Friday, November 22nd, 2024 is US and Canadian release date for CD and Vinyl
“It’s great to look back and see our future unfurl — from little metal acorns mighty metal oaks do grow. One small step for metal, one giant leap for metalkind — a lifelong metal journey began with these songs. This album lit the eternal metal flame — as real and fresh as ever five decades on” — Rob Halford
During Judas Priest’s 50 Heavy Metal Years tour in 2022, something remarkable was happening behind the scenes. The label that originally signed Judas Priest in 1974, Gull Records and its owner David Howells, decided to sell the masters and publishing rights for the two albums the label owned, Rocka Rolla and Sad Wings of Destiny — and he contacted Glenn Tipton’s music publisher, Michael Closter of Reach Music Publishing.
After discussing this opportunity and collaborating with Judas Priest’s manager Jayne Andrews, a compelling offer from Reach Music was made to Gull Records. Terms were accepted. An acquisition agreement was prepared, and after almost 50 years from the release of these albums, Reach Music and its label Exciter Records – in partnership with Judas Priest, was now the owner of Rocka Rolla and Sad Wings of Destiny.
The first order of business was to retrieve the original multitrack tapes from storage (which miraculously still existed and kept in usable condition for all these decades) — and to begin the process of resurrecting Rocka Rolla from these multitrack recordings…..
With the task of delving back into time and putting the tapes of Rocka Rolla back on the recording studio console, Judas Priest put their full faith in Tom Allom — known in the Judas Priest world for producing the iconic British Steel and Screaming For Vengeance albums among many others.
As Tom Allom stated, “What we did with the multitracks is quite unusual, to completely remix an album from that era, from scratch. So to clarify what we’re doing, we’re not adding anything musically. We’re not re-recording any of the musical parts… We’re remixing them, rebalancing them using the technology we have, the modern tools we have now, to sonically upgrade them, and make them sound more powerful.”
The results of this remixed version are now available for posterity — the artist-approved version of Rocka Rolla is finally here for fans to add to their Judas Priest collection.
Rob Halford: “I’m just thrilled… because it just goes to show you when you get an expert involved in a project, it’s likely that you have a second chance. And I think that Tom Allom is giving us a second chance here with the way that a lot of the elements were lost in Rocka Rolla. And it’s also nice, like a really nice feeling, especially to attach it to what will be a 50th anniversary moment. It’s just a beautiful feeling.”
Glenn Tipton: “This is where it all started for us and 50 years later, we have a great re-mixed and re-mastered version of the original…and the band are still going strong!”
Ian Hill: “Recorded during nighttime sessions to save costs, over a few weeks in June and July 1974, on a shoestring budget, Rocka Rolla was always going to have its flaws! But walking into my local record store and seeing it on a shelf amongst all your idol’s records was the proudest feeling in the world, and I thought, ‘Whatever happens now, nothing can change that!’ Now re-mixed by Tom Allom and re-mastered, Rocka Rolla has finally got the production it deserved!”
KK Downing: “At last! This! The first Judas Priest album can be listened to and enjoyed in the way it was always intended to be!”
Judas Priest: Rocka Rolla (50th Anniversary Remixed & Remastered) track listing:
01 One For The Road Judas Priest: Rocka Rolla (50th Anniversary Remixed & Remastered) 04:44
02 Rocka Rolla Judas Priest: Rocka Rolla (50th Anniversary Remixed & Remastered) 03:24
03 Winter Judas Priest: Rocka Rolla (50th Anniversary Remixed & Remastered) 02:59
04 Deep Freeze Judas Priest: Rocka Rolla (50th Anniversary Remixed & Remastered) 02:07
05 Winter Retreat Judas Priest: Rocka Rolla (50th Anniversary Remixed & Remastered) 01:32
06 Cheater Judas Priest: Rocka Rolla (50th Anniversary Remixed & Remastered) 03:01
07 Never Satisfied Judas Priest: Rocka Rolla (50th Anniversary Remixed & Remastered) 04:50
08 Run Of The Mill Judas Priest: Rocka Rolla (50th Anniversary Remixed & Remastered) 08:21
09 Dying To Meet You Judas Priest: Rocka Rolla (50th Anniversary Remixed & Remastered) 06:17
10 Caviar And Meths Judas Priest: Rocka Rolla (50th Anniversary Remixed & Remastered) 02:09
For further information, please contact Chip Ruggieri/Chipster PR & Consulting, Inc. at chip@chipsterpr.com
or visit:
JudasPriest.com
ExciterRecords.com
mnrkheavy.com/
