“Stand Up and Shout” is a 69-song, career-spanning box set from KEN TAMPLIN, a four-time Dove Award winner renowned for his vocal talents, often compared to Lou Gramm, Paul Rodgers, David Coverdale, and his cousin, Sammy Hagar.
This new Girder Records release is monster with 69 songs total on a comprehensive 4 CD collection features 22 unreleased tracks, as well and 6 new exclusive re-sung / re-imagined versions of his best songs. Additionally, the box set includes a massive 12-page, 3,700-word essay detailing Tamplin’s musical history along with an array of memorabilia photos.
Of course there’s material from Tamplin ’80s melodic hard rock band Shout, hard rockers Magdallan, selections from his very good solo albums, unreleased, covers, and more.
Disc 1 is about Tamplin’s 80s band SHOUT. Few will deny the alliance of Chuck King and Ken Tamplin was a great event in the late ‘80’s, especially for fans of melodic hard rock / melodic metal. Those first two albums were very good to great. The mix of songs included here might surprise as the emphasis is on the first release ‘It Won’t Be Long’, 7 out of the 9 original tracks here included.
Often hailed as the most impactful of the three Shout releases with the huge hooks, infectious melodies and astonishingly outrageous guitar shredding, ‘In Your Face’ is represented by only three tracks – perhaps because most fans own this one – but the new version (almost one minute shorter than the original) of the iconic opener “Borderline” makes a strong statement.
Fortunately, the shred-fest title track (extended version – 30 seconds longer) “In Your Face” from the At the Top of Their Lungs compilation is included here, along with the other two “previously unreleased” (up to that point) tracks from that 1992 release. “When Secrets Cry Out” and “Little Liar (Luci)” are worthy inclusions for sure as many fans may not have ever heard these if they never owned or heard the 1992 compilation.
Finally, the comeback 1999 ‘Shout Back’ – a very solid collection of songs – is here represented by just three tracks. Once again, the new version of “In the Brave Days of Old” breathes life into what was already a fantastic groove-riddled rocker. I hear more bass presence and drum punch in this version but darn if they aren’t close (roughly, same duration). What an amazing song!
Presumably, all the songs (except for the new version tracks) on this disc (as well as the entire compilation) are lifted from the Girder remasters as the bass presence in the mix is more prominent and the master volume lifted.
Disc Two features the early, and best known, Tamplin solo releases – An Axe to Grind (1990), Soul Survivor (1991) and the masterful self-titled Tamplin (1993). The latter was arguably the best album of Tamplin’s solo career, and the 6 songs here represented are also the best songs from that release.
Disc Three covers more Tamplin solo, but also the audacious Magdallan’s debut release, one of the best sounding and most innovative melodic rock / metal albums from that era. This new version of “Big Bang” has a bigger, more contemporary mix as does this new interestingly nuanced version of “Radio Bikini.” These two songs are worth the price of the disc, but “House of Dreams” from the original release, another wonderful example of great songwriting, is also included and serves as a nice comparison. If you thought the original album sounded great, you should hear the difference here when it is A/B’d to these new versions.
Disc Four include Unreleased songs, and Covers of other artists. The opening four tracks feature original material. “Stormbringer” leads off with more Zeppelin-like grooves on guitar and drums as Tamplin once again channels Coverdale vocally, but this is not the Deep Purple version of song of the same name. More ‘70’s inspired music with “And it Pours” which is a catchy straight rocker with slick guitar solo. “Show Me the Way Out” moves into heavier 80’s/90’s rhythm.
The next 13 tracks consist of Tamplin cover songs spanning the period from 1971 to 2021. Not only do these songs showcase Tamplin’s immense diverse musical influences but this little collection of songs pays tribute to his influence and respect for the great music and artists of the recent past decades.
“The Living Years” by Mike (Rutherford) and the Mechanics (1988) was one of the most iconic and endearing pop songs from the late ‘80’s and this rendition mirrors the original with power and passion. Similarly, Mr. Mister’s “Kyrie” – another pop giant from the era – is beautifully rendered with a bit more musical punch and is followed in tandem by the other big hit from 1985’s Welcome to the Real World, “Broken Wings.” It is readily apparent these cover songs display Tamplin’s amazing voice.
In all, ”Stand Up and Shout” is a monumental collection/compilation of Ken Tamplin’s life works. No fan of the man will want to pass this up. While most compilations exclude any new content, there is a ton of previously unreleased – and new renditions – to make this unique.
Add a tremendously complete and well-written synopsis of Tamplin’s journey by John DeLaurentis along with economical yet sleek packaging and you’ve got what I would rate as an excellent compilation and tribute to one of the most prolific, diverse, talented, creative and consistently great rock artists of the past 40 years.
Highly Recommended
DISC ONE
1. Never Stop
2. Winners Or Losers
3. It Won’t Be Long
4. Find A Way
5. Shout
6. Showdown
7. Timeless Love
8. Borderline*
9. When The Love Is Gone
10. Give Me An Answer
11. In Your Face
12. In the Brave Days of Old*
13. Dreams For Sale
14. More Than Kisses
15. When Secrets Cry Out Loud
16. Little Liar (Luci)
17. Media Mania
DISC TWO
1. (I’m Gonna) Live Forever
2. Stay By My Side
3. Come And Save Me
4. Livin’ For My Lord
5. Straight Between The Eyes
6. Goin’ Home
7. Never Give Up
8. Not Alone
9. I Hear Cryin’
10. Holdin’ On/The Chase
11. Dancing On A Volcano
12. Slave Trade
13. Testify
14. Don’t Let The Sky Fall On Me
15. In The Lap Of Legends
16. The Story Of Love
17. God in Heaven*
DISC THREE
1. Wake The Nations
2. Sing
3. Falling Houses
4. Big Bang*
5. Radio Bikini*
6. House Of Dreams
7. Feed Me
8. Sing Hallelujiah
9. Strange Fascination
10. Save Me
11. Daughters Of Time
12. When Angels Cry
13. Where Love Is*
14. Caught in the Wonder of You**
15. Still A Mystery**
16. Why Can’t You Understand Me**
17. Believe**
18. When You’re Gone**
DISC FOUR
1. Stormbringer**
2. And it Pours**
3. Show me the Way Out**
4. Someone I’ve Got To Be**
5. The Living Years**
6. Kyrie**
7. Broken Wings**
8. No Longer Slaves**
9. I Want to Know what Love Is**
10. I’ll Still be Loving You**
11. Crazy**
12. Everything I Own**
13. Strange**
14. Ordinary World**
15. Mysterious Ways**
16. Ain’t No Sunshine**
17. How Deep is Your Love**
** Previously Unreleased Tracks
* New Exclusive Version
KEN TAMPLIN – Stand Up And Shout (4CD Box Set) ~ 69 Songs, 22 Unreleased + 6 New Versions (2024), MP3+FLAC
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