover- Drums
 
Produced by Mark Mangold and Al Fritsch
Re-Mixed in 2017 by Brian Anthony and Mark Mangold
Recordings engineered by Mark Mangold and Al Fritsch at Mariel's Kitchen Studios, N.Y. and Jack's House Studios, N.J.
Drums Recorded at Skyline Studios engineered by Jonathan Mover and Alex Olson.
Vocal Extravaganza Arrangements by Al
Artwork by Nello Del Omo
Cover Concept by Drive, She Said
 
DRIVE, SHE SAID is a melodic metal duo that has recorded 6 records.  Having started out on CBS in the U.S., made up of Mark Mangold and Al Fritsch, D,SS is known for their stellar vocals, anthemic songs and scathing musicianship
Mangold, a renowned keyboardist, and his creative partner in Drive, She said, the amazing singer/multi-instrumentist Al Fritsch, met in 1988 and started writing and paving the way for their acclaimed first album Drive, She Said on Columbia records. The band toured extensively, playing with such bands as FM, UFO and others, and performing at numerous Festivals.
 
In 2003 Mark and Al joined with drummer Jonathan Mover to create the album "Real Life".
 
According to Mangold "When we started it was important to carve out an original sound, and hopefully also have a "hit.  We have always wanted to make our music totally over the top!  One of the favorite records we ever did is "Real Life" but the original release never sounded the way we wanted it to.  It has the walls of vocals, and musicianship, and hopefully anthemic, and sometimes progressive, songs we enjoyed doing and I am ecstatic that we were now able to remix and release it the way it was meant to be.   I am also happy that Al's legacy is preserved as to listen to this record is to be surrounded by Al Fritch's voice, playing and energy.”
 
 
Mon
18
Apr

DRIVE SHE SAID - Pedal To The Metal (Review)

information persons: 
content: 
82%
Produced By: 
Drive She Said
Running Time: 
53
Release Date: 
2016
Released: 
Worldwide
Musical Style: 
AOR
Label: 
Frontiers
Score: 
82
Friday, April 15, 2016
Categories: 
Reviews
 
I really wasn’t expecting much to be honest. I’m not sure why – maybe I had left over memories of the band’s last album from way back in 2003 or perhaps the horrid comeback album from Balance a few years back.
But I’m pleased to say that for the most part, my expectations have been exceeded.
Aside from band stalwarts Mark Mangold (keyboards, backing vocals) and Al Fritsch (vocals, backing vocals, guitar, bass), there are about 700 additional guest musicians appearing here, such as Ken Sandin bass; Pontus Engborg drums; Peter Yttergren drums; Kenny Aronoff drums; and Kurt Gellersted and Ricky Wheels guitars.
There are also no less than 8 backing vocalists including the talents of Goran Edman, Randy Jackson, Tomas Vikstrom, Peppy Castro and Ted Poley!
 
Anyway, what’s important is the music on offer and here we have a collection of very (totally and utterly) 80s sounding classic AOR tracks, complete with all the necessary pomp and excessive production fans of Drive, She Said might expect.
 
The totally 80s melodic hard rock of Touch opens the album and I know you will all think the same thing with that opening riff. Very familiar indeed!
I always find it funny when a melodic/AOR band talks about putting the ‘Pedal to the Metal’, but that’s exactly what happens with the title track here. No, it ain’t metal, but it certainly rocks pretty hard for these guys.
In R Blood is an immediate attention getting tune – a great pomp rocker with some blinding keyboards and over the top vocals and chorus. Nice guitar solo too.
Said It All is a great sentimental ballad in that classic 80s AOR style.
The production quality is pretty varied around the record and Writing on The Wall perhaps suffers the most, but what a glorious 70s pomp rocker this is. Full dramatic Styx organ in play and swirling keyboards all over the place. My favourite track alongside In R Blood.
 
Rainbows and Hurricanes is another varied song with pace changes and moody vocals, plus a dramatic heavier chorus. Another cool song.
Fiona comes back for the first time since the band’s sophomore record for the huge ballad In Your Arms. A tasty 80s light-AOR moment.
 
So far so good. But I’m not sure what happened next. This is one of those true What. The. Fuck. moments one sometimes encounters as a reviewer.
Track 10: I’m The Nyte and to a lesser extent, track 11: Lost In You are just fucking horrible. I mean bad. I mean catastrophically bad to the point you just wonder how anyone could let two such atrociously bad songs make the same album as the rest of the material.
Or maybe there has been a mastering error and two programmed-techno-dance-pop songs from a Bavarian DJ found their way on here by mistake?
Guys – not sure what you were thinking (or smoking) – but this is not DSS and I can’t imagine one single fan anywhere thinking these are two good songs.
 
The album closes with an acoustic ballad that really isn’t that exciting and doesn’t make up for the audio assault of the previous 2 songs. So for me this album is 9 tracks only and finishes with that fine ballad duet with Fiona.

A pretty good effort here – as long as you hit the stop button at the conclusion of track 9. The production quality doesn’t come close to most other titles in the marketplace and does vary from track to track, but there’s enough pomp and melody in the songs to forgive that.
I can’t forgive those two late album tracks though, thank God they did not have those further up in the order. How they got past quality control I don’t know.
But overall, pretty good job guys.
 
 
Tue
09
Feb

DRIVE SHE SAID Put the 'Pedal To The Metal' April 15

Friday, April 15, 2016
Categories: 
News Feed

Frontiers Music Srl is excited to present the return of DRIVE, SHE SAID with the release of their highly anticipated new album 'Pedal to the Metal' on April 15th, 2016!
 
Mark Mangold's (one half of the driving force of Drive, She Said) creative rock flame was ignited once again after a performance with the Firefest version of Touch in Nottingham, UK in 2014. That creative desire and destiny intersected when he got an email from his old friend Serafino from Frontiers. Mangold, a renowned keyboardist, and his creative partner in Drive, She said, the amazing singer/multi-instrumentist Al Fritsch, then started talking with the Frontiers label about releasing new music. This was even more special of an event than a regular signing as Drive, She Said was the first proper artist that was signed to the label back when it started.
 
Mangold and Fritsch got together and they penned a few sensational classic Melodic Rock / AOR numbers, chock full of marvelous and unforgettable vocal harmonies, as well as looking in the archives for two songs that they hadn't recorded before.
 
Mangold says: 'We tried to write this record as if we were again in the 80's/90's, with the benefit of time and modern recording techniques. In those days you needed to write a "hit" to get signed and carve out an original sound. This record was a challenge because we did not want to clone ourselves, or the many bands that have now have mastered this genre, or be generic. And yet we wanted to keep the record in that same world as the first D,SS record. And of course, we wanted to make it totally over the top! Ultimately it's about the songs and having fun, and last but never least to try to give the fans, or should I say the esteemed melodic "cult", something to... consider.'
 
'Pedal to the Metal" is the final result: an absolute gem of a Melodic Rock album, guaranteed to please all fans of the genre. Check out an album trailer here: https://youtu.be/V0aPCTQT_84
 
DRIVE, SHE SAID is set to appear live at the Frontiers Rock Festival in Trezzo (Milano), Italy on April 23rd, 2016. Those attending are in for a treat!
 

 
'Pedal to the Metal' tracklisting includes:

1. Touch
2. Pedal To The Metal
3. In 'R Blood
4. Said It All
5. Writing On The Wall
6. Rainbows And Hurricanes
7. Love Will Win In The End
8. Rain Of Fire
9. In Your Arms
10. I'm The Nyte
11. Lost In You
12. All I Wanna Do
 
DRIVE, SHE SAID
- Lead Vocals: Al Fritsch
- Guitars: Al Fritsch with additional guitars by Tommy Denander, Daniel Palmqvist, Jon Bivona, Ray De Tone, Ricky Wheels
- Keyboards: Mark Mangold, Al Fritsch
Bass: Ken Sandin, Al Fritsch, Paul St. James, Alessandro Del Vecchio
- Drums: Peter Yttergren, Pontus Engborg, Francesco Jovino, Kenny Aronoff
- Background Vocals: Goran Edman, Chandler Mogel, Ted Poley, Al Fritsch, Mark Mangold, Kevin Osborne, Randy Jackson, Thomas Vikstrom, Peppy Castro
- Vocal Duet on 'In Your Arms': Al and Fiona
 
 
Fri
27
Mar

AOR HEAVEN Delivers Two DRIVE SHE SAID Classics

Friday, March 27, 2015
Categories: 
News Feed

AOR Heaven proudly presents the re-issues of the much sought after first two Drive, She Said albums 'Drive, She Said' and 'Drivin' Wheel'. Both are as usual re-mastered by Chris Lyne and with liner notes by Dave Reynolds, strictly limited to 500 units ea. and with additional bonus tracks (see track listings below).
 
Drive, She Said: 01.If This Is Love 02.Hard Way Home 03.Don't You Know 04.But For You 05.Love Has No Pride 06.Maybe It's Love 07.Hold On (Hands Around Your Heart) 08.If I Told You 09.I Close My Eyes 10.As She Touches Me (Why Can't I Believe) 11.Crossed My Heart * 12.It Must Be Love * / * = bonus track

Drivin' Wheel: 01.Think Of Love 02.Drivin' Wheel 03.Hard To Hold 04.When You Love Someone 05.Can't Get Enough 06.Veil Of Tears 07.It's Gonna Take A Miracle 08.It Just Keeps Comin' 09.Just For The Moment 10.Do You Believe 11.Never Say Never *12.You Never Know With Magic * 13.Hold My Heart * / * = bonus track
 
Please check also www.aorheaven.com for our completely new designed homepage with many new features!
 
 
 
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