Cliff Johnson and his pals of over 20 years combine to define the genre of Power Pop. Rick Nielson produces, and sings background on several of these tracks. Ozzy Osbourne Drummer, Randy Castillo joins in on the single "Mr. Ideal" among many other guests.

29 MP3 Songs in this album (117:31) !
Related styles: Pop: Power Pop, Rock: Album Rock, Mood: Party Music

People who are interested in Beatles Cheap Trick Raspberries should consider this download.


Details:
Cliff Johnson, The name may seem like you know him, it seems familiar, then you may lapse into âWhere have I heard that name before?â

The former New York Yankee?

Not the man who has designed the early computer game, âThe Fools Errandâ?

No, our Cliff Johnson is one of Americaâs greatest hidden treasures. He is, if Robin Zander is the man of 1,000 voices, Cliff is the man of 2,000. He is the only person in Rock and Roll History to have his bands spawn not one, but two members of Cheap Trick, AND have two of his drummers move on to Ozzie Osbourneâs bands.

The only thing missing has been the hit that moves an artist over the top. Cliff has been number one in a small radio market in the Midwest for a song titled âAre You Aloneâ. This career retrospective should fix the lack of a âHit Singleâ. Maybe the track âMaybe I Knowâ? Which takes a new twist on the Lesley Gore hit and turns it into what is the best new Beatles, Turtles, Beach Boys, Ramones & Raspberries inspired piece of Power Pop (Cliff has to be in the first chapter of whatever book is written about Power Pop or it is a fraud) since Bruce Springsteenâs âHungry Heartâ. Or possibly are there some Rock and Roll Radio Stations ready to put Layla and Stairway to Heaven aside for Cliffâs mammoth songs âBoys Must Be Strongâ, heard here in all its raw glory and the Tour De Force version of the Showstopper âFull Moon Turn My Head Around. Who knows which gem it may be!

Where did he come from, and where did he learn those harmonies? Cliff is a Chicago man, from the near west side suburb of Oak Park, a city with a whoâs who of residents (or former residents), including Frank Lloyd Wright, Dan Castellaneta (The voice of Homer Simpson), Daws Butler (the voice of Yogi Bear and Huckleberry Hound, among others), James Dewar (who invented the Twinkie), Ray Kroc (Founder of a little restaurant named McDonalds), and of course. Cliff Johnson, founding member and singer/songwriter of Pezband, dâThumbs, USSA, Off Broadway, Black n Blonde, and most recently, the Cliff Johnson Band.

The Harmonies? Three extremely harmonious older sisters doing (and outdoing) the harmonies on WLS or WCFL in the car made for an extremely competitive voice to fit in to the styling of the Shirelleâs, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield and a host of others. This competitive streak took the esteemed Mr. Johnson to the toppermost of the poppermost in Illinois State gymnastics. These moves made their way onto stages across the country, playing shows with The Beach Boys, Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson, AC/DC, Blackfoot, among others.

Where did these songs come from? Hidden vaults, shoeboxes, safety deposit boxes, they just arrived.
Rose Petals & Razors wonât get us to open our mouths. The music will make your jaw drop. Enjoy the ride.

Album Credits:

Founder/Lead Vocals/Backing Vocals
Cliff Johnson

Guitars
Mimi Betinis including vihuela on "Just In Time"
Rob Harding
John Ivan
Mike Redmond
Pete Comita
Gary Levin
Tom Gawenda
Cliff Johnson 6/12 String Acoustics


Bass
Mike Gorman
John Brant
John Pazdan

Drums
Ken Harck
Tommy Aldridge
Randy Castillo
Gregg Potter
Rick Newhouse
Randy Antlept

Miscellaneous Percussion
Cliff Johnson

Backing Vocals
Mimi Betinis
Mike Gorman
Rob Harding
Rick Nielsen
Gary Levin
Mike Redmond

Keyboards
Scott May
Mimi Betinis
Dave Roberts
Gary Fry

Additional Credits:
Pete Comita - Co-Writer, Performer "Now You Got It Cominâ.
Gary Levin - Backing Vocals and Guitar for "Now You Got It Cominâ.
Randy Castillo â Drummer on âMr. Idealâ.



Producers
Cliff Johnson
Rick Nielsen
Mimi Betinis
Doug McBride
Ken Rasek


Engineers
Doug McBride
Chris Shephard
Mike Sharp
Bill Steed - Howling Sow
Ken Rasek

CD Duplication
Mike Byrne

Cliffs Edge Music / ASCAP

Special Thanks:

My Higher Power
Mimi Betinis, dear friend and co-writer of 35 years
Bill Fitzgerald - Fitzgerald's Roadhouse, Berwyn, IL
Mickey Gentile
Norm Winer and radio station WXRT
Joh Shanahan - Club Metro, Chicago
Phil Bonano
Kevin Allodi
Paddy Houlihan
Doug VanPoppel
Aleksandra Stamenkovich
Patti Johnson
Lisa and Kayla Pedicone
Michael Chinn
Chess Studio Artists
British "Invaders"
Ronnie Spector
Dusty Springfield
Leslie Gore
And all the girl groups of the sixties.
Brian Wilson
Jim Peterick - World Stage Productions
David Bowie
John Lennon
All my family, dear friends and fans.



Cover Art
Jeff@JeffkoJeffko.com
Bill Steed

Love and peace to all.
Fondly,
Cliff

Contact Cliff Johnson at http://CliffJohnsonBand.com & on Facebook.