Mike Tramp, the legendary vocalist of 80’s glam metal band, White Lion, is back with Songs of White Lion set to release April 14, 2023.  Although White Lion disbanded in 1992, Tramp has released several solo albums and toured solo since 1998.  In 2008, White Lion released Return of the Pride, with Tramp as the only original member.  Songs of White Lion, just as its title sounds, is a re-imagining of White Lion’s sprawling catalog from 1985 to 1991.  I was first introduced to White Lion at a very young age by my older brother, and I’m so happy to see Tramp reimaging these admired songs once again. 

Songs of White Lion starts with a beautiful yet emotional song off White Lion’s second studio release from 1987, Pride, “Lady of the Valley.”  I was very surprise that the album started off with this one being as it’s a slower ballad about coping with the loss of a loved one.  Pride is the album that put White Lion on the map in the US.  Pride peaked at #11 on the US Billboard 200 and went Double Platinum.  Songs of White Lion also hosts “Hungry”, “Wait”, and “When the Children Cry” off the ‘87 release Pride.

“Broken” originally released on White Lion’s 1985 debut album Fight to Survive, but more well-known off their 1991 release, Mane Attraction, sits at the third track on Songs of White Lion.  Hearing this song brought me right back to seeing this video on TV. I must have seen this video nearly 150 times between MTV and VH1, you couldn’t turn on the radio or tune in to a music channel without a White Lion song playing during the Pride album era. 

I was ecstatic to hear three tracks, “Cry for Freedom,” “Living on the Edge,” and “Little Fighter,” (my personal favorite track of theirs) off White Lions third studio album Big Game with “Little Fighter” and “Cry for Freedom” being two of the three singles from this album.  Big Game didn’t do as well as Pride, reaching #19 on the US Billboard 200, however, the album still went Gold. 

Tramp wrapped up the album with the power ballad “When the Children Cry” off Pride. This was the only single from White Lion to hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The song was written after Live Aid and per Tramp, was partially influenced by his childhood.  When interviewed, Tramp has been quoted as saying “I was around five or six when my father left us. My mom was left with three boys. So, without a doubt my own story is in that song.”  Listen to these modest yet powerful lyrics that still hold true for today’s world; “What have we become just look what we have done, All that we destroyed you must build again.”

There has always been some debate as to which White Lion album was best, and I will keep my opinions to myself.  What I can tell you is I’m in love with how Tramp did this album.  He may have ditched the 80s hair but at 62 years old, Tramp looks and sounds amazing! It’s such a treat hearing all these songs reimagined after all these years, it’s like hearing them all for the first time all over again.  Mike Tramp is set to tour this album starting in May 2023.  Unfortunately, the tour is not hitting my area.  But if you’re a fan of 80s rock (and who isn’t?), and the tour is coming near you, I suggest you check it out.  And don't forget to pick up Songs of White Lion when it drops on April 14.  This one is well worth the price of admission and 100% Hunnypot approved!