Friday New Releases – May 6, 2022

Welcome to May! Can you believe it? Time is flying. There are some really juicy releases this week and I am sure any one that follows this site will know what our #1 pick is this week and he is first on the list. But he isn’t the only one that we will be checking out and they are all highlighted in Blue. Let me know what you are interested in hearing and what we may have missed. Thank so much for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

  • 71FY5Zbr6gL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Jeff Scott Soto – Complicated – (Frontiers Records): His 3rd solo released in as many years and 9th overall and he might be the busiest man in the business. I think he is awesome, but I am biased as I just got to meet him a couple weeks ago and see him and Jason Bieler in concert (sorry, was I bragging…yes I was). Looking forward to dive in to this, but don’t expect a review until the end of the Jeff Scott Soto Series we are doing.
  • 81orzaFh6oL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Halestorm – Back From the Dead – (Atlantic Recording): Man, I have been waiting for a new album from Lzzy Hale and the gang and the have finally delivered. Are they one of the best newer bands out there, no doubt they are. Lzzy has one of the best rock vocals and when they deliver it, they deliver it hard and heavy!
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Friday New Releases – April 29, 2022

Happy Friday! And welcome to another Friday New Release post and the last one for April. Hard to believe April is over!! But what is not hard to believe is that we have over 50 releases for you again this week and it is a wide range of genres. There is something for everyone this week. I am not running out to buy and of these just yet, but I have a handful I will give a listen and they are marked in Blue. Let me know what you want to hear this week. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

  • 71CXv7Gy4AL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Miranda Lambert – Palomino – (Vanner Records / Sony Music): Miranda is back with her 9th album in 20 years. I am not a massive country fan, but I do like me some Miranda. This might be first up this week.
  • 91srbavPHlL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Crashdiet – Automaton – (Crusader Records / Golden Robot Global): We’ve talked about it before that Sweden manufactures Sleaze Rock/Glam Rock bands and this is another in the long line of bands. They are back with their sixth album and I will look forward to some good rock & roll!
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Friday New Releases – April 22, 2022

Happy Friday!! Welcome to another Friday of New Releases and we have around 50 choices for you this week. That should mean there is something for everyone and if not, stop being so picky!! Kidding! There are only a couple of releases I am looking in and they are marked in Blue. Let me know what you want to hear this week and let us know what we may have missed as I am sure there is something. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

  • 711boDcj13L._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Aldo Nova – Reloaded – (MRI): Just 3 weeks after his release of The Life & Times of Eddie Gage E.P. (which was pretty darn good), Aldo is back with another Reloaded. He released one a few years ago where he reworks his classic hits. I have to say, I am not real thrilled with this concept as you can’t improve on perfection. Could this be his ‘This Left Feels Right’? I am afraid so as it doesn’t feel right…but maybe I’ll be wrong.
  • 61YFRs2333L._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Dorothy – Gifts from the Holy Ghost – (Roc Nation Records): Dorothy is back with another rock release. I really dig her vocals and the band ain’t half bad either. I am hoping for some more rock greatness from this stellar band.
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Friday New Releases – April 15, 2022

April 15th in the U.S. use to be Tax Day. The day our taxes needed to be filed and paid (unless you file an extension). This year it is actually been pushed to Monday, April 18th like that will make any difference to the procrastinators. Mine are done!! But, being that Friday New Releases this year is on April 15, maybe they decided not to have many so these people that have to pay more in taxes don’t have to worry about missing out on too much. Or it could be the Super Deluxe Edition of Rush’s Moving Pictures is so expensive no one can afford anything else. Either way, we only have around 35 this week which is way down from previous weeks. I only have one and it is up first and highlighted in Blue. But I am sure there is something for you in there so take a look and let me know what you want to hear this week or what we missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a great weekend!!

  • 71vsyGEt+AL._SX522_  Rush – Moving Pictures (40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) – (Mercury Records / UMG): Probably my favorite Rush album and my entry point in to the band, ‘Moving Pictures’ is getting the Super Deluxe Edition for its 40th Anniversary…WOW!! 40 Years. I am getting old. This box set includes a 3 CD set featuring the 2015 album remaster and the complete, unreleased Toronto concert from March 25, 1981. All audio is also showcased on 5 LPs cut at half-speed DMM on 180-gram vinyl. Blu-ray Audio disc presents a first-ever Dolby Atmos and new 5.1 surround album mix including the brand-new video for “YYZ” + 3 music videos. Extras include a book, model car, drumsticks, posters, and more! At only $299, it is a little steep. You could just get the deluxe edition CDs or vinyl for way, way less.

And then all the rest…

  • 51R6fD7UPoL._AC_UL640_FMwebp_QL65_  Jewel – Freewheelin’ Woman – (Words Matter Media)
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Friday New Releases – April 8, 2022

It is Friday! And you know what that means…New Music!! We have a ton of releases for you this week and there are several I am interested in hearing, I’m not sure about buying them yet, but I will stream them. My choices are in Blue. There is a lot of variety on here so I am sure there will be something for everyone. Let me know what you want to hear and what I may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a great weekend.

  • 41496fPlhkL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Joe Satriani – The Elephants of Mars – (Edel Music / earMusic): Joe Satriani never has a shortage of new music. This is his 18th Studio album over the last 36 years which is a new one every 2 years. Can’t beat that (unless you are Guided By Voices). I really loved his early albums but the later albums have been a little spotty for me, but he is still one of my favorite guitarists.
  • A1yTLUWrtPL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Papa Roach – Ego Trip – (New Noize Records / ADA Warner Music): Now on their 11 Studio album Papa Roach is back to deliver their brand of rock…which is nu metal, rap rock, hard rock, alt. rock, alt metal or whatever you want to call it. All I know, is they have some great songs so will be happy to add some more to the collection.
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Friday New Releases – April 1, 2022

It might be April Fool’s Day, but there are no pranks with this list of new releases. We don’t have as many as we normally do, but there are still well over 35+ releases this week. There are only 2 I am eager to hear and one of those is on pre-order, the other maybe later. My choices are highlighted in Blue. Let me know what you want to hear this week or what I may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great weekend.

  • 91QFDkwfKsL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Red Hot Chili Peppers – Unlimited Love – (Warner Records): The Red Hot Chili Peppers are back and this time around they are bringing an old friend. John Frusciante is BACK!!! For that reason alone, I am excited about this release and if the old magic can be found again.
  • 71NdWztNErL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Aldo Nova – The Life and Times of Eddie Gage – (MRI): After talking about it for 2 years or more, Aldo Nova is finally releasing is Rock Opera ‘The Life And Times of Eddie Gage”…ok, well not the whole thing. This appears to be a 10 song sampler. I have this on order, but I wonder why he just doesn’t release the whole damn thing. We will see if Aldo still has the goods.
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Friday New Releases – March 18, 2022

Happy Friday! Thank goodness the weekend is upon us. And thank goodness we have a ton of releases again this week. I have some I might check out, but nothing I am running out and buying right away…it is stream first, maybe purchase later this week for me. I am sure you will be able to find something to listen to this week even if it is a stream first, but later proposition for you as well. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

  • 81PDHnsMcYL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Ronnie Atkins – Make it Count – (Frontiers Records)
  • 911SiwLHHDL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Charli XCX – Crash – (Asylum Records / Warner Music)
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Friday New Releases – March 11, 2022

Happy Friday!! We have a lot of releases this week for you and a bunch I want this week which hasn’t been the case lately. All my choices are highlighted in Blue. Let me know what you are interested in hearing this weekend and let me know what I may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great weekend.

  • 81z+yoN944L._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Kiss – Off The Soundboard: Live In Virginia Beach 2004 – (Universal Music / Simstan Music): Kiss is now on their second in the Off the Soundboard Series and rumor has it we might be getting 2 more this year and I am excited about that. I hope they start going back further like with the Ace & Peter years or even Eric & Bruce would be great. But I will take this for now.
  • 91nwlc-kmvL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Ghost – Impera – (Loma Vista Recordings / Concord): It is hard to believe that it has been 4 years since Ghost last album, I hadn’t heard of them prior to that one, but I loved ‘Prequelle’ so I am excited to see what Tobias Forge has in store for us this time around.
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The Original vs. The Cover vs. The Cover – “Without You”

This version of The Original vs. The Cover is going to be 3 songs. The song is the classic “Without You” and we will kick it off with the original by the band Badfinger. Now, I have to admit, I thought the original was by Harry Nilsson and didn’t realize his was a cover. So, Harry is up next. Lastly, we will throw in one of the most successful covers by the great Mariah Carey. The song was written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans from the band Badfinger.

Pete Ham was originally writing a song called “If It’s Love”, but the song didn’t have a good chorus. When he was getting ready to leave the studio one day, Tom Evans stopped him and said he had an idea for a song. Peter was supposed to go out with his girlfriend, well his girlfriend knew him well and knew he would not be able to focus so she made him stay behind. Tom was working on a song with the chorus “Can’t live if living is without you”. The two parts were like chocolate and peanut butter. Apart they are good, but together they are perfect. The two didn’t think much of the song but apparently it has now been covered by over 180 artist.

On a side note and after effect of the song, Both Ham and Evans later committed suicide due to legal and financial reasons. Evans reason for the suicide seemed to be related to the royalties on this song which makes it a pretty sad tale.

BADFINGER

The Badfinger song came out on November 9, 1970 and was on their album ‘No Dice’. It is was a guitar ballad and had some heavy bass and both electric and acoustical accompaniment. Ham and Evans both take on lead vocal duties. It has that classic 60’s/70’s rock vibe to it and there is a punch to as the song progresses. There is a yearning to the vocals and you can feel the pain of that broken heart. It is a rather effective song and why I wasn’t overly familiar with it before I have no idea.

HARRY NILSSON

Harry Nilsson covered the song a year later on his 1971 album ‘Nilsson Schmilsson’. The song was released on October 11, 1971 and the song went all the way to #1 on Billboard Charts. Harry’s version turns the song in to a piano ballad giving it it an airy atmostpheric feel. The bass groove that lies just behind the lyrics is impactful and soulful. And when the chorus explodes it is so much more dramatic and he owns the pain and sorrow in those vocals. It is almost cathartic and you know he feels better after singing it. The song might be even more effective than the original and he even shaved a minute off the song. Harry truly owns this one and has probably the most recognizable version…at least for 20+ years.

MARIAH CAREY

Then on January 24, 1994, Mariah Carey releases her version of the song from her 1994 album ‘Music Box’. A whole new generation would now be introduced to the song which only went to #3 on the Billboard Charts. Mariah’s version is based off Harry’s as it is mostly a biting piano song with some heavy, heavy bass added to it. Almost too much bass. Her vocals soar and hit notes that Harry would only dream of, however, her vocals, though beautiful, don’t capture the emotion of the song. I feel she is singing it, but not feeling it.

THE VERDICT

Based on the above, I am torn between Badfinger’s version and Harry Nilsson’s version. As I said Mariah, she sings it beautifully but she doesn’t feel the song. And if I am basing on who “feels” the song and makes it believable, I guess I would go with Harry Nilsson’s version. He truly owned it and made it his own. Changing it to a piano based song really turned up the feels and you believed he felt the pain and sorrow of those lyrics. Badfinger is a very close second as I do love the guitar and bass work on the original. I hate they didn’t get the recognition they truly deserved for creating such a beautiful and powerful song.

I am really interested in hearing what everyone else thinks of these two songs.  Let me know which version you like the best and why.  Feel free to leave a comment and talk about the song and tell me how right or wrong I am on this one.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

LYRICS:

“Without You”

Well, I can’t forget this evening
And your face when you were leaving
But I guess that’s just the way the story goes
You always smile, but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes, it shows

Well, I can’t forget tomorrow
When I think of all my sorrow
I had you there, but then I let you go
And now it’s only fair that I should let you know
What you should know

[CHORUS:]
I can’t live, if living is without you
I can’t live, I can’t give anymore
I can’t live, if living is without you
I can’t live, I can’t give anymore

Well, I can’t forget this evening
And your face when you were leaving
But I guess that’s just the way the story goes
You always smile, but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes, it shows

[guitar solo]

[CHORUS x3]

I can’t live, if living is without you.

Friday New Releases – March 4, 2022

Happy Friday! Welcome to a huge list of New Releases just for you. There is so much on here that I believe there is something for everyone even if there is nothing I am running out and buying. I will listen to a few when I have a chance and maybe I’ll end up getting later. Take a look and let me know what you’d like to hear or what I may have missed as it does happen. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

  • 91DsZbI9hwL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Band of Horses – Things Are Great – (Huger Lewis & the Dudes / BMG)
  • A1oPJF6rDCL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Stereophonics – Oochya – (Stylus Records / Ignition Records)
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