GEORGE GAKIS & VERY SPECIAL FRIENDS - Too Much Ain't Ever Enough (2012)

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George Gakis is a well known singer/musician in Greece, fronting the hard rock band "The Troublemakers" since the early nineties, releasing three albums.
Lately he has become the most important rock festival promoter in his homeland, meeting big names such as Kip Winger, members of Whitesnake, Scorpions, Bon Jovi, etc.
Besides, Gakis was working on his solo debut CD, "Too Much Ain't Ever Enough", just internationally released via Perris Records.

The pre-production of the songs started some time ago together with his musical right hand and friend guitarist Nikos Zouros, from the Troublemakers.
Thanks to his connections as promoter, Gakis recruited an impressive list of guest star appearances including Joe Lynn Turner, drummers Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow), James Kottak (Scorpions), Mark Cross (Outloud), and many more musicians.

But the most important contribution comes from no-other than Kip Winger co-producing, mixing & mastering, who has given to "Too Much Ain't Ever Enough" a polished and crisp sound.
The style of the album is traditional Hard Rock strongly influenced by Whitesnake with a melodic approach.
This is clear on opener "I Married Trouble", the catchy "License For Love" and the driving "Rebellious Son". Also on one of the best tracks on offer here, "When Opposites Attract", this time with a Rainbowesque feel as well, complete with a cleverly arranged string section.
"Fame" reminds you nineties Kingdom Come, and the enchanting "It Ain't Over Till It's Over" is a power ballad in the British style.
We have American influences too, heard on the melodic rocker "Street Of Broken Dreams", the climatic midtempo in the vein of Slaughter "Under My Skin", or the Ken Tamplin sounding title track "Too Much Ain't Never Enough".
"Days Of Rock 'N' Roll" is a rockin' tribute to the eighties glory days, featuring a classic riff & chorus and a melodic solo.


"Too Much Ain't Ever Enough" is a surprisingly good traditional Hard Rock album with a Melodic Rock approach in terms of sound.
Don't expect raw guitars or screams here, all is really melodic, polished and crispy. The songwriting is more than solid, influenced by the masters of the genre but with a personal touch.
The unknown to me Nick Zouros is a complete guitar player which riffs, melodic solos and occasional keyboards orchestrates the music where the deep and well defined vocals of Gakis - a mix between '80s Coverdale and Ken Tamplin - flows easily.
I am really delighted by the excellent production, which enhances the tight performances of all the musicians involved. Remarkable is the drum work (and the sound obtained) by Mark Cross and the guest legends Bobby Rondinelli and James Kottak.
You will be truly pleased by the classic sounds of "Too Much Ain't Ever Enough", believe me.


01 - I Married Trouble (feat. Mark Cross)
02 - Fame (feat. Mark Cross)
03 - Street of Broken Dreams (feat. Joe Lynn Turner)
04 - Days Of Rock 'N' Roll (feat. Mark Cross)
05 - When Opposites Attract (feat. Bobby Rondinelli & Greg Smith)
06 - Too Much Ain't Never Enough (feat. James Kottak)
07 - License For Love (feat. Mark Cross)
08 - Under My Skin (feat. Mark Cross)
09 - Rebellious Son (feat. Mark Cross)
10 - It Ain't Over Till It's Over (feat. Mark Cross)
11 - Mi Me Koitas (feat. Yiannis Spathas) [bonus track]


George Gakis - vocals, guitar
Nick Zouros - guitars, keyboards
Kostas "J" Tzounis - bass
Diamandis Karagiannakidis - keyboards
Mark Cross (Firewind, Outloud) - drums

Guest Friends:
Joe Lynn Turner - vocals
Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow, Black Sabbath) - drums
James Kottak (Scorpions, Kingdom Come) - drums
Greg Smith (Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent) - bass
Yiannis Spathas (Socrates) - guitar
Babis Saganas - guitar
Byron Tsourapis - mandolin
Panayiotis Voulgaris - string quartet arrangements

Produced by George Gakis & Kip Winger



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