from 24 STRINGS AND A DRUMMER
written by David Foster, Jack Blades, Tom Keane & Michael Landau
To celebrate in style their first thirty years in the music business, veteran AOR kings, Night Ranger just released a new live album entitled “24 Strings And A Drummer.” This extremely pleasant CD/DVD package, recorded in California last spring, gives fans a great chance to rediscover the group’s melodic-rock songbook in an “unplugged” setting.
The acoustic approach of the songs gives new, interesting life to classics like “When You Close Your Eyes,” “Four In The Morning” and “Sentimental Street” and don’t take absolutely the energy away from the performances with powerful vocals by Jack Blades and Kelly Keagy and noteworthy guitar and piano solos.
“24 Strings And A Drummer” also offers a great re-reading of “The Secret Of My Success,” Night Ranger’s 1987 collaboration with David Foster who produced the song and co-wrote it with Blades and sessions masters Tom Keane and Michael Landau. “The Secret Of My Success” was also a successful movie starring Michael J. Fox and this radio friendly theme was the main single off the soundtrack. The new version is based on acoustic guitars with spectacular playing by Brad Gillis and Joel Hoekstra and showcases the special vocal interplay between Blades and drummer Kelly Keagy. The feel-good, relaxed atmosphere is evident in this number and throughout the whole record. “24 Strings And A Drummer” makes for a very good listen if you’re looking for solid songwriting and performances delivered with passion and fun.
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/the_secret_of_my_success.mp3|titles=The Secret Of My Succes|artists=Jack Blades]
Vocals & Bass : Jack Blades
Vocals & Drums: Kelly Keagy
Guitars & Background Vocals: Brad Gillis & Joel Hoekstra
Keyboards & Background Vocals: Eric Levy
Produced by Armando Contreras, Devin Dehaven, Night Ranger & Ron Nevison
Lyrics
Think of it, I, hold the world in the palm of my hand
Run a comb through my hair, head on out for some new foreign land
And all this could seem like a dream out the door
With everyday people, face down on the floor
I always said I could make it and be who I am
There’s a new look in sight, what a change for the new modern man
With all this it seems, like I’m dying for more
The streets are on fire, never seen it before
It’s like the sound of electric guitars
CHORUS
Worlds collide and hearts will be broken
Over and over it’s the same every day
How can I say what has never concerned me
The secret of my success is I’m living 25 hours a day
It’s amazing to me, what a fool will believe to bet by
With a change of your mind, I can live, I can fly
The harder the come, the harder they fall
I never say maybe and I go for it all
Just like the sound of electric guitars
CHORUS
With nothing to show, just sweat form my soul
My heart’s on the line and I’m dying to go (dying to go)
Look at us now, gonna make it somehow
Hold on to me baby, can’t hold me down
CHORUS
The secret of my success is I’m living 25 hours a day
25 hours a day