• From: Washington State
  • Registered: 2006-03-30
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Topic: The Union

From The Union's myspace page:

THE UNION is a new band formed by LUKE MORLEY, formerly the guitarist for legendary UK rock band THUNDER and ex WINTERVILLE vocalist/guitarist PETER SHOULDER.

THUNDER disbanded in July this year after their most successful UK tour in their twenty-year history culminated in an emotional sold out show at Hammersmith Apollo.

PETER SHOULDER is one of only three British artists (the other two being Eric Clapton and Peter Green) to win a W.C. Handy Blues Foundation award, presented in Memphis in 2006 for co-writing the American Blues Song of the Year.

LUKE: ‘I met Pete eight years ago and I knew instantly that he had an unbelievable voice that could really move people. He‘s also a very impressive guitar player. We’ve worked together ever since whenever our previous commitments allowed us time.

When THUNDER decided to call it a day earlier in the year, working with Pete was the most obvious next move for me. It felt like we’d been heading that way for a while so I wasn’t about to fight it! The songs we’ve written so far cover a wider musical territory than THUNDER and it’s a wonderful thing for me to be co-writing with someone after so many years of being locked up in a room on my own!’

PETE: ‘Working with Luke has always been a pleasure. Whenever we get together it is always a very creative, free and inspiring experience. It’s an exciting thing to be working on something new with someone who has already had such an illustrious career to date. It all feels very natural.’ THE UNION are currently somewhere deep in the English countryside devoting themselves to the songwriting process and expect to emerge later in the year to perform their debut shows.

Planet Rock is currently streaming The Union's debut album in its entirety at http://www.planetrock.com/Article.asp?i … spid=35830

  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 59

Re: The Union

And you can get a free download from their website if you sign up to the mailing list :-) Great stuff. They did an acoustic cover of Rock and Roll ain't noise pollution (AC/DC) for Classic Rock magazine, blew me away

3 Reply by Curby (edited by Curby 2010-09-07 17:45:18)

  • Curby
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Re: The Union

Well, I swore off posting on this forum a month ago, but something came up and I have to break my silence.  If anyone didn't know The Union's self-titled  album was released a couple weeks ago I'm here to tell you that this is the best rock album I've heard in recent memory.  It has an early seventies feel to it and had this album been released around that time a large percentage of forum members would have rated it a classic.  I had to download it off itunes and got two extra songs.  This is one I'll have to have a hard copy too and will order it soon.

Back to the album:  This has got to be the best sequence of songs on an album with no weak songs.  Instead of packing in all upbeat rockers,  the disc has a perfect blend of fast and slow.  Luke Morley lays down riffs that would make the riffmaster Jimmy Page smile, but clearly it's the singing of Peter Shoulder that's the showcase here.  I've played this album for a few friends and at first listen they all thought they were hearing Bad Company or Paul Rodgers.  When I told them it was a new band from England they couldn't believe it. 

Besides playing a Gibson Flying V, Morley adds a number of different acoustic strings and I even heard a pedal steel and banjo in the mix.  This is one of those albums that your favorite song changes with each song.  I hope some of you check it out and enjoy it as much as me.
Okay......back to my hole.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWvE2c6VCGE

Curby

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Re: The Union

Glad you stuck your head out Curby. I will check that out for sure. Sounds like my kind of music!
Stick it out again, most of us don't bite.  wink
Rick

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  • From: Swindon, UK
  • Registered: 2008-11-13
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Re: The Union

Actually, a lot of that fabulous guitar work is from Pete Shoulder too, including the banjo.  Both he and Luke are very accomplished guitarists who take it in turns to take up the lead or rhythm or acoustic duties.

What is great about The Union album is that not only is the musicianship exquisite and the vocals exceptional, but the songs themselves are extremely well written. 

If you like the album, be sure to catch them on tour around the UK at the end of this month.

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  • From: Swindon, UK
  • Registered: 2008-11-13
  • Posts: 78

Re: The Union

Here's a review on the BBC website, and it's typical of the plaudits the album is getting from fans and critics alike...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/h4b6

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7 Reply by Curby (edited by Curby 2010-09-16 14:23:00)

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Re: The Union

I'm really surprised that my post of last week garnered little response.  I look at some of the artists that are bandied here and have to scratch my head that The Union's excellent release has not been expoused.

  • From: Norddeutschland
  • Registered: 2008-12-03
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Re: The Union

You are not alone Curby!

It is a great album, with great writing and great performances throughout, vocally, instrumentally you name it. It's fabulous rock music the way it should be written and played and everybody on this forum should get a copy to show them how it can still be done.

But they won't, so it may well a remain a 'diamond in the ruff or rough' depending how you like it. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

In the meantime 'til the rest of the world joins us and say's "Wow, how come I missed out on that?", lets just smirk to ourselves and enjoy it safe in the knowledge of what they are all missing.

I'm smirking right now............... cool

No Hits, No Hype.......................Classic Rock Jan 2012
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Re: The Union

Bought it and I'm smirking too Curby.
Rick

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  • From: Waukesha, WI U.S.A.
  • Registered: 2007-09-18
  • Posts: 892

Re: The Union

Curby wrote:

I'm really surprised that my post of last week garnered little response.  I look at some of the artists that are bandied here and have to scratch my head that The Union's excellent release has not been expoused.

Just the way it is here. I've tried pushing Thunder several times and got no or little response.

When I was a child I spoke as a child, But all I heard was how I should get ahead,
Now growing up it ain't anything but all This indecision with these debts and doubts
And worries hanging over my head. When I was a child I spoke as a child,
I wish I could remember what I said.

ReverendPaul's Website

11 Reply by RickB (edited by RickB 2010-09-17 13:34:27)

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Re: The Union

I think a lot of these posts are read and not responded to. Then, filed away in the recesses, browsing the store and....Oh Yeah, so in so said this was hot, think I'll get this. Think of it that way.  cool Sowing seeds and waiting for the crop..
Rick

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  • Curby
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Re: The Union

RickB wrote:

I think a lot of these posts are read and not responded to. Then, filed away in the recesses, browsing the store and....Oh Yeah, so in so said this was hot, think I'll get this. Think of it that way.  cool Sowing seeds and waiting for the crop..
Rick

Thanks guys for stirring the pot.  I hope it gets people thinking.  Some of you know I banished myself from this forum, but I had to say something about this album - it's too damn good.  I went out of town yesterday and played their music for my wife (who usually turns her nose up on Rock music) and she asked me again who's singing in that band.  She thinks like me that Peter Shoulder's a great singer.  Picking a favorite song is real difficult on this one.  When was the last time I had that problem you may ask?  Well...I guess the last one would be Jonny Lang's Lie To Me cd and that's ten years ago.

13 Reply by RickB (edited by RickB 2010-09-17 14:09:06)

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Re: The Union

Curby wrote:
RickB wrote:

I think a lot of these posts are read and not responded to. Then, filed away in the recesses, browsing the store and....Oh Yeah, so in so said this was hot, think I'll get this. Think of it that way.  cool Sowing seeds and waiting for the crop..
Rick

Thanks guys for stirring the pot.  I hope it gets people thinking.  Some of you know I banished myself from this forum, but I had to say something about this album - it's too damn good.  I went out of town yesterday and played their music for my wife (who usually turns her nose up on Rock music) and she asked me again who's singing in that band.  She thinks like me that Peter Shoulder's a great singer.  Picking a favorite song is real difficult on this one.  When was the last time I had that problem you may ask?  Well...I guess the last one would be Jonny Lang's Lie To Me cd and that's ten years ago.

You know... 3 years ago, we went to a big festival where Johnny Lang was headlining. I'd never heard him live and was looking forward to it. All 6 of us looked at each other and said WTF is this,then walked out after the 3rd song. His playing was AWFUL and singing not much better.

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14 Reply by Curby (edited by Curby 2010-09-17 14:28:37)

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Re: The Union

Rick - I had a similar experience as well.  I saw Jonny a year or two after Lie To Me thinking he was some guitar prodigy and was sorely disappointed.  It was some older guy that could play and Jonny's solos were awful.  In the studio though the finished product was pretty good and Lie To Me is still a great album.

Btw, what's your favorite Union song?  Right now mine is "Savior" and "This Time Next Year" really gets inside my head.

  • Registered: 2008-06-16
  • Posts: 4,021

Re: The Union

Curby wrote:
RickB wrote:

I think a lot of these posts are read and not responded to. Then, filed away in the recesses, browsing the store and....Oh Yeah, so in so said this was hot, think I'll get this. Think of it that way.  cool Sowing seeds and waiting for the crop..
Rick

Thanks guys for stirring the pot.  I hope it gets people thinking.  Some of you know I banished myself from this forum, but I had to say something about this album - it's too damn good.  I went out of town yesterday and played their music for my wife (who usually turns her nose up on Rock music) and she asked me again who's singing in that band.  She thinks like me that Peter Shoulder's a great singer.  Picking a favorite song is real difficult on this one.  When was the last time I had that problem you may ask?  Well...I guess the last one would be Jonny Lang's Lie To Me cd and that's ten years ago.

Rack em Up !

I think Rick's right, with all that is posted on here it is hard to keep up and respond to everything. So you absorb what you can and look for other responses, and at some point arrive at a decision. I enjoyed the two songs, but not sure if it's something I need to run out and buy right now. However, and here's the kicker for many, if they came anywhere near here for a concert there would be much heightened interest and I would make an effort to see them if tickets were reasonably priced. I will continue to wait and watch on them, but know that your info is not going down the drain. There are just too many hits on this website for that to happen. Take care Scott and hang around, you have your finger on that music pulse that some of us just don't have time to research. And it is appreciated!

Tres

As corn through a goose, so are the days of our lives
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Re: The Union

Curby, I like those two and The Space Between as well.
Rick

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  • From: Waukesha, WI U.S.A.
  • Registered: 2007-09-18
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Re: The Union

I've been hesitating getting the Union cd as I was a big Thunder fan and wasn't sure I would like anyone but Danny Bowes singing Lukes songs. Broke down and bought it. Came today, included a dvd of their first live show. Holy crap!!!!!! This band kicks major ****!!!

When I was a child I spoke as a child, But all I heard was how I should get ahead,
Now growing up it ain't anything but all This indecision with these debts and doubts
And worries hanging over my head. When I was a child I spoke as a child,
I wish I could remember what I said.

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  • From: Swindon, UK
  • Registered: 2008-11-13
  • Posts: 78

Re: The Union

ReverendPaul wrote:

I've been hesitating getting the Union cd as I was a big Thunder fan and wasn't sure I would like anyone but Danny Bowes singing Lukes songs. Broke down and bought it. Came today, included a dvd of their first live show. Holy crap!!!!!! This band kicks major ****!!!

That DVD was effectively their first live performance.  Great as it is it doesn't really do justice to how much the band have improved since then.   The album really is top notch though.

The Union have just finished a support slot with Thin Lizzy, where they've been picking up more accolades and fans with every show, and they'll soon be on the road again supporting Whitesnake on their UK tour.  Apparently even David Coverdale is now a fan of the band.

Marty

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