Rick Cua 4 Remastered CD Bundle (2022 Girder Records, Legends of Rock, w/ 2 Collectors Trading Cards)

Rick Cua 4 Remastered CD Bundle (2022 Girder Records, Legends of Rock, w/ 2 Collectors Trading Cards)

$ 1,472.00

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KOO'-AH (FIRST TIME ON CD) With Collectors Card #74
No Mystery (FIRST TIME ON CD)
You're My Road (FIRST TIME ON CD)
Wear Your Colors (W/Collectors Card #75
High-Quality Expanded 8 Page Booklet with photos and lyrics
Jewel Case CD
 2022 Girder Records
Legends of Rock™ Edition 
Release Date: March 11, 2022

ABOUT THE RELEASES

Rick Cua was a force to be reckoned with in the world of contemporary Christian music recording 11 solo albums. An Italian American sporting a cool leather jacket, Cua was the bass player for the successful southern rock band The Outlaws. Rick Cua's first 4 albums were and still are among the top classic AOR albums to come out of the widely successful Christian Rock scene however the first 3 have never been on CD until NOW.

Koo'-ah (1982), No Mystery (1983), You're My Road (1985) and Wear Your Colors (1986), have been completely remastered in these officially licensed, limited edition Legends of Rock™ CD pressings with expanded 8 page booklets, collectors trading cards (in 2 of them) and restored original covers. Rick was also heavily involved in the process and was kind enough to provide insights and reflections on each release.

Koo'-ah

Just in case you did not know how to pronounce Rick’s last name, he made it incredibly easy on us by entitling his debut album with the phonetics of his family name. Rick was in The Outlaws when Joe English introduced Rick to the workings of the Christian music industry. At that time Joe was riding the CCM charts at number one with his Refuge Records debut. Refuge was a label created for general market artists to share their faith-inspired music. Cua wrote his first Christian song You Can Still Rock & Roll, which caught the attention of Refuge, hence a record contract. Koo-ah, released in 1983, created a solid buzz in the CCM market. The supporting cast of musicians on the album include Joe English, Jimmy Hall and Mike Duke of southern rock band Wet Willie, four band members from The Outlaws, and Robbie Dupree, who made the charts in 1980 with his hit Steal Away. The rollicking You Can Still Rock & Roll reached number one on the Christian music charts.

Tracks like Fly Me To Heaven, The Rock Was Rolled Away, and Crossfire feature hook-laden guitar, solid drumming, vibrant keys, and female backing vocals, all prime ingredients conducive for Southern-flavored rock. Eternity is a memorable mid-tempo rock ballad with a textured interplay between the key arrangement and the soaring guitars soloing. On Crossfire, there is a lyrical mention of Rosasco’s Roadside Bar which may well be tongue-in-cheek since John Rosasco was Cua’s manager.

Another steady rocker, I Wanna Be Like You, divvies out some fun guitar lick exchanges between Muscle Schoals player Will McFarlane and Freddie Salem of The Outlaws. There is also that signature drum sound of Joe English. The closing track, Melt My Heart, is a swinging honky-tonk tune with Cua laying down funky bass, Mike Duke of Wet Willie plunkering out bar room piano, and Robbie Dupree wailing on his harmonica.

Koo-ah is a classic well-loved album that showed up at a pivotal time for Christian rockers. –Doug Peterson, Down The Line zine

FLY ME TO HEAVEN 3:38
SPIRIT 3:53
THE ROCK WAS ROLLED AWAY 3:14
ETERNITY 407
HEAVEN WAS MADE FOR EVERYBODY 3:34
YOU CAN STILL ROCK 'N ROLL 3:01
CROSSFIRE 3:19
JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE 3:56
I WANNA BE LIKE YOU 446
MELT MY HEART 2:53

Rick reflects on Koo-Ah

Koo-ah was my first contemporary Christian album. I was doing double duty when I recorded it because I was still in the Arista group The Outlaws. The first record I made with The Outlaws put me on the big stage and went gold in the US and Canada very quickly. It was a fun time for sure and with great people that became lifelong friends. As amazing as that experience was I knew God had other plans for me as well.

The thought that propelled me into a new season was this; if I had 90 minutes with an audience I wanted to use that time not just to entertain them but give them hope in Jesus for the rest of their lives. I stayed with the outlaws for 3 1/2 years but then left the band and took a big risk that I remain grateful for to this day.

Koo-ah started it all and the making and touring of that record brings back memories that still put a huge smile on my face.

CREDITS

Executive Producer: Ray Nenow

Produced & Arranged by John Rosasco & Rick Cua for Primacy Productions
Engineered by Jeff Levine
Assistant Engineers: Jim Baird & Haran Hunter
Recorded at Glaser Recording Studio, Nashville, TN. &
Lower Level Studio, Nashville, TN.
Album Cover Design: Bill Brunt, Private Eye Studio

Photography: Larry Dixon

Special Guest appearance by Hughie Thomasson of The Outlaws

Musician credits:

Fly Me to Heaven
Lead vocals & bass: Rick Cua; Guitars: Freddie Salem;
Keyboards: John Rosasco; Organ: Jeff Levine; Drums: David Dix; Percussion: Matt Greeley; Background vocals: Robbie Dupree, Gary Pigg, Marty McCall, John Rosasco

Spirit

Lead vocals & bass: Rick Cua;

Guitars: Freddie Salem, Hughie Thomasson; Guitar solo: Hughie Thomasson;

Piano: Mike Duke; Synthesizer: Alan Steinberger;
Drums: David Dix; Background vocals: Diane Tidwell,
Lisa Silver, Donna McElroy

The Rock Was Rolled Away
Lead vocals & bass: Rick Cua; Guitars: Freddie Salem; Guitar solo: Billy Jones; Piano: Mike Duke; Drums: David Dix; Percussion: Matt Greeley; Background vocals: Diane Tidwell, Lisa Silver, Donna McElroy

Eternity
Lead vocals & bass: Rick Cua; Guitars: Freddie Salem; Acoustic guitar: Hughie Thomasson; First guitar solo:
Ron DeRollo; Second guitar solo: Freddie Salem; Piano: John Rosasco; Fender Rhodes: Larry Arlotta; Synthesizer
& chimes: Alan Steinberger; Drums: Joe English;
Background vocals: Diane Tidwell, Lisa Silver, Donna McElroy

Heaven Was Made for Everybody
Lead vocals & bass: Rick Cua; Guitars: Will McFarlane; Piano: Larry Arlotta; Organ: John Rosasco;
Drums: Joe English; Percussion: Matt Greeley;
Background vocals: Diane Tidwell, Lisa Silver, Donna McElroy

You Can Still Rock ‘n Roll
Lead vocals & bass: Rick Cua; Guitars: Freddie Salem; Piano: Mike Duke; Sax solo: Dennis Solee; Drums: David Dix; Percussion: Matt Greeley; Background vocals: Jimmy Hall, Matt Greeley

Crossfire
Lead vocals & bass: Rick Cua; Guitars: Freddie Salem,
Billy Jones, Will McFarlane; Piano: Mike Duke; Synthesizer: Alan Steinberger; Drums: David Dix; Background vocals: Diane Tidwell, Lisa Silver, Donna McElroy

Just a Little Bit More
Lead vocals & bass: Rick Cua; Guitars: Will McFarlane,
Ron DeRollo; Keyboards: John Rosasco; Vibes: Alan Steinberger; Sax solo: Dennis Solee; Drums: Joe English; Percussion: Terry McMillan; Background vocals: Diane Tidwell, Lisa Silver, Donna McElroy

I Wanna Be Like You
Lead vocals & bass: Rick Cua; Guitars: Freddie Salem,
Will McFarlane; Guitar solo: Freddie Salem;
Piano: John Rosasco; Fender Rhodes: Larry Arlotta;
Drums: Joe English; Percussion: Matt Greeley;
Background vocals: Diane Tidwell, Lisa Silver, Donna McElroy

Melt My Heart
Lead vocals & bass: Rick Cua; Guitars: Will McFarlane; Piano: Mike Duke; Harmonica solo: Robbie Dupree;
Drums: David Dix; Background vocals: Diane Tidwell,
Lisa Silver, Donna McElroy

NO MYSTERY

No Mystery is an elated trip down memory lane for those of us who grew up with this music. The output is definitively album-oriented rock which dominated the FM airwaves in the ‘80s. While Cua had his own signature sound, I do hear inflections of the familial Night Ranger or 38 Special, for music referencing (which is a compliment, btw!). Unlike his debut that had mostly southern-tinged rock with a smattering of rock-pop ballad-type material, No Mystery is contagiously consistent.

As with the debut album, the musicians on this album are pejoratively an all-star cast, the most significant being Ian Bairnson from Alan Parson Project on guitars. There is also the addition of Andy Richards of the Strawbs on keyboards. Another noticeable variation from the debut album is how David Dix of The Outlaws allows himself to go more wild on the drums on the rock numbers. That guy can sure pound the skins.

It can not be emphasized enough that one of the defining elements of No Mystery is the three pensive rock tracks that kick the album off. He Lives In Me, the second chart-topper for Cua, One Way Out, and Changed all bear the stamp of great song writing. The Power, another guitar-ripping southern rocker, was penned by Mike Mead, who went on to play drums for Phil Keaggy and Chagall Guevara.

The closer, Help Me Out, is fun blues rock in the New Orleans style. I had to chuckle when I heard these lines sung:

“I just left a bad situation
Got kicked out of my own house
The woman I loved turned into a lion
And tried to turn me into a mouse”

It’s not too funny when this situation actually happens, but boy do I love how this song is delivered! –Doug Peterson, Down The Line zine

Rick reflects on No Mystery

My second CCM record, No Mystery was recorded in the United Kingdom. For 8 weeks my wife Diana and I, with our 2 daughters, Niki & Nina, lived in a London flat in a typical English neighborhood, which was walking distance to the studio and some great restaurants.

While I was recording daily Diana and The Kids toured London with their tube passes. At the end of the day we would catch up on our adventures over a nice meal. We were very fortunate and thankful for that opportunity both recording wise and culturally.

No Mystery yielded our 2nd #1, He Lives In Me, and brought me deeper into the world of Contemporary Christian Music.

No Mystery

HE LIVES IN ME 3:55
ONE WAY OUT 4:37
CHANGED 3:54
JUST VISITING 4:10
THE POWER 3:10
HIGH SCHOOL REUNION 3:22
CREATE IN ME A HEART 4:18
A.S.S.E.F. 2:52
BRIGHT LIGHT 3:17
HELP ME OUT 4:14

YOU'RE MY ROAD

This is Rick’s first album on Sparrow Records, featuring a pristine polished sound. Bob Halligan Jr, who contributed songs to such legends as Judas Priest, Kiss, Helix, Icon, and Kix, sits in the producer seat. The production is top notch, maybe even flawless. Background vocals are expressive without sounding over-powering. The guitars are given equal distribution with the keys. Overall, the song craft is punchy and inspired.

A few of the significant players include drummer Mike Mead and guitarist Peter York, who played with Second Chapter of Acts and later Phil Keaggy. Additionally, Rob Frazier, who released his notable debut album a year prior, added background vocals.

The opener is the Southern rock Don’t Say Suicide, co-written by Rick Cua’s wife. Being parents of two teenage daughters at the time, Rick felt compelled to address the issue. The song has received befitting feedback over the years.

Other stand-out tracks are the fast-paced You’ve Only Got One Life, House Calls, featuring great sounding electronic drums, and yacht-rock sounding Runaway, which has some fine saxophone soloing. The Old Man picks up the tempo a few notches with catchy cleverness: “You’re not going to see the old man, I want to make it clear, I’m not going to be the old man, I drove him out of here.” What a great way of expressing the truth that we are not the same as who we once were.

If you are a fan of John Elefante, Bryan Duncan or Phil Keaggy, you will likely enjoy this album.—Doug Peterson, Down The Line zine

Rick reflects on You're My Road

The cover photo for my third project, You’re My Road, was taken on the old Shelby Street bridge in Nashville. I loved making records and the images were an important part of the marketing but honestly I couldn’t wait to get that done and get back in the studio.

I remember, shortly before we started the project, Time Magazine did a feature on teen suicide. Since we had two teenage girls that article really caught our attention. After reading it my wife Diana went into the bedroom shut the door and starting to write the lyrics for one of You’re My Road’s lead songs, Don’t Say Suicide. She brought this one to myself and Bob Halligan Jr. and the 3 of us finished it.

God used that song in the lives of many and to save the lives of some. We heard beautiful testimonies about people choosing life in the eleventh hour and I’m sure there are many stories we won’t know about until heaven. Writing songs like that with life saving messages is what motivated me to devote a big chunk of my life to Contemporary Christian Music.

DON'T SAY SUICIDE 3:30
YOU'RE MY ROAD 3:54
ONE CHILD IN PAIN 3:40
WE ARE THE CHOSEN 3:51
YOU'VE ONLY GOT ONE LIFE 3:40
HOUSE CALLS 3:14
RUNAWAY 3:33
WE ARE YOURS 3:22
HE OLD MAN 4:12
CANT' STOP 3:07

WEAR YOUR COLORS

Originally released in 1986, this is the first album of Rick’s to be produced by Dave Perkins, who also played extensively on it. One look at the album cover, Rick holding up his black bass guitar in his frayed leather jacket, and you know they had a rock album in mind. And it shows up in the larger-than-life stadium rock numbers. The songs on Wear Your Colors are uber-catchy and danceable. The guitar work is inspired and full of energy. Drums resonate deep and sharp. Throw in Rick’s tough-sounding voice and shouted background vocals and you have an album to jam out to.

Some of the old guard musicians (Mike Mead, Joe English, Bob Halligan Jr, Dave Perkins) from previous albums return to find new ways to breathe life into these songs.

The title track is a charisma-laced anthem rocker that never lets up. Flex starts with a guitar-drum intro that reminds me of Def Leppard, though it changes gears to a contagiously sing-along tune more in line with something emulating Midnight Oil. This Raging Fire is up next, a mid-80’s rocker with an admonishment that the fire burning in us will keep raging regardless of our present circumstances. The last song Line Of Fire has a super catchy chorus and memorable guitar work.

Wear Your Colors may not have the multitude of tried and true infectious songs as on No Mystery, but the standout cuts on here really work. A solid album with character and edge. --Doug Peterson, Down The Line zine

Rick reflects on Wear Your Colors

Besides being incredibly grateful and excited to record the songs of Wear Your Colors we were so uncomfortably hot in the process. I don’t think there was every a time that our two main recording environments were without sufficient air conditioning!

We started tracking in mid-Summer at Grand Slam Studio in West Orange, NJ, a huge warehouse location. We were pretty happy to see that our lunches would be nicely covered by the Italian Deli down the street. And, for a Syracuse, NY Italian American, that had recently relocated to Nashville, this was no small favor!

At Grand Slam we were welcomed in with an apology, “our air conditioning is out of commission but we have two large industrial fans for you.” The fans were 5” tall, 2” wide, round and LOUD! We wound up tracking in our boxers, running the songs down with the fans on but shutting them off when we recorded so not to capture the noise on tape.

Then, back in Nashville, we continued with overdubs at our church, Oak Hill Assembly, with our producer Dave Perkins’ ReelSound Bus, a classic 1948 blacked out Flexible, capturing everything in the parking lot. Interestingly with full sun, the outside temps around 100 and all the heat from the electronics we had to get creative with a garden hose! So, we bought a couple of soaker hoses at our local Home Depot and serpentined them on the roof of the bus secured with rocks and ran the water to try and cool things down. Not sure how well it worked but we had one crazy water bill that became a significant part of the budget.

So many more stories but the best one is this; With Perkins, Bob Halligan Jr. and a killer group of musicians from my band and beyond we wound up with a record that was hotter than the heat we had to deal with and one that would encourage people with principles and truths of The Gospel in a language our audience could understand…and That’s Wear Your Colors.

Wear Your Colors (3:53)
Flex (3:27)
This Raging Fire (3:50)
Hungry (3:22)
Lemme At ‘Em (3:36)
Got The Rock (3:03)
Unchained (3:41)
Nightfall (4:02)
Hats Off To You (3:06)
Line Of Fire (4:10)

Produced by Dave Perkins

Musicians:
Drums: Mike Mead
Guitars: George Cocchini, Dave Perkins, Ron DeRollo, & Marc Ribler
Keyboards: John Sinclair, Bob Halligan, Jr., Larry Arlotta,
   Dave Perkins, Tommy Greer (PPG 2.3), & Dino Pastin
Percussion: Mike Mead, Dave Hanlon
Synthesizer Programs: Dino Pastin, John Sinclair,
   Tommy Greer (PPG 2.3), Dave Perkins, & Chad Welling
Bass Guitar & Lead Vocals: Rick Cua
Background Vocals: Bob Halligan, Jr., Rob Frazier,
   Dave Perkins, Rick Cua, & Shawn Welling

Engineers: David Schober, Malcolm Harper,    Dave Perkins, & Lynn Fuston
Additional Engineers: Don Martell, Ron DeRollo, Glen Marchese, Chris McCollum, J.B., & David Shirley

Studios: ReelSound Bus, Nashville, TN,
Grand Slam Studio, West Orange, NJ &
Lakewood Studio, Jamesville, NY
Remote Location: Oak Hill Assembly, Nashville, TN
Mix: ReelSound Truck, Austin, TX
Mastered at Future Disc Systems, Hollywood, CA

Rick Cua exclusively uses Electrosonics Wireless Systems,
Roto Sound Strings, & Calzone Cases.
Thanks also to: Carver, Kramer, and Yamaha.

Dave Perkins appears courtesy of Word Records, Inc.
Rob Frazier appears courtesy of Light Records.

LEGENDS OF ROCK EDITION
Executive Producer: Greg Hays
Remastered by Rob Colwell @ Bombworks Sound
Layout & Design by Scott Waters @ NoLifeTilMetal

ABOUT RICK CUA

Rick Cua is a force to be reckoned with in the world of contemporary Christian music. He’s an Italian American and sports a cool leather jacket. Cua became a believer in 1977 and played in local bands in the mainstream market. A couple years later he landed the opportunity to become the bass player for the successful Southern rock band The Outlaws. For several years he toured extensively with The Outlaws and helped them reach three million albums in sales.

Another widely-known musician, Joe English, former drummer for Paul McCartney & Wings, introduced Cua to the Christian music industry. While still in The Outlaws, Rick followed his heart and wrote gritty rock and adult contemporary songs as a vehicle to share the love of God. His songs have tackled issues current amongst young adults. He also brings in seasoned musicians from known bands. With over three decades in and twelve albums, six #1 songs, nine top 5 hits, and a Dove Award nominee, Cua remains passionate to record and perform, inspiring people to live in the fullness of Jesus. On occasions, he continues to play in Blues Counsel, a band made up of members who have been jamming together from twenty to forty years.

Product, Packaging, Shipping and Insurance

All new items are shipped brand-new and unopened in original packaging and come without damage or cracks. Every record or CD is shipped in original factory sealed shrink wrap. If we notice damage we will either put it in a new jewel case or send you a replacement case with your order. If you get a CD that is opened, it's because it was either an import or the jewel case was replaced. If your product does meet your expectations, please contact us immediately. All of our New CDs are factory sealed direct from the manufacture, distributors or bands. We sell pre-owned CDs as well which will be labels as pre-owned in the title, bullets or description. We do not sell CDRs or Syntax Creative that you get when you order CDs via print on demand from Amazon, yes those are also CDRs.

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We strongly encourage you to purchase Insurance for your order at checkout. It will cover your entire order for lost, stolen or damaged while in transit, not just this item. Without insurance your product will not be replaced or refunded.

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All CDs are shipping in a high quality bubble mailer or rigid envelope via USPS First Class Mail or Media Mail. All domestic vinyl orders are shipped USPS Media Mail in the USA. All international orders are sent USPS First Class Airmail. We package all vinyl using heavy duty record mailers with padded inserts to minimize damage to vinyl during shipments. 99% arrive without issue. See our Shipping Insurance, Refunds, and Returns and Exchanges policy here.

Awesome

If you're looking just buy it already.

I love the passionate energy of Rick Cua! Even when the music is basic sometimes the energy and passion of his singing and playing elevate the songs to another level. I'm new to a lot of the music released by Girder, but I tell you what...I am definitely buying more from them. I hope they release more Cua albums. Pick these quality releases up especially if you're an 80s music fan! Thank you Rick Cua and Girder. God bless!

Hard to find gems

I've been trying to hunt these down for a long time. The sound quality, booklets and graphics turned out great and the trading cards are a fun bonus.
I had never been exposed to *Koo-ah* or *No Mystery * before but they are growing on me quickly. *Wear Your Colors* has been a favorite for a long time and I am happy to have a high quality copy of it on disk.
Highly recommend for any 80s AOR fan.

Cua rocks!

Rick Cua review

I ordered all four Rick Cua Legends of Rock CDs. The first 3 have never before been on CD. Their are so many great songs to listen to and the quality in the sound is amazing. The jackets for each CD is laid out perfectly making it easy for the listener to read the lyrics or check out who participated on which project. This was an easy decision for me when I heard about the remastered releases coming this year. All 4 releases stand tall and are a welcoming addition to my collection. As always Girder delivers quality and loving care to fans of all ages. Rick Cua rocks!

All Sounds Great

All of the Rick Cua Disc Sounds Great and the covers and trading cards look great. For the first time with any of my orders with Girder (a lot of orders) all 4 cd cases came broken in some way. All the discs are find witch is great, because they sound so good. Are there any plans to do more of Cua's albums like "Can't Stand to Tall"? Maybe.....Thanks for the all the hard work Greg and Team and of course Rick Cua!

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