Released in 1997 on Pony Canyon Records

THE BAND:
Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow, Deep Purple, Yngwie Malmsteen)-vocals
Jeff Watson- (Night Ranger)-guitars
Bob Daisley -(Rainbow, Ozzy, Uriah Heep and various studio work)-bass
Carmine Appice -(Vanilla Fudge, King Kobra)-drums

TRACK-BY-TRACK: 

1. "Circle of Hands" -Jeff and Bob kick this tracks intro off. Jeff play's a very laid back picking pattern. This picking pattern was recorded where it sounds like two different guitarist, one on the left channel and one on the right. This is the first sign of the one hundred years experience of studio work these four guys have. Underneath the guitar arrangement Bob thumps out simple whole notes. Then every third bar of the bass line is exactly as the guitar arrangement. These whole notes of the bass line give the intro a lot of dynamics and depth. The vocal sound of the verses are done in a style your not use to hearing from Joe much. They're more that back and mysterious sounding. Which is great because it is just another mark upon the chock board that shows Joe is very talented and underrated. As a drummer one thing I noticed quick was Bob and Jeff playing is so strong that you really do not pick up on Carmine's disti! nct drum style. The chorus is very laid back and has a real simple groove to it. They added an echo to the backing vocals of the choruses, which was a nice effect for this track. The breakdown section not only has a solo over but also a huge harmony vocal section.

2. "Cradle to the Crave"- This track kicks off with a children-playing effect. Musically the track opens with a huge Daisley bass line with a minor lead guitar scale. Joe's vocals on the track have a very haunting effect to them. They add a backing harmony section at the end of each verse, great writing technique. You talk about hooks; this chorus has about the biggest hook within it I've ever heard. No amount of words could describe how huge it is. The first half of the solo has a very Pink Floyd effect to it. The song is very short.

3. "Misery Me"-This track opens with a very abstract bass effect. When the track kicks in it really has a Pink Floyd live effect to the listener. This track has a very strange lyrical arrangement that consist of a lot of backing harmonies. It's very hard to tell but Joe's vocals sound overdubbed on this track. Throughout the track Joe really shows great vocal control. The solo for the track is very short. During the chorus after the solo Bob completely blows me away with a break in the pattern he was playing.

4. "Planet Earth"- Jeff chose the appropriate guitar for this track. The guitar's sound has a very relaxing feel to it. Vocally if Joe is singing upon this track it completely does not sound like him. The overdubbed lead guitar rhythm sections were placed in very good spots upon the arrangement. The backing harmonies of the vocal sections have a very druggy effect on the listener. At the end of the track there is a small "news commentary' section.
5. "For the Moment"-This track opens with Jeff, Bob, and Carmine. The bass lines of the intro sound reverbed a little. The lyrical arrangement have a very sixty's influence to them. This track has a few very distinct backing harmonies laced within the vocal arrangement of the verse. After the first chorus Carmine plays several drum fills where you can hear his distinct playing style. I really liked the sound of the backing vocals of the chorus. The guitar patterns are fairly simple and straightforward, nothing to ballsy. The track all in all is just laid back and real solid. The solo builds with intensity as it progresses along.

6. "Seas of Eternity"-The first half of the intro opens with a simple strumming electric pattern. The second half of the intro has a real solid heavy bass line. The lyrical arrangement to put it blunt is an acid trip through the mind. There really is not a main guitar arrangement on this track. The guitar arrangement more or less is real small lead rhythms hooked together. The added a lot of bass effect to Joe's vocals, which make the vocals, sound real heavy. The solo is very distant sounding and underscored by Bobs heavy bass feel.

7. "The Child Within" -This track opens with a Pink Floyd "The Wall" type guitar pattern. Before going into a solid picking electric arrangement. Joe shows his vocal control on this track quite a bit. The way the micing is done on this track makes it sound like it is way off in the distance. Carmine's drum fills have a real heavy sound to them. There was no solo on this track.

8. "One Common Law"-This track opens with a real simple early eighties sounding pop arrangement. The vocals through the verse sound overdubbed. The vocal arrangements have a couple real cool backing harmony sections. The break down section of the song has a very abstract feel to it. The musical arrangement really shows Jeff and Bob's years of experience by changing rhythms a couple times.

9. "Mother Earth" -This track is a twelve bar blues song. Musically it really expresses the bands love for the blues. Bob locks into a nasty sounding groove where any fan of the blues would get off on. There was just one complaint with this track it was way to short.

• When you figure the years of experience: Joe, Jeff, Bob, and Carmine have been in the music business, it tally's up to over one hundred years of experience. That is a hell of a lot of talent!! So even before playing this release you should know these guys know what they're doing in the studio. While writing this review I couldn't help but think that the sad thing is over the years these four members did not receive the actual credit they have deserved. "Planet Earth" is a lot like most of Pink Floyd's stuff. The music surrounds you and opens up your senses. Which makes you feel like you are in the control room while the band recorded the release. This is very difficult to capture this feeling unless you know what your doing. If you have not already purchased this release it can be bought here http://www.jeffwatson.com/jwmapecd.html for $13.99 U.S. dollars. And believe me it's worth every penny.

Blast Magazine
ATTN:  Darrell P. Finley
534 East Union Street
Hartford, KY  42347
(270) 298-9555
Blast Magazine
dpfinley@blastmagazine.net



MOTHER’S ARMY Planet Earth
If you’re looking for hard rock that has been created with brains, and a
healthy dose of muscular musicianship then look no further than this 1997
sophomore release from super-group Mother’s Army. Workhorse bassist Bob
Daisley, (Ozzy, Rainbow) guitarist Jeff Watson, (Night Ranger) vocalist Joe
Lynn Turner, (Rainbow, Deep Purple) and drummer Carmine Appice (Ozzy, Vanilla
Fudge) have put together 9 tracks of powerful hard rock that’ll have you
beggin’ for more upon each track’s completion. Songs like "Cradle To The
Grave," and "Planet Earth," wrap a socially, and environmentally
conscious vibe around Daisley and Watson’s stunning performances, and Joe Lynn
Turner’s smokey vocals to create material that is both slammin’ and thought provoking
at the same time without becoming preachy. Because of their veteran status the
band are tight as a glove, and Daisley, and Appice lock in like nobody’s
business on the bouncy "Misery Me," and the Middle Eastern tinged
"For The Moment," to prove that these guys are no slouches in any
department. Planet Earth is solid from start to finish, and as an added bonus
the band even slide into a piano/bass driven, blues-y, saloon style groove on
the last track "Mother Earth." to bring the album to an end. 

-Tim Melton

MOTHER’S ARMY Fire On The Moon 

With the addition of drummer Ansley Dunbar for their 3rd
release, Fire On The Moon, bassist Bob Daisley, vocalist Joe Lynn Turner, and
guitarist Jeff Watson have created a far heavier effort than their 2 previous releases,
but with this said there’s no evidence that the band have forsaken song writing
for the increased heaviness. The albums second track, "Way Of The
World," shows Daisley laying it down in his trademark solid fashion and
joining the fleet fingered Watson in hammering out unison guitar/bass lines
that snake and weave around each other then join as one sonic united front.
There’s no wide eyed naivety in the lyrics either because Mother’s Army
have taken it upon themselves to soak in the world around them, it’s times of
beauty, and it’s times of injustice, and found a way to relate these topics in
a way that still rocks. Supergroup, being a term that has been beaten to death
describing lesser bands, seems to be a moniker that the members of Mother’s Army
actually live up to. There’s a little Beatle’s influence at times, and the
track "A Day In The Night," shows the band at it’s melodic best,
while the title track, and "Another Dimension" take you to places on
the low end musical map that only Daisley could be responsible for drawing the
blueprint for. 

-Tim Melton


MOTHER’S ARMY  - Fire On The Moon’ (1997) http://www.jeffwatson.com


This is the ‘supergroup’ consisting of  Night Ranger’s Jeff Watson, Bob 
Daisley (Ozzy/Uriah Heep/Rainbow), Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow) and Aynsley 
Dunbar (Frank Zappa/Journey/UFO). The album kicks-off with the guitar heavy 
‘N.D.E.’, a great slab of hard rock. ‘Way of the World’ has some very 
Sabbath-like riffs and a great vocal from Joe Lynn  Turner. The whole
album 
has great riffs, which coupled with Turner’s vocals gives the album a very 
Rainbow like feel – especially ‘’The Code’. Highlight of the album for me 
has to be ‘Common Ground’ which is enhanced with some sitar and Indian 
backing vocals – a truly awesome track! It reminds me of Crimson Glory with 
their ‘Strange & Beautiful’ album. Mellower moments come in the shape of 
‘The Lonely’, with a slow burning acoustic guitar leading into a power 
ballad. The album finishes with ‘Another Dimension’, a stomper to round the 
album off – again it reminds me of Tuner-era Rainbow or even classic Dio, 
with the added touch of some violin.


The bottom end of Daisley and Dunbar work well, with the production very 
clear and crisp. Jeff Watson does some great soloing – he can really shine 
when away from the twin guitar sound of Night Ranger. This album must also 
be one of Joe Lynn Turner’s best vocal performances – ranging from the 
rockers to mellower moments.


If you enjoy Rainbow, Night Ranger, Dio or Joe Lynn Turner’s recent solo 
efforts, then get hold of this album.

Jason Ritchie



MOTHER’S ARMY  - ‘Planet Earth’ (1997) http://www.jeffwatson.com



The same line-up as ‘Fire on the Moon’, except that drumming here is 
Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge/King Cobra/Blue Murder/Guitar Zeus). Opener 
‘Circle of Hands’ is a mid-tempo rocker with a Night Ranger-style chorus. 



‘Misery Me’ has a catchy chorus, coupled with some tasty guitar playing from 
Jeff Watson.  ‘Planet Earth’ continues the lyrical theme of world 
environmentalism, with a harmony filled ballad. ‘Seas of Eternity’ has a 
slow blues ballad feel with subtle guitar touches from Jeff Watson, which 
are all rounded out with some gentle keyboards. ‘One Common Law’ contains 
great harmony vocals – a slow burner track and another highlight - Joe Lynn 
Turner’s great vocal talents. Closing track ‘Mother Earth’ has a smoky bar 
room blues feel, a real change from the rest of the album. Reminds me of the 
sort of track Ian Gillan loves to do on his solo work.



Again the entire band are stars of the show, with the album overall 
lighter in feel than ‘Fire on the Moon’ and much more blues based in
style.  
A worthy addition to any rock fans’ collection.

Jason Ritchie