Burns Like A Star (Limited Collector's Edition)

Special Deluxe Collector’s Edition / Fully Remastered Audio / Rock solid debut from the LA via Hamburg four piece produced by Andy Johns (Led Zeppelin, Free) / Features Lenny Wolf of Kingdom Come / 16 page full colour booklet – 3,500 word essay, enhanced artwork with previously unseen photos and new interview.

We’ve Said It before and, no doubt we’ll be saying it in the future that some records sink into obscurity with no obvious explanation. Quality and class, it would appear, don’t always lead to success in the music business, leaving omissions from the list of winners that have no obvious reasons. The fate of Stone Fury is one such example; an exemplary band, with great songs and superb musical arrangements, left behind at the starting gate, whilst others with lesser abilities made larger commercial impact. Based in Los Angeles, and formed by the talented duo of German born singer Lenny Wolf (who would later taste success as the leader of Kingdom Come) and American guitarist Bruce Gowdy, Stone Fury concocted an immediately identifiable sound that led to much industry interest. The band’s demo eventually secured them a coveted deal with the giant MCA Corporation. Utilising the services of top British producer Andy Johns (Led Zeppelin, Free, Hughes/Thrall), their album was recorded in Los Angeles and issued in 1984, to strong critical reaction but, surprisingly, precious few sales.Very much a heavy yet melodic outfit, their sound appeared to lean towards the 70s but Wolf’s near falsetto vocal style gave the songs a contemporary edge, bolstered by Gowdy’s impressive guitar work and adventurous, sometimes progressive, musicianship. Not to put too fine a point on it, songs such as ‘Break Down The Walls’, ‘I Hate to Sleep Alone’ and ‘Hold It’ show the band to be superior composers, with the ballad ‘Life Is Too Lonely’ easily demonstrating an ability to take the music to more emotional heights. Certainly an album that requires a lot more recognition.