Year: 2020

Def Leppard – ‘Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 29 March 2019’ – #RSD – Album Review

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On Record Store Day, August 29, 2020, I was able to pick up a few albums and one of the ones on my list this time around was a Def Leppard release of the live performance of their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on March 29, 2019. For a band that once said, live albums were for bands that couldn’t come up with anything else, they have now put out a bunch of live material since those words years ago. I’m not complaining, just saying.

As you know if you follow this site, I buy anything and everything Def Leppard and I figured this is a nice piece for the collection as it is a special moment in the band’s history. This band that I like so much was voted in to the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!! That means…well…it really means nothing, but still a cool honor for the guys. A little more validation that they are a great band so screw you haters out there that think differently!!! I will unfriend you and delete you because that is how Facecrack works right!!

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Gen X – “Dancing With Myself” 12″ Single – Bonus Edition (The Billy Idol Series)

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In my crate digging back in June, I found this beauty.  It is a Gen X 12″ single of the song “Dancing with Myself”.  This was off the band’s third album called “Kiss Me Deadly” and was a little before the song became famous by the Gen X singer, Billy Idol, on his first solo outing. Since I have all the band’s stuff (with minor exceptions), I look for the Singles and oddball items now and this fit the bill nicely.

For me it is both a Single and an oddball, because what is the deal with the frightening little girl on the cover.  She’s scary, right?  The album is still wrapped in the original plastic wrap which has seen better days, but this has kept the album in pretty dang good shape.

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“Dancing with Myself” failed to chart upon its release and didn’t really do much.  It wasn’t until Billy released it as one of his solo songs, but that is for another discussion.  The song was inspired by what the band saw while on tour in Tokyo.  They noticed that at the dance clubs, the people were dancing more with their own reflections in the mirrored walls than they were with other people.  That somehow inspired the song.

The song has has always been one of my favorite songs by the band and Billy’s solo work.  The song is pure New Wave dance music with a slight punk edge…classic Billy Idol solo.  It is so melodic, catchy and so much energy you can’t help but move.  The guitars are a little louder on this version and the bass toned down ever so slightly, but other than that it is the song you know.  Being the 12″ Single, it is extended out to just over 4 minutes which is about 20 seconds longer than the album version and 20 more seconds to be on the dance floor.

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The prize on this is not just “Dancing With Myself” as I have several versions on other releases, but it is the B-Sides.  Okay, I have the other two songs as well,  but only digitally, not physically.  Now that has changed.  The two tracks are called “Loopy Dub” and “Ugly Dub” and honestly, they aren’t that great.  So the prize really is “Dancing With Myself”.

“Loopy Dub” doesn’t really go fast enough for a dance track.  It is kinda slow and drags on with no real purpose.  I would’ve liked something more upbeat that you could dance too because this just depresses me.  “Ugly Dub” isn’t any better.  There is a strong case to be made why these didn’t end up on the album.  Honestly, not sure there was ever any reason to release them period.

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And there you have it.  Another nugget in the world of Billy Idol.  The collection is coming along nicely and I love adding new stuff especially when it comes to the Gen X era of his career.

Now, if you want to check out the full reviews and the entire Billy Idol Series, click on any and all of the links below…

  1. Generation X – ‘Generation X’
  2. Generation X – ‘Valley of the Dolls’
  3. Gen X – ‘Kiss Me Deadly’
  4. Gen X – “Dancing With Myself” 12″ Single (Bonus Edition)
  5. Generation X – ‘The BBC Transcription Disc Series No. 126 1978’ (Bootleg)
  6. Billy Idol – Don’t Stop E.P.
  7. Billy Idol – Billy Idol
  8. Billy Idol – Rebel Yell
  9. Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile
  10. Billy Idol – To Be A Lover – Single Review
  11. Billy Idol – Vital Idol
  12. Billy Idol – Charmed Life
  13. Billy Idol – Cyberpunk
  14. Billy Idol – “Speed” (song from the Speed Soundtrack)
  15. Generation X – K.M.D. Sweet Revenge
  16. Billy Idol – VH1 Storytellers (Live)
  17. Billy Idol – Devil’s Playground
  18. Billy Idol – Happy Holidays
  19. Billy Idol – The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself
  20. Billy Idol – Kings & Queens of the Underground
  21. Billy Idol – BFI Live (#RSD 2019)
  22. Billy Idol – Revitalized
  23. Generation X – Your Generation (7″ Record Store Day Release)
  24. Generation X – Generation X Deluxe Edition
  25. Billy Idol – Rebel Waltz: Live (Bootleg)
  26. Billy Idol – Rebel Calling: Live (Bootleg)
  27. Billy Idol – The Albums Ranked From Worst to First

August 2020 Purchases – Vinyl & CDs

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August started off with a bang on purchases.  We went on vacation down to St. Augustine, Florida and like I do on every trip, I hit the local record stores to see what I can find.  There were three to choose from on this trip and of course, I hit all three on different days.

The first was actually in a little house that was selling Antiques.  The record shop goes by the name On The Record – Vinyl Records and More and it was two blocks from where we were staying which made for an easy walk from the house.  It was a small shop and didn’t have a ton, but enough that  I found some albums.  First up was a Crowded House album and then 2nd was The Cult.  I also picked up a 45 Single for the song from the TV show The Greatest American Hero which I loved (at least the first season).

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The next shop was a record store called MusicMatters. It was in a strip mall and looked promising but was far from it.  They didn’t have anything really cool and everything was overpriced.  Not a great shop in my book.  I did find a Kiss Bootleg and thankfully I already had that one because they wanted $200 for it.  That is right $200.  CRAZY!!!…no F$&KING CRAZY!!  I paid $50 for mine and the quality was no different at all.  I did find one cool piece at this store and that was a compilation that I bought for two reasons, 1) I had when I was a kid and 2) it was $5.  It was “Masters of Metal”… Continue reading “August 2020 Purchases – Vinyl & CDs” →

My Sunday Song – “Run” by Matt Nathanson

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For My Sunday Song #211, we are tackling the first in our 10 song set of Matt Nathanson songs. I’m starting the series out with my favorite track and that is “Run”.  The song features Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush of Sugarland. The song is off his 2011 album, ‘Modern Love’ and was released as single, but only reached #53 on the Billboard Hot 100 which baffles me.

The song is not a country song even though Sugarland are on it.  No!  This is a sensual, oh so sexy, love song.  The lyrics are dirty with lines like “You come in waves” and “Then Swallow me whole” as well as “And I watch it explode”.  At the same time they are sexy with lines like “You pull me in close / And buckle my knees” and “You trace my lines / Stirring my soul”.  And then they are heartwarming with a line like “I’m amazing when you’re beside me / I am so much more”.  This song speaks to me and reminds me of my lovely bride and when I hear this song, I think of only her!  Each and every time.

Now here is the problem.  The song I think is more about an affair than love.  The lyrics talk about running back to this person.  The man says he knows that it’s wrong but he can’t help it and he always goes back to her.  Personally, I ignore that part and think of it more as a passionate love affair with my wife.  Either way, you can’t help but love the song.

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Friday New Release – August 28, 2020

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We are ending August with a BANG!! There are an abundance of releases this week and there has to be something for you to grab hold of and listen to all weekend. I am listing 18 different releases and you know I don’t ever have all of them so that is a boatload of stuff. I have a bunch I am eager to hear and 2 on order. My choices are highlighted in Blue and I can tell you right now, I doubt I will get to all of them this week as there are so many. Let me know which ones you are interested in hearing and which ones I may have a missed. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

  • 81Rz9estbVL._SS500_  Needtobreathe – Out of Body – (Elektra): Is there any doubt this one would be tops for me. I am a huge fan, but a worried fan as guitarist and a very creative mind behind the band, Bo Rinehart has left the band. I don’t know how much he put in to this album, if anything, but that has me a little concerned as direction and what to expect. The one thing they did that I don’t particularly don’t care for is they released like 5 songs already. I am not a fan of bands doing that.
  • A1aBMRfQkrL._SS500_  Metallica – S&M 2 (Live) – (Blackened Recording): I actually enjoyed the original S&M so I am curious to hear this one as well. Metallica and classical music I think are a good match. And the song they released already was pretty great.
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Kiss – ‘Paul Stanley’ (1978) – Album Review (The Kiss Review Series)

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By 1978, Kiss had reached the peak of stardom.  They were flying high and a couple members were too.  Trouble was brewing and most especially with Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. From what I have read, they both wanted to do solo albums, but the band needed to keep the train rolling.  So Bill Aucoin and others came up with a strategy to help keep the peace.  The entire band would each do a solo album and they would all be released at the same time on the same day, however, they would be under the Kiss umbrella.  Brilliant or Stupid was still yet to be seen.  No band had ever attempted this prior or since and probably for good reason.

Each member had to find their own producer, their own musicians as no one in the band played on the other persons record.  It took a lot of time and while they were working on the records, the label released ‘Double Platinum’ which we discussed last week.  All the albums came out on the same day, September 18, 1978.  Now I needed to decide what order to review these so it wouldn’t look like I was showing favorites so I let the posters do the talking.  The order of these Solo reviews is based on how the posters piece together from left to right.  In that case, Paul Stanley’s album is up first.

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‘START WITH A DREAM: A Drummer’s Journey from Rock & Roll to T.V. to Broadway’ by Joey Cassata – Book Review

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As a gift this past Christmas, I was really excited to read “Start With a Dream: A Drummer’s Journey from Rock & Roll to T.V. to Broadway” by Joey Cassata.  I had heard Joey on 3 Sides of the Coin talking about it and I was a huge fan of his show ‘Z Rock’ and his band Z02 so this was a no brainer.

I started this book back in late December and early January.  I painstakingly got through about 100 pages and put it down.  I didn’t pick it up again until my vacation at the end of July.  I was bound and determined to finish the book while on vacation and I did.

So why was the first 100 pages so hard to get through?  Basically it was Joey talking about his childhood, I mean young childhood and his love for Kiss and Wrestling and Drumming.  He talked about it and talked about it and talked about it.  I felt he spent way too much time in this area.  I know he was building up to show what his motivations were, but I was able to pick up on that pretty quickly.

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Heart – “What About Love” – The 45 Single

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I haven’t done one of these in awhile where I highlight a 45 Single in my collection so I went through and pulled out “What About Love” from the band Heart.  The song is from what is considered their comeback album ‘Heart’ that was released in 1985 and the single was the first off the album and released on June 1, 1985.

The song is a cover song actually and was originally performed by the band Toronto.  It was written by Brian Allen. Sheron Alton and Jim Vallance.  You know Jim as he is the writing partner for some guy named Bryan Adams.  Brian & Sheron were in Toronto, however, Jim wasn’t although he did play drums on the song.  Enough about them, let’s get to Heart.

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Europe – ‘Wings of Tomorrow’ – Album Review

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Europe came to fame with the album, and the song, ‘The Final Countdown’.  I mean , come on, who doesn’t know that song as it has been played to death.  Europe became lumped in to the “Hair Metal” title as they did all have big hair and they were MTV darlings for a few years.  However, before the major record deal and all the screaming women, Europe was this hard rock, close to metal band that know one really knew about (at least here in the states).  Their second album, and last released independently, was a gem called ‘Wings of Tomorrow’ which was released on February 24, 1984.

I was out doing some crate digging a couple years ago and I came across this album and thought what a beautiful cover and then I noticed that it said Europe.  I never went back and explore their early catalog before ‘Countdown’, so I thought now was a good time and at $8 for the vinyl, why not.  And I am glad I did as it is now one of my all time favorite Europe albums.

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My Sunday Song – “Still of the Night” by Whitesnake

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For My Sunday Song #210, we come to the last song in the 10 song set of Whitesnake songs with “Still Of the Night”.  The song was the first single off their groundbreaking, career breaking album known as ‘Whitesnake’ or ‘1987’ to some.  This took the band to new heights and MTV played the hell out of it.  The song was written by David Coverdale and John Sykes.

Lyrically, it comes as no surprise this song has a lot to do with Sex.  The “cock rock” Kings are at it again.  The song has an almost vampire element and stalker element.  He is obsessed with this woman and wants to be with her all night.  The daylight seems to hurt him as to keep his head down and hide his face from the sun.  I know it isn’t about vampires, but I like the analogy so give me that.

Musically, this was a new Snake, a hungrier Snake, a more badass Snake.  It has some blues elements of the old Whitesnake, but John Sykes took it, distorted it and turned it on its ass.  David’s swagger on belting out the opening verse is full of confidence and aggression and exactly what every teenage boy wanted to hear (and girl wanted to see). There is a musical interlude in the middle that gives an awesome guitar solo a whole different style with an almost cello/violin/string instrument orchestration to the whole thing.  Pretty freaking cool.

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