domingo, 27 de dezembro de 2020

Cactus - Black Dawn


















Cactus - Black Dawn - 2020

Coming off a very successful US tour and the release of its first studio album in 10 years, Black Dawn, the time has come for founding member and world renown drummer Carmine Appice to re-energize and rebuild Cactus. The band was once heralded by critics as America’s answer to Led Zeppelin.

Appice announced today two new members to the legendary band’s line-up: bassist Jimmy Caputo and guitarist Paul Warren. Caputo replaces bassist Pete Bremy, who has left Cactus to pursue other projects. Warren, best known as lead guitarist for Rod Stewart, Tina Turner and Joe Cocker, will be the band’s new guitarist for touring, taking over for founding member Jim McCarty. McCarty remains a writing and recording member of Cactus but unfortunately i s unable to tour with the band due to health reasons.

Lead vocalist extraordinare Jimmy Kunes and harmonica wizard Randy Pratt, both of whom joined when the band re-grouped in 2006 remain in the line-up. “Nearly five decades after I formed this band, the time has come to re-invent Cactus once again,” says Appice, who also still drums for Vanilla Fudge, The Appice Brothers, and The Platinum Rock All Stars. Adds Appice: “The music remains the same and Cactus is still a ‘hot and sweaty’ band. The level, quality and consistence of the band’s musicianship is as strong as ever.”

"I saw the original Cactus live a few times, and they absolutely killed it,” says guitarist Paul Warren. “That was one of the great bands of the era, and they are still a great band, today. I am excited, and honored, to play with such an historic band!” Warren, who has his own successful solo band, is a native of Detroit and who considers Jim McCarty as one of his biggest musical influences. “"Filling in for Jim McCarty will be a challenge. Not only is he a founding member of the band, he is a brilliant guitarist and one of the best to ever come out of Detroit. Jimmy could never be replaced. I plan to honor and pay homage to his work with Cactus while still bringing some of my own ‘Detroit attitude’ to the legendary music of this band.”

Bassist Jimmy Caputo has worked in a myriad of national touring acts including The Appice Brothers Drum Wars show, which also includes both Carmine and his brother Vinny.

Cactus returned in 2016 with Black Dawn, a new studio album, its first in almost 10 years. Featuring the blistering riff-rock that the band built its reputation upon, Black Dawn is a classic Cactus album with a fresh new energy that the band has not had since its heyday in the early 1970s.

The band has had a long and turbulent history. Formed in 1970 from the ashes of The Vanilla Fudge by Carmine Appice and Tim Bogert. the initial line up also featured McCarty and vocalist Rusty Day. (Appice and Bogert had originally planned a new band with Jeff Beck which was put off until 1973 because of Beck’s near fatal car crash in 1969). Jim McCarty had come from Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels and was playing with The Buddy Miles Express. Tim and Carmine also found vocalist Day in The Amboy Dukes with Ted Nugent. Together, the four musicians formed Cactus, named after the peyote cactus, which provided a key ingredient in mind-altering drugs.

While Cactus saw success from the start and soon built a loyal fan base, by early 1973 the band had collapsed mainly due to lack of real support from its label and the fact that Beck was now ready play with Carmine and Tim.

It would not be until 2006, three decades after the tragic death of Rusty Day that the group reformed with Pratt and Kunes to record CACTUS V and play Sweden Rock. When Tim Bogert was forced into retirement due to complications after a serious motorcycle accident, Pete Bremy joined on bass in both in Cactus and Vanilla Fudge.

Now, with Jimmy Caputo and Paul Warren onboard, Cactus embarks on a new and exciting musical journey – just as powerful as before – and bound to be just as successful...one way or another.

Carmine Appice - Drums, Vocals
Jimmy Kunes - Vocals
Paul Warren - Guitar
Jimmy Caputo - Bass
Randy Pratt - Harmonica

+@320

quarta-feira, 23 de dezembro de 2020

Mick Ronson - Only After Dark - The Complet Mainman Recordings


















Mick Ronson - Only After Dark - The Complet Mainman Recordings - 2020

When David Bowie announced at the Hammersmith Odeon on 3rd July 1973 that he (or, as it subsequently turned out, alter-ego Ziggy Stardust) was breaking up the band, manager Tony Defries glimpsed a golden opportunity rather than the end of an era. With the MainMan agency’s main man coming off the road for at least a while, there was, Defries reasoned, space in the rock star firmament for a new Bowie, particularly one who would also be under MainMan’s management…

Thus it was that Bowie’s faithful right-hand man, Mick Ronson, was thrust into the spotlight. Possibly the most reluctant solo performer ever, Ronno was given three weeks to write and record a debut solo album. With Bowie’s help (he contributed three songs to the set), “Slaughter On 10th Avenue” was quickly pieced together after the conclusion of the “Pin Ups” sessions. Despite its rushed nature it was a strong effort, and the LP reached the UK album charts Top Ten.

Buoyed by this success, Ronson then recorded a second album, “Play Don’t Worry” – although before it could appear, he’d accepted Ian Hunter’s invitation to join Mott The Hoople. As a result, Mick’s sophomore solo set was largely overlooked, and his lukewarm attempts to promote it were further scuppered by his and Ian Hunter’s decision to leave Mott and relocate to America.

Sadly “Slaughter On 10th Avenue” and “Play Don’t Worry” would be the only solo albums released during Mick’s lifetime: after his departure from MainMan in mid-1976, he largely preferred to work in a group context rather than as a solo performer.

Nevertheless, he did continue to record sporadically as a solo act. A 4-CD set, Only After Dark chronicles his peripatetic solo work during the rest of the seventies after his split with Bowie, with those two official albums joined by B-sides, alternative versions, outtakes and a plethora of unissued-at-the-time studio recordings (including a handful with Guam, the backing band for Bob Dylan’s legendary 1975 Rolling Thunder tour) and various highlights from his live shows. Featuring some rare photos and a lengthy new essay on his Seventies career, Only After Dark is the most comprehensive anthology to date of a major talent


CD 01 - Slaughter On 10th Avenue

01. Love Me Tender
02. Growing Up And I'm Fine
03. Only After Dark
04. Music Is Lethal
05. I'm The One
06. Pleasure Man/Hey Ma Get Papa
07. Slaughter On 10th Avenue
08. Leave My Heart Alone (Live)
09. Slaughter On 10th Avenue - Solo Guitar Sections (Alias Solo On 10th Avenue) (Live)
10. Love Me Tender (Live)
11. Slaughter On 10th Avenue (Live)
12. "Teen Magazine" Interview (Spoken Word)
13. Slaughter On 10th Avenue (Live)
14. Angel No. 9
15. F.B.I. (Live)

CD 02 - Play Don't Worry

01. Billy Porter
02. Angel No. 9
03. This Is For You
04. White Light/White Heat
05. Play Don't Worry
06. Hazy Days
07. Girl Can't Help It
08. Empty Bed (Io Me Ne Andrei)
09. Woman
10. Seven Days
11. 28 Days Jam (Out-Take)
12. Stone Love (Soul Love) (Demo)
13. I'd Rather Be Me (Demo)
14. (Is There) Life On Mars? (Demo)
15. Pain In The City (Demo)
16. Dogs (French Girl) (Demo)
17. Woman (Out-Take)
18. Seven Days (Out-Take)

CD 03 - 1976 Sessions

01. Just Like This (Alias All Night Long)
02. I'd Give Anything To See You
03. Takin' A Train
04. Hard Life
05. (I'm Just A) Junkie For Your Love
06. Crazy Love
07. Hey Grandma
08. Is That Any Way
09. I've Got No Secrets
10. Hard Headed Woman
11. Roll Like The River
12. Angel No. 9
13. Junkie (Demo)
14. Just Like This (Alias All Night Long) (Demo)
15. Ronno's Bar And Grill (Studio Out-Take)

CD 04 - Rarities

01. Hey Grandma (Demo)
02. Crazy Love (Demo)
03. Hard Life (Demo - Ballad Version)
04. I'd Give Anything To See You (Demo)
05. Takin' The Next Train (Demo)
06. Crazy Love (Live)
07. Hey Grandma (Live)
08. (Takin' A) Train (Live)
09. Junkie (Live)
10. I'd Give Anything To See You (Live)
11. Hard Life (Live)
12. Just Like This (Alias All Night Long) (Live)


+@320

quinta-feira, 17 de dezembro de 2020

Phenomena - Still The Night


















Tom and Mel Galley put Phenomena together in 1984. Glenn Hughes, Don Airey, Cozy Powell, Neil Murray had been enlisted…Whitesnake versus Deep Purple, a metalised marriage made in hard rock heaven. The following year they released the debut. It was to be the first of an art rock triptych with a supernatural theme.

The second and third albums brought in additional vocalists and musicians, but it was recognised that Hughes was the marquee name, thus this compilation cherry picks the Hughes tracks from the trilogy.

Rumours that MTV had killed the concept album stone dead proved to have been exagerrated, as Phenomena sold over a million copies. Unquestionably a product of its times, it ignored the musicians’ day job and opted for a focus on Radio Rock, big on mood and atmosphere. ‘Dance With The Devil’ lighly underscores the drama, with celtic flavoured keyboard frills and understated axework, leaving Hughes’s macho tones centre stage. The especially good ‘Who’s Watching You’ and ‘Twilight Zone’ particularly combine keyboard heavy pop and overt AOR tropes, recalling Asia and ELO.

Galley assembled a cast of thousands for the follow up, Dream Runner (1987). It is a considerably more expansive affair. ‘Hearts On Fire and ‘Surrender’ lead the way with bigger choruses and juicier axe solos. Both sound like lost pages from Europe’s 80s songbook, full of cascading keys and dramatic choruses. And even up against Ray (Badlands) Gillen and Max (GTR/Bronz) Bacon, Hughes doing his mucho macho thing on these two tracks is what grabs your attention.

We skip the “Hughes free” Inner Visions (1992), and move onto Psycho Fantasy (2006), with Hughes handling vocals on three tracks.

The entire album was a much heavier affair than the Project’s first two releases, with some interesting songwriting going on. Tony Martin’s and Lee Small’s vocals are a thrill to listen to, but it’s Hughes who gives the album weight and momentum. His lived in vocals, a legacy from his dalliance with the darkside a decade and more before, are a compelling driving force on the hard rocking ‘Touch My Life’ and the funked up ‘How Do You Feel’, with the riffy, metallised ‘Higher’ boldly reminding us of the musician’s seventies roots.

Still The Night is as much a salute to Hughes as it is a Phenomena compilation, providing us with the best of both worlds. 

This compilation collects together all 17 Tracks featuring Glenn Hughes on Lead Vocals.

01. Still The Night
02. How Do You Feel?
03. Surrender
04. Dance With The Devil
05. Touch My Life
06. Phoenix Rising

07. Hearts On Fire
08. Believe
09. Running With The Pack
10. Who’s Watching You?
11. Assassins Of The Night
12. Double 6, 55, Double 4
13. Kiss Of Fire
14. Higher
16. Twilight Zone
17. Still the Night (12″ Remix)

segunda-feira, 14 de dezembro de 2020

(Glory) (Damnation Of Adam Blessing) - Glory



















(Glory) (Damnation Of Adam Blessing) - Glory - 1973

Cleveland acid rock combo the Damnation of Adam Blessing was formed in 1968 from the ashes of a pair of local garage bands, the Society and Dust; led by frontman Adam Blessing (Bill Constable), the group also included guitarists Jim Quinn and Bob Kalamasz, bassist Ray Benich, and drummer Bill Schwark. After months of relentless local gigging -- often as the opener for hometown heroes the James Gang -- the Damnation of Adam Blessing signed to United Artists and issued their self-titled debut LP in 1969, followed by a tour in support of the Faces. Second Damnation followed a year later, generating the minor hit "Back to the River"; with their third album, 1971's Which Is Justice, Which Is the Thief, Schwark was replaced by Blessing's drummer brother Ken Constable. In 1973, the group renamed itself Glory, releasing a self-titled LP on the UA subsidiary Avalanche before disbanding. The Italian reissue imprint Akarma re-released all of the Damnation of Adam Blessing's albums in the early to mid-2000s as either straight-up re-releases or with additional bonus tracks. The label even released a reissue of the obscure Glory album and offered deluxe vinyl pressings of most of the CDs as well.

Glory is Damnation's final album, recorded in 1973. The Damnation Of Adam Blessing - Glory released their final album in 1973, but not under the same name. There were some changes in the group’s direction prior to the release of this album. After being dropped by United Artist, the group broke up and then resurfaced as Glory. Ironically the label Avalanche released the album - they were a subsidiary of UA. Adam Blessing reverted back to his given name Bill Constable, and brother Ken also joined the group on vocals and guitar. Ken had a higher voice than Bill, so this made for a splendid give and take between the two brothers, and some soaring sweet harmonies were the product of that sibling vocal tandem.

01. Sunny Days
02. Find Out Lover
03. I Got A Feeling
04. Mrs. Walker
05. You Can Believe
06. Hot Momma
07. Get Up
08. Nightmare
09. Dan


+@320

domingo, 13 de dezembro de 2020

Chris Cornell - No One Sings Like You Anymore


















Chris Cornell - No One Sings Like You Anymore - 2020

No One Sings Like You Anymore (which takes its name from Cornell's "Black Hole Sun" lyrics) includes renditions of John Lennon's "Watching the Wheels," Ghostland Observatory's "Sad Sad City," Harry Nilsson's "Jump Into the Fire," Carl Hall's "You Don't Know Nothing About Love," Electric Light Orchestra's "Showdown," Terry Reid's "To Be Treated Rite," Lorraine Ellison's "Stay With Me Baby" (originally released for HBO's show Vinyl), Janis Joplin's "Get It While You Can," a new studio recording of Prince-penned Sinéad O'Connor hit "Nothing Compares 2 U," and Guns N' Roses "Patience" (which was first released earlier this year on his birthday, and earned him his first solo Billboard Number 1).

Chris Cornell teamed with producer/multi-instrumentalist Brendan O'Brien for No One Sings Like You Anymore (who also worked on the singer's 2015 solo album, Higher Truth), and both musicians handled all instruments during the recording. Cornell personally finalized the song choice and album sequencing.

01 Get it While You Can – Howard Tate/Janis Joplin
02 Jump Into the Fire – Harry Nilsson
03 Sad Sad City – Ghostland Observatory
04 Patience – Guns N’ Roses
05 Nothing Compares 2 U – Prince
06 Watching the Wheels – John Lennon
07 You Don’t Know Nothing About Love – Carl Hall
08 Showdown – Electric Light Orchestra
09 To Be Treated Rite – Terry Reid
10 Stay with Me Baby – Lorraine Ellison


+@320

sexta-feira, 11 de dezembro de 2020

Dean Ford - Dean Ford


















Dean Ford - Dean Ford - 1975

Dean Ford (born Thomas McAleese; 5 September 1945 – 31 December 2018) was a Scottish singer and songwriter best known for his tenure as lead vocalist and frontman of the beat pop group Marmalade from 1966 to 1974. Ford (credited as McAleese) co-wrote the group's worldwide hit "Reflections of My Life" with fellow band member Junior Campbell.[1] "Reflections of My Life" has sold more than two million units globally, and in 1998 the writers were awarded a Special Citation of Achievement by BMI for attaining radio broadcast performances in excess of one million in the U.S. alone

01. Hey My Love
02. Crying In My Sleep
03. The Wishin' Well
04. The Captain
05. Hello
06. Easy Kind Of Feeling
07. Mr. Heartbreaker
08. The Funny Things You Do
09. So Far Away
10. Doin' Something

Dean Ford - Vocal, Acoustic Guitar
Barry De Souza - Drums
Tim Renwick - Electric Guitar
Pete Moss - Bass Guitar 
Pete Wingfield - Keyboards
John Elstar - Harmonica
Barry St. John, Jean Hawker, Ingrind Lintonw - Backing Vocals
BJ Cole - Pedal Steel Guitar




+@192


sexta-feira, 4 de dezembro de 2020

Frank Zappa - Zappa Original Motion Picture Soundtrack


Frank Zappa - Zappa Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - 2020

The soundtrack features songs from Zappa’s record labels Straight and Bizarre Records such as “No Longer Umpire” from Alice Cooper’s debut album, Pretties For You, originally released on Straight in 1969; “The Captain’s Fat Theresa Shoes” by GTO’s, from the all-girl group’s one and only album, Permanent Damage, produced by Zappa. It also includes two classical compositions by Zappa’s lifetime inspirations Edgard Varèse and Igor Stravinsky as well as several interview clips. The soundtrack is rounded out with 26 original score cues newly composed by John Frizzell for the documentary.

With unfettered access to the Zappa Trust and all archival footage, “Zappa” explores the private life behind the mammoth musical career that never shied away from the political turbulence of its time. Winter’s assembly features appearances by Zappa’s widow Gail Zappa and several of his musical collaborators including Mike Keneally, Ian Underwood, Steve Vai, Pamela Des Barres, Bunk Gardner, David Harrington, Scott Thunes, Ruth Underwood, Ray White and others. Announced on Kickstarter in 2016, the film became the highest-funded documentary in the crowdfunding site’s history.

Taken together “Zappa” and the companion soundtrack offer a riveting, revealing and emotional portrait of Frank Zappa, a trailblazer, iconoclast, virtuosic musician and fearless artist who forever changed music and culture with his unconventional and uncompromising vision. From his early psychedelic rock beginnings to his avant-garde experimentation, jazz-rock explorations, symphonic suites and satirical send-ups to his conceptual, compositional and technological innovations, Zappa shattered the norms every step of the way and his influence and ethos continues to reverberate as strongly today as ever.

01. Anyway The Wind Blows (from Freak Out!) – The Mothers of Invention
02. You’re Probably Wondering Why I’m Here (from Freak Out!) – The Mothers of Invention
03. Everytime I See You – The Heartbreakers^
04. Motherly Love (from Freak Out!) – The Mothers of Invention
05. Memories Of El Monte (Live from the Whisky A Go-Go – June 23, 1968) – The Mothers of Invention*
06. Oh! In The Sky (Live from the Whisky A Go-Go – June 23, 1968) – The Mothers of Invention*
07. The Duke (Live from the Whisky A Go-Go – June 23, 1968) – The Mothers of Invention*
08. How Could I Be Such A Fool? (from Mystery Disc) – Frank Zappa
09. “The Reason We Have Stayed Together…” – Frank Zappa interview with Warren Duffy / WMEX Boston, MA – January 31, 1969*
10. Black Beauty (from Mystery Disc) – Frank Zappa
11. Absolutely Free (from We’re Only In It For The Money) – The Mothers of Invention
12. You Didn’t Try To Call Me (Basic Tracks) (from The MOFO Project/Object) – Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
13. Agency Man (from Mystery Disc) – Frank Zappa
14. Oh No (from Weasels Ripped My Flesh) – The Mothers of Invention
15. Mother People (from We’re Only In It For The Money) – The Mothers of Invention
16. Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite: Finale – Orchestre de l’Opéra Bastille & Myung Whun Chung
17. “FZ on Varèse” – Frank Zappa interview with Craig Eldon Pinkus, Indiana University Radio-TV Center – April 25, 1974*
18. Varèse: Ionisation – Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Pierre Boulez
19. The Captain’s Fat Theresa Shoes – GTO’s^
20. No Longer Umpire – Alice Cooper
21. Road Ladies (from Chunga’s Revenge) – Frank Zappa

CD2:

22. Call Any Vegetable (Excerpts) (Live at Fillmore West – November 6, 1970) – Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention*
23. Happy Together (Live at Fillmore West – November 6, 1970) – Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention*
24. Scumbag (Live at Fillmore East, NYC, 1971) (from Playground Psychotics) – Frank Zappa, The Mothers of Invention, John Lennon, Yoko Ono
25. Your Mouth (from Waka/Jawaka) – Frank Zappa
26. Cheepnis (Live at the Roxy, 12/10/73, Show 1) (from The Roxy Performances) – Frank Zappa
27. Apostrophe’ (Live in Los Angeles, Rehearsal Hall – June 21, 1974) – Frank Zappa*
28. Muffin Man (Live at The Palladium, NYC, 1977) (from Baby Snakes – The Compleat Soundtrack) – Frank Zappa^
29. Dancin’ Fool (Live on “Saturday Night Live” – October 21, 1978) – Frank Zappa*
30. Mo’s Vacation (Live in Munich 1978) – Frank Zappa*
31. The Black Page #1 (Piano Version) (from Zappa In New York 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) – Frank Zappa
32. Sofa (1977 Mix, Live) (from Zappa In New York 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) – Frank Zappa
33. Fembot In A Wet T-shirt (from Joe’s Garage – Act I) – Frank Zappa
34. Valley Girl (from Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch) – Frank Zappa & Moon Zappa
35. The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing (Live at The Pier, NYC – 1984) – Frank Zappa*
36. H.R. 2911 (from Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers Of Prevention) – Frank Zappa
37. G-Spot Tornado (from The Yellow Shark) – Frank Zappa

CD3:

38. Frank’s Library – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
39. Edgewood Arsenal – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
40. Frank’s Parents – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
41. The Blackouts – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
42. Greeting Cards – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
43. Studio Z – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
44. Frank Goes To Jail – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
45. Musically Difficult – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
46. The Parts Are Complicated – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
47. Murray Roman’s TV Show – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
48. Frank Put His Foot Down – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
49. Laurel Canyon – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
50. The Manson Family – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
51. Are We Going To Get Paid – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
52. Steve Vai’s Perspective – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
53. Frank Could Be Hardcore – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
54. Bruce Bickford’s Zappa Head – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
55. If I’m Alive – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
56. Keep This Guy Under Check – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
57. Frank’s Business Perspective – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
58. Fake It – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
59. Don’t Have Any Friends – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
60. Hi, I’m Moon – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
61. Frank Addresses Congress – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
62. Turn Off That Zappa Music – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
63. Frank Getting Sick – Original Documentary Score by John Frizzell
64. Envelopes (1983 Original Vinyl Mix) – Frank Zappa, London Symphony Orchestra^
65. Overture (Live in Frankfurt, Germany – September 19, 1992) – Ensemble Modern, Conducted by Frank Zappa*
66. Get Whitey (from The Yellow Shark) – Frank Zappa
67. Nap Time (from Everything Is Healing Nicely) – Frank Zappa
68. Watermelon In Easter Hay (Live, 1978) (from Frank Zappa Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa – A Memorial Tribute) – Frank Zappa


+@320

segunda-feira, 30 de novembro de 2020

VA - Unsung Hero - A Tribute to The Music of Ron Davies


















VA - Unsung Hero - A Tribute to The Music of Ron Davies - 2013

Ron Davies was a genius of rhyme and melody. He has been described by his peers as the "quintessential poet” and the "songwriter's writer." John Hadley (a music professor at the University of Oklahoma) was quoted as saying, “I separate the world into two kinds of people, the ones that get Ron Davies and the ones that don’t.”

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana (the oldest son of country singer Tex Dickerson), Ron was influenced by songwriters like Hank Williams, but he also loved the music of Blind Lemon Jefferson and classical guitarist Andrés Segovia. Ron spent his early years living in the South, until his parents separated, and he moved with his two siblings to Washington State. Ron's last name was changed when his mother remarried, and he was adopted by his kind and loving stepfather, Darby Davies, who bought him his first guitar. Ron’s songs often reflect his love of the Pacific Northwest, and yet a longing to get “Back To The South.”

By the time Ron was seventeen, he had written an album’s worth of stellar songs for a Seattle based band called The Wailers, along with a regional hit single entitled "It's You Alone." Ron's unique style of singing and writing (referred to by Joan Baez as a cross between Bob Dylan and John Lennon) caught the attention of A&M record executives in California. Ron was signed to a recording contract in 1968 and released his first solo album, which he called "Silent Song Through The Land," featuring nine of his original compositions including the blues standard "It Ain't Easy." As a side note, the angelic harmony vocals on this album were sung by Ron’s beautiful young wife, Vicki Lynn Davies, who was his singing partner from 1962 to 1974, as well as the mother of his two daughters.

Ron’s career received a major boost in 1970 when Three Dog Night recorded “It Ain’t Easy” and made it the title of their album. Although often miscredited to Ray Davies from The Kinks (Ron displayed his wry sense of humor when he asked his publisher to take some of The Kinks out of his copyright), “It Ain’t Easy” gained international fame when a British artist by the name of David Bowie recorded it on his RCA album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars."

It wasn’t long before Ron Davies’ songs were in demand and being recorded by such iconic artists as Long John Baldry, Dave Edmunds, Joe Cocker, Anne Murray, Dobie Gray, Bettye LaVette, Chris Smithers, Glenn Yarbrough, Merry Clayton, Mitch Ryder and Steppenwolf’s John Kay, to name a few. Australian born pop singer Helen Reddy recorded what would later become one of Ron’s signature songs entitled “Long Hard Climb” and made it the title of her 1973 platinum selling album. This song was also recorded by Maria Muldaur on her 1974 Reprice album "Midnight On The Oasis."

With his newfound success, A&M decided to team Ron up with Grammy award winning engineer, Tommy Vicarri, to co-produce his album, "UFO." Enlisting the help of musicians Billy Preston, Wilton Felder, Andy Newmark, and The Rolling Stones’ “Brown Sugar” girl Claudia Lennear, they created a critically acclaimed masterpiece that prompted Rock Magazine to declare Ron Davies “The Best New Songwriter of the Year.”

Ron moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1985 to write for Cedarwood Publishing and later on in his career for Warner/Chappell Music. His talents were quickly recognized when Jerry Jeff Walker recorded "The Man He Used To Be" and two of his songs appeared on the Grammy nominated Joan Baez album "Play Me Backwards." Ron Davies’ songs have also been recorded by Randy Travis, Nancy Griffith, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill and Gail Davies, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Chris Scruggs, and Jack White & The Raconteurs.

Although not a professional actor, Ron Davies was cast as the lead character in the George Jones’ video, "old Hard Truth," in 1999. He toured Europe with his sister, country singer Gail Davies, in 2002 and also appeared with her at The Kerrville Folk Festival. Inspired by the reaction he received from the audience (Ron received a standing ovation at the end of his performance) Ron returned to Nashville to record an introspective album entitled "Where Does The Time Go." Sadly, this would be the last album Ron would record. He died of a heart attack on October 30, 2003, leaving behind an amazing legacy of more than 500 songs.

Unsung Hero – A Tribute To The Music of Ron Davies, features 22 of Ron’s finest compositions recorded by some of his favorite artists. This album is a must for any serious connoisseur of good music and poetry.

01. One More Night With You - Gail Davies
02. What Good Is A Secret - John Anderson
03. It's Too Late - Dolly Parton
04. Dark Eyed Gal - Jeff Hanna & Matraca Berg
05. It Ain't Easy - Shelby Lynne
06. Have To Come Down - Jim Lauderdale
07. Say It With Money - Delbert McClinton
08. Long Hard Climb - Mandy Barnett
09. You Stayed Away Too Long - John Prine
10. True Lovers And Friends - Crystal Gayle
11. Hey Honey I'm Home - BR549
12. Steal Across The Border - Gail Davies & Ron Davies
13. Let It Slide - Jimmy Hall
14. Back To The South - Suzy Bogguss
15. More Today Than Yesterday - Vince Gill & Kelly Hogan
16. Innocent Eyes - Kevin Welch
17. Saving It Up For You - Jonell Mosser
18. Walk And Don't Walk - Guy Clark
19. Just The Way It Goes - Robbie Fulks
20. Good Love After Bad - Alison Krauss
21. The Man He Used To Be - Rodney Crowell
22. Lay My Body Down - Bonnie Bramlett


+@320

quinta-feira, 26 de novembro de 2020

Looking Glass - Looking Glass


















Looking Glass - Looking Glass - 1972

FROM AMG
To the outside observer, Looking Glass were one of the luckiest bands to come up during the early '70s -- and doubly so, coming out of New Jersey in 1972 with a number one hit, three years before anyone was thinking about Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, and getting radio play on the song that has carried over into the oldies and '70s nostalgia boom over the decades since. Ironically, the bandmembers were never entirely happy with either the hit or the nature of the success that it brought them, mostly because it didn't represent what Looking Glass actually sounded like.


The group was founded by Brooklyn-born guitarist/singer/songwriter Elliot Lurie, bassist Pieter Sweval, and pianist Larry Gonsky, all of whom were students at New Jersey's Rutgers University. In their original late-'60s incarnation, Looking Glass were successful playing frat parties and local clubs before splitting up in the early '70s after graduation. Eventually, Lurie and Gonsky linked up again with Sweval and drummer Jeffrey Grob (who had been playing together in a band called Tracks), and Looking Glass were reborn. A hard rock outfit with a lot of virtuosity, they decided to try turning professional and shooting for a real career; even as they got lots of work at clubs up and down the East Coast, they began writing songs and heavily rehearsing the new material. Their music impressed Columbia Records president Clive Davis, who signed them to the Epic Records label, and a debut recording session for the company was scheduled.

01. Jenny-Lynne
02. Brandy
03. Catherine Street
04. Don't It Make You Feel Good
05. Golden Rainbow
06. Dealin' With The Devil
07. From Stanton Station
08. One By One


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domingo, 22 de novembro de 2020

Wim de Craene - Brussel


















Wim de Craene - Brussel - 1975

Born in Ghent in 1950, Belgian cabaret singer Wim de Craene began his career performing in Flemish folk band Ja before he was taken under the wing of Miel Cools in the early '70s, going on to score hits with "Rozane," "Breek Uit Jezelf," and "Tim." After writing his first musical, Help, Ik Win Een Miljoen, and twice entering his homeland's Eurovision pre-selection contest, he began to incorporate pop, rock, disco, and new wave into his sound with diminishing returns. Two years after 1988's final album, Via Dolorosa, he committed suicide with an overdose of anti-depressants, however, his music has since gained more recognition after his death.

01. Straatkoning
02. Elke
03. Tante Emma
04. Wat Ben Ik Voor Een Mens
05. Anno 1830
06. Lucio
07. Aram
08. Sara
09. De Violist
10. Rozane
11. Chantate
12. Brussel
13. Outro




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quarta-feira, 18 de novembro de 2020

The Irish Coffee - Heaven


















The Irish Coffee - Heaven - 2020

Irish Coffee started in Aalst 50 years ago and was immediately heard with the hit single “Masterpiece / The Show”. Shortly thereafter the - now legendary – debut album was released, now of the most sought after collector items in the world of vinyl. The band called it a day after a few very successful years.

Songwriter and singer William Souffreau, 74 meanwhile, is without doubt the éminence grise of Belgian rock, with an extensive discography, and still very active as well as solo (in 2017 Starman Records released the excellent solo album “Tobacco Fields”) as with Irish Coffee.

Irish Coffee was re-launched in 2005 with a studio album and a live album recorded during the group's passage in the legendary German music program Rockpalast (WDR). In 2013 he recorded the excellent “IC Revisited” together with his power rock trio. Followed two years later by the album “When The Owl Cries” (Starman records), which was very well received by fans and the press.

This new, sharply rocking album is a mix of half a century of classic rock & blues, with a dash of sixties, with Souffreau looking back and looking ahead to life, love and career, and occasionally getting very angry with the World.

William Souffreau is one of the last Belgian rockers of his generation, let's cherish him and hope that a lot of great music may follow.

01. Do My Playing
02. Lay Them Shotguns Down
03. A Whole Lotta Rock To Roll
04. Doing Alright
05. Can’t Take No More
06. Livin’ Ain’t Easy
07. Someday
08. One Day Without You
09. Betty And Johnny
10. Alderman
11. Gonna Take It As It Comes
12. Heaven

William Souffreau - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Frank Van Laethem - Guitar, Vocals
Eric Goedtvinck - Bass
Bruno Beeckmans - Drums, Vocals, Percussion 





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sábado, 14 de novembro de 2020

Jim Oblon - Kiss The Shaman


















Jim Oblon - Kiss The Shaman - 2019

Jim Oblon was born into a musical family in New England and starting playing professionally at age 12. He's been a member of Paul Simon's touring band as a multi-instrumentalist since 2011, also playing on his albums So Beautiful or So What and Stranger to Stranger.

He released his first solo guitar record in 2014 with Jim Keltner on drums, and Larry Goldings on organ entitled Sunset on Compass Records. He also has two other albums available on Bandcamp — Black Cat and Skinwalker. He also plays in a trio with fellow Nashville musicians Brian Allen and Wes Little (of Robben Ford's band).

01. Vampire Hearts
02. Spin
03. Kill the Shaman
04. Lagoda Ship
05. Cristero War
06. Burn These Clothes
07. The Vine
08. Angels of Kiev





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quarta-feira, 11 de novembro de 2020

Jim Oblon, Larry Goldings, Jim Keltner - Sunset


















Jim Oblon, Larry Goldings, Jim Keltner - Sunset - 2014

A classicist, Oblon played bass, drums, and guitar on Paul Simon’s critically acclaimed So Beautiful or So What. Extending that reality, the New England-raised son of a musical family takes his musical ecumenism even farther. Oblon follows his EP “Live at the FooBar” with the evocative Sunset, a variety of ballads, vintage rock, and standards, recorded with master organist Larry Goldings and legendary drummer Jim Keltner.

01. Before I Grow Too Old 
02. Lucille 
03. Desert Sun 
04. With You On My Mind
05. When I Was a Cowboy 1911 
06. Blueberry Hill 
07. Wrapped Up In Your Love Again 
08. Sunset 
09. Railroad Bum 
10. Copperhead 

Jim Oblon - Guitars, Vocal
Larry Goldings - Hammond B3 Organ
Jim Keltner - Drums, Percussion


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segunda-feira, 9 de novembro de 2020

SOMENTE PARA BOZÓMION XII

 



Esse é o tipo de gente que alimenta os zaps-zaps das Tias e dos Bozós (alguns até passam por aqui)
Não vou rir por Empatia. Não deve ser nada fácil perder um amigo imaginário dessa forma

😅😅😆😇😆😅😊😋😂😁😀😄

sexta-feira, 6 de novembro de 2020

Russ Ballard - Winning


















Russ Ballard - Winning - 1976

Russell Glyn Ballard is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Originally coming to prominence as the lead singer and guitarist for the band Argent, Ballard became known by the late 1970s as a songwriter and producer. His compositions "New York Groove", "You Can Do Magic", "Since You Been Gone", "I Surrender", "Liar", "Winning", "I Know There's Something Going On", "So You Win Again" and "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" were hits for other artists during the 1970s and 1980s. He also scored several minor hits under his own name in the early and mid-1980s.

01. Winning
02. Born On Halloween
03. A Song For Gail (What Have We Got Her Into?)
04. Fakin' Love
05. Since You Been Gone
06. Just A Dream Away
07. Here I Am
08. Free At Last
09. Are You Cuckoo?
10. Weekend

Russ Ballard - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Dave Markee - Bass
Chris Karan, Dave Mattacks - Drums
John Rabbit Bundrick - Piano (6)
Nick Newall - Saxophone
Terry Starr - Trumpet
Liza Strike, Madeline Bell, Sunny Leslie - Backing Vocals





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domingo, 1 de novembro de 2020

The Michael Packer Blues Band - The Michael Packer Blues Band


















The Michael Packer Blues Band - The Michael Packer Blues Band - 2008

A musical prodigy, Michael Packer (Dec. 20, 1950 - May 6, 2017) began playing in top Greenwich Village clubs at age 15. He hung out with artists like Tom Waits and Paul Butterfield.  In 1969 at age 19, Packer started the band Papa Nebo; they were signed by label boss Ahmet Ertegun and cut an album for Atlantic Records. After that band broke up, Packer moved to San Francisco where he played in coffeehouses and on the streets; there he met George Thorogood who was doing the same. It was George who turned Michael onto the blues.

Packer moved back to NYC and formed the band Free Beer (so named because it looked inviting on club marquees) with an ex-Nebo bandmate in 1973. They were signed to Buddah and RCA Records and toured the country with band like the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show, Quicksilver Messenger Service and zydeco’s Clifton Chenier to name a few.



01. I'm In Love
02. Gotta Go
03. Christmas On The Bowery
04. The Deuce
05. I Got A Mind To Give Up Living
06. Born In New York City
07. Going Away
08. All Along The Watchtower
09. Don't Need You No More
10. #6 Train
11. Bleecker Street





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quarta-feira, 28 de outubro de 2020

The Pete York Percussion Band - The Pete York Percussion Band


















The Pete York Percussion Band - The Pete York Percussion Band - 1972

In 1969 Pete left Spencer on friendly terms to form a unique duo with Eddie Hardin. Hardin and York were sometimes dubbed “the World’s Smallest Big Band” and released several albums with great success, especially in Europe. The duo often played as opening act for bands like Deep Purple and it is from this time that Pete’s friendship with Jon Lord and Ian Paice stems.

By 1972 Pete York’s Percussion Band  had hit the road. It featured a brass section and three drummers as well as guitarist/singer Miller Anderson. Occasional guest drummers in this adventure were Ian Paice, Keef Hartley, Roy Dyke and Keith Moon.

01. Keep On Running
02. Nothing Yet
03. Cold Night In The City
04. Sombrero Sam
05. Mel’s Blues
06. Moleshawk
07. Stroke
08. The Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba
09. Points
10. Over

Pete York - Drums, Congas, Percussion
Steve Fearn - Guitar, Vocals
Ian Paice - Congas (4)
Bill Coleman - Bass, Electric Piano (4)
Gordon Williamson - Drums, Percussion
Steve Fearn - Guitar, Vocals
Roger Munns - Piano, Trombone, Clarinet
Mel Thorpe - Tenor Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet
Barry Sutton - Trumpet



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sábado, 24 de outubro de 2020

Thunderclap Newman - Beyond Hollywood (re-re-re-post)


















Thunderclap Newman - Beyond Hollywood - 2010 

2010 album from the reformed 60's Psychedelic Pop act featuring Andy Newman, Mark Brzezicki (Big Country), Josh Townshend (Pete's nephew), Nick Johnson and Tony Stubbings. Seven of the tracks were recorded live during their reunion tour, while the remaining three tracks are all studio recordings. Track Records.

The live material on this album was recorded the week after the 'Lewes' show on 26th February, Farrington Gurney, Bristol.

01. Hollywood
02. When I Think
03. Accidents
04. Wild Country
05. The Old Cornmill
06. Wilhelmina
07. Look Around
08. I See It Also
09. I Don't Know
10. Something In The Air

Andy Newman - Piano, Woodwind and Vocals
Mark Brzezicki - Drums and Vocals
Josh Townshend - Guitar and Vocals
Nick Johnson - Guitar and Vocals
Tony Stubbings - Bass


terça-feira, 20 de outubro de 2020

The Spencer Davis Group ‎– Live in Finland ' 67


















The Spencer Davis Group ‎– Live in Finland ' 67 - 2017

By early 1967, the Spencer Davis Group were firmly established as one of the UK’s biggest bands, but the 18 year-old Steve Winwood was growing restless. That February they toured Scandinavia, playing this electrifying set for the Finnish TV show Valmiina Pyörii (‘Ready… To Spin!’) on the 27th. Performed in a Helsinki studio and broadcast by YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Company) it brilliantly combines originals, standards and their immortal hits, giving no sign that it was one of Winwood’s last performances with the band. 

01. Intro
02. When I Come Home
03. Dust My Blues
04. Mean Woman Blues
05. Band Interview
06. Together Till The End Of Time
07. I'm A Man
08. Georgia On My Mind
09. Gimme Some Lovin'
10. Announcer
11. I'm a Man - Gimme Some Lovin' (reprise)




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segunda-feira, 19 de outubro de 2020

Gordon Haskell - Serve At Room Temperature


Gordon Haskell - Serve At Room Temperature - 1979

Gordon Haskell (27 April 1946 - 16 October 2020) was an English musician and songwriter. A pop, rock and blues vocalist, guitarist, and bassist, he was a school friend of King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp, the two first working together in Fripp's mid-1960s teenage group the League of Gentlemen (not to be confused with Fripp's later new wave band). Haskell first gained recognition as bass player for the British band The Fleur de Lys, and subsequently spent a short period in King Crimson, singing one of the songs on their second album and both singing and playing bass on their third album. After departing from King Crimson, he continued his musical career as a solo musician, finally gaining international recognition in 2001 with his hit song "How Wonderful You Are", followed by his platinum-selling album Harry's Bar.

01. All the Usual Mistakes
02. Whisky
03. Breathing In
04. Vivaldi's Song
05. Silhouettes
06. I Need Your Love So Much
07. Living in the Attic
08. Castles in the Sky
09. People Don't Care
10. My Baby


+@192

sexta-feira, 16 de outubro de 2020

Lowell George - Thanks, I'll Eat It Here


















Lowell George - Thanks, I'll Eat It Here - 1979

Thanks I'll Eat it Here is strikingly different from the fusion-leanings of Little Feat's last studio album, Time Loves a Hero. Lowell George never cared for jazz-fusion, so it should be little surprise that there's none to be heard on Thanks. Instead, he picks up where Dixie Chicken left off (he even reworks that album's standout "Two Trains"), turning in a laid-back, organic collection of tunes equal parts New Orleans R&B, country, sophisticated blues, and pop. George wasn't in good health during the sessions for Thanks, which you wouldn't tell by his engaging performances, but from the lack of new tunes. Out of the nine songs on the album, only three are originals, and they're all collaborations. That's a drawback only in retrospect -- it's hard not to wish that the last album George completed had more of his own songs -- but Lowell was a first-rate interpreter, so even covers of Allen Toussaint ("What Do You Want the Girl to Do"), Ann Peebles ("I Can't Stand the Rain") and Rickie Lee Jones ("Easy Money") wind up sounding of piece with the original songs. George's music rolls so easy, the album can seem a little slight at first, but it winds up being a real charmer. Yes, a few songs drift by and, yes, Jimmy Webb's vaudevellian "Himmler's Ring" feels terribly out of place, but Lowell's style is so distinctive and his performances so soulful, it's hard not to like this record if you've ever had a fondness for Little Feat. After all, it's earthier and more satisfying than any Feat album since Feats Don't Fail Me Now and it has the absolutely gorgeous "20 Million Things," the last great song George ever wrote.

01. What Do You Want the Girl to Do
02. Honest Man
03. Two Trains
04. I Can't Stand the Rain
05. Cheek to Cheek
06. Easy Money
07. Twenty Million Things
08. Find a River
09. Himmler's Ring
10. Heartache 


+@320

terça-feira, 13 de outubro de 2020

Jeff Beck - Live At The Fillmore West


















Jeff Beck - Live At The Fillmore West - 1968

The Jeff Beck Group in its original incarnation was a powerhouse band featuring Beck on the six string, Ronnie Wood on bass and Rod Stewart on vocals with a rotating cast of drummers, on this eve Micky Waller. The group’s aggressive blues rock sound would certainly influence Jimmy Page as he put together his post Yardbirds band. The JBG was touring and playing songs from their forthcoming record, Truth and open the show with “You Shook Me”, already joined in progress. Beck’s interpretation of the Willie Dixon classic is a barnstormer. 



Ronnie Wood’s bass playing must be commented on immediately, while better know for his six string abilities he shines in this recording by not only providing a solid back beat but by playing some lead bass runs, he heats up and is tearing it up during the next song, “Let Me Love You”. Also from the Truth record the song is one of the few original songs on the record of mostly covers. It infuses lyrical content from the ancient Sleepy Jon Estes that would also be used by Page as “The Girl I Love”; the song also features some fine guitar work by Beck.





01. Intro - You Shook Me
02. Let Me Love You
03. Morning Dew
04. Jeff´s Boogie
05. Hi Ho Silver Lining
06. The Sun Is Shining
07. Blues Deluxe (*)

Jeff Beck - Guitar
Rod Stewart - Vocals
Nicky Hopkins - Piano
Ronnie Wood - Bass
Mick Waller - Drum

(*) #7 is not "Blues Deluxe", as stated on the cover, but a another version of "The Sun is Shining"

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