Guns N' Roses - The Spaghetti Incident? (1993)

"The Spaghetti Incident?" is the fifth studio album by the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. The album comprises covers of older punk rock and hard rock songs, and is the last to feature guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum. "The Spaghetti Incident?" is the only studio album to feature rhythm guitarist Gilby Clarke. Many of the tracks were recorded with original Guns N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin during the Use Your Illusion I and II sessions and then were later re-recorded with Gilby Clarke. Those tracks were previously intended to be included in a combined “Use Your Illusion” album, consisting of three (or possibly even four) discs, instead of the two separate discs they ended up being.
In 1992, the band prepared to release the leftover cover tracks as an EP, with Gilby Clarke replacing Stradlin's guitar tracks. They later decided on making the album a full release and recorded several more tracks for it. Bassist Duff McKagan sings on many of the album's tracks and Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe appears on "Ain't It Fun" as a guest vocalist. This was the last Guns N' Roses album to feature lead guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan, drummer Matt Sorum, and the only album to feature Gilby Clarke. It was also the band's last studio album. During studio sessions the band recorded a cover of "A Beer and a Cigarette" from Hanoi Rocks but the song never came out.
On the bottom of the cover art of the album, there is a code written with the Zodiac Killer's symbols, which has been deciphered as "fuck'em all".


01. "Since I Don't Have You"   (Joseph Rock, James Beaumont)  - 4:20
02. "New Rose"   (Brian James)  - 2:38
03. "Down on the Farm"   (Alvin Gibbs, Charlie Harper, Nicholas Garrett)  - 3:29
04. "Human Being"   (Johnny Thunders, David Johansen)  - 6:48
05. "Raw Power"   (Iggy Pop, James Williamson)  - 3:12
06. "Ain't It Fun" (feat. Michael Monroe) (Cheetah Chrome, Peter Laughner)  - 5:06
07. "Buick Mackane (Big Dumb Sex)"   (Marc Bolan, Chris Cornell)  - 2:40
08. "Hair of the Dog"   (Dan McCafferty, Pete Agnew, Manny Charlton, Darrell Sweet)  - 3:55
09. "Attitude"   (Glenn Danzig)  - 1:27
10. "Black Leather"   (Steve Jones, Paul Cook)  - 4:09
11. "You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory"   (Johnny Thunders)  - 3:35
12. "I Don't Care About You"   (Lee Ving)  - 2:07
13. "Look at Your Game, Girl" (Hidden track starting at 2:17 in "I Don't Care About You") (Charles Manson)  - 2:34

Released:  November 23, 1993
Recorded at:  A&M Studios, Record Plant Studios, Rumbo Recorders, CanAm Studios, Sound Techniques, Triad Studios, Conway Recording Studios and Ocean Way Recording[citation needed]
Genre:  Punk Rock, Hard Rock
Length: 46:03
Label:  Geffen Records
Producer(s):  Mike Clink, Guns N' Roses, Duff McKagan, Jim Mitchell

Personnel
W. Axl Rose – lead vocals, keyboards
Slash – lead guitar, co-lead vocals
Duff McKagan – bass, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, lead vocals and drums
Matt Sorum – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Dizzy Reed – keyboards, piano, percussion, backing vocals
Gilby Clarke – rhythm guitar
Michael Monroe – co-lead vocals
Mike Staggs – additional guitar
Mike Fasano – percussion
Richard Duguay – lead and rhythm guitars
Eddie Huletz – backing vocals
Blake Stanton – backing vocals
Eric Mills – backing vocals
Rikki Rachtman – backing vocals
Stuart Bailey – backing vocals
Carlos Booy – acoustic guitar

Big Brother & The Holding Company - Be A Brother (1970)

Big Brother and the Holding Company is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965 as part of the same psychedelic music scene that produced the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Jefferson Airplane. They are best known as the band that featured Janis Joplin as their lead singer.

Big Brother went on to become the house band at the Avalon Ballroom, playing a progressive style of instrumental rock. Feeling a need for a strong vocalist, Helms contacted Janis Joplin in Austin, Texas, who at the time was considering joining up with Roky Erickson of The 13th Floor Elevators. She sang for the first time with Big Brother in 1966. "Be A Brother" is an album by Big Brother and the Holding Company, released in 1970. It was their first album after Janis Joplin's departure. Whether Big Brother & the Holding Company would have made any waves at all in the late-'60s San Francisco music scene sans Janis Joplin could be argued. "Be A Brother" is a good indicator of what they would have sounded like without her amazing voice. Recorded in 1970, guitarist David Schallock and singer/songwriter/producer Nick Gravenites were added to help fill the space created with the absence of Joplin. These ten original compositions include "Home on the Strange," "Mr. Natural," "Funkie Jim," and "I'll Change Your Flat Tire, Merle" dedicated to Merle Haggard. This is a decent blues-based session similar to early Butterfield Blues Band records, which isn't a bad thing at all.
All tracks composed by Big Brother and the Holding Company; except where indicated.


01.  "Keep On"  - 4:21
02.  "Joseph's Coat"  (John Cipollina, Nick Gravenites)  - 3:10
03.  "Home on the Strange"  (Peter Albin, Sam Andrew)  - 2:15
04.  "Someday"  (Sam Andrew)  - 2:17
05.  "Heartache People"  (Nick Gravenites)  - 6:36
06.  "Sunshine Baby"  - 3:30
07.  "Mr. Natural"  (Sam Andrew)  - 3:31
08.  "Funkie Jim"  - 3:47
09.  "I'll Change Your Flat Tire, Merle"  (Nick Gravenites)  - 3:14
10.  "Be a Brother"  (Nick Gravenites)  - 3:04

Released: 1970
Genre:  Psychedelic rock
Length:  35:09
Label:  Columbia Records
Producer:  Nick Gravenites

Credits
Sam Andrew - vocals, guitar
Nick Gravenites - vocals
David Schallock - guitar, vocals
James Gurley - guitar, bass
Peter Albin - guitar
David Getz - drums, piano

Chip Taylor - This Side Of The Big River (1975)

James Wesley Voight (born March 21, 1940), better known by the stage name Chip Taylor, is an American songwriter, noted for writing "Angel of the Morning" and "Wild Thing." He is the brother of actor Jon Voight and geologist Barry Voight and the uncle of actress Angelina Jolie and actor James Haven.

After writing three standards of the '60s the garage rock classic "Wild Thing," made famous by the Troggs; the soft pop ballad "Angel of the Morning," originally cut by Merrilee Rush; and "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)," made famous by Big Brother & the Holding Company Chip Taylor began a solo recording career in the '70s, signing to Warner Bros. after releasing one rock-oriented album, "Gasoline", on Buddah in 1971. His first album, rather ironically (and quite funnily) named "Chip Taylor's Last Chance", appeared in 1973 but it wasn't a rock or a pop album: it was a country album, which signaled a return to his roots in a way, since he sang country music at the beginning of his career. Neither Last Chance nor the following year's Some of Us were hits, but the label stuck with him through one more record, 1975's "This Side Of The Big River". This is also a country album indeed, it was the only one of his records to sell well enough to appear on the country charts but it's not a conventional country record by any means. It's an appealingly sleepy, meandering record, drifting from languid ballads to laid-back country-rockers, but its sonic palette is broader than that suggests the Gram Parsons-styled "I've Been Tied" is punctuated with horns; the slow, slow "Holding Me Together" is built upon electric pianos and mournful steel guitar and the album recalls California singer/songwriters as often as it does Nashville. It could be pegged as progressive country, since there are some echoes of Kris Kristofferson and Mickey Newbury here, but Taylor isn't an outlaw; he's an outsider, crafting his own idiosyncratic music that doesn't quite fit into any real specific category which, of course, is its appeal. First and foremost, it's a subtle songwriter's record, but it's a songwriter's record where the most immediate tune is a cover a rather rowdy version of Johnny Cash's "Big River" that lends the LP its title. It's taken from a live radio session, as are "John Tucker's on the Wagon Again" and "You're Alright, Charlie," and all three feel different "Big River" has the kick of a concert, "John Tucker" is as conversational as a story, "You're Alright, Charlie" is hushed and intimate but boast a loose, human quality that presents a nice contrast to the studio cuts, which are professional in the best sense: accomplished without being polished, highlighting the skills of Taylor and his crew, since they make these reflective songs feel warm, comfortable, and lived-in. In fact, "This Side Of The Big River" may be a little bit too broken-in it rolls so slow and easy, his songs so subtle and solidly constructed, that it takes some effort on the part of the listener to get within its little details, whether it's in the lyrics or the texture. But give it a little time and "This Side of the Big River" is not only quite charming, it's rather moving.


01.  Same Ol' Story - 3:14  
02.  Holding Me Together  - 2:44  
03.  Gettin' Older, Lookin' Back  - 3:22  
04.  John Tucker's On The Wagon Again  - 5:27  
05.  Big River   - 3:15  
06.  May God Be With Me  - 4:04  
07.  Circle Of Tears  - 2:35  
08.  Sleepy Eyes  - 3:48  
09.  I've Been Tied  - 2:45  
10.  You're Alright, Charlie  - 4:27

Release:  1975
Label:  Warner Bros.
Genre:  Country
Length:  36:07
Producer:  Chip Taylor

Credits
Vocals, Guitar [Rhythm] - Chip Taylor
Backing Vocals - The Jordanaires
Bass - Dave Kapell
Drums - Charlie Powers
Fiddle - Buddy Spiker
Guitar [Electric] - John Platania
Guitar [Lead], Guitar [Acoustic] - George Kiriakis
Guitar [Pedal Steel] - Pete Drake
Piano [Electric] - Joe Renda

Kings Of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004)

Kings of Leon is a Grammy winning American rock band that formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 1999. The band is composed of brothers Anthony Caleb Followill (b. January 14, 1982, lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ivan Nathan Followill (b. June 26, 1979, drums, percussion, backing vocals) and Michael Jared Followill (b. November 20, 1986, bass guitar, backing vocals), with their cousin Cameron Matthew Followill (b. September 10, 1984, lead guitar, backing vocals).

"Aha Shake Heartbreak" is the second studio album by American rock band Kings of Leon. It's the only album by Kings of Leon to have a Parental Advisory. The cover is reminiscent of Queen's A Night at the Opera. The mysterious Followill family returns to the front porch/garage on the Kings of Leon's engaging sophomore effort, "Aha Shake Heartbreak". On Youth & Young Manhood, the Kings gave Southern rock a swift kick in the rear, sounding like Lynyrd Skynyrd posing as a bunch of N.Y.U. film students (or vice versa). For their latest, the Nashville quartet raises a flag that's equal parts Confederate and Union Jack. Their success in the U.K. is understandable, as Caleb Followill's lazy drawl sounds like a cross between Bon Scott, Ray Davies, and Eddie Money with a slight Jamaican accent, but it's their seamless and agreeable blend of rock & roll, country, and Roky Erickson-style psychedelia, matched with a keen lyrical wit, that makes them fascinating to both sides of the pond. On the twenty-something barfly opener "Slow Night, So Long," Caleb laments/celebrates the soulless dance of the one-night stand ("She's opened up just like she really knows me/I hate her face, but enjoy the company") like a true student of outlaw country. It's a theme that runs rampant throughout Heartbreak, and whether it's set against a swamp-sick boogie ("Pistol of Fire") or emitted through a lonesome yodel ("Day Old Blues"), it resonates as clear and cool as the opening notes of a Creedence Clearwater Revival tune. The original UK/Ireland version of the album featured a black cover and an orchid, whereas the later US version featured a white background with a different kind of orchid. The album also contains the bonus track "Where Nobody Knows".


01.  "Slow Night, So Long"   - 3:54
02.  "King of the Rodeo "  - 2:25
03.  "Taper Jean Girl"  - 3:05
04.  "Pistol of Fire"  - 2:20
05.  "Milk"   - 4:00
06.  "The Bucket"   - 2:55
07.  "Soft"  - 2:59
08.  "Razz"    - 2:15
09.  "Day Old Blues"  - 3:33
10.  "Four Kicks"  - 2:09
11.  "Velvet Snow"    - 2:11
12.  "Rememo"   - 3:23
13.  "Where Nobody Knows [Bonus Track]   - 2:24

Released:  November 1, 2004 (UK, Ireland), February 22, 2005 (U.S.)
Recorded:  April–June 2004 at Three Crows Studio, Los Angeles, California
Genre:  Garage rock, Southern rock
Length:  37:36
Label:  RCA, HandMeDown Records
Producer:  Ethan Johns

Credits
Anthony Caleb - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Ivan Nathan Followill - drums, percussion, backing vocals
Michael Jared Followill - bass guitar, backing vocals
Cameron Matthew Followill - lead guitar, backing vocals

The Gregg Allman Band - Just Before The Bullets Fly (1988)

The Gregg Allman Band, also known as Gregg Allman & Friends, is a Southern rock/blues rock group that Gregg Allman established and has led since the 1970s, during periods when Allman has been recording and performing separate from the Allman Brothers Band and has chosen not to perform exclusively as a solo artist. 1988's

1988's "Just Before The Bullets Fly" is the second of The Gregg Allman Band. If you're an Allman Brothers fan, of course this will be a good addition to your collection. On the other hand, if you're not a Brothers fan, this is still an excellent album to have. What's the difference, you may ask. Well, first of all; the producer, Rodney Mills. The sound on this album is far clearer than most Brothers albums. Secondly, and no offence to Dickie Betts; Dan Toler (once a Brothers member) is doing such a terrific job of his guitar playing. All through the album, in fact. The music? Typical Gregg Allman blues with hints of funk (Thorn And A Wild Rose, Island).
Essentially, the album is I'm No Angel, Pt. 2, with the same glossy mixes and straight-ahead rock & roll. This isn't a bad thing, in theory, and the execution is solid. It's just that the songs aren't there. There are a couple of moments that work namely, the opening punch of "Demons" and "Before the Bullets Fly" but most of the tunes aren't terribly memorable, and the ultra-slick production doesn't help matters. Given this tepid effort, it's little wonder that it took Allman nearly ten years to deliver a sequel. This album was recorded just prior to the great Allman Brothers Band reunion that started in 1989, which has produced 5 suprisingly wonderful ABB albums. Although this album has some great songs on it, the majority of the music is overproduced - including synthesizers taking the place of real backup horns. Some of these songs he still plays with his current solo band (Slip Away, Before the Bullets Fly) and they have an honest, roots-type R&B sound to them when performed in concert nearly 10 years later. Too bad he didn't record these songs that way.

01.  Demons   (Gregg Allman, Dan Toler, David Toler)  - 3:28

02.  Before the Bullets Fly  (Warren Haynes, John Jaworowicz, Williams)  - 3:41
03.  Slip Away  (William Armstrong, Marcus Daniel, Wilbur Terrell)  - 4:31
04.  Thorn and a Wild Rose  (Tony Colton, Dan Toler, Bruce Waibel)  - 4:14
05.  Ocean Awash the Gunwale  (Gregg Allman, Tony Colton, Dan Toler)  - 4:53
06.  Can't Get Over You  (Billy Burnette, David Malloy)  - 3:28
07.  Island   (Gregg Allman, Tony Colton, Johnny Neel, Dan Toler)  - 4:17
08.  Fear of Falling  (Gregg Allman, Tim Heding, Jeffrey Townsend)  - 3:35
09.  Night Games  (Gregg Allman, Tony Colton, Dan Toler)  - 3:53
10.  Every Hungry Woman  (Gregg Allman)  - 4:33

Released: 1988

Label:  Epic Records
Genre:   Southern rock
Length: 40:11
Producer:  Rodney Mills

Credits

Gregg Allman – Keyboards, Hammond Organ, Lead Vocals
Tim Heding – Keyboards, Background Vocals
Dan Toler – Guitar, Keyboards
David Frankie Toler – Drums
Chaz Trippy – Percussion
Bruce Waibel – Bass Guitar, Background Vocals
Michael Caplan – Executive Producer
Rodney Mills – Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Christopher Austopchuk – Art Direction
Caroline Greyshock – Photography
Jeffrey Dean – Set Design
Mike Gallo – Electronics
William Perkins – Direction

Brooklyn Funk Essentials - Cool And Steady And Easy (1995)

Brooklyn Funk Essentials is a music collective who mix jazz, funk, and hip hop, featuring musicians and poets from different cultures.

The band was conceived in 1993 by producer Arthur Baker and bassist and musical director Lati Kronlund. In the mid-1990s, the group became a staple of the New York City club scene. Their debut album Cool And Steady And Easy (1995) scored an underground hit with the rendition of Pharoah Sanders' "The Creator Has a Master Plan". This is one funky album. Its funky but not too hip-hoppy, not too acid jazzy either. A solid rythm section holds the bottom end while horns and/or vocals literally bounce and float over the top. The Brooklyn Funk Essentials are more funky and jazzy with some reggae and world beats thrown in. This is outstanding funk with a spiritual, "feel good" influence. Check out tunes like "The Creator Has a Master Plan" and "Take the L Train." Brooklyn Funk Essentials is able to shift gears between instrumental jazz ("Take the L Train"), jazz-influenced funk (" The Creator Has A Master Plan," "Bop Hop," "Blow your Brains Out"), and tracks like "The Revolution Was Postponed Because Of Rain," that are just funny. The latter song describes the many pitfalls that befall a group planning a revolution, including being delayed by a new trainee cashier at a fast-food restaurant who wails, "Ahh, where's the button for the fries?" as the revolutionaries' moment of opportunity slips away. The musicians are excellent (they were all professional studio musicians before forming BFE), as are the vocalists. The sampling is appropriate to the music and adds texture - too many groups don't seem to be thinking when they throw in another James Brown sample. The music is loaded with energy as opposed to the more mellow offerings by other jazz-influenced groups like Morcheeba or Massive Attack. A good soundtrack to an urban summer, this album showcases the flamboyant side of New York ("Big Apple Boogaloo" can be heard in the film "Party Girl") and is appropriate for just about any occasion.


01. Take The L Train (To B'klyn)  (Kronlund)   - 5:50
02. The Creator Has A Master Plan   (Thomas, Sanders) (Vocals by: Joi Cardwell)  - 5:51
03. The Revolution Was Postponed Because Of Rain   (Kronlund, Allen) (Vocals by: David Allen)   - 4:59
04. Bop Hop   (Arthur Baker)  - 5:13
05. Brooklyn Recycles   (Baker, Roseman)  - 5:25
06. Mizz Bed-Stuy   (Arthur Baker)   - 4:10
07. A Headnaddas Journey To The Planet Adidi-Skizm   (Baker, Shapiro, Sha-Key) (Vocals by: Sha-key)  - 6:15
08. Big Apple Boogaloo  (Baker)   - 6:21
09. Blow Your Brains Out   (Baker, Parker) (Saxophone [Tenor] by: Maceo Parker)   - 4:59
10. Stickman Crossing The Brooklyn Bridge  (Baker, Brockman, Allen) (Vocals by: David Allen)   - 7:27
11. Dilly Dally  (Sylvester, Roseman)  - 5:10
12. Take The L Train (To 8th Ave.)  (krolund)  - 4:05

Release: 1995
Label:  RCA Records
Genre:  Funk, Acid Jazz
Length:  65:45

Credits
Bass, Guitar, Keyboards - Lati Kronlund
Drums - Yancy Drew Lambert
Featuring [Samples] - Arthur Baker
Flugelhorn, Trumpet - Bassy Bob Brockmann
Flute, Saxophone - Paul Shapiro
Percussion - E.J. Rodriguez
Scratches [Turntables] - DJ Jazzy Nice
Synthesizer - Kristoffer Wallman
Trombone - Joshua Roseman
Vibraphone - Bill Ware III
Vocals - Everton Sylvester, Papa Dee, Paul Shapiro

Produced-by:  Arthur Baker, Lati Kronlund
Engineer [Editing]:  Jim Betteridge, Sam Park
Engineer [Mix]:  Bassy Bob Brockmann, Louis Scalise
Executive Producer:  Arthur Baker, Bill Coleman, Lati Kronlund
Mastered By:  Miles Showell
Mixed By:  Arthur Baker, Bassy Bob Brockmann, Lati Kronlund, Louis Scalise

Nigel Olsson - Nigel (1979)

Nigel Olsson (born 10 February 1949) is an English rock drummer, who is best known for his affiliation with Elton John.

Best-known as the drummer in Elton John's early-'70s backing band, Nigel Olsson was born February 10, 1949, in the small Cheshire (now Merseyside) town of Wallasey, England. As a teenager, he lived in Sunderland, where he sang lead in a group called the Fireflies and took up the drums when their regular drummer quit. At 17, he and good friend Mick Grabham successfully auditioned for the psychedelic pop band Plastic Penny, which released two albums from 1968-1969 and scored a hit with "Everything I Am" before disbanding. Olsson subsequently joined the Spencer Davis Group, which was reeling from the defection of frontman Stevie Winwood; the gig was short-lived as Davis broke up the band before the end of 1969, but Olsson met bassist Dee Murray, who would become his favorite rhythm section partner. Looking for work, Olsson filled the drum slot in Uriah Heep for part of the 1970 debut album Very 'eavy, Very 'umble, but soon left to concentrate on session work. He and Murray had been playing with Elton John on the young singer/songwriter's demos and they both joined his touring group in the spring of 1970. Olsson played on most of John's early-'70s classics, including Honky Chateau, Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and Captain Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy. After the latter was released in the spring of 1975, John sought to shake up his backing band by replacing both Olsson and Murray. When not working with John, Olsson has taken up the role of a session musician. Olsson has composed, recorded, and produced albums for his own solo career.
In 1979, he released the album "Nigel" and enjoyed some mild success as a solo artist, scoring a pair of Top 40 hits on the U.S. pop chart with "A Little Bit of Soap" and "Dancin' Shoes" which was originally written by Carl Storie, and first recorded by his Faith Band.

01.  Little Bit Of Soap  (Nigel Olsson) - 3:25   

02.  You Know I'll Always Love You  (Nigel Olsson) - 3:13   
03.  Dancin' Shoes  (Nigel Olsson) - 3:45   
04.  Part Of The Chosen Few  (Nigel Olsson) - 3:12   
05.  Say Goodbye To Hollywood  (Nigel Olsson) - 3:26   
06.  All It Takes  (Nigel Olsson) - 4:21   
07.  Thinking Of You  (Nigel Olsson) - 3:40   
08.  Living In A Fantasy  (Nigel Olsson) - 3:12   
09.  Cassey Blue / Au Revoir  (Nigel Olsson) - 6:24 

Label:  Bang Records
Genre:  Soft Rock
Length:  34:38
 

Credits

Guitars: Tom Fowler, Jay Graydon, Eddie Patterson, Ronn Price, Richie Rising, Richie Zito
Bass: Don Barrett, Joe Chemay, Ray Sansom, David Wintour
Keyboards: Michael Boddicker, Paul Davis, Alan Feingold, David Foster, Paul Schaffer
Drums: Michael Baird, Nigel Olsson, James Stroud
Percussion: Ray Cooper, Nigel Olsson, James Stroud
Background vocals: Curt Becher, Paul Davis, Jim Haas, Bruce Johnston, Jon Joyce, Nigel Olsson, Ronda Riviera, Brenda Russell, Marilyn Scott & Stephanie Spruill
Produced-By:  Nigel Olsson, Paul Davis

American Flyer - Spirit Of A Woman (1977)

American Flyer was an American folk rock supergroup.

They formed in 1976 and released two successful albums on United Artists before disbanding in 1978. American Flyer was a '70s folk-rock quartet made up of former members of other groups: Craig Fuller was from Pure Prairie League, Eric Kaz had been a member of Blues Magoos, Steve Katz was in Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Doug Yule had played in the Velvet Underground. Together they charted with two albums on United Artists in the mid-'70s. Maybe there was only room for one really successful country-folk-rock group with good songs and strong harmonies in the mid-'70s, and the job had already been taken by The Eagles. Who knows? American Flyer's second and final album didn't have as many great songs as the debut, and some of them were swamped by strings, but it was a pleasant work, notably featuring a version of Eric Kaz's "I'm Blowin' Away," which Bonnie Raitt had covered a couple of years earlier.
"Spirit Of A Woman" is a wonderful album. Fuller sounds great as usual, and the music is soft country-rock played by professionals at the height of their powers. The record is reminiscent of the Eagles’ first album, though the production is not quite as slick and the songs not quite as hooky. If you like country-infused rock or pop but are tired of the overexposed Eagles or you overdosed on country rock during the alt-country craze, this is for you. The album is evocative of a time and a place Southern California in the late 1970s. But it sounds fresh, primarily because the songwriting is so good. The up-tempo “Spirit of a Woman” sounds like a great lost Poco track. Linda Ronstadt is a backup singer on the album, and I think that’s her singing harmony with Fuller on the chorus of the latter song. I think you can hear James Taylor in the background as well. There’s no filler here. The gentle country-rock vibe can get old really fast, but on this album the quality songwriting, the sweet harmonies, and the sheer craftsmanship overwhelm any impulse.


01. Spirit Of A Woman  (Eric Kaz & Craig Fuller)  - 2:31
02. Gamblin' Man  (Eric Kaz)  - 3:57
03. My Love Comes Alive  (Eric Kaz)  - 2:36
04. Victoria  (Steve Katz)  - 3:15
05. Dear Carmen  (Eric Kaz & Craig Fuller)  - 4:04
06. I'm Blowin' Away  (Eric Kaz)  - 2:31
07. Flyer (Doug Yule)  - 4:18
08. The Good Years  (Steve Katz)  - 4:15
09. Keep On Tryin'  (Eric Kaz)  - 3:14

Release: 1977

Recorded at:  Eastern Sound Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Label:   United Artists Records
Genre:   Country Rock, Pop
Length:   30:40
Produced by:  American Flyer & Ken Friesen
Engineer:  Ken Friesen
Tape Operator:  Doug Neil
Strings Arranged & Conducted by:  Alan McMillan & Recorded at Electric Lady Studios, New York City, New York

Credits

Craig Fuller - Vocals
Eric Kaz - Vocals
Steve Katz - Vocals
Doug Yule - Vocals
Whitey Glan - Drums
Prakash John - Bass
Jerry Scheff - Bass
John Capek - Keyboards
Bobby Keyes - Tenor Sax
Ben Mink - Fiddle
Tracy Nelson - Backing vocals
Sylvia Tyson - Backing vocals
Linda Ronstadt - Backing vocals
J.D. Souther - Backing vocals

King Diamond - Abigail (1987)

King Diamond is a Danish heavy metal band formed in 1985 by vocalist King Diamond, guitarists Andy LaRocque and Michael Denner, bassist Timi Hansen and drummer Mikkey Dee.

  "Abigail" is the second King Diamond album and their first concept album. It tells the story about a young couple, Miriam Natias and Jonathan La'Fey, who move into an old mansion that La'Fey inherited. It takes place in the summer of 1845. At their arrival they are warned by seven horsemen not to move into the house because if they do "18 will become 9." They do not heed the warning and proceed to move into the mansion. During their first night, Jonathan meets with Count La'Fey, the Family Ghost, who is a deceased relative. The ghost shows him a casket in which a corpse of a stillborn child, Abigail, rests. The ghost informs him that Miriam is carrying the spirit of Abigail and that the child will soon be reborn. He asks Jonathan to kill his wife to prevent the rebirth. In the meantime, the story unfolds of what happened to the Count and his wife; she gave birth to Abigail on 7 July 1777. The Count had thrown her down the stairs, causing her neck to break as well as the death of Abigail, who was an illegitimate daughter. The next day, Miriam is clearly pregnant and the fetus develops quickly. Jonathan contemplates throwing her down the stairs, encouraged seemingly by his wife. However, Miriam throws him down the stairs and gives birth to Abigail. But Miriam does not survive the birth, and Abigail is left alone. At that moment the seven horsemen arrive again, planning to destroy Abigail once more.


01. "Funeral"   (King Diamond)  - 1:30
02. "Arrival"   (King Diamond)  - 5:26
03. "A Mansion in Darkness"   (King Diamond, Andy LaRocque)  - 4:34
04. "The Family Ghost"   (King Diamond)  - 4:06
05. "The 7th Day of July 1777"   (King Diamond, Andy LaRocque)  - 4:50
06. "Omens"   (King Diamond)  - 3:56
07. "The Possession"   (King Diamond, Michael Denner)  - 3:26
08. "Abigail"   (King Diamond)  - 4:50
09. "Black Horsemen"   (King Diamond)  - 7:40

Remaster bonus tracks
10. "Shrine"   (King Diamond, Andy LaRocque)  - 4:23
11. "A Mansion in Darkness (Rough Mix)"   (King Diamond, Andy LaRocque)  - 4:34
12. "The Family Ghost (Rough Mix)"   (King Diamond)  - 4:06
13. "The Possession (Rough Mix)"   (King Diamond, Michael Denner)  - 3:26

Released:  October 21, 1987
Recorded:  Sound Track Studio, Copenhagen, December 1986 to February 1987
Genre:  Heavy metal
Length:  40:16
Label:  Roadrunner
Producer:  King Diamond

Credits
King Diamond – vocals, producer
Andy LaRocque – guitar
Michael Denner – guitar, assistant producer
Timi Hansen – bass guitar
Mikkey Dee – drums, assistant producer
Roberto Falcao – engineer, keyboards

Jeff Buckley - Mystery White Boy: Live '95-'96 (2000)

Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley (November 17, 1966 – May 29, 1997), was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician.

"Mystery White Boy" is a live album by Jeff Buckley released in 2000. This is a compilation of live recordings that Buckley's mother Mary Guibert compiled from DAT recordings of his supporting tour for Grace.
It's hard to judge Jeff Buckley's live collection "Mystery White Boy: Live '95-'96" without thinking of what might have been, without realizing that he never fulfilled the extent of his potential. If that sounds harsh, it's not meant to be  it's more of an acknowledgment of the tragedy of his premature death. After all, "Mystery White Boy" simply wouldn't exist if Buckley was alive when it was released in the spring of 2000. That wasn't the case with Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk, the first posthumous release of his unreleased recordings. Those tapes were the foundation of what would have become his second album; the tapes that formed "Mystery White Boy" were DAT recordings of his supporting tour for "Grace" (which the album was named after), many of which weren't intended for release at any time. Once Buckley unexpectedly passed away, they became a core part of his legacy, particularly because his concerts were notoriously unpredictable and thrilling, sometimes transcendent (at least according to partisan fans). "Mystery White Boy" doesn't quite convey that sense of majesty, largely due to the uneven sound quality and the fact that it's a compilation, thereby lacking the ebb and flow of a real live show. Buckley's mother Mary Guibert claims in the liner notes that the compilation worked better than any individual concert, and she may well be right, since the album has a consistency that a full concert may not have. Still, it's hard not to slightly miss the dramatic rhythm of a real show. Even so, "Mystery White Boy" is a valuable document, since it does prove that Buckley could transcend time and place with a live show. That might only be of interest to hardcore fans, but they'll still thrill to this, all the same.


01.  Dream Brother  (Jeff Buckley, Mick Grondahl, Matt Johnson)  - 8:48
02.  I Woke Up in a Strange Place  (Jeff Buckley)  - 5:05
03.  Mojo Pin  (Jeff Buckley, Gary Lucas)  - 6:06
04.  Lilac Wine  (James Shelton)  - 5:19
05.  What Will You Say  (Carla Azar, Jeff Buckley, Chris Dowd)  - 7:34
06.  Last Goodbye  (Jeff Buckley)  - 4:58
07.  Eternal Life  (Jeff Buckley)  - 5:57
08.  Grace  (Jeff Buckley, Gary Lucas)  - 5:39
09.  Moodswing Whiskey  (Jeff Buckley, Michael Tighe)  - 5:37
10.  The Man That Got Away  (Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin)  - 3:46
11.  Kanga-Roo  (Alex Chilton)  - 10:23
12.  Hallelujah/I Know It's Over (medley)  (Leonard Cohen / Johnny Marr, Morrissey)  - 9:18

Bonus Australian disc
1.  That's All I Ask  (Nina Simone) (live Price Patrick Hotel, Sydney)  - 5:26
2.  Lover, You Should've Come Over  (Jeff Buckley) (Live À L'Olympia, Paris)  - 7:32
3.  So Real  (Jeff Buckley, Michael Tighe) (live Nighttown Hall, Rotterdam)  - 5:17

Bonus Japanese disc
1.  So Real  (Jeff Buckley, Michael Tighe) (live On Air Azabu Studios, Tokyo)  - 4:25
2.  Last Goodbye  (Jeff Buckley) (live On Air Azabu Studios, Tokyo)  - 4:38
3.  Lover, You Should've Come Over  (Jeff Buckley) (live On Air Azabu Studios, Tokyo)  - 7:21

Released:  May 9, 2000
Recorded:  February 22, 1995 - February 28, 1996
Label:  Columbia
Genre:  Folk, Singer/Songwriter
Length:  78:29
Producer:  Mary Guibert, Michael Tighe

Credits
Jeff Buckley - vocals, guitar
Michael Tighe - guitar
Mick Grondahl - bass
Matt Johnson - drums
 

Shiloh - Shiloh (1970)

In the  mid sixties Richard Bowden, Don Henley, Jerry Surratt and Freddie Neese formed a band called the Four Spreeds. Freddy Neese replaced by Joey Brown and they change their name to Felicity around 1965, In 1969 Joey Brown left Felicity and Richard Bowden took over the guitar duties from him. Mike Bowden, the cousin of Richard Bowden came in to play the bass.
Later the same year Felicity wanted to augment their line-up by adding another guitarist.When they attended a concert by a group called Foxx they found the musician they were looking for: The guitarist of Foxx was a guy who also played a pedal steel guitar. This was exactly the person they were looking for, so they asked that musician, he was a certain Al Perkins, whether he was interested in joining Felicity. Perkins came over to jam a little bit with the group and he really liked the group's approach to music. So he decided to join.
Now Felicity changed their name to Shiloh.
Shiloh had been formed at a time, when the members were still at college. When they were out of college they were in the lucky situation that the popularity of their group already was big enough to earn a living out of music. They were able to concentrate on writing and performing. In 1969 they met Kenny Rogers, who encouraged them to go to Los Angeles.

There they recorded an album, which was produced by Kenny Rogers. Out of the recording sessions they released two singles. The first single, presenting two tracks that were not included on the later album, was a regional hit but the album and the second single were unnoticed by the record buying public.

Shiloh changes the squishy Little rock of ' Simple Down Home Rock & Roll Love Song For Rosie "and" Swamp River Country ' with the purest imaginable country rock of ' Same Old Story ' and ' I'm Gone '. In either case, excels All Perkins on slide guitar, pedal steel, respectively. The highlight of this only album of Shiloh is the heartbreaking beautiful valve ' God Is Where You Find Him '. But it is said to have fallen on deaf ears; Once in L.A. Is the band with guitarist, keyboardist Jim Ed Norman and Perkins the cousins Mike and Richard Bowden not last long.

The drummer, singer and song writer leaves for the band by Linda Ronstadt, Longbranch Pennywhistle meets there the half of the countryrockduo and a band with him on: The Eagles. The record spawned one regional hit single, but went otherwise unnoticed, and that, together with a bad management deal, caused the band to break up.

In April 1971 Shiloh disbanded. Don Henley explained the reasons for the break up: We had no work, we had a bad management and the record company didn't do anything for us.

Al Perkins replaced Sneaky Pete Kleinow in the Flying Burrito Brothers and Jim Ed Norman became a producer. Soon after the Shiloh break up, Richard Bowden, his cousin Mike Bowden and Don Henley together with Glenn Frey from the Longbranch Pennywhistle formed the Linda Ronstadt Band.

 

Track listing

 

01.  "Simple Little Down Home Rock & Roll Love Song For Rosie"  (Michael McGinnis)  - 3:30  

02.  "I'm Gone"  (Don Henley)  - 4:55  
03.  "Left My Gal In The Mountains"  - 3:08  
04.  "It's About Time"  (Richard Bowden) - 2:06  
05.  "Swamp River Country"  (Jim Norman) - 5:13  
06.  "Railroad Song" (Traditional)  (Don Henley)  - 4:02  
07.  "Same Old Story"  - 2:41  
08.  "Du Raison"  (Jim Norman, Richard Bowden)  - 3:13  
09.  "Down On The Farm"   - 2:25  
10.  "God Is Where You Find Him"  (Don Henley) - 5:55  
11.  "Jennifer"  (Don Henley, Jerry Surratt) - 3:41  
12.  "Tell Me To Get Out Of Your Life"  - 3:01

 

Credits

Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Richard Bowden
Bass Guitar – Mike Bowden
Drums – Don Henley
Keyboards – Jerry Surratt
Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar – Jim Norman
Lead Vocals – Don Henley, Richard Bowden

Steel Guitar, Electric Guitar – Al Perkins

Strings – Linden Philharmonic Orchestra
Adapted By, Arranged By – Shiloh
Arranged By – Al Perkins
Producer – Kenny Rogers

 

Notes

Recorded at Quantum Studios. Originally released as Amos Records AAS7015 in 1970 without tracks 11 and 12. Those tracks had previously been released as a single (Amos AJB140) in 1969.
Genre:  Country Rock
Length:  40:57
© 1969

 

Label - Amos Records

Airwaves - New Day (1978)

Airwaves, a British progressive rock group of the late 70s.

"New Day" is the debut album from Airwaves, a british rock band. A delighful record really, sort of  like 10CC lite and Klaatu without the progressive tendencies. To get a feel for the album, it is important to first note that they were a studio band. And second, that the album is really good. Half of the time, it brings oldies rock and roll "up to date" to the production smoothness of the late 70's. Think if Chuck Berry and Beach Boys were recording their music with super-slick 70's production. The Album begins with a "Kokomo" drum beat and "dirty bad-ass" synthesizers in "Love Stop". The song kinda sounds like Foreigner's "Urgent" backed with Bee Gee harmonized vocals. Its funky, but not what makes the album good. The next song sounds like typical 70's smooth rock, part Wings, part Beach Boys "Aren't You Glad". "The Cat" begins with a cat 'meow' and slinks into a slowed up "Footloose bounce" synthesized bass line. "The Cat" is like the first track in mood and delivery. "Keep Away the Blues" is a catchy folky lite-rock single. Echoed verse and harmonized backgrounds give tremendous depth to this positive, motivational track. Somewhat of a ballad, "Hope You Won't" is still bouncy, but the vocals slowly rise and fall along the melody, asking his new love to stay. Next, they slow it down even more, to deliver their most famous song (by internet search standards): the completely accapella "You Are the New Day." It has the feeling of a church choir singing a Christmas carol. Here is a sample of a cover by the Kings Singer. Side 2 picks up the pace slightly with the sadly inevitable sequel to "Hope You Wont:" "So Hard Living Without You." This could easily be an Air Supply song, except the production is more in line with the Beach Boys...this song is the link between those two bands. "Nobody Is" is their rendition of Chuck Berry's "Never Can Tell." This is a really great song, with a pleasant, quick tempo, and even a loud guitar solo, going in a completely different direction than the rest of the album. Because of this track, Let Me In is not the stand out track. The originality continues into "Hideaway." The chorus is very catchy, but creatively timed. A bit slower than "Nobody Is," but just as positively optimistic as "Keep Away The Blues." The next song, "Don't Let the Daylight In" is just like "The Cat" and "Love Stop," in musical style. Being another slowed up version of "Urgent, " it feels like background music to a poorly conceived early 80's detective TV show. Finally, like any good High-School essay, the album ends with a nice concise thesis, summarizing everything that came before it with "Go Better."

 

01.    Love Stop   (John David)  - 3:24
02.    Let Me In   (Ray Martinez)  - 3:17 
03.    The Cat   (John David)  - 2:46
04.    Keep Away The Blues   (Ray Martinez)  - 3:21 
05.    Hope You Won't   (Ray Martinez)  - 3:30 
06.    You Are The New Day   (John David)  - 2:08 
07.    So Hard Living Without You   (John Bettis, Kerry Chater)  - 3:30 
08.    Nobody Is   (John David)  - 3:18
09.    Hideaway   (Ray Martinez)  - 3:01 
10.    Don't Let The Daylight In   (Paul Cobbold, Francis Russell)  - 3:42 
11.    Go Getter   (John David)  - 4:05
   
Released:  1978
Label:  Mercury
Genre:  Pop, Rock
Time:  36:02
Producer:  Pat Moran 
Engineer:  Pat Moran
Recorded at:  Rockfield Studios, Wales, U.K., 1977
Mastered at:  A&M Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
Mastered By:  Bernie Grundman
Engineer [Assistant]:  Dave Charles

Credits

Dave Charles - Drums, Percussion
John David - Lead Vocals, Harmony Vocals, Bass Guitar, Keyboards
Ray Martinez - Lead Vocals, Harmony Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Horns

Soundtrack - Spijkerhoek (1989)

Soundtrack muziek uit de gelijknamige tv serie "Spijkerhoek"

Spijkerhoek was een Nederlandse dramaserie op Veronica vanaf eind jaren '80 en begin jaren '90. Door Spijkerhoek zijn vele acteurs en actrices bekend geworden in Nederland. Vele buitenopnamen voor Spijkerhoek zijn opgenomen in het historische Amersfoort op de Appelmarkt, de Groenmarkt en op meerdere historische plekken in deze stad. Het appartement van Gerard Verlinden is het voormalig gebouw van de Rijksdienst voor Bodemkundig Onderzoek aan de Muurhuizen/Kerkstraat en grenst aan de Appelmarkt. Tegenwoordig zijn diverse culturele instellingen gevestigd in dit gebouw. Het gebouw heet de Stad van Cahen. Spijkerhoek was in de jaren '80 en '90 van de 20e eeuw een kijkcijferhit. Meer dan twee miljoen mensen zaten elke week voor de buis om de belevenissen van onder meer Patty Starrenburg, Gerard Verlinden, Tony Beymer en Willy van de Akker te zien. Spijkerhoek was de allereerste serie in Nederland waarin drugs, seks en alcoholverslavingen te zien waren. Op deze verzameling muziek van o.a. Patty & Shift die met het nummer Wonderful nummer 2 bereikte van Top-40 in 1989. Verder ook muziek van Fat Boys with Chubby Checker, Salt-N-Pepa, Tatjana, Yazz And The Plastic Population e.a.

01.  Patty & Shift – Wonderful  - 3:56      

02.  Fat Boys & Chubby Checker – The Twist  - 4:06      
03.  Hans Van Eijck – Theme From Spijkerhoek   - 3:49       
04.  Wee Papa Girl Rappers – Wee Rule  - 3:30       
05.  Bomb The Bass – Say A Little Prayer  - 3:51       
06.  Bananarama – Nathan Jones  - 3:03     
07.  Marilyn Monroe – I Wanna Be Loved By You (Remix)  - 4:13       
08.  Lynn Collins – Think (About It) - 3:23      
09.  Billy Ocean – When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going  - 5:43     
10.  Hans Van Eijck – Cross Wheels  - 2:50     
11.  Chris Andrews – Let Go!  - 3:50      
12.  Salt-N-Pepa – Twist And Shout  - 4:05     
13.  Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock – Get On The Dance Floor  - 4:24      
14.  Tatjana – Chica Cubana  - 3:31      
15.  Hans Van Eijck – Verlinden Theme  - 4:07     
16.  Yazz And The Plastic Population – Stand Up For Your Love Rights  - 5:03

Release: 1989

Label:  Qualitel Records
Genre:  Pop
Time:  63:24
Track listing contributed by:  Wim van Schaik

James Brown & Friends - Soul Session Live (1988)

Jamses Brown, an american artist and musician, one of the founding fathers of funk music.

"Soul Session Live" is a 1988 live album by James Brown. Credited on the album cover to "James Brown & Friends". A must for James Brown fans and lovers of 60’s soul, this CD celebrates the considerable musical contributions of the man they call “The Godfather of Soul”. A feel-good collection from start to finish, the recordings here are taken from the soundtrack of the 1988 critically acclaimed TV special “A Soul Session with James Brown and Friends”. Many of James Brown’s most well-known songs are featured, including “I feel Good”, Papas Got a Brand New Bag” and “Living in America”. A number of these are presented in duets with such talents as Joe Cocker, Wilson Pickett and Robert Palmer. James Brown’s first words on this disc are simply "..1965 this was the sound”. Aficionados will know that this is his standard lead in to his top 10 minor R and B classic “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”. Despite being the first performance of the night, James Brown has no trouble hooking into the song’s funky fast paced mid-60’s groove. The rendition here is every bit as good as the original and is laced with the Godfather of Soul’s trademark squeals and blistering saxophone solos.
It is impossible to fault this performance and it is a delight to listen to from start to finish. How do you Stop? is also a James Brown solo. The contrast in style, however, could not be more marked. “How do you Stop” is a gentle ballad with a 70’s, almost disco feel. Consistent with the nature of the song, James gives a suitably restrained performance that is laced with an appropriate sense of foreboding. The end result makes for great listening that is a credit to the artist and his band. “Cold Sweat” is a heavy 70’s vintage funk number and is performed in a duet with Wilson Pickett (the singer of the 60’s classic “Land of a 1000 dances”). This is probably my least preferred number on the collection. However, this should not be taken as in indictment against the track as I have never been a fan of this style of song. I should also add that both artists give their absolute all on this performance and I suspect that those who like heavy funk will probably love it. “Out of Site” made the top spot on the R & B chart way back in 1963. James Brown does not feature on the version presented here as the honors are given to a fellow by the name of Billy Vera. Though Mr Vera is certainly a most talented artist and does a great job on this sexually infused mid-tempo blues number, he does not surpass James Brown’s original work. That being said, this is still a great recording and fits in nicely with the rest of the material on this collection. "I´ll Go Crazy" with Joe Cocker, characterized by more raspy vocals than you can throw a stick at, numerous wild screams and a jarring stop-start drum beat, the number bleeds with cool. As Robert Palmer enters the stage, James asks him - “How do you feel?”. Not surprisingly, Robert responds with the lead in line to the Godfather’s well known hit “I Feel Good”. These two talented artists then rip into “I Feel Good” with all the passion and enthusiasm that this soul infused rock classic deserves.
The two artists work well together and perfectly preserve the 60’s feel of the number. Their performance brims with excitement and is complemented with appropriately timed James Brown squeals. The success of the performance can also be attributed to the great work of the band who perfectly capture the saxophone rifts and driving drum work that are so much a part of this outstanding song. The two then duet on the 60’s soulful ballad “Try Me”.
The sound and style of this number is reminiscent of the early Motown sound, and in particular the Temptations. There is more than a hint of blues in the song and this particularly suits the vocal styles of both singers who make the most of the excellent material. “Living in America” was James Brown’s last major hit single. It made the top 10 Charts in the mid-eighties and from memory won a Grammy for best R&B performance. The song was the theme tune for the movie Rocky IV.

Track listing

01. "Show Introduction"   (James Brown)  - 0:28
02. "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"  (James Brown)  - 3:15
03. "How Do You Stop"   (Dan Hartman, Charlie Midnight James Brown)  - 5:22
04. "Cold Sweat"  (feat. Wilson Pickett) (James Brown, Pee Wee Ellis)  - 4:08
05. "Out of Sight"  (feat. Billy Vera) (James Brown)  - 2:34
06. "When a Man Loves a Woman"  (feat. Joe Cocker) (Calvin Lewis, Andrew Wright)  - 5:46
07. "Gimme Your Love"  (feat. Aretha Franklin) (Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen)  - 5:16
08. "I'll Go Crazy"  (feat. Joe Cocker) (James Brown)  - 3:16
09. "I Got You (I Feel Good)"  (feat. Robert Palmer) (James Brown)  - 3:25
10. "Try Me"  (feat. Robert Palmer) (James Brown)  - 5:18
11. "Living in America"  (James Brown & Friends) (Dan Hartman, Charlie Midnight)  - 4:06

Credits
Producer - Johnny Musso
Recorded at - the club Taboo, Detroit, MI.
Mixed at - Santa Monica Sound Recorders, Santa Monica, CA.
Engineered By - Tony Papa
Mastered By - Bernie Grundman
Mixed By - Tony Papa

Notes
Release: 1988
Genre:  Funk, Soul, Live
Length:  32:05
Label:  Scotti Bros. Records

© 1988

Bloodstone - Natural High (1973)

Bloodstone is a American soul, and funk group, most popular in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Bloodstone is a former American R&B, soul, and funk group, most popular in the 1970s and early 1980s. The band charted thirteen songs between 1973 and 1984.Bloodstone became known for their funk/soul tracks that blended Jimi Hendrix-styled rock music with doo-wop and gospel music undertones. Formed in 1962, in Kansas City, Missouri, the group was a high school doo-wop group called The Sinceres. In 1967-68 they were backed by and toured with a large Kansas City horn band known as the Smokin' Emeralds and performed their version of a Motown-style review which drew large crowds at a venue called the Place in the Westport district of KC. By 1971, the band consisted of Melvin Webb on drums, Roger Durham on percussion, Charles Love on guitar and vocals, Charles McCormick on bass, Harry Williams on percussion, and Willis Draffen on guitar. After learning to play their respective musical instruments, moved to Los Angeles, California. After arriving in Los Angeles, the group met their prospective managers George Braunstein and Ron Hamady. They also replaced their drummer Melvin Webb with Eddie Summers, a resident of Los Angeles, California. The managers decided to change their name from The Sinceres to Bloodstone. Later the group traveled to London, England where they achieved a recording contract with Decca Records. The original members were Charles McCormick, Willis Draffen, Jr., Charles Love, Harry Williams, Roger Durham and Eddie Summers. The first album was entitled Bloodstone, whereas there were two singles released simultaneously called, "That's The Way We Make Our Music", and "Girl (You Look So Fine)", written and arranged by Eddie Summers the newest member. Their second album, "Natural High" reached the US R&B Top 10, with their single, "Natural High" reaching number 10 on the Pop chart. The album was written by various members of the group Bloodstone.

 

01.  "You Know We've Learned"  (Willis Draffen Jr.)  - 4:12

02.  "Who Has the Last Laugh Now"  (Charles McCormick)  - 5:36

03.  "Peter's Jones"  (Larry Durham, Roger Durham)  - 4:12

04.  "That's the Way We Make Our Music"  (Eddie Summers)  - 3:15

05.  "Bo Diddley/Diddley Daddy"  (Ellis McDaniel)  - 3:37

06.  "Natural High"  (McCormick)  - 4:53

07.  "I Need Your Love"  (McCormick)  - 1:10

08.  "Tell It to My Face"  (Charles Love)  - 3:15

09.  "Ran It in the Ground"  (Love)  - 4:52

10.  "Never Let You Go"  (Harry Williams)  - 5:37

Released:  1973

Recorded at:  The Village Recorder, Los Angeles

Genre:  Soul, funk

Length:  40:50

Label:  London Records

Producer:  Mike Vernon

Arranger, Conductor:  Pip Williams

Credits

Charles McCormick - Bass, Vocals

Charles Love, Willis Draffen Jr. - Guitar, Vocals

Melvin Webb - Drums, Congas, Timbales

Roger Durham, Harry Williams - Percussion, Vocals

Hense Powell - Piano, Electric Piano, Organ

Eddie Summers - Drums, Vibraphone, Piano, Congas, Vocals

Gordon Dewitte - Organ

Mike Vernon - Glockenspiel, Castanets, Bells (Tubular Bells)

Richard L. Mackey, Arthur N. Maebe - French Horn

Jacqueline Lustgarten, Raymond L. Kelley - Cello

Gene Cipriano - Cor Anglais

Dan Neufeld, Nathan Kaproff - Viola

Carla Spencer, Erno Neufeld, Paul C. Shure, Samuel Boghossian - Violin

BTO - Rock N´ Roll Nights (1979)

Bachman-Turner Overdrive is a Canadian rock group from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

"Rock N' Roll Nights" is the eighth studio album by Canadian rock band BTO, released in 1979. This album was one of three BTO albums that did not feature co-founder Randy Bachman. "Rock n' Roll Nights" is also one of the two albums from this band to feature Jim Clench, formerly of April Wine.

Rob Bachman is on drums and percussion, but the band relies on producer Jim Vallance to write or co-write four of the nine tunes. Smart move, as the Vallance's production and songwriting skills were a big part of Canadian Bryan Adams succes, and his partnership with Adams began two years prior to this. As the "Street Action" and other Bachman Turner Overdrive albums were pretty self-contained, a group known more for ripping riffs rather than covering other people's tunes, the inclusion of the Sweeny Todd title, "Wastin' Time," is a good idea in theory. It adds a poppy flair to a band that had already gotten overbearing when Randy Bachman was still with them. By "Street Action", things were totally leaden, and Vallance's contributions here are not drastic enough to make that much of a difference. It's a case of too little too late. "Here She Comes Again" is not the Lou Reed tune, but it would work if it didn't have that diesel vocal which clashes with the '70s pop sound trying to break out of this disc. The "Wastin' Time" that Bryan Adams sang was credited to Prest/Shaer on the Sweeny Todd album If Wishes Were Horses when Adams replaced Nick Gilder in that outfit, and Ron Sexsmith from out of Toronto also has a tune by that name, but the one on "Rock N' Roll Nights" gives credit to Bryan Adams. The thought that this hard rock outfit should've gone glam in 1979 is not a bad one. Recorded at Mushroom Studios in Vancouver and London's Trident facility, this is as much a Jim Vallance project as it is new music from the remnants of Bachman Turner Overdrive. At least they had the good sense to change their name to just initials, though they seem to have the same plate from the Guess Who's Road Food from five years earlier on the back cover, a sign of something stale. What is life like without brother Randy Bachman? Save the addition of Vallance, this is the same crew that crafted "Street Action", right down to the photographer and engineers at the Vancouver studio. The woman on the cover looks like she has reprised her role, another wise move as the band was never photogenic. "End of the Line" works because it is a ballad, and they somehow pull it off. Surprise of surprise, it is written by new singer Jim Clench. It also comes off as the best track on the disc, though C.F. Turner's "Heartaches" was used for Bachman Turner Overdrive's Millennium Collection album. "Rock N' Roll Nights" contains another tune with "rock & roll" in the title, "Rock and Roll Hell," and that tune is well-named because it descends to those depths. "Amelia Earheart" is interesting, a ballad that sounds like Klaatu performing on Frijid Pink's Earth Omen album. The Jim Vallance/D. Simmonds composition gets honorable mention: The less this group sounds like Bachman Turner Overdrive, the better, and Vallance would have been better served using this as a vehicle to express his vision totally. His song which opens the disc, "Jamaica," is a producer reinventing Randy Bachman, and he should have done it all the way through the 37 minutes that make up this LP.

 

01.  "Jamaica"  (Vallance)  – 4:08

02.  "Heartaches"  (Turner)  – 3:51

03.  "Heaven Tonight"  (Clench, Thornton)  – 3:03

04.  "Rock and Roll Nights"  (Clench)  – 5:30

05.  "Wastin' Time"  (Adams) –  3:28

06.  "Here She Comes Again"  (Clench, Thornton, Vallance)  – 3:00

07.  "End of the Line"  (Clench)  – 3:25

08.  "Rock and Roll Hell"  (Vallance)  – 4:06

09.  "Amelia Earhart"  (Simmonds, Vallance)  – 6:19

Released:  March 1979

Recorded at:  Mushroom Studios, Vancouver, Canada

Genre:  Rock

Length:  36:50

Label:  Mercury Records

Producer (s):  BTO, Jim Vallance

Cedits

Robbie Bachman - drums, percussion

Jim Clench - bass, vocals

Blair Thornton - lead guitar

C.F. Turner - guitar, vocals

Production

Producers:  Jim Vallance

Engineers:  John Brand, Rolf Henneman

Assistant engineer:  Mike Donegani

Mixing:  Jim Vallance

Art direction, photography:  James O'Mara