Don Johnson - Heartbeat (1986)

"Heartbeat" is an album released by American television actor Don Johnson in 1986 on the Epic/CBS Records label. In the United States, the album reached #17 on the Billboard 200 album chart in October 1986. One can't really discuss the 80s without discussing Don Johnson, and one can't really love the 80s without loving the actor who defined the decade. Realistically, it's a sturdy, serviceable corporate pop/rock record. It's obvious the record company wanted to cash in on the Vice craze in a big way. This album boasts big-name talent like Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Ron Wood and others on vocals and backing tracks, and more big-name talent like Bog Seger and Tom Petty helping out with songwriting. The sound has an eighties production sheen, but avoids the cheesy keyboards and actually sounds pretty muscular on tracks like "Last Sound Love Makes" and "Gotta Get Away." The one indulgence I will allow myself, as a DJ fan, is to go over the top in my description of the album closer, "Can't Take your Memory." A beautiful piano-driven ballad, Don delivers a vocal of striking power and emotion. I really believe you could play this track in a "blind" test, and most folks would herald the dude singing it as a major undiscovered talent. But, alas, he is Don Johnson. A joke to many, a hero to some and a major talent nonetheless.

Track List:
01. "Heartbeat" (Eric Kaz, Wendy Waldman) - 4:20
02. "Voice on a Hotline" (Bill LaBounty, K. Wakefield) - 4:00
03. "The Last Sound Love Makes" (J. Capek, S. Egorin, T. Sciuto) - 4:29
04. "Lost in Your Eyes" (Tom Petty) - 4:30
05. "Coco Don't" (Peter Kaye) - 3:31
06. "Heartache Away" (S. Cochran) - 4:50
07. "Love Roulette" - 5:19
08. "Star Tonight" (Bob Seger) (feat. backing vocals by Willie Nelson) - 2:54
09. "Gotta Get Away" (Chas Sandford) - 4:26
10. "Can't Take Your Memory"(Don Johnson, Curly Smith) - 4:28

Release Date: Oct. 1986
Label: CBS
Genre: Rock
Playtime: 43:07
Producers: Keith Diamond, Chas Sandford
Engineers: David Axelbaum, Acar S. Key, Gary McGachan, Peter Robbins, Bob Ross
Mixing: Gary McGachan, Chas Sandford
Mastering: Stephen Marcussen
Strings Arranged By: Leon Pendarvis
Horns Arranged By: Leon Pendarvis, Lenny Pickett, Danny Wilensky

Personnel:
Vocals - Don Johnson
Drums - Omar Hakim, John Keane, J.T. Lewis, Terry Silverlight, Curly Smith
Percussion - Keith Diamond, Bashiri Johnson, Acar S. Key
Bass - Wayne Braithwaite, Keith Diamond, Mark Leonard, Larry Russell
Keyboards - Bill Champlin, Keith Diamond
Guitars - Dickey Betts, Kennan Keating, Paul Pesco, David Resnik, Chas Sandford, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ron Wood, Dweezil Zappa
Saxophone - Lenny Pickett, Danny Wilensky
Harmonica - Mickey Raphael
Horns - Chris Botti, Joseph J. Sheply, George Young

Del Shannon - Rock On (1991)

Del Shannon's final album "Rock On", originally released in 1991 with the first 10 tracks after Shannon's death, is a fitting testament to a great artist who never lost what it was that made him great. The album is passionate, dramatic, emotional, and full of great songs. Most of all it has that amazing voice, and yes, Shannon's majestic voice is as strong as ever here. The album showed Del Shannon's voice and writing skills were in fine form. "Walk Away", written by Shannon, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne is the most commercial of the songs complete with his falsetto. "Who Left Who" is a powerful breakup ballad that could be sung by LeAnne Rimes or George Jones. Of the first tracks listed, only "What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am" wasn't written by Shannon. He covered the Tams version (later a hit by Bill Deal and the Rondells) and does it well. His updated version of "I Go To Pieces",the Peter and Gordon hit which was written by Shannon, is a winner as is the pop rock uptempo "Are You Loving Me Too". This re-issue has 5 additions tracks: "Hot Love", "One Woman Man", "Nobody's Business", "You Don't Know What You've Got (Until You Lose It)", and "Songwriter". Of these 5 tracks all were written by Shannon except for "You Don't Know What You've Got", the sixties Ral Donner hit. "Hot Love"and "One Woman Man" are both terrific songs as is his rendition of the Ral Donner hit. A special mention has to be made of the last track, "Songwriter". It is voice only of Del Shannon singing and composing into a home recorder. While it has tape stops where he starts over, it shows a songwriter at work creating a song. The sad part is when he sings, "songwriter, give me back my life".

Track List:
01. Walk Away (Del Shannon, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty) - 3:37
02. Who Left Who (Del Shannon) - 3:20
03. Are You Lovin' Me Too (Del Shannon) - 3:14
04. Callin' Out My Name (Del Shannon) - 3:44
05. I Go To Pieces (Del Shannon) - 3:59
06. Lost In a Memory (Del Shannon) - 3:35
07. I Got You (Del Shannon) - 3:41
08. What Kind Of a Fool Do You Think I Am? (Ray Whitley) - 3:09
09. When I Had You (Del Shannon) - 4:17
10. Let's Dance (Del Shannon) - 3:31
11. Hot Love (Bonus Track) - 3:23
12. One Woman Man (Bonus Track) - 3:54
13. Nobody's Business (Bonus Track) - 3:22
14. You Don't Know What You've Got (Until You Lose It) (Bonus Track) - 4:17
15. Songwriter (Bonus Track) - 3:23

Release Date: 1991
Label: Silvertone Records
Genre: Rock
Play Time: 54:22
Produced by: Jeff Lynne, Mike Campbell
Mixed By: – Bill Bottrell, Richard Dodd, Mark Linnett
Engineered By: – Mike Campbell, Richard Dodd

Personnel:
Del Shannon - Vocals, Guitar, Electric Guitar
Jeff Lynne - Bass, Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals, Keyboards
Tom Petty - Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals
Phil Jones - Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Mike Campbell - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
Benmont Tench - Piano, Organ, Accordion
Richard Greene - Fiddle
Backing Vocals - Howie Epstein, Andy & David Williams, Phil Hatton

Ashford & Simpson - Come As You Are (1976)

One of Ashford & Simpson's best Warner Bros. albums, especially from a production standpoint. The mix between up-tempo and slow, love songs and dance tunes was perfect, and their interaction had been honed to the point where each anticipated the other. Simpson's soaring vocals and Ashford's less-impressive but still strong support, plus their outstanding harmonizing, was at its peak.
By the time Nick & Val released their third album the disco era was in full swing. Therefore some heavy thought was put into this album in terms of it's playability on the dancefloor. Since their debut "Gimme Something Real" several years earlier it was one of their most musically exciting albums up until this point,emphasizing a lot of strong rhythmic exhanges that would typify their sound for the rest of the decade. Songs such as "One More Try","Caretaker" and "Tell It All" have a delightfully delicious jazz-funk flavor to them,all helped along by the rhythm section of Stuff with Richard Tee's destinctive revered/phased electric piano being the main highlite. "Sell The House" is an excellent song of longing and the music is incredible. The slow crawling groove,wah wah's and the bubbling bassline put it smack dab in the center of the funk music of that time and has that great mid 70's prodiction that produced so much great music in that style during this era. There are three ballads on this album in "It'll Come,It'll Come,It'll Come","Believe in Me" and "Somebody Told A Lie". Again the "slow jam" nature of these songs put them more in the league with the soul funk era as opposed to anything earlier that tended to sound more Motownish in places. More so than the either of their first two albums this would establish their late 70's sound that would contine on throughout the remainder of the decade and in a sense became the basis for their signiture sound as recording artists as opposed to their style as merely producers.

Track List:
01. "It'll Come, It'll Come, It'll Come" - 2:53
02. "One More Try" - 3:26
03. "Believe In Me" - 5:20
04. "Caretaker" - 3:53
05. "Somebody Told A Lie" - 5:49
06. "Tell It All" - 5:15
07. "Sell The House" - 3:20
08. "It Came To Me" - 3:53

Release Date: 1976
Label: Warner Bros.
Genre: Soul
Length: 33:45
Producer: Ashford & Simpson

Personnel:
Valerie Simpson - Vocals, Keyboards
Nickolas Ashford - Vocals
Rick Marotta - Drums
Hugh McCracken - Guitar
Jeff Mironov - Guitar
Richard Tee - Keyboards
Elliott Randall - Guitar
Ray Simpson - Vocals
Joshie Armstead - Vocals
Don Grolnick - Keyboards

Screaming Trees - Even If And Especially When (1987)

Screaming Trees is known as one of the "Godfathers of Grunge" along with the Melvins, U-Men, Skin Yard, Soundgarden, Green River, and Malfunkshun. Screaming Trees rose to fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s, along with bands such as Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Soundgarden and was one of the most successful underground music acts of the 1990s. The band achieved one top ten single on the Modern Rock Tracks charts. Screaming Trees had been plagued by extended inactivity due to their problems with making a follow up to Dust. This led to their official breakup in 2000. "Even If And Especially When" is the second full length album by the Seattle band Screaming Trees released in 1987. It was their first album released on the SST label. By essentially "repeating the language of the land and the sky," the Screaming Trees accurately portray the organic spirit of the Pacific Northwest. On tracks such as "Cold Rain" and "In the Forest" their narrative landscapes are not only expressed by the seasoned voice of Mark Lanegan but also by the rich complexity of their song structures. While drummer Mark Pickerel and guitarists Gary Lee and Van Conner provide the energy of a classic garage band, producer Steve Fisk molds their groundwork and pop sensibilities into the realms of proto-grunge. Along with fellow SST labelmates Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr., the Screaming Trees served as true pioneers of the burgeoning genre. With distorted guitars and meaningful poetics becoming the norm of the late '80s, Even If and Especially When stands as a commendable album and a telling preview of what was to later come from the Seattle scene.

Track List:
01. "Transfiguration" - 3:53
02. "Straight Out to Any Place" - 2:00
03. "World Painted" - 2:59
04. "Don't Look Down" - 2:53
05. "Girl Behind the Mask" - 2:33
06. "Flying" - 3:14
07. "Cold Rain" - 3:34
08. "Other Days and Different Planets" - 3:12
09. "The Pathway" - 3:25
10. "You Know Where It's At" - 2:29
11. "Back Together" - 2:08
12. "In the Forest" - 4:04

Released: 1987
Recorded: Velvetone Records, Ellensburg, WA, 1986
Genre: Grunge, Neo-Psychedelia
Length: 36:24
Label: SST Records

Personnel:
Mark Lanegan (vocals)
Gary Lee Conner (guitar, organ)
Van Conner (bass guitar)
Mark Pickerel (drums)
Rod Doak (background vocals)

Thin Lizzy - Thunder And Lightning (1983)

"Thunder And Lightning" is the twelfth and final studio album by heavy-rock band Thin Lizzy, released in 1983. Guitarist John Sykes was hired to replace Snowy White after 1981's "Renegade", and Sykes helped to provide a heavier sound and guitar tone than Thin Lizzy had used on previous albums. However, the bulk of the songwriting (except for "Cold Sweat") was completed before he joined the band. Keyboard player Darren Wharton also offered a stronger musical influence to Thin Lizzy's final studio album, co-writing many of the tracks including "Some Day She Is Going to Hit Back", and the final single "The Sun Goes Down". Thin Lizzy's final studio release, "Thunder And Lightning", was their most consistent album since 1979's "Black Rose". Guitarist John Sykes replaced Snowy White, and the new blood must have inspired Lynott and company to write some of their best compositions in years. While the title track served as the ensuing tour's raging opener, half-baked lyrics detailing a fistfight and an unwarranted synth-solo weakens what should have been a straight-ahead rocker. But such heavies as "This Is the One" and "Cold Sweat" suit the band much better. Lizzy takes a stab at dance-rock with "The Holy War," while laying back with the tranquil "The Sun Goes Down" and the album's underrated highlight, the melodic "Bad Habits." Like Lizzy's other '80s releases, filler is present -- "Someday She Is Going to Hit Back" and "Heart Attack" and disappointingly, guitarist Scott Gorham abandons his trademark harmony leads of yesteryear in favor of '80s-era high-tech shredding.

Track List:
01."Thunder and Lightning" (Brian Downey, Phil Lynott) – 4:55
02."This Is the One" (Lynott, Darren Wharton) – 4:02
03."The Sun Goes Down" (Lynott, Wharton) – 6:18
04."The Holy War" (Lynott) – 5:13
05."Cold Sweat" (Lynott, John Sykes) – 3:06
06."Someday She Is Going to Hit Back" (Downey, Lynott, Wharton) – 4:05
07."Baby Please Don’t Go" (Lynott) – 5:11
08."Bad Habits" (Scott Gorham, Lynott) – 4:05
09."Heart Attack" (Gorham, Lynott, Wharton) – 3:38

Released: 4 March 1983
Recorded: Dublin & London, 1982
Label: Vertigo Records
Genre: Hard Rock
Length: 40:28
Producer: Chris Tsangarides

Personnel:
Phil Lynott - bass guitar, vocals
Scott Gorham - guitar, backing vocals
John Sykes - guitar, backing vocals
Darren Wharton - keyboards, backing vocals
Brian Downey - drums, percussion

Michael Hutchence - Michael Hutchence (1999)

"Michael Hutchence" is the debut (and only) solo album by INXS frontman Michael Hutchence. It was released on 14 December 1999.
Hutchence began work on what would become his posthumous solo album in 1995. Following his death in 1997, Black Grape producer Danny Saber and ex-Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill completed the album. U2 singer, and Hutchence's friend, Bono recorded lyrics which were added to the track "Slide Away."
Whether his name is enough to sell the posthumous solo debut of former INXS leader Michael Hutchence is a question that should be easy to answer. The magnetism that made him one of the most dynamic singers of the '80s is still evident here, but what's not clear is whether or not there's a hit as charged as, say, INXS' "New Sensation" -- particularly considering Hutchence is an old sensation within the time frame of the album's release date -- at a time when this year's model became this moment's thrill. Nevertheless, there is enough good material here to warrant a listen, perhaps even shed a tear. More than two years after Hutchence hung himself in a sexually fraught suicide comes the debut of one of the most erotic, exciting singers of the '80s. Produced by Gang of Four leader Andy Gill (Hutchence was enthralled by that group's guitar sound), and refined by Black Grape's Danny Saber, this curious, occasionally exciting collection showcases the more vulnerable side of Hutchence, best-known for such defiant, proud rock tunes as "The One Thing," "What You Need," and "New Sensation." Songs such as the soul-tinged "Get on the Inside" and the edgy, hard-rocking "A Straight Line" contrast with the cool, paradoxically self-revealing "All I'm Saying" the oddly metered "Don't Save Me From Myself," and the spectral, beautiful "Strip Away." Such lyrical coexistence suggests Hutchence was far from being a spent force, even as it indicates the kind of demons that had been dogging him. Studded with guest appearances from the likes of Bono (whose vocals dubbed over those of Hutchence "complete" the eerily prescient "Slide Away") and various high-end session people, this autobiographical album resonates beyond its sad, faintly kinky pedigree. Crafted from a collection the artist had been working on since 1995, it's an assured, polished release. Apparently, Hutchence had been working on it even as INXS was crafting their swan song, the underrated (and beautifully titled) 1997 album "Elegantly Wasted". This album was simply dedicated to "Tiger" in reference to Hutchence's daughter, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily Hutchence.

Track List:
01. "Let Me Show You" - 3:38
02. "Possibilities" - 4:31
03. "Get on the Inside" - 4:48
04. "Fear" - 3:43
05. "All I'm Saying" - 4:05
06. "A Straight Line" - 3:38
07. "Baby It's Alright" - 3:52
08. "Don't Save Me from Myself" - 3:21
09. "She Flirts for England" - 3:12
10. "Flesh and Blood" - 5:03
11. "Put the Pieces Back Together" - 4:38
12. "Breathe" - 3:52
13. "Slide Away" - 4:22

Released:  14 December 1999
Recorded:  1995–1997
Genre:  Alternative Rock
Length:  52:43
Label:  V2 Records
Produced:  Andy Gill, Michael Hutchence, and Danny Saber

Personnel:
Michael Hutchence – vocals, production
Kenny Aronoff – drums
Bono – vocals on "Slide Away"
Harry Borden – photography
Jonathan Cohen – cello
Kevin Cummins – photography
Gail Ann Dorsey – backing vocals
Bernard Fowler – backing vocals
Joanna Gammie – viola
Andy Gill – guitar, keyboards
Denise Johnston – backing vocals
Nick Lane – trombone on "Get on the Inside"
Ged Lynch – drums, percussion
Steve Madaio – trumpet
Monty – drums
Susan McGill – violin
Tony Morse – string arrangement
Tim Palmer – mixing
Guy Pratt – bass guitar
Steven Price – acoustic guitar, string arrangement
Herb Ritts – photography
Danny Saber – bass guitar, guitar
Stevie Salas – guitar
Joe Strummer – vocals
Natalie Thompson – violin
Waddy Wachtel – guitar
Doug Wimbish – bass guitar
David L. Woodruff – horn
John 'X' – backing vocals

Huang Chung - Huang Chung (1982)

Wang Chung are an English new wave musical group formed in 1980. The name Wang Chung means "yellow bell" in Chinese, and is the first note in the Chinese classical music scale.

The London-based new wave group Wang Chung had a handful of hits in the mid-'80s, achieving their greatest popularity in the U.S. Originally called Huang Chung, the band consisted of vocalist/guitarist Jack Hues, bassist Nick Feldman, and drummer Darren Costin.
Huang Chung is the self-titled debut album of the band Huang Chung (later known as Wang Chung). Huang Chung was released on March 4, 1982.
This was a platter that stood out in 1982, among the keyboards and analog synths, because it has a saxophone at the base of the songs. It's not as versatile as a keyboard, but it works. Be sure to listen to "China", "Chinese Girls", and "Why Do You Laugh". Produced by Roger Bechirian & Rhett Davies (previously worked with Roxy Music), this is an unusual but ultimately rewarding album combining different styles and techniques with an unmistakable honesty transmitted through Hues' vocals.
Huang Chung was supposed to be one of two albums that the band did for Arista Records, but they departed and signed on with Geffen Records afterwards because their manager spotted the band's potential and their upcoming song, "Dance Hall Days", to be a possibly big hit. Meanwhile, after the release, Huang Chung saxophonist David Burnand (a.k.a. Hogg Robinson) left due to "musical differences". No song hit any charts in the U.S.A. or the U.K.
The band metamorphised from Huang Chung to Wang Chung following this album and gained considerable commercial success.

Track listing

01. "Ti Na Na" - 4:22
02. "Hold Back the Tears" - 4:05
03. "I Never Want to Love You in a Half-Hearted Way" - 3:11
04. "Straight From My Heart" - 2:52
05. "Dancing" - 4:38
06. "Chinese Girls" - 2:51
07. "Why Do You Laugh" - 4:06
08. "China" - 3:27
09. "I Can't Sleep" - 3:15
10. "Rising in the East" - 5:27

All songs written and composed by Jack Hues, except as noted. Note that Nick Feldman was credited as Nick DeSpig throughout this album.

Credits
Bass, Percussion, Vocals – Nick De Spig
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Darwin
Guitar, Lead Vocals, Piano – Jack Hues
Saxophone, Percussion, Vocals – Hogg
Design – Steve Joule
Design [Logo] – Alex Feldman
Photography By [Photos] – Fin Costello
Engineer [Basing St.] – Nigel Mills
Engineer [Jam] – Dave Bellotti
Producer:  Rhett Davies & Roger Bechirian

Notes
Release date:  March 4, 1982
Recorded at: The Gallery, Basing St., and Jam Studios
Genre:  New Wave / Synth-pop
Length:  38:14
© 1982

Label:  Arista Records

John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band - Eddie & The Cruisers 2: Eddie Lives (1989)

John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band is the name of an American rock band from Narragansett, Rhode Island, that began their career in the 1970s and achieved mainstream success in the 1980s. Originally known as simply Beaver Brown. This sequel to the rock & roll mystery Eddie and the Cruisers explains many of the questions concerning the mysterious death of 1960s rocker Eddie Wilson, who with his Cruisers was celebrating the success of their first album when he got in a terrible car wreck, from which his body was never recovered. Also missing were the masters from the group's upcoming second album. This story begins 25-years later as Eddie Wilson is found living in Montreal under an assumed name. At this time, the masters from the second album are finally released and suddenly the whole continent is caught up in a resurgence of "Eddiemania." This inspires Wilson, who continues to use an alias, to form a new band and hit the road. Once again, his music is provided by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. They're all high-energy, pounding three-chord rock & roll, sounding a bit like Bruce Springsteen or Bob Seger. There may not be a song as good as "The Dark Side," but the music is still enjoyable for hardcore fans of the original.


01. "Runnin' Thru the Fire" - 3:35
02. "Just a matter of time" - 4:09
03. "Open Road" - 5:26
04. "Maryia" - 4:47
05. "Emotional Storm" - 3:43
06. "Pride and Passion" - 3:29
07. "Garden of Eden" - 3:29
08. "N.Y.C. Song - 5:06
09. "Some Like It Hot" - 5:07
10. "(Keep My Love) Alive" - 3:42

Release Date: August 18, 1989
Label: Scotti Brothers
Genre: Rock
Length: 43:13
Producer: Kenny Vance
Engineers: Karl Rassmussen, John Muldowney, Tony Papa

Personnel:
John Cafferty - vocals, guitar, keyboards
Gary Gramolini - guitar
Michael "Tunes" Atunes - saxophone
Bob Cotoia - keyboards
Pat Lupo - bass
Kenny Jo Silva - drums

Roxy Music - The High Road (1983)

Roxy Music are an English art rock group formed in November 1970 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera (guitar), Andy Mackay (saxophone and oboe) and Paul Thompson (drums and percussion). Former members include Brian Eno (synthesizer and "treatments"), and Eddie Jobson (synthesizer and violin). Although the band took a break from group activities in 1983, they reunited for a concert tour in 2001, and have toured together intermittently since that time.
"The High Road" is Roxy Music's second live release with only four over-five minute tracks, two of them cover songs and one a Ferry solo effort originally release on "The Bride Stripped Bare" album. It was recorded at the Apollo in Glasgow, Scotland on August 27, 1982 (1982-08-27 and released in 1983 after Roxy Music disbanded for the second time. It reached number 26 in the UK Album Charts. After the overwhelming success of "Avalon", Roxy Music went on indefinite hiatus and released this four-song live EP featuring their covers of Neil Young's "Like a Hurricane," John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" and a solo Bryan Ferry track ("Can't Let Go") from The Bride Stripped Bare. Rounding out the set is a "My Only Love" from the band's "Flesh & Blood" album.

Track List:

01. "Can't Let Go" (Bryan Ferry) – 5:29
02. "My Only Love" (Ferry) – 7:23
03. "Like a Hurricane" (Neil Young) – 7:36
04. "Jealous Guy" (John Lennon) – 6:10

Released: March 1983
Recorded: At the Apollo in Glasgow, Scotland on August 27
Genre: Art Rock
Length: 26:38
Label: Polygram
Producers: Rhett Davies, Robin Nash, Roxy Music

Personnel:Bryan Ferry – vocals, keyboards
Phil Manzanera – guitars
Andy MacKay – saxophone, oboe
Neil Hubbard – guitar
Andy Newmark – drums

Additional Personnel:Paul Thompson – drums
Alan Spenner – bass
Jimmy Maelen – percussion
Guy Fletcher – keyboards
Tawatha Agee – backing vocals
Michelle Cobb – backing vocals
Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals

Bruce Willis - If It Don't Kill You, It Just Makes You Stronger (1989)

It's hard to fully explain the lukewarm reception that Willis's second album received, especially after the generally warm reception for "The Return of Bruno". It's possible it was the rather dull cover artwork, possibly the long album title. It could even have been the choice of music and musical styles, which covers R&B from the '40s to the '60s for the most part -- horn-driven, powerhouse music that has Stax all over it. Rather than trying to appeal to everyone and coming up with abysmal vanity projects, Willis, one of many actors who decided to try the music world, has thrown himself at the music he loves best, and has come up looking good on the second release. Willis is no opera tenor, but he has a powerful bluesy shout (not to mention a mean harmonica talent) that deserves its thundering presence in generally thundering mixes (this band works, sweats, and rocks out with a nice live sound in the studio). He also writes fairly decent Iyrics, which is a major plus, and he has a distinct sense of humor, which goes even further toward making the man likable. The exceptions are the somewhat pedestrian cover of &"Save the Last Dance for Me," which has the disadvantage of a beautiful, unsurpassable original to compare it against (Willis doesn't seem to know what to do with it, and sort of wanders around vocally) and the cover of Louis Jordan's "Barnyard Boogie," executed from Jordan's charts.

Track List:
01. "Pep Talk" - 4:33
02. "Crazy Mixed-Up World" - 3:27
03. "Turn It Up (A Little Louder)" - 4:08
04. "Soul Shake" - 2:53
05. "Here Comes Trouble Again" - 4:54
06. "Save The Last Dance For Me" - 3:52
07. "Blues For Mr.D" - 5:27
08. "Tenth Avenue Tango" - 4:06
09. "Can't Leave Her Alone" - 3:56
10. "Barnyard Boogie" - 2:57
11. "Love Makes The World Go Round" - 2:58
12. "I'll Go Crazy" - 3:29

Released: 1989
Recorded at: Hollywood Sound Recorders, Ocean Way Studios, Five Spot Studios and The Sound Factory, Hollywood, CA and the Hit Factory, New York, NY.
Label: Motown
Genre: Rock, Blues
Producer: Robert Kraft
Mixed at: The Enterprise, Burbank, CA.
Mastered at: Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA.
Recorded By: Dave McNair
Mixed By: Dave McNair
Mastered By: Brian Gardner
Engineered: Fred Kelly Jr. , Julie Last , Martin Horenberg , Paul Logus , Stacy Baird
Engineer [Assistant]: Martin Schmelze

Personnel
Vocals - Bruce Willis
Bass - Roscoe Beck
Drums - Tom Brechtlein
Guitar - David Grissom, Robben Ford
Harmonica - Bruce Willis
Organ [Hammond B-3], William Smith
Saxophone [Baritone], Greg Smith
Saxophone [Tenor], Joe Sublett
Trumpet - Darrel Leonard

Bono - The Lonely Planet (2003)

Bono has become one of the world's best-known philanthropic performers. He has been dubbed, "the face of fusion philanthropy", both for his success enlisting powerful allies from a diverse spectrum of leaders in government, religious institutions, philanthropic organisations, popular media, and the business world, as well as for spearheading new organizational networks that bind global humanitarian relief with geopolitical activism and corporate commercial enterprise. In a 1986 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Bono explained that he was motivated to become involved in social and political causes by seeing one of the Secret Policeman's Ball benefit shows, staged by John Cleese and producer Martin Lewis for the human-rights organisation Amnesty International in 1979. "I saw 'The Secret Policeman’s Ball' and it became a part of me. It sowed a seed..." In 2001, Bono arranged for U2 to videotape a special live performance for that year's Amnesty benefit show. Bono and U2 performed on Amnesty's Conspiracy Of Hope tour of the United States in 1986 alongside Sting. U2 also performed in the Band Aid and Live Aid projects. Geldof and Bono later collaborated to organise the 2005 Live 8 project, where U2 also performed. Since 1999, Bono has become increasingly involved in campaigning for third-world debt relief and raising awareness of the plight of Africa, including the AIDS pandemic. In the past decade Bono has met with several influential politicians, including former United States President George W. Bush and former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Track List:

01. "If You Wear That Velvet Dress" - 6:14
02. "Perfect Day" (with Lou Reed, David Bowie, Luciano Pavarotti) - 3:48
03. "Children Of The Revolution" (with Maurice Seezer and Gavin Friday) - 2:59
04. "Summer Wine" (with The Corrs - live) - 3:50
05. "Under My Skin" (with Frank Sinatra) - 3:30
06. "Miss Sarajevo" (with Luciano Pavarotti - live) - 5:20
07. "Falling At Your Feet" (with Daniel Lanois) - 4:55
08. "When The Stars Go Blue" (with The Corrs - live) - 4:20
09. "What's Going On" (with Coldplay & Chris Martin) - 3:57

Release: 2003
Label: Artsound Records
Genre: Pop Rock
Length: 34:58

Personnel:Lou Reed
David Bowie
Luciano Pavarotti
Maurice Seezer
Gavin Friday
The Corrs
Frank Sinatra
Daniel Lanois
Coldplay

Linda Ronstadt - Greatest Hits, Volume 2 (1980)

"Greatest Hits, Volume 2" is a hits compilation album from American singer/songwriter/producer Linda Ronstadt. It was released in 1980 on Asylum Records. The disc covers mostly Ronstadt's heavier rocking songs.
The latter part of the '70s found Ronstadt roughing up her image a bit, covering songs by the Rolling Stones and Warren Zevon and eventually taking inspiration from the burgeoning punk and new-wave scenes. All of this was a long way away from the laid-back country-rock sound that established her as one of the top female artists of the day. On the material collected here, Ronstadt remains as strong a singles artist as ever. Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 contains winners such as "It's So Easy," "Blue Bayou," and the Chuck Berry romp "Living in the U.S.A.," as well as edgier material such as the Stones' "Tumbling Dice" and Zevon's "Poor Poor Pitiful Me." This album give us many of Linda's formidable hits, with a definitive play list that anyone would want to have to ensure an accurate representation of her volumes of work, from dozens of hit albums recorded and released over more than a decade of popular work. Nobody articulates the southern California folk rock style as well or as consistently as Linda Ronstadt, the little woman with the big, big voice.

Track List:

01. "It's So Easy" (Buddy Holly, Norman Petty) – 2:26
02. "I Can't Let Go" (Chip Taylor, Al Gorgoni) – 2:43
03. "Hurt So Bad" (Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Wilding, Bobby Hart) – 3:12
04. "Blue Bayou" (Roy Orbison, Joe Melson) – 3:54
05. "How Do I Make You" (Billy Steinberg) – 2:21
06. "Back in the U.S.A." (Chuck Berry) – 2:59
07. "Ooo Baby Baby" (William "Smokey" Robinson, Warren Moore) – 3:18
08. "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" (Warren Zevon) – 3:41
09. "Tumbling Dice" (Keith Richards, Mick Jagger) – 3:05
10. "Just One Look" (Gregory Carroll, Doris Payne) – 3:15
11. "Someone to Lay Down Beside Me" (Karla Bonoff) – 3:58

Released: 1980
Recorded: 1977-1980
Genre: Pop, Country Rock
Label: Asylum
Length: 34:52
Producer: Peter Asher

Personnel:
Linda Ronstadt - vocals
Dan Dugmore - acoustic, electric & steel guitars
Waddy Wachtel - electric & slide guitar, background vocals
Mark Goldenberg - guitar, electric guitar, background vocals
Bob Glaub - bass
Charles Veal - violin
Dennis Karmazyn - cello
David Sanborn - saxophone
Danny Kortchmar - guitar, electric guitar
Don Grolnick - acoustic, electric piano, clavinet, keyboards
Andrew Gold - piano, clavinet
Bill Payne - keyboards
Steve Forman - marimba, percussion
Kenny Edwards - bass, mandolin, background vocals
Russ Kunkel, Michael Botts - drums
Rick Marotta - drums, syn-drums, cowbell
Peter Asher - tambourine, maracas, cowbell, background vocals
Richard Wachtel - vocals, guitar
Nicolette Larson, Don Henley, Karla Bonoff, Wendy Waldman, Pat Henderson, Sherlie Matthews, Rosemary Butler, James Gilstrap, John Lehman, Larry Hagler - background vocals

Eddie Money - Eddie Money (1977)

Mahoney made his splash with the Berkeley, California band The Rockets which included future Eddie Money band members John Nelson and Chris Solberg. After changing his name to Eddie Money he released his first album, the eponymous Eddie Money, in 1977. It reached #37 on the charts, and contained two of his most memorable hits, "Baby Hold On" and "Two Tickets to Paradise".
This strong debut benefits greatly from the expertise of veteran producer Bruce Botnick as well as the likes of former Steve Miller bassist Lonnie Turner and saxman Tom Scott. Guitarist Jimmy Lyon was to Money what Keith Scott was to Bryan Adams. Money, son of a New York City cop, had a rock & roll epiphany en route to following his dad's career path. The debut album, long on craft but not without inspiration, deservedly shot radio-ready tunes "Two Tickets to Paradise" and "Baby Hold On" up the charts, the latter helped by former Elvin Bishop songmate Jo Baker. The key tune is the spirited "Wanna Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star," which spells out the game plan.

Track List:

01. "Two Tickets to Paradise" (Eddie Money) – 3:58
02. "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (Smokey Robinson) – 3:45
03. "Wanna Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" (Money, Chris Solberg) – 4:02
04. "Save a Little Room in Your Heart for Me" (Money) – 4:57
05. "So Good to Be in Love Again" (Money, Jimmy Lyon) – 4:12
06. "Baby Hold On" (Money, Lyon, Leo Lyons) – 3:31
07. "Don't Worry" (Money, Lyon) – 3:45
08. "Jealousys" (Money, Lyon) – 3:59
09. "Got to Get Another Girl" (Money, Lyon) – 3:26
10. "Gamblin' Man" (Money, Lyon, D. Alexander) – 4:02

Released: 1977
Genre: Rock Pop
Length: 39:20
Label: Columbia
Producer: Bruce Botnick

Personnel:
Eddie Money - vocals, keyboards, saxophone
Jimmy Lyon - guitars
Gary Mallaber - drums, percussion
Lonnie Turner - bass
Gene Pardue - drums
Bob "Pops" Popwell - bass
Tom Scott - alto and tenor sax
Alan Pasqua - keyboards
Randy Nichols - keyboards
Freddie Webb - keyboards
Kevin Calhoun - percussion
Jo Baker - second vocal on "Baby Hold On"

Dave Edmunds - Rockpile (1972)

"Rockpile" was the first solo album by Dave Edmunds, released in 1972. It is principally focused on remakes of late 1950s and early 1960s hits, with a few new songs included. Edmunds plays almost all the instruments except for bass and backing vocals, which are contributed by John Williams, Edmunds' former bandmate in Love Sculpture. The album included a 1970 British #1 and worldwide Top 10 single, "I Hear You Knocking". A 2001 reissue of the album includes both sides of Edmunds' three pre-album singles as bonus tracks.
Dave Edmunds' debut album Rockpile established his sound -- not only his revivalist tendencies, but also his method of meticulously recreating the sound and style of classic early rock & roll, R&B, and country records. Edmunds plays nearly every instrument on the album, with bassist John Williams being the only full-time collaborator. As a result, the record doesn't sound "live," it has a pinched, precise quality that may contradict the spontaneity that was at the core of the original singles, but it does offer an otherworldly quality that makes the record distinctive. Take the hit "I Hear You Knocking," which has a mechanical rhythm and a weird, out-of-phase vocal that qualifies as an original interpretation, unlike his by-the-book take on Chuck Berry's "The Promised Land," which suffers from the stiff rhythms. Still, the best moments on Rockpile come from songs like "Down, Down, Down," an obscure gem that manages to recreate not only the sound, but the feeling of classic rock & roll, perhaps because Edmunds wasn't concerned with recreating one of his beloved singles. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Nobody has ever gotten a better rock guitar sound than Dave Edmunds did on his early to mid 1970's LPs. He crafted a tight, ballsy guitar sound intertwining several layered guitars to give an overall punchy six string effect. I remember reading an earlier review of one of these LPs where the term "guitar salad" was used. Very apt. Edmunds is also a first-rate singer as his performances on this LP attest. He can hit the high notes with feeling as well as any singer since Don Everly. The tune choice is consistent and there are no real "dogs" on this LP.

Track List:

01. "Down Down Down" (Trevor Burton) - 2:52
02. "I Hear You Knocking" (Dave Bartholomew, Pearl King) - 2:48
03. "Hell of a Pain" (John Williams, Dave Edmunds) - 2:55
04. "It Ain't Easy" (Ron Davies) - 3:11
05. "Promised Land" (Chuck Berry) - 2:37
06. "Dance Dance Dance" (Neil Young) - 2:58
07. "(I'm a) Lover Not a Fighter" (Ron Collier) - 3:33
08. "Egg or the Hen" (Willie Dixon) - 4:15
09. "Sweet Little Rock & Roller" (Chuck Berry) - 2:39
10. "Outlaw Blues" (Bob Dylan) - 5:09

Bonus Tracks: (2001 reissue)
11. "I Hear You Knocking" (single mix) (Bartholomew, King) - 2:48
12. "Black Bill" (Dave Edmunds) - 3:09
13. "I'm Coming Home" (arr. Dave Edmunds) - 3:02
14. "Country Roll" (Dave Edmunds) - 3:11
15. "Blue Monday" (Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino) - 2:51
16. "I'll Get Along" (John Williams) - 2:50

Released: January 1972
Recorded: 1970-1971 at Rockfield Studios, Wales
Genre: Rock and roll
Label: Regal Zonophone
Producer: Dave Edmunds

Personnel:
Dave Edmunds - vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, drums
John Williams - bass, backing vocals
Andy Fairweather-Low - guitar and drums on "Egg or the Hen"
Terry Williams - drums on "Down Down Down" and "Outlaw Blues"
B.J.Cole - pedal steel guitar on "Down Down Down", "Dance Dance Dance" and "Outlaw Blues"

Chip Taylor - Gasoline (1971)

Chip Taylor will probably always be best known as the songwriter who wrote the huge garage rock hit, "Wild Thing" as well as "Angel Of The Morning," one of the finest countrypolitan tunes ever recorded. Taylor had not given up his ambition to be a recording artist himself. He and Gorgoni recorded together under the name Just Us, then Taylor cut a series of solo albums in the 1970's that started with: His first solo album after the Gorgoni cooperation "Gasoline" Includes 'Angel of The Morning' and the great 'Swear To God Your Honor' (I never laid no finger on her, though my reputation's mighty queer).  But his greatest legacy is his brilliance and ingenuity as a singer and writer of infinitely original, country and folk songs. Born J. Wesley Voight (the younger brother of iconic '70s actor Jon Voight), Taylor established his bona fides as a country music outlaw/outsider in the early '70s, on the stellar album, "Last Chance", then drifted into more lofty singer-songwriter terrain, retiring from show biz as the decade came to an end. Taylor apparently worked as a professional gambler for the better part of two decades, then resurfaced in 1996, as the alt-oriented "Americana" movement was hitting its full stride. His initial comeback albums, Hit Man and The Living Room Tapes, may have been a bit subtle for some, but for those of us paying attention... Well, let's just say if was nice to have him back. Really, really nice...

Track List:

01. "Londonerry Company" - 3:32
02. "Angel Of The Morning" - 4:15
03. "Home Again" - 2:56
04. "Lady Lisa" - 3:06
05. "Oh My Marie" - 4:03
06. "Gasoline" - 2:16
07. "Lightning" - 3:41
08. "Dirty Matthew" - 3:10
09. "You Didn't Get Here Last Night" - 3:37
10. "Swear To Get Your Honor" - 4:31

Released: 1971
Label: Buddah
Genre: Country Rock
Length: 35:07
Producer: Chip Taylor
Engineer: Malcolm Addey

Credits
Chip Taylor - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Violin, Arranger, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
John Platania - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
John Regan - Bass
Joe Renda - Organ, Piano (Electric), Piano
Deborah Rothrock - Piano, Vocals (Background)
Vic Serman - Clarinet, Conga, Drums, Saxophone, Tambourine, Flute
Rob Young - Strings, Arranger, Harp
Billy Carruthers - Drums
Von Smith - Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals (Background)
Tony Hicks - Vocals (Background)

Various Artists - Woodstock ´99 (1999)

"Woodstock 1999" is a two-disc set that documents the Woodstock 1999 festival. It was released during October 1999, nearly three months after the event took place. The album was released on Epic Records. The set features one song from each of 32 performing artists. It also features the recording of the speech given when the fires got out of hand and the Red Hot Chili Peppers performance was paused on the last day of the festival, on the track "Interlude" (Disc one, number 16). Each disc was also released separately with the titles "Woodstock 1999 Vol. 1 - Red Album" and "Woodstock 1999 Vol. 2 - Blue Album". The 25th anniversary of Woodstock was such a resounding success, both commercially and critically, that it was inevitable that Woodstock 99 would appear on the 30th anniversary of the legendary free rock festival. Woodstock 99 was a different beast than any of its predecessors, however. The promoters designed it as a mercenary event, trying to earn as much money as possible in the course of three days. They picked a massive abandoned Air Force base in Rome, NY, and built plywood fences around the perimeter so they wouldn't have any gatecrashers. They decided not to allow any outside containers -- a common and logical safeguard, but that also meant everyone had to pay for water in the middle of the summer. All this was a prelude to a weekend of mayhem that ended in riots and rape. Some may argue that the riots were a reaction to the greed of the promoters, and they have a point -- but that doesn't excuse the numerous sexual assaults and rapes that occurred during the festival. Those assaults, the fires, and the aggressively macho alt-metal acts became the legacy of Woodstock 99, and that's probably not what Epic had in mind when they signed a deal to release a double-disc set of highlights in October 1999. Woodstock 99 appeared on time, divided into one disc of metal (The Red Album) and one disc that contained everything else at the festival (The Blue Album). Once the double-disc set ran its course, the album was separated into two individual discs -- The Red Album and The Blue Album -- which made sense, since they each appealed to radically different audiences. With the exception of Live, who sounds glaringly out of place, The Red Album contains all the testosterone-driven acts, including highlights from the notorious sets by Korn, Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Dividing Woodstock 99 makes it more listenable, but it also points out the inherent flaw in the festival -- every act on the first disc, with the exception of Live, was added to the bill to attract young males, who were ready to embrace Woodstock 99 as an opportunity to "f*** sh** up.

Track List:
Disc: 1
01. "Korn - Blind" - 4:03
02. "The Offspring - The Kids Aren't Alright" - 3:02
03. "Lit - Four" - 3:04
04. "Buckcherry - Lit Up" - 4:40
05. "Kid Rock - Bawitdaba" - 4:16
06. "Limp Bizkit - Show Me What You Got" - 3:44
07. "Rage Against The Machine - Bulls on Parade" - 3:49
08. "Metallica - Creeping Death" - 6:49
09. "Creed And Robby Krieger - Roadhouse Blues" - 5:49
10. "Sevendust - Bitch" - 5:23
11. "DMX - Stop Being Greedy" - 2:20
12. "Godsmack - Keep Away" - 4:39
13. "Megadeth - A Secret Place" - 4:24
14. "Bush - Everything Zen" - 6:18
15. "Live - I Alone" - 6:00
16. "Untitled (Interlude)" - 1:15
17. "Red Hot Chili Peppers - Fire" - 2:56

Disc: 2
01. "Dave Matthews Band - Tripping Billies" - 5:23
02. "The Brian Setzer Orchestra - Rock This Town" - 6:44
03. "Jewel - Down So Long" - 5:39
04. "Everlast - Ends" - 5:08
05. "Everclear - Santa Monica (Watch the World Die)" - 5:18
06. "Sheryl Crow - If It Makes You Happy" - 5:28
07. "Elvis Costello - Alison" - 2:52
08. "Alanis Morissette - So Pure" - 2:58
09. "Jamiroquai - Black Capricorn Day" - 3:47
10. "G. Love & Special Sauce - Cold Beverage" - 5:05
11. "The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats" - 4:03
12. "The Roots - Adrenaline" - 4:15
13. "Guster - Airport Song" - 3:30
14. "Our Lady Peace - Superman's Dead" - 4:58
15. "Rusted Root - Ecstasy" - 4:41
16. "Bruce Hornsby - Resting Place" - 6:41

Released: October 19, 1999
Recorded: July 23 - July 25, 1999
Label: Epic Records
Genre: Pop / Rock
Length: 2:29:12
Produced: Mitch Maketansky

Various Artists - One Step Up/Two Steps Back: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen (1997)

"One Step Up / Two Steps Back: Songs of Springsteen" is one of the most ambitious tribute records ever assembled, boasting two discs and 28 tracks of Bruce Springsteen covers. Comprised equally of newly recorded numbers and previously released tracks, the album is divided between classic Springsteen numbers on disc one, and unreleased songs, rarities and tunes the Boss never recorded on disc two.
By and large, the performances are faithful to the songs and Springsteen's heartland rock aesthetic, which shouldn't be surprising considering Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, John Hiatt, Clarence Clemons, Nils Lofgren, Joe Grushecky, Marshall Crenshaw and Dave Alvin all contribute tracks.
But the best moments on the collection come from artists like the Smithereens, John Wesley Harding, Syd Straw and David Bowie, who stretch Springsteen's sound and make the songs their own. Those are the cuts that make One Step Up / Two Steps Back interesting for non-fanatics, but any diehard Springsteen fan should take a listen to this collection, since the interpretations are all of a consistently high quality.

Track List:
Disc: 1
01. "Aram - Something in the Night" - 4:24
02. "Smithereens - Downbound Train" - 3:45
03. "Kurt Neumann - Atlantic City" - 4:27
04. "John Wesley Harding - Jackson Cage" - 3:30
05. "Nils Lofgren - Wreck on the Highway" - 4:34
06. "John Hiatt - Johnny 99" - 4:34
07. "Dave Alvin - Seeds" - 6:17
08. "Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers - Light of Day" - 4:20
09. "Martin Zellar - Darkness on the Edge of Town" - 5:16
10. "Mrs. Fun - Janey, Don't You Lose Heart" - 4:16
11. "Marshall Crenshaw - All or Nothin' at All" - 3:24
12. "Syd Straw - Meeting Across the River" - 3:41
13. "Ben E. King - 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" - 6:06
14. "Paul Cebar - One Step Up" - 4:28

Disc: 2
01. "The Knack - Don't Look Back" - 2:22
02. "Donna Summer - Protection" - 3:37
03. "Joe Cocker - Human Touch" - 3:49
04. "Elliott Murphy - Stolen Car" - 4:03
05. "David Bowie - It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City" - 3:51
06. "Rocking Chairs - Restless Nights" - 3:23
07. "Robbin Thompson - Guilty" - 5:59
08. "Sonny Burgess - Tiger Rose" - 2:27
09. "Gary U.S. Bonds - Love's on the Line" - 3:41
10. "Clarence Clemons & The Red Bank Rockers - Savin' Up" - 4:21
11. "Southside Johnny & The Ashbury Jukes - The Fever" - 5:10
12. "Little Bob Story - Seaside Bar Song [Live]" - 3:22
13. "Allan Clarke - If I Was the Priest" - 4:11
14. "Richie Havens - Streets of Philadelphia" - 4:01

Released: 1997
Label: Capitol Records
Genre: Pop
Length: 1:57:17
Producer: Various

Various Artists - Rock And Roll Doctor: A Tribute To Lowell George (1998)

As the guitarist, vocalist and primary songwriter for Little Feat, Lowell George was one of the biggest cult heroes of the '70s, creating a body of work that was deeply set within the blues tradition yet fiercely idiosyncratic and weird. It was the kind of music that earns a large cult following, but doesn't guarantee good covers, since its very quirkiness is among its most appealing traits. Basically, it's a question of matching the right artist with the right song, something that happens about half of the time on Rock N Roll Doctor (A Tribute to Lowell George). By the time the tribute record was released in 1998, his "Willin'" had long been established as a classic, the kind of song that could be covered by anyone -- along with "Dixie Chicken," it's one of the rare universal songs in George's catalog -- but Rock N Roll Doctor doesn't include either of those songs, or "Fat Man in the Bathtub." Instead, its 13 tracks are all relatively obscure, known to hardcore fans but not casual listeners, and this album is a record made by hardcore fans for hardcore fans. That doesn't mean it's necessarily all successful. Eddie Money wasn't really meant to sing the title track, and a couple of cuts, ironically including Little Feat's reworking of "Honest Man," are a bit too reverant to his memory (the group erases that negative with a storming "Cold, Cold, Cold," performed as a duet with Bonnie Raitt). But the best songs -- the Bottle Rockets and David Lindley's "Rocket in My Pocket," Jackson Browne's "I've Been the One," Taj Mahal's "Feats Don't Fail Me Now," J.D. Souther's "Roll Um Easy," Allen Toussaint & Leo Nocentelli's "Tow Trains" and especially Randy Newman & Valerie Carter's "Sailing Shoes" -- demonstrate that George's songs can live on, provided that the artists perform them with as much imagination as he wrote them with.

Track List:

01. "Bonnie Raitt and Little Feat - Cold, Cold, Cold" - 5:03
02. "Taj Mahal - Feets Don't Fail Me Now" - 3:18
03. "J.D. Souther - Roll Um Easy" - 3:04
04. "The Bottle Rockets and David Lindley - Rocket In My Pocket" - 4:02
05. "Randy Newman and Valerie Carter - Sailin' Shoes" - 3:49
06. "Jackson Browne - I've Been The One" - 2:20
07. "Allen Toussaint/Leo Nocentelli - Two Trains" - 3:38
08. "Keisuke Kuwata/Merry Clayton - Long Distance Love" - 3:25
09. "Eddie Money/Buddaheads - Rock And Roll Doctor" - 3:28
10. "Chris Hillman/Jennifer Warnes - Straight From The Heart" - 3:19
11. "Little Feat - Honest Man" - 4:51
12. "Phil Perry/Merry Clayton/Ricky Lawson - Spanish Moon" - 4:38
13. "Inara George - Trouble" - 4:10
14. "Lowell George - Lowell's Voice" - 0:04

Released: March 24, 1998
Label: Sanctuary Records
Genre: Pop Rock
Length: 49:09
Producers: Various

Personnel:
Bonnie Raitt
Taj Mahal
J.D. Souther
The Bottle Rockets
David Lindley
Randy Newman
Valerie Carter
Allen Toussaint
Leo Nocentelli
Keisuke Kuwata
Merry Clayton
Eddie Money
Buddaheads
Chris Hillman
Jennifer Warnes
Little Feat
Inara George
Lowell George
Phil Perry
Ricky Lawson

Nada Surf - High/Low (1996)

Nada Surf is an American alternative rock band. Formed in 1992, the New York band consists of Matthew Caws (guitar, vocals), Ira Elliot (drums, backup vocals) and Daniel Lorca (bass, backup vocals). "High/Low" was Nada Surf's first full-length album. The album contains the single "Popular."
The Weezer wannabe tags were certainly understandable when it came to Nada Surf's debut; besides a similarity of intent (a quick, punchy post-grunge pop/rock album with quick, punchy post-grunge pop/rock songs), the production from Ric Ocasek sealed the deal for many. The fact that the band had been going for a while before Weezer's own 1995 splash seems to have been ignored, admittedly. But if Nada Surf never came up with anything that had the influence and lingering impact of Pinkerton, say, High/Low is a nicely frazzled and fun release that actually bears a little similarity at points to prime Cheap Trick. To be sure, it's not an exact comparison (Caws is nowhere near the singer Robin Zander is, for a start), but in terms of spiky intensity shot through with just enough emotional yearning, Caws has the job down well. His guitar playing does the business well enough, while the Lorca/Elliot rhythm section similarly shows its skill track for track. Elsewhere, Ocasek brings his usual sharp ear to the proceedings, while engineer Bruce Calder does a great job of capturing songs that brim with crackling fierceness and a solid, thick punch in equal measures. "The Plan," with its careening verses offset by Caws' deceptively calm but focused delivery, not to mention sudden midsong shifts down several speeds, and the galloping, downright uplifting yet indecisive "Treehouse" are two good reasons not to dismiss the band or album out of hand. One of the more amusing twists on the proto-emo formula comes with "Popular," which rather than taking the point of view of the wounded outsider talks about the high school winners, a mournful yet crunching arrangement and ranted verses providing the contrast to the wryly deadpan chorus.

Track List:

01. "Deeper Well" – 3:55
02. "The Plan" – 4:31
03. "Popular" – 3:48
04. "Sleep" – 3:47
05. "Stalemate" – 3:38
06. "Treehouse" – 2:43
07. "Icebox" – 3:17
08. "Psychic Caramel" – 4:00
09. "Hollywood" – 2:20
10. "Zen Brain" – 4:28

Released: June 18, 1996
Recorded: December 1995
Genre: Indie Rock, Post-Grunge
Length: 36:31
Label: Elektra
Producer: Ric Ocasek
All tracks written by: Matthew Caws and Daniel Lorca

Personnel:
Matthew Caws – guitar, vocals
Daniel Lorca – bass
Ira Elliot – drums