Original Album Classics: Europe (2015) [5CD Box Set]

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Original Album Classics: Europe (2015) [5CD Box Set]

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This is a five classic albums CD box set with original artwork 'mini LP' CD wallets in deluxe packaging. It contains the albums Europe, Wings Of Tomorrow, The Final Countdown, Out Of This World, Prisoners In Paradise

~ amazon

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Original Album Classics: Europe (2015) [5CD Box Set]

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Europes first and least "produced" album. No that doesn't mean the sound quality is bad (this was 1983 what do you want?) but it means that they were a young band free to write as they pleased. No big power ballads, no party songs, just some chugging metal with great leads and vocals. It isn't the most solid album of their career but it does have some of their better moments with In The Future To Come, Seven Doors Hotel (Their best song Ever IMO), Memories, and The King Will Return. Still a great album that showed where these guys could have gone had the hair wave not snapped them up and eventually ruined them.

By M. Kell, amazon

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Original Album Classics: Europe (2015) [5CD Box Set]

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Europe's 1984 sophomore effort, "Wings of tomorrow" is one of the more underrated metal albums from the `80s and is considered the band's masterwork by many fans, including myself. It sold very well in Sweden and Japan, but it would be a couple more years before the band became well known to the rest of the world with their breakthrough song and album "The final countdown". This album showcases the band at the height of its heavy metal prowess before entering the pop metal world later on. The songs are definitely more suited for live performance than for Top 40 radio.

The album is solid from start to finish. There is great live energy, strong vocal performances by Joey Tempest and contains some of the most memorable shredding by John Norum. His guitar solos are nothing short of magnificent throughout this album, especially on "Wasted Time", "Lyin' Eyes", "Aphasia" and the title track. "Scream of anger" is another highlight. A fast and furious song that the band still plays live to this day. The ballads "Dreamer" and "Open your heart" are well done. It's a little known fact that "Open your heart" was the first Europe song to get airplay in the US, receiving limited exposure on some AOR stations. Four years later it was rerecorded for the "Out of this world" album (1988), but the second version didn't have quite the same magic as the original.

It's too bad "Wings of tomorrow" wasn't the album that first introduced Europe to the mainstream world. Had it been, I think the band would have had stronger rock credibility, and maybe could have built a stronger legacy. There's a saying: "You never get a second chance to make a first impression". Let's hope there will be an exception to that rule, as Europe have reemerged with 2004's "Start from the dark" which is a strong return to the band's heavy metal roots (with a more modern touch). I strongly recommend both albums to fans that like it HARD and HEAVY!

By scottydog, amazon

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One of the most glorious launches in history, the title track for the thrice-platinum The Final Countdown is so bombastically brilliant, such glorious garbage, that this nuclear hair assault could only spew from the vacuous '80s. But the full-tilt follow-up "Rock the Night" rules also: "You know it ain't easy/Running out of thrills." "Carrie" comes off a consummate butane ballad. Meanwhile, the rest of the disc packs so much power that Swedish superheroes Europe get away with all the processed pretension. In fact, the lofty ambition of "Danger on the Track," "Ninja," and "Cherokee" (each as tasty as its title) combines with heated drive and hot delivery to meld The Final Countdown into a unique portrait of propulsive prog and a worthy addition to any hard rock collection. This is the story; this is the legend told by Teutonic guitars and predictable keyboards ringing pure and hurtling through each and every convention perfectly. The quintet's big-boy Epic inaugural, The Final Countdown deftly combines the Valhalla victory of Europe's heroic debut with the American poodle pomposity that devoured the band. You could live without The Final Countdown, but why?

by Doug Stone, AMG

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Original Album Classics: Europe (2015) [5CD Box Set]

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One look at the song titles and you know you're not in for any surprises ("Open Your Heart," "More Than Meets the Eye," "Ready or Not," "Never Say Die"). Still, Europe produces made-to-order lite metal with admirable craftsmanship and occasionally memorable hooks. "Superstitious" even has a disarming gospel quality. This is hard rock with all the edges sanded off. Capable lead singer Joey Tempest carries the tunes with nonthreatening panache, while Kee Marcello (who proved his virtuosity on Europe's previous by performing "Flight of the Bumblebee") provides plenty of nice guitar solos.

by Andy Hinds, AMG

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Original Album Classics: Europe (2015) [5CD Box Set]

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It's a shame that Europe had pretty much fallen off of the public's radar by 1991, because that is when they released what is arguably the best album of their career - Prisoners in Paradise. It wasn't as heavy as the band's first two albums, and it wasn't over-the-top pop metal like The Final Countdown and Out of This World. Instead, Europe delivered a quality melodic hard rock album; the kind that has you singing along to just about every song after the first listen.

The band seems much more mature and comfortable with their sound on this album, especially their songwriting. To be sure, most of the songs on Prisoners in Paradise are your standard radio-friendly love songs, but they're really good radio-friendly love songs and they never get as cheesy as some of the songs on their previous albums (Ninja and Tower's Callin' for example).

Any one of the first five tracks on this album could have been major radio hits, especially in 1991, as could the title track, but for some reason went unnoticed. All of the songs are well written, and there really isn't a weak moment on this album. The album's closer, Girl from Lebanon, is my favorite song on Prisoners in Paradise, and one of the best songs the band has recorded. It's a powerful song that reminds me quite a lot of White Lion's Lady of the Valley. I was fortunate enough to see Europe live last year and to hear them play this song. John Norum wasn't in the band when Prisoners in Paradise was released, but he blazed through Girl from Lebanon like it was written just for him.

Europe fans who might have overlooked this album really owe it to themselves to seek out a copy, as does anyone who enjoys AOR/melodic hard rock music. You'll be glad you did.

By Justin G, amazon

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Original Album Classics: Europe (2015) [5CD Box Set]

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