It looks as though EUROPE's problems
are finally solved. Joey's throat has healed, and they are doing everything to
finish the delayed LP "The Final Countdown".
It's the talk of the town: "When the hell will EUROPE's new LP be released?"
It's now been more than two years since "Wings of Tomorrow" was released,
and the new LP has been on its way ever since. New release dates have been
presented time after another, but they've been changed due to a quite stubborn
virus bacteria that seems to have taken permanent residence in Joey's throat. But the headstrong bacillus has given in to a number of treatments and a strict
healthy diet. Now, after seven sorrows and just as many troubles, Joey is
finally on his way to the USA to finish the recordings of "The Final
Countdown", an LP which they began recording already in September in Zurich,
and that should have been released just before Christmas.
"Well, it's not fun," says Mic Michaeli, who's been doing nothing since
the last recordings were done in the Powerplay studios two weeks in October, "It's been more than two years since the last album, and it has to work now!
The USA and Japan really want us and the same goes for Sweden."
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The visits to doctors, voice coaches and health farms
have been many. A couple of months ago, Joey spent a couple of weeks at the well-known
Skebo Gård outside of Rimbo. Ian went with him for company. Boring, of course, but it did
produce results. If everything works out, which it has to, "The Final Countdown" should be
ready for the stores in April. "But we are not promising anything this time," Mic says
seriously,
"We have
presented release dates before, but never been able to follow them. We are really
doing everything we can."
The man behind the album is the American Kevin Elson, who used to work as a sound
technician and co-producer for Journey. It seems like his knowledge has created a
fantastic sound for EUROPE. All the backgrounds and most of the backing vocals were
finished in Zurich. Joey has
recorded the lead vocals for five tracks in Ft. Lauderdale, USA, and now
it's time to go back and get the rest done. Twelve tracks in total. Ten for the LP and two for single B-sides.
The list of the tracks is as follows: "The Final Countdown", "Carrie", "Ninja", "On Broken Wings",
"Cherokee", "When Men Don't Dare", "Time Has Come", "Love Chaser", "Danger
on the Track",
"Heart of
Stone", "On the Loose" and "Rock the Night". The last two tracks are new recordings
of the songs on the LO single (LO = Swedish Federation of Trade Unions) that sold gold
this summer.
"I wouldn't be surprised if the USA choose 'Rock the Night' to be the first
single," Mic explains. But the CBS boss really believes in the title track,
even if
it's not a given single-hit. "It's not decided yet which song will be released as a first single in
Sweden. We will release 'Carrie', but probably not as the first single as
it's a bit too slow." "Carrie" could be heard during EUROPE's hockey arena tour this summer, but
then in a softer version. Only Mic's keyboards with Joey's superior melody.
On the LP the whole band will appear in the song.
A while back, an evening paper wrote that Joey had been asked to write a ballad
for the German band Scorpions. A hit with them would mean a very well filled wallet
for Mr. Tempest. He's very calm about it. "Sure, I'm working on a song for them. We'll see what happens."
Mic's version is also down to earth: "I don't think it means that Scorpions have asked him to write a song and
it's all clear that it will be on their album. Their producer is looking for
good material, and Joey is one of those who have been asked to contribute. But I
don't think we should celebrate yet."
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