GLENN HUGHES – From Now On… (originally 1994, 1996 Explorer records reissue)
Glenn Hughes had his struggles, from being kicked out of Black Sabbath in 1986 to a long coked-out period of inactivity. He began making waves again in 1992, but it was 1994’s From Now On… solo CD that really inaugurated the lean, clean & mean Glenn Hughes that still dominates today. He has continued to release powerful soulful rock music under his own name and with supergroups such as Black Country Communion and California Breed. The critics can’t stop raving about Glenn Hughes today, but in 1994 he wasn’t getting the attention deserved.
From Now On… features a Swedish band including two members of Europe: John Levén (bass) and Mic Michaeli (keys). Comparing this album to the music that Levén and Michaeli make today, you can hear their influence. There is the soul but also big big hooks. The first opening track however is wide open and takes no prisoners. “Picking up the Pieces” probably had an autobiographical meaning for Glenn, but the track is fast-forward bluesy metal as his old band Deep Purple have been known to do. His voice is enviable, powerful and clean. John Levén is a superb musician, but one only wishes it was Glenn on bass too, since he is the original maestro. He takes it to a slower, sexier groove on “Lay My Body Down”, with big soul vocals.
Epic melodic rock diamonds begin to take shape with “The Only One”. This epic track echoes some of the big choruses Glenn did with the supergroup Phenomena. Think old tracks like “Kiss of Fire” and “Still the Night” from 1985. “The Only One” is a successor to those tracks, with a big melodic chorus and a killer performance from Glenn. “Why Don’t You Stay” is a soul ballad, but still in gear with the big 80s-style Glenn Hughes choruses. It is closest in direction to Europe (a-la Prisoners in Paradise). Hold on tight because that chorus crashes in like a tidal wave.
Back in the Deep Purple days, Glenn was the funky one. “Walkin’ on the Water” brings a little bit of that funk vibe, but the focus is Glenn’s slinky vocalizin’. A little bit of the Sabbath chug emerges on “The Liar” which acts as a natural side closer. Rainbow’s 1995 album Stranger in Us All has a song with similar hooks called “Cold Hearted Woman”, but this is probably just coincidence. Wicked guitars dart across the speakers as Glenn protests, “You’re the one they call the liar!”
There is a subtle progressive vibe to “Into the Void”. Glenn sings it soft on the verses, and with power on the choruses. You can hear the spooky keyboard influence of Mic Michaeli who co-wrote the song. An unreleased Hughes/Thrall song finally emerged on “You Were Always There”, a funky little 80s number. Re-recorded for 1994, it nonetheless sounds like period in which it was written. Unfortunately “You Were Always There” begins a sluggish patch midway through the second side. Rolling into the ballad “If You Don’t Want Me To”, nothing stands out like the previous songs. “Devil in You”, another unreleased Hughes/Thrall song, begins to get things on track. “Homeland” really delivers and it’s back to the soaring power choruses. (And no, it’s not the same song as Europe’s “Homeland” on Prisoners in Paradise. This one is co-written by Mel Galley.) It’s bright days indeed, and “Homeland” is a beacon. This builds up to the original CD closer and title track “From Now On…”. This track pulses with understated power, and the incredible “voice of rock”, as Glenn is called.
The 1996 Explorer records reiusse adds two bonus tracks: remakes of Deep Purple’s “Burn” (from Burn, 1974) and “You Keep on Moving” (from Come Taste the Band, 1975). While Deep Purple re-recordings are numerous (hello Joe Lynn Turner and David Coverdale!), these two by Glenn Hughes are among the best you will find. It is true that Whitesnake’s The Purple Album also has re-recordings of these two songs. Glenn’s versions get the edge, due to the sheer power of the man’s vocal performance. He didn’t have to downtune the songs as David did.
No album by Glenn Hughes will lead you astray, but From Now On… (with or without bonus tracks) is easy and cheap to find used. Why not make it your first solo purchase from the man that the Japanese call “The God of Voice”?
4/5 stars
Good album. I’m never drawn to this as much as some of his other solo albums but it’s definitely worth checking out and a good place to start. I know my copy has Burn but not sure about You Keep on Moving though, going to have to check that!
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My old copy just had Burn. I traded up for this one when I saw it come in. Even swap!
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Yeah, I think mine just has Burn then… I’ll keep an eye out for this edition.
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Both tracks are also on the hits CD The Voice of Rock, so be aware of that too!
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Looks like that’s a few hundred quid now so I’ll stick with this haha
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You’re kidding! I have it and have loved it for many years — all tracks from the 80s and 90s collaborations — but I had no idea it was valuable.
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Turns out that was just stupid inflated Amazon prices! Still about £50 for a mint version on Discogs though.
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Woah that’s still $100 Canadian! A pretty nice steak dinner for two.
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Haha true! Is it a keeper though, or do you have all those tracks on other discs now?
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No because there are so many. Lots of one-offs from other people’s albums. John Norum and Phenomenon among many!
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Ah well… no steak dinner for you!
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Do you think John Levén and Mic Michaeli joined up with Hughes cause they wanted a wee break from the Evil Joey?
All joking aside though, this sounds pretty good. Been doing some reading on Hughes and think I’m gonna try pick up an album or two. I’ll add this one to the list, cause sounds like I might dig it.
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Hahaha! The truth is Europe were just broken up at the time so they needed something to do. Joey was working on his solo career. Europe reunited around 1999.
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Hughes should give u and Jompa a lifetime Backstage Pass for all the props that you’s have bestowed upon him!
My first real time listening to Hughes sing was not by Purple but on the fantastic Gary Moore Run For Cover album…Hughes sang on a few tracks but it all fell apart when he and Moore had a falling out shortly after…still though the Cat brought it on that record…
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That’s a great album Deke. Cool Lynott songs on that album too.
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Adding to wishlist.
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That’s Right! Military Man is Gold! Love that track!
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Didn’t know they had a falling out. Sad when that happens and the person is no longer around to make amends!
Jon and I will gladly take the backstage passes.
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Yes, we will. ;-)
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I know it imploded around the time of Run For Covers release don’t know if they patched things up before Moore’s death though…
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I read that Paul McCartney and John Lennon became friendly again just before John died. That makes me happy…old grudges mean nothing over time! I was surprised as anyone when Gary Moore passed.
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Yeah me too! He was back to playing rock guitar again and even enlisted once again Neil Carter(x-UFO on keys and guitar) ..shame really….
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The God of Voice? Voice of Rock? Rock of the Gods?! It’s like the Dick York/Dick Sargeant/Sargeant York line from Wayne’s World!
Sounds promising in any event!
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Call him what you want just don’t forget to call him!
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I love this album. I think it’s his second best solo album right behind Resonate.
Also, drummer Hempo Hildén got the boot right after this album was released and Ian Haugland took his place – he’s in the video for Why Don’t You Stay.
Speaking of which, me and some of my friends are in the video for Pickin’ Up The Pieces, we were at the front row at the gig where the video was shot. We’re only in it for a second or so, though…
I also have to go a little besserwisser on you. The project Hughes was in was called Phenomena, not Phenomenon. An amazing album, that one.
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Thanks Jon! I knew Haugland was with Hughes at some point, because he was on a live album I saw. But I wasn’t sure the circumstances around that. Interesting that Glenn Hughes was working with 3/5ths of Europe. Like I said I think you can hear their influence on songs like Homeland.
I wanna see that video but I couldn’t find it!
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Maybe this works.
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Very impressed with the track you put on here. I know it’s cliched or just a bad joke but Glen Hughes does have some soul.
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Good stuff eh? I didn’t know he did a video for it until I looked it up. And you can definitely see the guys from Europe in the video.
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Damn, this sounds amazing. And it has that bit from AA in the liner notes.
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Yup Glenn is very very very very born again!
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He said that he found God and all that, but his band members used to call him the man-whore behind his back on the tour for this album because he pretty much nailed everything that moved. And he also had a thing for waving around his dong whenever he could. Apparently he was kinda proud of his size…
Too much information…? ;-)
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HAHAHAHAH!
Oh hahahahahaha. Why does this A) not surprise me, and B) make me like Glenn even more?
Maybe he’s one of those Steve Vai Christians who think every time you fuck, you’re fucking God?
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Yeah, I’d believe that. Outwardly he had the whole cleaned-up Christian thing going on but he admitted in his book that he had several substantial relapses during this period and didn’t properly get clean until ~1997 or so. There’s also some live footage from the Feel tour where he goes berserk at a guy in the audience and just comes off as outright unhinged.
Hughes is a one of a kind talent but a VERY strange guy.
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I liked the old days when we didn’t know anything about anybody! LOL
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The Burning Japan Live album recorded on that tour (I think) with half of Europe as the band is stellar too. You got that one? (I expect you do!)
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Sigh. No I don’t. Sometimes you to have to make choices…I don’t think I have any live solo Hughes.
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It’s a solid live album with a good selection of new and old stuff including an absolutely storming rendition of “Burn” which puts the various Coverdale live recorded versions to shame. Gerrit if you find it.
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