For a man who was the principal composer of “Hotel California” – the piece, that is, although he also contributed what became “Victim Of Love” on the platter of same title – Don Felder remains strangely underrated as a songwriter, and the American guitarist’s meager solo discography, numbering a mere three albums, doesn’t help his fame and glory too much. This is why, perhaps, the veteran decided to follow up 2019’s “American Rock ‘n’ Roll” with a record based on his dusted off demos from the last five decades, although, of course the subtitle of “The Vault” – “Fifty Years Of Music” – should seem quite misleading, given the artist’s name first appeared on vinyl as early as 1967.
To be out on May 23rd, the archival collection doesn’t reveal the original sketches; instead, it finds Don cut the nine tracks afresh. They may span the period between 1973 and 2023, yet their version here come instrumentally enriched by members of TOTO, including Steve Lukather and Greg Phillingane, former members of WHITESNAKE, including Brian Tichy and Timothy Drury, and such luminaries as Nathan East and Lenny Castro. Alongside the previously unheard tunes there’s Felder’s biggest hit under his own name, “Heavy Metal (Takin’ A Ride)” that was the titular song of the classic “Heavy Metal” film, so one could not wish for a better gap-filler in his long journey.
The Vault
1. Move On
2. Free At Least
3. Hollywood Victim
4. Last All Night
5. Digital World
6. I Like The Things You Do
7. All Girls Love To Dance
8. Together Forever
9. Heavy Metal
10. Let Me Down Easy
