Review: White Widdow – Re-Issues (Pride & Joy Music Classixx Vol. 20, 21 & 22)

Pride & Joy Music (June 27^th, 2025)

Reviewer: Jason Hopper

Pride & Joy Music recently signed the band White Widdow and will be releasing their sixth album from the band sometime next year. To re-introduce the band and also give fans the chance to obtain their older albums at a reasonable price, the label will be releasing their first three albums. 

I have been a fan of this band for some time and have two of their three previous releases. I listened to their older ones and these newer ones for comparison and want to let everyone know these are straight re-issues, with no new remastering. Each album offers one bonus track, which can be enticing for some. What I’ll do here is briefly review each album (I’m assuming most have heard them by now), then critique the bonus tracks.

Out of the three albums, the debut is the one I did not previously own. It’s one of those albums that I did not know existed until the release of their second album. In the days before online streaming, I never got around to listening or purchasing it. After listening to it for the first time here, I have been missing out. This is a fantastic debut, with highlights being ‘We’ve Got the Wings’, ‘Shadows of Love’, and my favorite, ‘Don’t Fail Me Now’. 

Serenade was my first exposure to the band, and I don’t hesitate to call this album a classic. I remember being enthralled by this album when it first came out. While there are great tracks scattered throughout, the trifecta of ‘Reckless Nights’, ‘How Far I Run’, and the title track is some of the best AOR-infused hard rock the genre has to offer. Of special note – the power chord strike that starts the chorus of ‘How Far I Run’ is everything to me. It’s simple but perfectly timed in the perfect key.  It always fires me up!

It’s tough to follow such a spectacular album and I admit to being a bit disappointed when I first heard follow-up ‘Crossfire’.  While it does have some bangers like opening track ‘Caught in the Crossfire’, ‘Born to be a Rebel’, and ‘Never Again’, many of the other melodies came off as lackluster. The band was having some difficulties at this time dealing with the bassist leaving and the drummer’s untimely death, which may have been a factor in the output.

Regarding the bonus tracks, there is not much to be thrilled with. Album one and two both feature acoustic versions of songs from their respective albums. I suspect these were both previously released as a Japan bonus track. The bonus track on Crossfire – ‘Thunder’ is a solid track and should have been included on the original release. However, this track is also not new.  It was part of a MelodicRock.com compilation album released back in 2015.

I do not have the full package available to me for this review so I cannot critique the layout of the booklet. If you do not have these albums and like what you have heard from the band, now is your chance to add to your collection. Unless you want to be a completionist and/or dig add-ons like extensive liner notes, those who already own these albums do not need to purchase it again.

As stated previously, the bonus tracks are not new and the albums still sound great but have not been updated in any way. I cannot wait to hear what the band has in store for us in the near future.

Track list:

White Widdow: 

1. Shouki (Intro)
2. Tokyo Rain
3. Broken Hearts Won’t Last Forever
4. We’ve Got the Wings
5. Cross to Bare
6. Don’t Fail Me Now
7. Spirit of Fire
8. Shadows of Love
9. One More Day
10. Change of Passion
11. Fire & Ice
12. Broken Hearts Won’t Last Forever (Acoustic Bonus Track)

Serenade:

1. Cry Wolf
2. Strangers in the Night
3. Do You Remember
4. Reckless Nights
5. How Far I Run
6. Serenade
7. Show Your Cards
8. Mistake
9. Patiently
10. Love Won’t Wait
11. Reckless Nights (Acoustic Bonus Track)

Crossfire:

1. Caught in the Crossfire
2. Fly Me Away
3. Just Another Night
4. Below the Belt
5. Dreams Don’t Die
6. Too Many Tears
7. Angel
8. Born to be a Rebel
9. Carry the Heartache
10. Never Again
11. Thunder (Bonus Track)

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