STAGE DOLLS – Dig [Japan HR/HM 1000 Vol.5 series Limited Release] (2022)

Universal Music Japan did it again, a new campaign of their ‘HR/HM 1000‘ series – the Limited Release reissue of long time out of print albums from their Hard Rock / Heavy Metal catalog at the price of 1000 Yen = about 9 USD.
Now it’s time for the second 2022 batch, ”HR-HM 1000 Vol.5”. And as part of these there’s the out of print “Dig“, by Norwegian melodic rock wonders STAGE DOLLS.

It was 1997, and fortunately ignoring trends, STAGE DOLLS delivered here one of the best AOR / Melodic Rock albums from the second half on the Nineties. While ‘Commandos’ has that lovely mid-Eighties sound, and self-titled ‘Stage Dolls’ that unrepeatable atmosphere, “Dig” is the band’s most complete recording.
There’s exquisite refrains, smooth choruses, elegance in arrangements… “Dig” has it all.

After a Greatest Hits album and touring Europe, the band took a break as Torstein Flakne not only continued with his songwriting providing songs for others like Morten Harket of a-ha or Danish singer Sanne Salomonsen, but he also made an solo album, “Shoot the moon”, in 1995.
For the recording of “Dig”, a new member was added, Morten Skogstad on drums. The album produced the classic “Run when it’s Over” and the Scandi radio hit “Good times. The title track rocks, and songs like ”Ain’t seen you” and “Queens” are highlights.

01 – Run when it’s over
02 – It’s only love
03 – Dig
04 – Good times
05 – Talkin’ to me
06 – Cold air breezin’
07 – A little R&R
08 – Like it
09 – Ain’t seen you
10 – Queens
11 – Do you love me

Torstein Flakne – vocals, guitars
Terje Storti – bass, vocals
Steinar Krokstad – drums, vocals
Morten Skogstad – drums
Trond Hustad – keyboards
Dag Ingebrigtsen, Aslak Johnsen – backing vocals

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