Category: Single Review

Kiss – “Uh! All Night” – 12″ Promotional Single (1985) – Single Review (The Kiss Review Series)

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The band’s 13th studio album called ‘Asylum’ came out on September 16, 1985. It only had one official retail issued single and that was the ballad “Tears Are Falling”. The also released two other promotional singles which were “Who Wants To Be Lonely” and the one we are here to talk about “Uh! All Night”. They actually made videos for all three songs which we filmed in London. The album was certified Gold by November 1985 which means Kiss still had a solid following at this time. The videos on MTV helped even if they were cheesy and drenched in the bold colors and ridiculous outfits that were the rage at the time. Kiss were chasing trends at this point, not setting them anymore.

What we are going to discuss is this Promotional only radio single which I now have in my collection thanks to my Brother, Gary, finding it in the wild at some shop in Georgia. It is housed in a generic Emerald Green Polygram jacket with a jagged looking hole which I think looks pretty cool. Sides A and B are the same song in stereo and the label has the “Promotional Copy: Not For Sale” on the label. One cool thing about it the Vinyl is that if you hold it up to a light source, it has a green translucent color to it (the picture doesn’t quite capture it, but trust me it has a green tint). My copy was well loved by the radio station and still has some stickers on it that I am assuming they put on themselves. The vinyl is clean, no popping and sounds great.

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Ratt – ‘Invasion of Your Privacy E.P.” (2025) – Limited Edition Picture Disc (RSD – Black Friday)

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On June 13, 1985, Ratt released their second full length album called ‘Invasion of Your Privacy’.  After the success of their debut ‘Out of the Cellar’, Ratt wasted no time in repeating that formula and delivering another solid album. The band continued the Ratt sound with Stephen Pearcy’s raspy vocals over those overtly sexualized lyrics along with the dual guitar combo of Robbin Crosby and Warren DeMartini.  That combination was lethal and the band was now on top of the world.  The rhythm section kept things in line and were standouts on their own with Bobby Blotzer on drums and Juan Croucier on bass. The Glam Metal scene that they now led was on full force to dominate the airwaves for years to come.

To celebrate 40 years of the album, the band released a Limited Edition Picture Disc for Black Friday Record Store Day in 2025. Well, it is a picture disc, but it is also a Shaped Disc and not your typical round and round disc which makes it a little cooler. It is not the entire album of ‘Invasion of Your Privacy” but instead a 3 song E.P.

I like the Shaped Discs and have handful in my collection and when I saw this, I knew my Ratt collection was not complete until I had it. I didn’t get up in the middle of the night to go stand in line as the temperature was below freezing here in Charlotte and it was not worth it to me. I waited until a few hours after opening and went to Repo Records where I normally go for Record Store Day. I didn’t expect to find this one, but there was one still hidden in the stacks that was waiting to be saved by me. I adopted the little Ratt and brought it home where it will be well loved. It was meant to be.

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Billy Idol – “77” (2025) – Limited Edition Picture Disc (RSD Black Friday)

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In 2025, we were graced with a new album by Billy Idol called ‘Dream Into It’. It was his first full length studio album since 2014’s ‘Kings And Queens of the Underground’. One of the singles from the album was for a song called “77” and depending on how you listen to the album, you will get a different version of the song. If you listen to it on CD and Vinyl you get one version, if you listen to it digitally or stream it, you get another. The difference is simple, the CD and vinyl is strictly Billy on vocals and the digital is a duet with Avril Lavigne.

With that being said, the Avril version was not available on a physical release. That was until Black Friday Record Store Day on November 28, 2025. For RSD, Billy released a 12″ Single Limited Edition Picture Disc that contains the Avril Lavigne duet on Side A…and the regular version on Side B. I didn’t actually get up and wait in line this year. Nope. It was way too cold as it was below freezing that very cold Friday morning. Instead, I waited a few hours then when and to my astonishment, there were still several copies of the single. I obviously grabbed one who know if I’ll ever wait in line again now.

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My Sunday Song – “Champagne” by Cavo

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For My Sunday Song #428, we popping “Champagne” by the band Cavo. “Champagne” was the lead single of their major label debut album from 2009 called ‘Bright Nights, Dark Days’. The song went to #1 on the US Mainstream Rock Songs and #8 Rock Songs chart taking the album to #47 on the Billboard 200 and to #3 on the Hard Rock Albums chart. Not a bad debut. I bought this album based off this one song and I was not disappointed.

The song was written by Chris Hobbs, Chad La Roy, Brian Smith and Casey Walker and the demo was recorded on Casey Walker’s phone. He wasn’t sure about the song and when he finally played it the band, they started noodling with it and BAM!! within 10 minutes they had the start of a great song. The song itself is about a break up and the the second when he knew it was over after looking in to her eyes. The downfall could’ve been the partying and drinking or even the drugs, but whatever the case may be, it was not good. It sounds like he is blaming himself and wishes she could take from him everything that he can’t be for her. Rather sad and honest look at himself.

Musically, the song is a killer, guitar heavy rock track. Great riffs, pounding drums, driving beats and killer bass line. The song is full of energy and anger and Casey Walker’s vocals personify all those emotions. This is one I love to crank up to 11 while driving down the highway slightly above the speed limit (ok, more than slightly!!). A modern rock song that gave me hope rock was still alive when I heard it originally back in 2009.

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My Sunday Song – “Neighborhood (Feat. Bear Rinehart)” by American Authors

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For My Sunday Song #425, we are talking American Authors incredibly beautiful song “Neighborhoods”. The song is off their 2019 album ‘Seasons’ which was released on February 1 of that year. What drew me to the song was that it featured Bear Rinehart who is the lead singer of one of my favorite bands Needtobreathe. The song was written by an army of people Matthew Sanchez, Zachary Barnett, James Shelley, David Rublin who are all apart of the band as well as Scott Christopher Stevens and Gabriel Simon. There was a video for the song, but not sure if it was a single or not.

The song is about growing up and leaving the place where you grew up. The lyrics are very nostalgic and though the person is going off to try and find a better life, but the neighborhood is who they really are and makes them who they are today. Go out and explore the world, but never forget who you are or where you came from. Stay humble. The neighborhood will always be your home. It is really a great story and message that is delivered in those lyrics.

The song itself is a slowed down tempo, starts off with an acoustic guitar and lead singer, Zac Barnett, on the first verse. And what a voice it is. So emotive, so brilliant. Second verse is Bear and damn, this is why I love his vocals. Can he feel a song or what. Zac does most of the chorus with Bear on backings as well. It all sounds so slick and cool. Musically, a great tempo and I love the mandolin (I think) and they even have some whistling. The music feels like home and is as nostalgic feeling as those lyrics.

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My Sunday Song – “Not Over You” by Gavin DeGraw

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For My Sunday Song #424, we are going the opposite direction from last week and going from Rap Metal to pure Pop Bliss. The song is “Not Over You” by Gavin DeGraw. It was the debut single from his album ‘Sweeter’ which came out on September 20, 2011. The single came out on May 17, 2011 and went 4X Platinum in the U.S. hitting #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and going to #1 Adult Pop Airplay chart. It also charted throughout several countries across the globe. I remember the first time I heard it and I was hooked.

The song was written by Gavin along with OneRepublic’s own Ryan Tepper who is killer pop songwriter. Ryan also produced it along with Jerrod Bettis. The song is about exactly what the title says. He isn’t over his last love. He says he is over her but he really isn’t. The trigger is when he sits down at a restaurant all by himself at a table set for two. He is then to face it head one that he isn’t over her. I also like the part where he said if he was asked he was doing, he would lie and say he is doing just fine to save his pride that he really isn’t. A thought provoking song that shows how sometimes he can be hard to get over someone. What I really I love is how the video shows that she isn’t over him either and they wind up together again.

The main driver musically is Gavin’s keyboards. They are vibrant and bouncy and so catchy. The drums make the song feel alive. It is all upbeat and fun. Gavin’s vocals are smooth, exciting and emotive. The melody of the song is so freaking catchy and is a pure ear worm gem. This is pop music done to pure perfection. Any song that makes you sing it after it is over, is pure gold.

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My Sunday Song – “Been To Hell” by Hollywood Undead

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My Sunday Song #423 is from the Rap Metal/Nu Metal band Hollywood Undead. The song is “Been to Hell” and is off their 2011 album ‘American Tragedy’. “Been to Hell” was released as a single on February 5, 2001 as a free download, 2 months prior to the album, and as a single on March 15 of the same year. It went to #13 on the US Heatseeker Songs and #2 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart just missing the Hot 100. It was #5 on the AOL Top 10 Rock Songs of 2011. All-in-all, it did quite well as it even caught my ear. Not a genre I got in to much, but there is something about this band that I just love.

The song was written by the band and was inspired during the 2010 US Recession which hit California hard, which is where these guys are from. The song is about how so many come out to L.A. and Hollywood looking for fame and fortune and yet get eaten alive and spit right back out. It is a place where dreams become nightmares. It is the truth they want to tell to make sure people know what really goes on in Tinsel town.

The band is Daniel “Danny” Murillo – lead vocals, Jorel “J-Dog” Decker – rap vocals, Matthew “Da Kurlzz” Busek – Hype vocals, Dylan “Funny Man”/”King Kong” Alvarez – rap vocals, George “Johnny 3 Tears” Ragan – Rap vocals and Joron “Charlie Scene” Terrell – vocals & guitar. I love how they share the vocals and each verse is rapped by someone different. The guitars are heavy as hell, the electronics programming is simply stellar giving a great beat, a catchy melody and the percussion is powerful. Like I said, not a genre I follow, but there is something powerful about the lyrics and the music that sucks you right in. There is an honesty to it and an authenticity that comes through that will speak to you. And it makes a great song to cruise down the road with the windows down and turned up to 11.

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Def Leppard – “Just Like ’73” – 7″ Single (The Def Leppard Collection Series)

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Back in June 2024, Def Leppard released a new single called “Just Like ’73” and it was in support of any album. In fact, not sure if this will be on a new album or if this was simply a new song to support their Summer Stadium Tour. Whatever the reason, I’ll always take a new single. This one came out on the Streaming services, but physically you could get it on 7″ Single or on a CD Single that I believe was only available in Japan. The vinyl was released on August 2, 2024

The 7″ Single came in two colors. You got your standard black vinyl or a bright sky blue color. And if you can’t decide which one, do like me and buy both. I still need the CD single though as it didn’t come out the same time as the vinyl, I don’t believe or I would’ve bought it.

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My Sunday Song – ‘Soulcrusher” by Operator

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For My Sunday Song #422, we are going a little metal this week with Operator’s “Soulcrusher”. The song is off their debut album called ‘Soulcrusher’ which was released on August 21, 2007. The single went to #8 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and #29 on the Modern Rock Tracks. It was the debut single from the album and it was released prior to the album on May 22, 2007. The band consists of Johnny Strong on vocals, Paul Phillips on guitar, Ricki Lixx on lead guitar, Wade Carpenter on bass and Dorman Pantfoeder on drums.

The song was written by Johnny Strong and it can mean whatever you want it to mean. I was looking at it two ways. First, it is about that person in your life that weighs you down. They suck all the life out of you and yet you let them. You need to man up, say no and get out of that relationship as it is crushing your soul. This can be a significant other, a family member or even a friend.

The second take on it is that I see it as he is talking about himself. This is the only life you have so don’t mess it up. Stop caring about what everybody else is doing or thinking about you. Get out there and make it the best life you can live because you only get one. Stopping doing things that are crushing your soul. Live like this is the only life you have…because it is!

Musically, there is only one way to take it and that is brutally hard & heavy and a slap across the face. The song is relentless. That heavy, hard driving guitar riff is the high point of the song. Vocally Johnny Strong owes a lot to Chris Cornell as I can hear him in those vocals. And they could be mistaken for a Soundgarden clone, but I’d be okay with that. I love how the song midway through, slows it down, the vocals get softer, but the guitars come in and it builds and builds and brings back the barrage of music that will blow your head off. It simply will kick your ass!! It was one of those songs when I first heard it, I was sold from the first note and the album was bought as fast as I could get it.

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My Sunday Song – “Been Your Fool” (1991) by Tattoo Rodeo

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After a nice long break (6-7 months), My Sunday Song is back!! No themes, no 10 song sets. Only songs I want to write about and for #421, we are going with a power ballad from 1991 by the band Tattoo Rodeo. The song is called “Been Your Fool” and is off their album ‘Rode Hard, Put Away Wet’. The album came out in 1991 and their timing could not have been worse. They get a song that starts to gain some traction and then Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” comes along and ruins everything for any band remotely connected to Hair Metal. But I still remember this one.

The song is credited to the whole band (as I don’t see anything in the liner notes that tells me otherwidse) and they are Dennis Churchill Dries on vocals & bass, Rick Chadock on guitar, Michael Lord on keyboards and Rich Wright on drums. The song is about a guy who thought he was finally over the breakup and had her out of his mind, but not so fast. He goes into a bar, hear’s a song on the jukebox and he can’t stop thinking about her now. He wants to get back with her, but it can’t be the same as he’s been her fool too many times. He fights and says if she reaches out her hand he won’t be her fool again…but we all know he would in a heartbeat. I love how the lyrics show how the power of music can bring back so many memories (good or bad).

The song is a power ballad, but this one is a swampy, bluesy bar song. With a slowed down tempo, a slide guitar and Dennis’ heartbroken vocals, you get dragged in to his misery. His vocals have a grit to them and when he hits those high notes, they are as smooth as silk. Such a great tone. The rhythm section keeps things moving, the drums are the pounding heart with every snare hit. We’ve been a fool to someone so this is all so relatable.

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