VA - Stairway To Heaven / Highway To Hell (1989) [1st Japan Press] RE-UPPED

Is a trubute to those artists who have died from drug related deaths (Phil Lynott, Keith Moon, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Sid Vicious, Tommy Bolin, John Bonham). Each song on the CD is a cover from a band who has lost a member through drugs or alcohol. Featuring such bands as Scorpions, Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, Ozzy Osbourne, and more.

Stairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell was a 1989 compilation album featuring bands that performed at the Moscow Music Peace Festival. It was put out by the Make a Difference Foundation. Each band covered a song from a famous rock band or solo artist. The bands and solo artists whose songs were covered had members who suffered a drug- or alcohol-related death. The album closes with two collaborative efforts between the various bands: a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Moby Dick" and a live medley of songs from Elvis Presley and Led Zeppelin. The name is a reference to the songs "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin and "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC neither of which appear on the album. Both Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham and AC/DC singer Bon Scott had alcohol-related deaths in 1980.

It seems a little strange to be writing liner notes for a record these days, but I felt it was important to say a few things about how this one was put together. Firstly, no one went into the studio to make "the definitive" cover version of any of these songs and no one band went in to "out do" anyone else by trying to sound or play better than the next guy. We just asked each group to pick a song they've always wanted to record, written or performed by an artist or group who had been touched by drug or alcohol problems, and have some fun with it! It was with this spirit in mind that the tracks were cut, each band taking one or two days out of their busy schedules to make it happen. The album includes eight studio tracks as well as some live music from "the jam" that closed the Moscow Music Peace Festival (August 12/13 '89). My thanks to all the great musicians, singers, and engineers, who came together to do it - I'm proud to be a part of it!

– Bruce Fairbairn, booklet notes

Tracklist:

01. Gorky Park - My Generation (Originally by The Who)
02. Skid Row - Holiday In The Sun (Originally by The Sex Pistols)
03. Scorpions - I Can't Explain (Originally by The Who)
04. Ozzy Osbourne - Purple Haze (Originally by Jimi Hendrix)
05. Motley Crue - Teaser (Originally by Tommy Bolin)
06. Bon Jovi - The Boys Are Back In Town (Originally by Thin Lizzy)
07. Cinderella - Move Over (Originally by Janis Joplin)
08. Drum Madness - Moby Dick (Originally by Led Zeppelin)
09. Various - Jam (Live In Moscow) :
a) Bon Jovi / Cinderella / Klaus Meine - Hound Dog (Originally by Big Mama Thornton)
b) Scorpions / Gorky Park / David Bryan - Blue Suede Shoes / Long Tall Sally (Orig. by Little Richard / Carl Perkins)
c) Skid Row / Mötley Crüe / Zakk Wylde / Jason Bonham - Rock And Roll (Originally by Led Zeppelin)


Produced By Bruce Fairbairn.
Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound.

Original non-remastered Japanese 1st pressed CD.
Manafactured by Nippon Phonogram Co. Ltd. in Japan.

All thanks goes to LAI671!

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