RHETT FORRESTER (Ex RIOT vocalist – RIP) – High Roller Records set to release “Sessions” #rhettforrester #heavymetal

Before I get into the post, wanted to share this — I was personal friends with Rhett. When he joined RIOT I was in good standing with their management. Rhett was introduced to me via RIOT’s manager and an interview was set up. Rhett and I hit it off. When RIOT disbanded for a short while after BORN IN AMERICA, Rhett was living in Whitestone NY. He used to call me up every Friday/Saturday to pick him, and his at the time girlfriend, up to go to L’amours East in Queens, NY. After that Rhett disappeared from the East coast and a few years laters I learned about his death (murder). I REALLY miss him, the one lunged cowboy was a crazy SOB!!! Nice to see him tributized like this because some of the stuff he did after RIOT That never got released properly was really good (especially DOGBONE). So, RIP my friend, miss ya.

When the late great Rhett Forrester left New York’s Riot after their well received 1983 »Born In America« album, it did not take too long for him to start a solo career, resulting in two studio album: »Gone With The Wind« issued in 1984 and »Even The Score« (1988). On January 22nd 1994, the legendary singer was shot and killed in Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 37.

The »Sessions« compilation brings together a number of different projects that Rhett Forrester was involved with across his all too brief but nevertheless impressive career. For the most part these recordings have fallen into relative obscurity compared to the more well known Rhett Forrester releases, be it with the legendary Riot, Jack Starr’s first solo record »Out Of The Darkness« or Rhett’s own solo output. First up are the »Dirty Water Sessions«, which were first heard on the long out of print compilation album »Hell Or Highwater«, recorded in Texas with guitarist/co-writer Jonathan Grell …formerly of the band Winterkat.

These songs represent the very last recordings Rhett made before his untimely death. Next up is the “Dogbone” project, a tentative band Rhett formed with then former Keel members Brian Jay and Dwain Miller. These recordings got a limited semi-official release in the mid 1990s, but have largely been unheard until now. In addition »Sessions« includes the sole track from the “Thrasher” project album featuring Rhett.

Masterminded by Andrew Duck McDonald and Carl Canedy this track also featured on the »Hell Or Highwater« compilation. Closing out this release are the demos for Dr. Dirty, known as »The Clear Lake Sessions«. These recordings formed the basis of what became the full Dr. Dirty recordings featured on the High Roller Records release »Rhett Forrester – The Canadian Years«.

Tracklist:

(Dirty Water Sessions)
01 Hell or Highwater
02 Hard Drivin’ Woman
03 Child of Time

(Dogbone Sessions)
04 If You Think You’re Nasty
05 Double Trouble
06 Dog Fight Alley
07 Too Far too Fast
08 Touch the Sun
09 If My Heart Could Sing
10 Gimme Some Lovin’
11 Do You Swallow

(Thrasher Project)
12 Bad Boys

(Clear Lake Sessions)
13 Hold on
14 In and Out
15 Love Song
16 Redbone Rock
17 Too Late

RHETT FORRESTER – Sessions (HRR 868) DLP / CD
Out now! Order at www.hrrecords.de/RHETT-FORRESTER

Vinyl: ltd 750, 250 x black, 300 x golden, 200 x grey double vinyl, poster, A5 photo card, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover w/ 5mm spine

CD: jewelcase housed in a slipcase

Mastered by Patrick W. Engel in September 2021. (www.engel-mastering.com)