Description
It’s a Jungle Out There is the debut album by the American arena-rock combo Mastedon, released on Regency Records in 1989. Mastedon is a studio project formed by former Kansas vocalist John Elefante and his brother Dino. “Mas’te’don – Any of various, large extinct animals resembling the elephant but larger, much larger.” (A note printed on the album sleeve.)
Let me clear up a few things about this long-awaited release from the Elefante brothers. This is not John Elefante‘s new band. It is more a studio side-project to record some good commercial tunes. John handles lead vocals for only half the record and will not tour with the band. Apparently he is waiting for the right time to release his own project.
The songs here are average to excellent commercial hard-rockers with more of a metal bite than John’s work with Kansas. Highlights are the title track, with its heavy guitar lines and Cinderella-like sassy lead vocals; «Islands in the Sky» featuring some Mellencamp-ish acoustic guitars under John’s crystal clear vocals; «Right Hand», a song about our Lord’s authorative position; «Get Up», which was on ‘California Metal 2‘; and the progressive ballad «Shine On».
This impeccably-produced album should please both soft and hard rockers. [Doug Van Pelt, CCM, July 1989]
Girder Music 2020 re-issue
The 1940’s animated Disney character, Dumbo became a hit sensation as a cruelly named elephant who was ridiculed for his large ears. But, Dumbo wasn’t your average elephant and used those massive ears for wings and he could fly! Fast-forward to 1989, when John and Dino Elefante formed the rock band Mastedon and showed the world that Dumbo wasn’t the only elephant who could fly! With larger-than-life melodic hooks and a steady stream of hard rock heroics the band’s debut album, ‘It’s a Jungle Out There!’ took flight and AOR fans could not get enough. Owning Pakaderm Records, running a recording/producing studio, and working with bands like Bride, Petra, The Brave, Barren Cross, Guardian and more, the ex-Kansas duo had a revolving door of rock music stars around at any given time. Not a band as such since it’s very much musicians who were around the studio laying down a vocal, guitar lick, drum solo, etc. The band’s second album literally says, “Thanks to all the mystery guests whose names we are unable to list due to the usual legal entanglement.” The brothers approached Mastedon as a project. With a total of five lead vocalists participating on the debut in addition to three drummers, four bassists and three guitarists, it remained a project in the truest sense of the word. The most easily recognized names include vocalists Dave Robbins (X-Sinner), Dave Amato (Ted Nugent, REO Speedwagon), David Pack (Ambrosia) and Perry Lee (Tracer Fox), guitarists Steff Burns (Y&T) and Dave Amato and bassists John Pierce (Richard Marx) and John Patitucci. John (lead vocals & keyboards) and Dino (rhythm guitar & bass) lend their abilities to the album as well. The album flexes its muscles in places (such as on «It’s A Jungle Out There» and «Love Inhalation») but otherwise it delivers a commercial based sound perfectly suited for FM radio («Glory Bound», «This Is The Day» and «Love That Will Survive»). You will also find a couple of elite ballads, along with a progressive piece, «Right Hand». The crown jewel of the album might be the big-budget-like sonics, compliments of John and Dino. The result is pure, unadulterated AOR perfection. The 2020 Girder Records reissue encapsulates all the magic of the original release for the ultimate in remastered and re-loaded reissues. [Girder Music Promo]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/its-a-jungle-out-there/159048939)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “It’s A Jungle Out There” – 3:53
A2. “Glorybound” – 4:21
A3. “This Is The Day” – 4:14
A4. “Love Inhalation” – 4:42
A5. “Islands In The Sky” – 3:48
Side Two
B1. “Get Up” – 4:02
B2. “Love That Will Survive” – 4:06
B3. “Innocent Girl” – 3:41
B4. “Shine On” – 4:28
B5. “Right Hand” – 6:05
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP and CD by Regency Records. Re-issued by Frontiers Records in November 2009 featuring the following three bonus tracks: “Wasn’t It Love” – 4:42 (a Mastedon song originally featured on the 1987-compilation California Metal), “Islands In The Sky” (Live at Cornerstone ’91) – 5:32, and “Right Hand” (Live at Cornerstone ’91) – 5:49. Remastered for vinyl and re-issued on 12-inch vinyl LP (Yellow with Black Splatter, 200 ex) by Girder Music in 2020, featuring one bonus track, “Wasn’t It Love” (originally featured on the California Metal Compilation). Also re-issued on Gold Disc.
It’s a Jungle Out There, Remastered and pressed on Yellow Vinyl with Black Splatter, Girder Music 2020
CREDITS. Vocals: Coni Gayle, Dave Amato, Dave Pack, Dave Robbins, John Elefante, Perry Lee. Keyboards: John Elefante. Guitar: Dave ‘Pittsy’ Amato, Dino Elefante, Steff Burnbaum. Bass: Dino Elefante, Jimmy ‘Flim’ Johnson, John Pierce, John Patitucci (Fretless bass on track B4). Drums: David Raven, John Elefante, Phil Rowland.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.