Forcefield

With the line up consisting of Cozy Powell, Ray Fenwick and the vocal talents of Pete Prescott, this album is a must for all rock fans especially the seven minute version of "Smoke On The Water". Formed in 1987, Forcefield’s ever-changing line-up brought together the mainstays of some of the biggest 80s rock bands. The original members were Pete Prescott, Ray Fenwick and Cozy Powell. Amongst guitarist Fenwick’s credits were The Spencer Davis Group, Fancy and The Ian Gillan Band, while drummer Powell had been a key figure in bands of the calibre of Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Whitesnake and is widely regarded as an all-time rock great. Prescott completed the line-up fresh from a stint as lead vocalist of Sergent. The debut album Forcefield consisted of reworked rock standards such as Deep Purple’s Smoke On The Water, The Kinks’ Set Me Free and Cream’s Sunshine of Your Love mixed with a selection of original material and attracted a cult following.

Cozy Powell and Ray Fenwick are joined by Jan Akkerman (Focus) and Tony Martin (Black Sabbath) amongst others to deliver another powerful rocker. The CD contains two extra tracks not available on the other formats. Formed in 1987, Forcefield’s ever-changing line-up brought together the mainstays of some of the biggest 80s rock bands. The original members were Pete Prescott, Ray Fenwick and Cozy Powell. Amongst guitarist Fenwick’s credits were The Spencer Davis Group, Fancy and The Ian Gillan Band, while drummer Powell had been a key figure in bands of the calibre of Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Whitesnake and is widely regarded as an all-time rock great.

"I Will Not Go Quietly" and "The Wind Cries Mary" are just two of the highlights from this stormin' album which includes Don Airey, Bernie Marsden and Mario Parga in the line-up with Graham, Cozy and Ray. Formed in 1987, Forcefield’s ever-changing line-up brought together the mainstays of some of the biggest 80s rock bands. The original members were Pete Prescott, Ray Fenwick and Cozy Powell. Amongst guitarist Fenwick’s credits were The Spencer Davis Group, Fancy and The Ian Gillan Band, while drummer Powell had been a key figure in bands of the calibre of Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Whitesnake and is widely regarded as an all-time rock great. Prescott completed the line-up fresh from a stint as lead vocalist of Sergent.

Vocalist Graham Bonnet fronts this group consisting of drummer extraordinaire Cozy Powell, guitarists Ray Fenwick and Jan Akkerman, with Chris Cozens on keyboards, and guests like Terry Pack and Mo Foster on bass. The album begins awkwardly with a bit of bombast called "Hit and Run" but gets more hard pop with "Always," a drum beat that Roxy Music utilized on Manifesto, and that Elton John chose for "Healing Hands" under a melody that sounds totally derivative. Rocking harder than "Touch Me," the 1974 hit Fenwick composed for his group Fancy, but not as aggressive as that Top 20 song, there's the balancing act going on here of Cozy Powell's arena rock attitude and Ray Fenwick's pop sensibilities. Graham Bonnet isn't the best choice for a vocal sound on Denny Laine's composition, "Stay Away," and the reggae, almost calypso sound also clashes with what could have been a pure pop masterpiece.