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Dale Collins is a British Columbia guitarist / songwriter, who has been in the music business since the age of 14. A guitarist for some 28 years, Dale is also experienced in various technical aspects of the recording industry. Currently, Dale is also involved with a Victoria based band called SLEEPING DOGS LIE. In the winter break of 1996-97 Dale hooked up with Canadian born singer Bernie Shaw for a brief club venture called IN TRANSIT. Shaw has been part of the European music scene since he landed in London, England in late '79 and sang on the first Lp by GRAND PRIX, before going on to STRATUS, PRAYING MANTIS, and since the beginning of 1987 -- URIAH HEEP. He has been the legendary band's longest serving lead singer, singing on 2 live discs (including the ground-breaking "Live In Moscow" set), as well as 4 studio discs, most notably the latest 2 critically acclaimed albums - "Sea Of Light" (95) and "Sonic Origami" (98). During that winter break Collins and Shaw recorded some tracks together which are now being released as "Picking Locks" on Dale's own indie label L.T Productions. The CD includes 2 Collins/Shaw penned tracks -> "Here We Go" - a smooth mid-tempo rocker that will appeal to AOR rockers and modern day Heep fans.
"Hey Jimi" - this one starts out acousticly, and the lyrics make it clear that it's in tribute to Jimi Hendrix. The electric guitar eventually comes in, while the track boasts acoustic and electric solos from Dale Collins. The song has a great peaceful feel to it, as it moves along at a slower pace.
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"Rock On" - this is a cover of the David Essex hit from 1972. It's a simple sounding song that moves along at a steady pace, complimented by Dale's solo, and sounding fresh while not straying too far from the original. Dale Collins, [who cites such guitar influences as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Peter Frampton, Eric Johnston, David Gilmour, and Steve Morse] comments "It was great to work with Bernie! On 'Picking Locks' it is just Bernie and I with the exception of about 8 bars of drumming (done by a friend)." The 3 track CD was recorded and mixed right in Collin's own home studio, in Victoria, BC, and will be made available through Dale Collin's web site.>
Watch this site for an exclusive interview with Dale in the near future............
See the Uriah-Heep.com story about the release here KJJ |
The song starts with some opening licks from Dale before the drum beat, and Bernie comes in. Dale's got his own cool guitar sound that can be compared to the likes of Neal Schon [Journey] or Paul Dean [Loverboy] (both primarily blues based AOR sounding players). Dale's solo fits perfectly here, and he throws in some nice fills as the song fades out with Bernie repeating the same lines.
This 3 song release is just the beginning of Bernie Shaw and Dale Collins work together, with plans for a full length album to be done later on.
So far, Dale is happy with the response the CD has generated just through the Heep network's alone - "I'm getting e-mail from Australia, Israel, New York, Holland, Germany, Canada.......and most (or all) stress how much of a Bernie Shaw fan they are and that they really want to hear the CD." Picking Locks has been featured on Paperlate Radio from Holland, as well as receiving reviews and support from the various Heep fan clubs, web sites, and the local press in British Columbia.