Jeff Scott Soto, for the three people who read this site and do not know, is one of the worlds greatest singers and performers IMO. He has sung alongside with the likes of guitarists Yngwie Malmsteen, Axel Rudi Pell and Neal Schon amongst others as well as being playing a major role in the likes of Talisman and its off shoots Humamnial and Human Clay.  This CD however  concentrates on his three solo releases, namely Love Parade, Prism and Lost In The Translation and collects all of the ballads from those releases on this one album. As an added bonus also included are the tracks featured on the Believe In Me & Holding On EPs as well as three other previously unreleased songs, all ballads natch...

Opening with the piano lead 'If This Is The End' from LITT and continuing wit the likes of the overblown Holding On (the track that sold the prism album to me!) and his simple self played version of the journey classic 'Send Her My Love' and  'Don't Wanna Say Goodbye' this is a stunning collection of tracks. Although a full album of ballads could be hard going  this album shows the full range of ballad types from simple to full on power ballads and if you read the recent article in the Sun on how to bed a woman, number five on the list was soft rock - see I knew I was onto something, so now you know where to find the requisite music  

Of most interest to long tim Soto fans will be the three new tracks on offer. 'Through It All' is a simple acoustic  ballad - how many times can I use that word in one review -  that would undoubably hit the top of the charts would some boy band to record it. 'Last Mistake' is a big up-tempo ballad and is my personnel favourite of the new tracks and finally 'Another Try' rounds the album off in the style of the rest album featuring big vocals and is again another track that should be big hit and could be if released by a boy band and there in lies the problem. JSS has never hit the big time and that is criminal , he made more money fronting a disco cover band!, than with his original music. 

In short if do not have any JSS albums this is a good introduction to his voice and song writing and vocal skills. However if you already own any of his solo albums you will have the majority of the material on offer and hence this may be one for completist and passing fans only. However I hope that 'Essential Ballads has it’s intended promotional use and getts JSS music played on more main stream radio - he deserves it.

Let us know your views on 'Essential Ballads'

Track List

If This Is The End
As I Do 2 U
Holding On
Send Her My Love
Lonely Shade Of Blue
This Aint The Love
Don't Wanna Say Goodbye
4U
Still Be Loving U
Till The End Of Time
Sacred Eyes
By Your Side
Beginning 2 End
Through It All
Last Mistake
Another Try

Line  Up

Jeff Scott Soto - Vocals
Howie Simon - Guitar
Gary Schutt - Bass
Goran Elmquist - Keys/Guitar
Alex Papa - Drums
George Bernhardt -Guitar/Bass