LES FRADKIN: Reality-The Rock Opera

Les Fradkin

Reality-The Rock Opera

© 2003 RRO Entertainment, LLC (783707781624)

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Les Fradkin's 1st Solo CD. The beginning of the Les Fradkin "sonic signature." Textured Pop and FM radio rock with a message. Yes, Asia, ELO, The Moody Blues and Procol Harum morph as Pop rock opera. On RRO-"The Sound Of Your Digital Lifestyle."

notes

FEATURING THE HIT-
"Rehearsals For Retirement."

Influences like Yes, Asia, The Moody Blues, ELO, The Beatles and Procol Harum make up the foundation of this compelling CD of social satire with thought provoking lyrics.Pop rock attains more than the art of the possible... Les Fradkin gives America a "reality check" with his conceptual album,"Reality-The Rock Opera", filled with songs addressing our society's current lifestyles, culture and concerns. The message is put across combining lyrical integrity and dazzling harmonies with a majestic sonic landscape-... All of these ingredients are blended together with a grand styled production. If you love great song craft, mixed with lush production, you'll find it here.

Robert Silverstein of 20th Century Guitar Magazine calls Les: "...a master multi-instrumentalist ...A self-contained one man orchestra...a unique and gifted singer-songwriter."

This CD tells the story of Real Life in America as we live it today. It says thought provoking things about our society and culture, all with hummable and catchy tunes.

If you're a baby boomer- YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS ALBUM!
Check out "Rehearsals For Retirement."

Les wrote all the music and co-wrote the lyrics and co-produced the "Reality-The Rock Opera" CD with his wife, Loretta. In addition, Les sings all the vocals and plays all the instruments including his famous Rickenbacker 12-String Guitar, on this excursion into the heart and mind of American culture.

CONTAINS: a Deluxe 20 Page Booklet with all the lyrics!

A BIT OF BIO:

Les Fradkin is one of the guitar legends of the 1970's. As well as being a veteran member of The Original Cast of Beatlemania, he has found success as a recording artist, composer and producer with MGM Sunflower, ESP-Disk', Bell, Arista, RCA, and Laurie Records. Les has written the well known French hit "La Chansons Des Souvenirs" ("Song Of A Thousand Voices") for the famous Mireille Mathieu. He has played 12 and 6-string Guitar, Bass, Mellotron, and Piano on dozens of Top 40 hit records throughout the early 1970's , scoring many US and UK chart placings throughout his career.

His 12-string guitar, vocals and production with legendary underground psychedelic folk- rock group,The Godz, resulted in several albums for ESP Disk among which "Pass On This Side" (featuring Les' song "God Bless California"), continues to influence and mentor generations of new musicians to this day.

In 1976, Les was selected over thousands of other auditioning guitarists to appear in the original cast of the smash hit Broadway musical "Beatlemania" playing lead guitar and the part of "George Harrison" in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. Running for two and a half years from May 1977 thru October 1979, every show (including over 1200 in New York alone) was sold out and the musicians quickly became celebrities with magazine cover stories ("Newsweek","Time", "People", "Rolling Stone") and many major television show appearances. With his guitar-playing in the international spotlight from the show, Fradkin developed a cult following that has avidly followed his career and made him a celebrity among guitar fans.

He has enjoyed chart success on the net as well with his songs reaching mp3.com's 1 position 16 times! New Gandy Dancer Rock Magazine named Les' CD "A Day At The Beach" it's 2004 Album Of The Year. In addition, Les has performed with The Ventures as 2nd Lead Guitarist. Nokie Edwards of The Ventures has performed with Les on several occasions and is a featured guest on his "While My Guitar Only Plays" CD. In fact, Les has been acknowledged as a guitar virtuoso for over 30 years and he has been featured in issues of 20th Century Guitar Magazine, Pipeline and New Gandy Dancer Magazines.

Today, Les has released 15 solo CD's on his RRO Entertainment Indie label and has had over 300,000 downloads bringing him several substantial hits on Apple iTunes and other download sites across the Internet.

reviews

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  • An impressive album with tunes that stay in your head
    author: John Kennedy

    I can't write record reviews, but I know a good album when I hear one. I'm particularly impressed with the layered musical arrangements, some of which are majestic. Rehearsals For Retirement has stayed inside my head for weeks now. It's one of those classic songs.

  • An amazing rollercoaster of songs and sounds
    author: RockOfAges

    After always having worked in a group situation, this is Les Fradkin's first solo album. An amazing rollercoaster of songs and sounds that takes you right back to the great classic rock albums of the 70's. Les' talent has always been obvious on his previous work, but this one certainly puts his name on the map as a solo artist ! - Rock Of Ages

  • The Phil Spector of the new millennium
    author: Robert Silverstein

    A masterful multi-instrumentalist who came to the attention of this writer through his release of two instrumental symphonic surf guitar rock CDs recorded under the name of Get Wet, guitarist Les Fradkin returned with his long awaited new album in early 2004...and it was worth the wait. A legend of the underground rock scene and studio world since his early ‘70s work with The Godz, Fradkin strikes a universal chord of well...reality with the 17 track Reality - The Rock Opera. A self-contained one man rock orchestra, Fradkin reestablishes himself on the cutting edge with his unique symphonic / synthesized guitars approach. Imagine influences from classic ‘70s groups such as Procol Harum and Moody Blues up through the high tech New Age electronic vibes of Yanni and you get a good idea of Fradkin’s mindset on Reality. An underrated songwriter, vocalist and rock guitar innovator, Fradkin keeps the spirits of Warren Zevon and George Harrison alive with his own probing lyrics and fitting melodies. Pundits into old rock lore will pick up on other cogent influences here like the caustic social satire of Harry Chapin, Turtle rockers Flo & Eddie. Fradkin’s production, engineering and performance of all the instruments—along with the superb co-production from his wife Loretta Fradkin —could turn him into the Phil Spector of the new millennium.- Robert Silverstein, 20th Century Guitar Magazine

  • Best $13 I spent in a loooooong time !
    author: Eddy S. (Consumer)

    Just to let you know that I'm absolutely starting to love your cd !!!!!!! That Who's gonna take care of me line...just can't get it out of my head and hits the right spot every time I hear it. I gotta say, it's a rare thing that, when you play a cd for the first time, you hear there's so much more to it and that you actually have the urge to discover all that ! On top of that, those promises are being fulfilled !!! Best $13 I spent in a loooooong time ! Eddy S. (Consumer)

  • Musically this is a classic "pop-rock opera"
    author: Prognaut.com

    Les Fradkin is another one of those talented multi-instrumentalist who’s given the progressive/pop world a new concept album called "Reality-The Rock Opera". Reality is filled with songs addressing most of today’s current pop-culture and day-to-day concerns. Musically this is a classic "pop-rock opera" following in the traditions of such greats as Yes, Asia,The Moody Blues, Procol Harum, ELO and The Beatles. An interesting side note, Les played George Harrison on the “Beatlemania shows in America. Les’ influences are very obvious when you listen to “Reality" but I’ll name a few that I heard. Asia, ELO, The Moody Blues and The Beatles come to mind. Now if this sounds good to you, please go and purchase a copy for yourself. ~Ron for ProgNaut.com

  • Bloody Brilliant!
    author: Mark Wirtz (The Father of Rock Opera)

    Two words sum it up: "Bloody Brilliant"! An hour or so after listening to "Reality," I had to peel myself off the wall, having been blasted there by Les' TNT production that reduced even Jim Steinman's most opulent work to mere fire side whispers....a stroke of production genius...a most intelligent libretto that makes you not only feel but also think...Check it out for yourself.

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