Steve Gaines - One in the Sun

Steve Gaines - One in the Sun - 1988

One in the Sun is credited as the only solo album by Steve Gaines, best known as the guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd.It was recorded with Crawdad band mates at Leon Russell's Church Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and at Capricorn studios in Macon, Georgia, in 1975. It was released in 1988 by MCA Records, 11 years after Gaines' death in a plane crash. Crawdad had been a working band for some time and all the material had been performed onstage prior to being recorded. Gaines had previously worked with all the members of Crawdad in other bands, some of which included Magic Kitchen, Man Alive, and Detroit.

01. Give It To Get It

02. It's Alright

03. Blackjack Davey

04. On The Road

05. One In The Sun

06. Talkin' About Love

07. Nothin' Is New

08. Take My Time

09. Summertime's Here

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Artimus Pyle - Artimus Venomus

Artimus Pyle - Artimus Venomus - 2006

By Ralph Greco, Jr. from vintagerock.com

Artimas Pyle! Artimas ‘Freaking Pyle! Do you recall the daze when Lynyrd Skynyrd was Lynyrd Skynyrd, not the mix-and-match band of new additions and younger family members, semi-right winger flag-wavers they seem to be nowadays? 

Well, way back in the band’s heyday, before the plane crash tragedy, the drum stool of this great southern rock institution was occupied by the hirsute — ‘always in the pocket’ wild man Artimus Pyle. Pyle bowed out early of the Skynyrd reunions and returns, and hasn’t been seen much on the music scene so his new 12-song CD Artimus Venomus is a welcomed surprise.

This recording of “a 70’s feel and modern productions” boasts “warts and all” performances and the CD definitely feels rough and ready. This approach works for the most part. The players Pyle has assembled, especially co-producer/drummer/guitarist Larry Goad, slide guitarist Jack Pearson,

and various great piano players, including Buzz Pickens and Mike Deroches (to name a few), are top-notch. It just goes to show you how many great pickers, strummers and ‘hitters’ there are out there playing dives and honkytonks that we never hear about.

As Artemis warns us, he ain’t no singer. And on the first two tracks, “Brother Walk On By” and the title track, the meat-and-potatoes ‘live’ feel of the production mixed with Pyle’s vocal ‘stylings’ make it hard for me to comment on the effectiveness of the first few lyrics. 

Mostly Pyle is spitting some venom here for lawyers and celebrity, but because his vocals are limited it’s hard to tell how effective the lyric (and the songs themselves) would sound if there was a better singer and a more lavish production. But this criticism can only be leveled at these first two songs.

When “Venomus” gets rolling, the ‘70’s feel’ production is definitely an asset.

On “Can’t Get Off With Your Shoes On,” “Spit,” “AntiVenom,” and what might just be my favorite track, the wonderfully titled “Dead Rock Stars’ Widows, Gigolos, Pocket Money,” there are grooves to grab the listener. That ‘70s’ feel keeps away any extra over-blown production cacophony that would be a detriment. And old Artemis is not above throwing us some curves, beyond putting out this CD in the first place!

“Can’t Get Off…” and “Jerusalem” feature guitar playing by Ed King (stellar guitar playing actually) and on other tracks there are the tasty vocals of JoJo Billingsley White and Leslie Hawkins, all three original Skynyrd alum. As Pyle has mentioned, his voice is certainly not the best and as he even claims in the liner notes, this CD is “out of the box with no trickery” performances. But to tell you the truth, the players here are so good they don’t show too many ‘warts.’ More often than not, the playing, the passion and the groove are aided by this less-is-more approach. Blessed though it would be if a CD like Artimus Venomus ever got the airplay it deserves. Still, it is a breath of fresh air as far as production and performance with some downright sardonic songwriting. Nice to have you back Mr. Pyle!

01. Artimus Venomus

02. Brother Walk On By

03. Blood Sucking Wheasel Attorneys

04. Dead Rock Stars Widows, Giggolos, Pocket Money

05. Spit

06. Can't Get Off With Your Shoes On

07. Million Dollar Farm

08. Jerusalem

09. Trust #3

10. Knock Me Down

11. Makes More Rock

12. AntiVenom

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Beth Hart - A Tribute To Led Zeppelin

Beth Hart - A Tribute To Led Zeppelin - 2022

The Grammy-nominated powerhouse vocalist Beth Hart takes on one of her most profound undertakings to date by channelling the legendary voice of Robert Plant on A Tribute To Led Zeppelin. 

The nine track album highlights the incredible musical spectrum that Led Zeppelin operated in. At the helm was super- producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day, Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance) and engineer Doug McKean (Goo Goo Dolls, Adam Lambert). The A-list musicians include Cavallo on guitar along with Tim Pierce (Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner); on bass was Chris Chaney (Rob Zombie, Slash);on keyboards was Jamie Muhoberac (Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones); on drums was Dorian Crozier (Celine Dion, Miley Cyrus, Joe Cocker), and Matt Laug played drums on Stairway To Heaven (Alanis Morissette, Alice Cooper). Orchestral arrangements were by David Campbell (Muse, Beyoncé). All that was left was the final piece of the puzzle… the voice.

Things clicked into place when Cavallo was producing Hart’s previous album, War In My Mind (2019), and she did an impromptu version of “Whole Lotta Love” in the studio. He later asked about doing a whole record. Beth said, “I’m not doing this whole album. To do Zeppelin, you’ve got to be pissed off to hit that right. I can’t go there; I’ve worked years to put my rage away.”

She continues, “then the pandemic and all the things around it hit. So now I’m pissed off. I called my manager and said, have Rob and Doug send me all the music because I am ready to do this.”

If you were to rewind, you could say the story for a Led Zeppelin album started further back; in May 2004 Hart prowled the stage at the Paradiso in Amsterdam for an incendiary performance of “Whole Lotta Love”. The song became a semi- regular fixture in her setlist over the years, including a memorable performance with Slash.

As a child, the sound of “Black Dog” traveled from Beth’s neighbor’s house into her orbit. Her brother introduced her to the heavy rock of Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. Her major-label debut came on Atlantic with the 1996 release of Immortal. The same label introduced Led Zeppelin to the world in 1969.

Earlier on in Beth’s career, former VP of Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song label, Alan Callan, recommended Beth contact Jeff Beck to work together. Hart and Beck have gone on to form a beautiful friendship. Beck and Jimmy Page are also friends, and for a while, bandmates in The Yardbirds. After Beck’s departure from the band, they would eventually become Led Zeppelin.

After her phenomenal performance at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors for Buddy Guy, she received a standing ovation from Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones.

It’s fitting that “Whole Lotta Love” is the opening song of the album. From there, it’s a non-stop journey through “Kashmir”, an enchanting version of “Stairway to Heaven” to a James Brown-esque funky strut of “The Crunge.” Inspired medleys “Dancing Days/When The Levee Breaks” and “No Quarter/Babe I’m Gonna Leave You Now” stand on both sides of “Black Dog.” The penultimate song, “Good Times Bad Times” leads into the orchestral ballad “The Rain Song,” which closes the album.

Talking about the music and legacy of Zeppelin, she says, “it’s so beautifully done, it’s timeless. It will go on forever. Sometimes people come along, and they’re from another planet, and they make these pieces of art which will forever be.”

Hart is recognized as one of her generation’s most talented voices. She has sold out tours worldwide, including performances at historic venues such as Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, London’s Royal Albert Hall, and the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. She’s topped the Billboard Blues charts six times, gone double platinum and had a string of Top 10 charting albums across Europe.

On a final thought, Beth pauses and reflects to say, “this Zeppelin album allowed me to get all my rage out, and for that, I’m really grateful.”

01. Whole Lotta Love

02. Kashmir

03. Stairway To Heaven

04. The Crunge

05. Dancing Days / When The Levee Breaks (Medley)

06. Black Dog

07. No Quarter / Babe I’m Gonna Leave You (Medley)

08. Good Times Bad Times

09. The Rain Song

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Brian Davison’s Every Which Way - Every Which Way - (50th Anniversary Remastered 2020)

Brian Davison’s Every Which Way - Every Which Way - 1970 (50th Anniversary Remastered 2020)

The band was formed by drummer BRIAN DAVISON upon the demise of his former group THE NICE in early 1970 (caused by KEITH EMERSON’s departure to form ELP).

Davison soon sought to form his own group and recruited former SKIP BIFFERTY vocalist Graham Bell, along with bass guitarist, Alan Cartwright, guitarist John Hedley and saxophonist Geoffrey Peach. BRIAN DAVISON’s EVERY WHICH WAY took a more jazz influenced take on Progressive rock, which suited Davison’s style perfectly. The band recorded their only album at Trident studios soon after formation and signed with the recently founded Charisma label. The finished result was a fine record which earned much critical praise upon its release.

The songs were mostly written by Graham Bell, whose superb voice was selected for praise. The lengthy BED AIN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE opened the album and featured wonderful saxophone solos from Geoffrey Peach (earning comparisons to the sound of the band Audience, another Charisma act, or Traffic). Other highlights included the emotive GO PLACIDLY and the excellent ALL IN TIME, but in truth the entire album was of the highest standard.

Despite having produced such a fine debut album, EVERY WHICH WAY lasted only a short time before disbanding. Alan Cartwright soon joined PROCOL HARUM, whilst Brian Davison would eventually join his former NICE band mate Lee Jackson in REFUGEE, with Swiss keyboard player Patrick Moraz.

01 Bed Ain't What It Used To Be

02 Castle Sand

03 Go Placidly

04 All In Time

05 What You Like

06 The Light

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Ian McDonald & Ted Zurkowski - Honey West - Bad Old World

IIan McDonald & Ted Zurkowski - Honey West - Bad Old World - 2019

HONEY WEST is a 2 guitar, bass and drums combo whose members are Ted Zurkowski (composer, lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ian McDonald (composer, lead guitar & multi instruments, harmony vocals), Steve Holley (drums, harmony vocals) and Maxwell McDonald (bass).

HONEY WEST's story begins when Ian and Ted find out they have been living right across the street from each other on New York's Upper West Side (such is life in the big city). They are introduced by Ted's wife, Lynnea Benson. As fate would have it, Ian, being English and a SHAKESPEARE fan, has been regularly attending performances of Lynnea's FROG & PEACH THEATER COMPANY. One day Ian, a master of understatement, happens to mention to her that he founded "two rather well known bands" (KING CRIMSON and FOREIGNER) and Lynnea invites him to come and see Ted's trio play a gig. That weekend, Ian goes down the steps of a cellar club (sound familiar?) and "likes the energy" coming off the stage.

Ted and Ian immediately strike out on their own and start writing. Their songs, as well as their two-guitar sound, quickly cohere.

They are joined by Ian's son Max McDonald (TEMPT) as well as the great Steve Holley (WINGS with PAUL & LINDA McCARTNEY, JOE COCKER, IAN HUNTER, etc) and HONEY WEST is born.

"BAD OLD WORLD", HONEY WEST's debut album, with 12 songs written by Ted and Ian

01. The September Issue

02. Brand New Car

03. Bad Old World

04. She's Not Your Life

05. Sylvia Strange

06. Generationless Man

07. California

08. Sailing

09. A Girl Called Life

10. Old Man

11. Terry & Julie

12. Dementia

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