LOUDNESS vocalist Minoru Niihara recently issued an instructional vocal CD entitled Warm Up And Training, which breaks down and offers tips on technique as well as practice segments. It is presented in Japanese only. The tracklist below has been translated exclusively for BW&BK;:

1. Introduction

2. Instruction on "lip roll"

3. Lip roll (tongue drill) with piano accompaniment (male)

4. Lip roll (tongue drill) with piano accompaniment (female)

5. Instruction on strengthening cricothyroid muscle

6. Piano Accompaniment for strengthening cricothyroid muscle - male & female

7. Etude for strengthening cricothyroid muscle

8. Instruction on strengthening cricothyroid muscle

9. Accompaniment for strengthening cricothyroid muscle - male & female

10. Etude for obturator muscle and ring-shaped muscle

11. Instruction on "Mixed Voice"

12. Training to strengthen all vocal register with piano accompaniment (male)

13. Training to strengthen all vocal register with piano accompaniment (female)

14. Etude for Mixed voice male

15. Etude for Mixed voice female

16. 'It's All Over Now' - karaoke (vocals muted - only backing tracks)

17. 'Miracle' - karaoke

18. 'Like Hell' - karaoke

The CD can be ordered here.

(Thanks Takashi)

As previously reported, Niihara has released a new double live CD entitled R & R Gypsy Show. It was recorded on May 9th and 10th, 2008 at Kagurazaka Dimension and features Niihara performing solo material, some rarely played Loudness classics, and material from his former band SLY. The tracklist is as follows:

Disc 1: 'This Lonely Heart', 'Fever', 'Soldier Of Fortune', 'The Night Beast', 'Shut Up And Buy', 'Dreams Of Dust', 'In My Dreams', - Hiroaki Tagawa guitar solo - , 'Ashes To Glory', 'I'll Never Hide My Love Again', 'You Can Do It'.

Disc 2: 'Far Away', - Funky Sueyoshi drum solo - , 'Let It Go', - Koichi Terasawa bass solo - , 'Let's Get Together', 'Strike Of The Sword', 'Esper', 'Rock N' Roll Gypsy', 'Dream Fantasy', 'So Lonely', 'Take Me Home'

Audio samples can be heard here. The album can be ordered at this location.