Description

Rare original official Swedish tape. White cassette with red texture. Catalouge number: ARK 5005 Swedish/American melodic rock band Talisman made their debut in 1990 with this self-titled album. The band paired powerhouse vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (Eyes, Yngwie Malmsteen) and bassist Marcel Jacob (RIP), who had worked together previously in Yngwie Malmsteens band. Talisman marked the beginning of an amazing partnership between the two melodic rockers, and remains a classic album. Talisman was formed by bass player Marcel Jacob, who had previously played with (among others) Rising Force, John Norum Group and Power. While Jacob was playing with John Norum, he started working on tracks which he thought would end up on Norum's second solo album. The singer on those demos was Goran Edman, also in John Norum Group at that time. Norum rejected the songs and, in the meantime, Goran was offered the opportunity to join Yngwie Malmsteen's band. Jacob found himself with record label interest but no band so a vocalist was needed. On a whim, Marcel contacted Jeff Scott Soto who was extremely interested in what Marcel had done and once the songs were done and mixed, Marcel changed the work name for his solo project, Guitars On Fire to a new moniker called, Talisman. In February 1989 recordings for the first album took place in Stockholm with Christopher Stahl (Power) and Mats Lindfors (Norum, Grand Slam) on guitars, Peter Hermansson (220 Volt, Norum) playing drums on some tracks and Mats Olausson (Yngwie Malmsteen) on keyboards. Jacob programmed the rest of drums and played all rhythm guitars with the help of the producer Mats Lindfors on Women, Whiskey and Songs. Electra, to whom Jacob was currently signed, went bankrupt just when the mixing was finished and the album's release was delayed. Meanwhile, Soto's US-based project Eyes got signed. Jacob left for Los Angeles to help Eyes demo and record what would be their first release. During this time an employee of the label that had originally signed Talisman moved to a new label and the masters of the first album were bought from the bankrupt label. So Talisman was eventually released in February 1990 on the Airplay/Vinyl Mania label. The first single Ill Be Waiting reached number 2 in Sweden's singles chart and 33,000 copies of the album were sold in two months in Sweden. Talisman was one of the top ten drawing acts in Sweden in the summer of 1990. Unfortunately, the label went bust – ending any chances of international exposure for the album. Looking back on the album today we see an album that is a great example of why the late 80s melodic rock sound was so much fun. You've got these amazing guitar hooks, catchy rhythms, fantastic melodies and of course Soto's powerful, soulful vocals. Later Talisman albums would go in a more soulful, funky direction, but this album is pure arena rocking AOR along the lines of Giant, Bad English and Tyketto. The album is just loaded with songs that should have been huge hit singles – Break Your Chains, I'll Be Waiting, Just Between Us to name a few – but for whatever reason the band never really broke big. Fortunately that didn't keep them from continuing to record amazing melodic rock albums. Just about any release by Talisman falls under the must have heading for all dedicated melodic rock fans, but the debut is an absolute essential. This is about as good as late 80s and early 90s melodic rock gets, and is one of the best Jeff Scott Soto performances period. Track listing: 1. Break Your Chains 2. Standin On Fire 3. Ill Be Waiting 4. Dangerous 5. Just Between Us 6. System Of Power 7. Queen 8. Lightning Strikes 9. Day By Day 10. Women Whiskey And Songs