Category: Rock

“My First Time” with Journey’s ‘Frontiers’

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Love It or Hate It, Journey went down a whole new path with the release of ‘Frontiers’. After the incredible success of the album, ‘Escape’, the ballad became King for Journey. Some feel it was the start of the downfall, others think it is the pinnacle of their success. I think it is a little of both.

With the success of ‘Escape’, Journey was catapulted into the stratosphere of popularity. They were one of the biggest bands in the world.  Steve Perry had the most recognizable voices on the radio and probably one of the absolute best voices on the radio at the time…if not ever.  The man could sing.  But for some reason I still hadn’t bought a Journey album.  When I heard their second single of their latest album, ‘Frontiers’, I finally bought my first Journey album.  The single was for “Faithfully”.

There is so much to love about this album and there is so much to pick on the band for about this album.  Let’s start with the picking on piece first as it is the most fun.  Oh, where to begin…

Let’s start with the album cover…I picture of a futuristic, robotic looking head or maybe a futuristic, human head.  Not sure I get it, but I know it has to do with the name of the album, ‘Frontiers’ as I think the band was saying they were reaching into a new frontier. The amazing artwork from the previous albums was no more.  The whole continuity between all the other album covers was gone…and is sadly missed.

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My Sunday Song – “Dream On” by Aerosmith

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This next batch of songs will be 10 of my favorite songs of all time.  They will be some very well known songs and maybe some that you don’t know, but either way, I think they are awesome.  I hope you enjoy them as well…

My Sunday Song #41 is “Dream On” by Aerosmith.  The song is off their debut album, ‘Aerosmith’ and was their first big hit.  When it was originally released, it only made it to #59 on the Billboard Charts.  When it was later re-released in 1976, it made it all the way up to #5, but for some reason never made it to #1.  It was that re-release and hit that saved Aerosmith from being dropped by their record company, Columbia.

At 17 or 18, Steven Tyler started writing “Dream On”.  It took him about six years to finish, but it is still amazing to me that someone so young could create something so amazing.  The lyrics seem to speak about life and aging and how you have to keep trying no matter what to make your dreams come true.

The opening two lines – “Every time I look in the mirror / All these lines on my face getting clearer”, he is being reflective on his life at 17 as he is snorting the cocaine off the mirror and thinking how fast time has already gone by.

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Gregg Allman Passes Away – A Southern Rock Legend

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We have lost another music icon today.  The great Gregg Allman has passed away at the age 69. The co-founder of one of the great Southern Rock Bands, The Allman Brothers Band which he started with his brother Duane way back in 1969.

Gregg and his band brought such classic songs as “Midnight Rider”, “Melissa”, “Whipping Post” and “Ramblin’ Man”.  Gregg suffered from Hepatitis C back in 2007 and had a liver transplant in 2010.  He had been ill lately and has lost his battle.  He will be missed, but his music will live on forever.

Thanks Gregg for the great songs!!

Picture By Alberto Cabello from Vitoria Gasteiz (Gregg Allman) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons

Friday New Releases – May 26th

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It is the last Friday of the month and Monday is Memorial Day here in the States which means we have a 3 Day Weekend.  Sadly, it is never a big week for new releases, but there is one I am excited about…Mark Slaughter solo album!!  That is really the only and it is highlighted in Blue!!

  • 51ipyjZGtlL._AC_US218_  Mark Slaughter – Halfway There – (EMP Label Group):  Mark Slaughter is back with another solo album and I am so glad to have him back with new music.  If Slaughter is not putting out albums, at least he is.  If this first song, “Hey You” is any indication of what is to come, then strap in and be prepared to have your ass rocked off!!

  • 51-BJ81LmbL._AC_US160_.jpg  Foreigner – 40 – (Atlantic Catalog Group) – Yet another greatest hits release…as if there wasn’t enough of those out for the band.

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Poison – The Albums Ranked Worst to First

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I have seen a lot of news on Poison lately.  Most notably, they are touring with Def Leppard and they were actually in town back on April 29th with Extreme & Jackyl.  I hate I missed it as I really would have loved to see Extreme…and Poison too!!

I then saw in the news where Rikki Rocket would love to record a new album, but he doesn’t feel fans want to hear anything new from them.  I then saw somewhere where Bret Michaels would love to do a new version of “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn”…but of course he would…he is a REPEAT OFFENDER!!

All this talk about Poison got me to thinking about their albums.  So, over the last week I revisited their entire collection and decided I would rank their albums from their absolute worst to their very best…or at least my opinion of that ranking.  They had 7 studio albums, but since one Live album had 5 new tracks I decided to include that one in the list as well. I will shut up now and get on with the ranking.

8. – THE WORST!!! – Hollyweird (2002)

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David Bowie – Cracked Actor (Live Los Angeles ’74) – #RSD

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One of my main goals on Record Store Day on April 22nd was to obtain a copy of the David Bowie album ‘Cracked Actor’.  Thankfully, I succeeded.  It fast became one of my favorite LPs I have in my ever growing collection.

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The year was 1974, David Bowie was king and touring supporting the Diamond Dog album. The album was recorded live at Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles on September 5th, 1974.  The Theatre only sat around 5,000 so it was a nice intimate setting and quite small to what David was able to fill later in his career.

Let’s first talk about the packaging of the record.  It is a very nice, high quality, high glossed album cover.  So high glossed, I couldn’t avoid being seen in the cover as I was taking pictures.  I tried so many angles.

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Friday New Releases – May 19th

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Another Friday has arrived and as school starts to wind down for some and Summer is coming, there are a bunch of new albums for you to choose from.  Anything strike your fancy???  There are a few for me and they are highlighted in Blue.  There are more I want to hear, but these three are the ones I will attack first. Enjoy!

  • 170x170bb-34  Linkin Park – One More Light – (Warner Bros):  Their new song “Heavy” is doing well on the charts and features Kilara.  My kids love this song and it doesn’t sound like the Linkin Park of old.  I am interested in seeing what the rest has to offer.  I haven’t been thrilled with their current releases and hoping for some return to greatness with this one.

  • 170x170bb-2  Papa Roach – Crooked Teeth – (Eleven Seven Music):  Big fan of Papa Roach and so glad they are back with some more hard rock.  The Deluxe Edition of this gives you a live concert from The Fillmore in Detroit.  That means the Deluxe is a must grab for me.

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Friday New Releases – May 12th

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Happy Friday!!  Quite a few I am interested to listen to this week.  Not sure how much merit they have, but I still want to give a listen.  There is a little something for everyone as there is rock, country, pop, hip hop and even a TV show soundtrack.  I hope there is something for you.  I have quite a few I want to at least give one listen to just to try it out and those will be highlighted in Blue, as usual.

  • 51atuZsoUGL._AC_US218_  Harem Scarem – United – (Frontiers Records Srl):  This Toronto, Canada band is out with yet another release just three years after their last one.  I believe this is number 14 or 15, I have lost count they have so many.  Down here in the U.S., they are not a household name mainly because they came out as this type of music was killed off by Grunge.  If you haven’t heard of them, check them out as I am sure they have something you will like.  I only discovered them about 10+ years ago and I am so glad I did.  I now have every album and even some rarer ones.  I can’t wait for this one and haven’t heard any song yet as I want to hear it all at once.  They video below is posted without me even viewing it first.

  • 170x170bb-99  Zac Brown Band – Welcome Home – (Elektra Records):  I am not a huge country fan and find myself criticizing a lot of the current country cowboys that are there as they are are too polished and songs are pure and utter crap.  Zac Brown is so not that for me.  He is what I do like about country.  I am eager to hear this one.

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The Police – “Roxanne” – The 45 Single (1978)

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In the continuing sage of the vinyl filled box I found another 45 single and this one was by The Police.  It was for the song “Roxanne” which is one of their signature songs.  Sadly, I don’t have a cover jacket for it.  The sleeve it was in was for Columbia Records; however, the single was released by A&M so I know it is not the right sleeve.  No matter, the single still plays regardless.  Below are the Original UK cover (left) and the alternate cover in the UK (right – is Stewart picking his nose???).

And here is mine…

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Friday New Releases – May 5th

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The first Friday in May is upon us and there is not a ton of stuff out this week.  There are a few artists I am interested in and a bunch I am not.  Hopefully you can find something you will like.  The ones I will listen to first are highlighted in Blue (as usual).

  • 170x170bb-15  Chris Stapleton – From A Room: Volume 1 – (Mercury Records):  In only his 2nd release, Chris Stapleton seems like he has been around awhile…which he has but not as a solo artist.  After the huge success of his debut album I am really interested in hearing what he now brings us.  I actually hope it is more of the same as his first album was spectacular.  If the first single is any indication of what is to come, then we are in for a treat.

  • 170x170bb-8  Blondie – Pollinator – (Noble ID, LLC):  Debby Harry and group are back again with another new release.  This is their 11th studio album and honestly i am surprised (and glad) that they are still putting out albums.  There are still 3 original members including Debby so I guess that still makes a complete enough band to make them still worth hearing and not a Debby Harry solo album.

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