Sometimes a record appears out of nowhere which literally takes your breath away. So it is with the Ladder, a sensational five piece with virtually no pedigree to speak of, but fully loaded with talent and a raging desire to make as big an impression as humanly possible. The fact that their sole album failed to make a commercial impact is neither here nor there but 38 years after its release we are still talking about its enduring and timeless quality.
Originating from Philadelphia, the band were formed from an ad hoc musical collective that been involved with a number of different mostly non rock projects. The only member with a history was drummer Joe Franco formerly of the Good Rats and later to perform with Twisted Sister. At the center of this cabal were brother’s Lou and Joe Parente, both men responsible for the majority of the song writing. Leading the charge however was previously unknown vocalist Frank Mancano whose style and timbre was immediately compared to the likes of Lou Gramm, Joe Lynn Turner and Steve Perry.
Signed to ATCO, the sister label of Atlantic records, the album was issued in October 1986 and failed to cause even the smallest ripple of interest except, as we’ve learnt from other similar acts, small pockets of support in the European press. With no internet or social media at the time the odds were truly stacked against them. Despite infinitely strong songs such as ‘Time Soldier’, ‘Breakdown’, ‘Standin’ and the knock-out punch of ‘Double Shot Of Love’ the album is now considered one of the greatest lost treasures of a the late eighties.
The album was remastered in 2022 by Jon Astley for Close To The Edge Mastering
Artist: The Ladder
Album: The Ladder
Year: 1986 (Remaster 2024)
Label: Rock Candy
Style: Melodic Rock, AOR, Hard Rock
Format: mp3/320, flac (tracks, cue, log, 44.1kHz/16bit)
The Ladder:
Frank Mancano: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals
Tim Jordan: Guitars, Backing Vocals
Joe Parente: Keyboards
Doug Grigsby: Bass
Joe Franco: Drums
Lou Parente: Additional Keyboards, Percussion
Rob Hardin: Additional Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Lee Napier: Backing Vocals
Kurt Shore: Backing Vocals
Dave Johnson: Backing Vocals
Tracklist
01 Daydreams At Night 3:47
02 Double Shot Of Love 3:50
03 Time Soldier 4:24
04 Don't Turn Me Away 4:25
05 Breakdown 3:34
06 Standin' 4:01
07 Women Have Secrets 3:52
08 Lie To Me 3:43
09 Lover 3:48
10 Dancing In The Dark 4::09
The Ladder – The Ladder (1986) [Rock Candy Remaster 2024] mp3+flac
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