The Collection: Ep. 79 – Kiss: ‘Dressed to Kill’ (50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition)

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This week we unbox the brand new Kiss ‘Dressed to Kill’ (50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) box set. It is massive. There are 5 CDs and 1 Blu-Ray but it also has a bunch of goodies included. You get a 100-page Hard Back book, stickers, buttons, picks, posters photographs, newspaper, ticket stubs, backstage passes and everything and anything related with a Kiss logo on it. The album came out in 1975 and produced what would become one of the greatest rock anthems with “Rock And Roll All Nite”. The tour would spawn the greatest live album ever made, Alive!, and you get not one, but two full shows that album was taken from. The rest will hopefully be on the Alive! box set, we will get to that one after it comes out. Sit back and enjoy as you unbox with me as it just showed up on my doorstep.

So go check it out as it is live right now on YouTube. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.

My Sunday Song – “Bounce” by Emphatic

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For My Sunday Song #456, we are talking “Bounce” by the Nebraska band Emphatic. The song is on their big label debut, ‘Damage’, which was released on July 12, 2011 and went to #23 on the US Hard Rock Charts. The first single was “Bounce” which went to #23 on the US Mainstream Rock Chart. I don’t remember when I first heard it, but when I did, I was hooked. It was one of those songs I would put on repeat as it had so much energy.

The song was written by lead guitarist, Justin McCain and the song itself is pretty basic rock & roll stuff. It is all about S.E.X. It is about two people that are extremely passionate about each other and they are longing to get together to do…well…to do the deed. He wants to slap her back tattoo, give her a kiss and give her a ride…whatever that might mean (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). Bounce, of course, is the word he chose to use to describe the deed and it completely and utterly works. Who doesn’t love a good “bounce” with the woman (or person) they love?

Musically, the song does truly “bounce”. I heavy, high octane track with blistering guitars from Justin, pounding drums by Josh Freese and some heavy bass work by Paul Bushnell. Vocals were handled by Patrick Wilson and he has that rock & roll grit that fits a song like this. The chorus is one major hook with the repetitive “Bounce, Bounce” and sucks you in. Such great pop-sensibilities with this song as well. Very radio friendly. A song that is as musically fun as those lyrics. A good time was had by all with this one.

Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Bounce” by Emphatic” →

Friday New Releases – October 24, 2025

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Welcome to Friday New Releases and we have a big week for you with almost 50 releases coming out. There is something for everyone. I’m interested in the Mammoth new one as well as the Bon Jovi album that is a reissue of his last album ‘Forever’ and this time with duets for all the songs. There are some interesting people on board. I am sure Demi Lovato will be big this week and cool to see a new one by Big Wreck. Lots to choose from. Let me know what you want to hear or what we may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

  • Mammoth – The End – (I Am the Sheriff LLC / BMG Rights Mgmt)
  • Bon Jovi – Forever (Legendary Edition) – (Captain Kidd Corp/ Island Records)
  • Demi Lovato – It’s Not That Deep – (DLG Recordings LLC / Island Records)
  • Five Finger Death Punch – Best of Volume 2 – (Better Noise Music)
  • Bad Company – Can’t Get Enough: A Tribute to Bad Company – (Primary Wave Music III)
  • Frank Zappa – Halloween 78 (Super Deluxe) – (Universal Music / UMG)
  • Big Wreck – The Rest of the Story – (Thorn in my Side Publishing / Unyon Records)
  • Brandi Carlile – Returning To Myself – (Interscope Records / Lost Highway)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – October 24, 2025” →

Scorpions – ‘From The First Sting’ (2025) – Album Review (The Scorpions Collection Series)

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60 Years! Think about how long that number is. That is how long Scorpions have been a band and a band that is still going strong. Quite impressive! To celebrate that length of services, they have released a new greatest hits compilation that goes all the back to the first sting and one of the most recent stings. Musically, the band has released material since 1972 which isn’t quite 60 years, but the essence of the band goes back to 1965 when it was started by Rudolf Schenker. Their first album, ‘Lonesome Dove’, came out in 1972 and their last studio album so far, ‘Rock Believer’ came out in 2022. And they have a brand new live album coming out on December 5, 2025 called ‘Coming Home Live’ that was recorded on July 5, 2025. Can’t wait.

This compilation came out on October 17, 2025 and I have both the CD version and the Amazon Exclusive Gold Vinyl which also comes with a Scorpions Patch. The album on vinyl is a 2 LP set while the CD is only a single disc. Hard to put 60 years of songs on a single disc that only has 16 tracks. I think a 2 CD or even 3 CD set would’ve been a more appropriate and better way to celebrate 60 years. 60 years, did I mention that yet? They do cover some great songs on here and we even get 2 previously unreleased versions of a couple of their songs so that is cool at least.

As far as band members go, there have been quite a few, but Rudolf Schenker has been in there since the beginning, singer Klaus Meine since 1969 and Mathias Jabs joined around 1978. Currently, there is Pawel Maciwoda who has been on bass since 2004 and the most recent member is the great Mikkey Dee on drums who joined back in 2016. Throughout the years we have seen some great players like Michael Schenker, Uli Jon Roth, Francis Buchholz, Herman Rarebell and James Kottak to only name a few. What a career these guys have had as they have survived through every genre change that music business has seen and each time they stayed true to themselves and survived. They are all legends and one of my favorite bands. Let’s get to the music.

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The Collection: Ep. 78 – Ace Frehley: The Albums Ranked

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With the passing of my first guitar hero last week, I thought it was appropriate this week to honor his memory and do a ranking of his solo albums. He had 10 albums and I have to say I do enjoy all of them so it isn’t a worst to first, more like a least favorite to most favorite. We include the Kiss solo album from 1978, the two Frehley’s Comet albums and the rest are his actual solo albums that he has done over the last 40 years. Ace was one of a kind and will certainly be missed. That boyish laugh to that Chesire grin, he was his own unique self and I think the music world is all the better for it. He influenced so many guitar players over the years and he is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and soon will receive the Kennedy Center Honor that is so richly deserved.

So go check it out as it will air tonight, October 20th at 7pm on YouTube. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.

My Sunday Song – “Trenches” by Pop Evil

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For My Sunday Song #455, we are talking Pop Evil and their first #1 song, “Trenches”. The song is off their third album, the 2013 release ‘Onyx’. An album that went to #3 on the Rock Charts thanks to this one and three other #1 songs. The band consists of Leigh Kakaty, Nick Fuelling, Dave Grahs, Matt DiRito and Josh Marunde.

The song was written by Leigh Kakaty with the help of Dave Bassett who is a big time songwriter. The song is about battling your demons and digging yourself out of the holes you’ve made or have been put in front of you. In this case, they are called “Trenches”. The song is about their never-ending grind they face in the music business but can be used to fit anyone’s life battles. The hard truth of not focusing on the things you can’t control and fight for the ones you can. I think it takes everyone a long time to learn how to do that, I know it did for me. The song is great mantra to live by.

The song kicks off with a killer, dirty and nasty guitar riff. This is modern rock that is hard and heavy and a punch to the face. The drums are fierce, the bass is thumping and Leigh attacks those vocals with a ferocious veracity. He wants you to feel the words he sings and you definitely do. There is a mean ass guitar solo which is something we still need in our metal and hard rock. The song will get you pumped up and ready to fight your way out of the trenches in life you face.

Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Trenches” by Pop Evil” →

Friday New Releases – October 17, 2025

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You made it through another week and as your reward, we have a bunch of new releases for you to explore. For me, my prize for making it is the latest Scorpions album, ‘From the First Sting’. A compilation celebrating 60 years of Scorpions! That is crazy!! What do you see here that you want to grab or simply stream? Let me know and what we may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a great weekend.

  • Scorpions – From The First Sting (60th Anniversary) – (BMG Rights Mgmt)
  • Biohazard – Divided We Fall – (Frontiers Records))
  • Sabaton – Legends – (Better Noise Music)
  • Chrissie Hynde – Duets Special – (Parolphone Records Limited)
  • Bruce Springsteen – Nebraska ’82 (Expanded Edition) – (Columbia Records / Sony Music) – Sorry Bruce was moved to Oct. 24th…but will be worth the wait!
  • David Gilmour – The Luck And Strange Concerts – (Sony Music / David Gilmour Music)
  • Boz Scaggs – Detour – (Concord Records / Concord)
  • Alison Brown & Steve Martin – Safe, Sensible And Sane – (Compass Records)
  • Tame Impala – Deadbeat – (Columbia Records / Sony Music)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – October 17, 2025” →

Ace Frehley – My First Rock God! – RIP ACE!

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I remember when I was around 8, I saw my brother’s records and there were these really cool ones by some band named Kiss. The make-up, the costumes, the larger than life personas really captured my attention. It was that guitar sound and that music that made me a fan and my favorite Kiss member was easily Ace Frehley. He was captivating. He might’ve been sloppy with his playing, but he had the feel, the charisma, the style and the showmanship along with his New York Groove. It was because of him I picked up a guitar. It was because I couldn’t play worth shit, that I put it down.

First time I finally saw Ace live was not until 1996 during the Kiss Reunion Tour as he had left the band prior to me being old enough to see concerts. The last time was a couple years ago with my daughter when he opened for Alice Cooper. I’m so glad she got to see him as she saw all the albums I have with him on it and knows my love for Kiss. And she saw them too (without Ace). It was great to share that with her. She probably made of fun of me for singing along to EVERY song and playing Air guitar the whole time, but I don’t care.

Ace was a Rock Soldier like no other. He lived a crazy, destructive filled life and probably shouldn’t have made it out of the 80’s as he almost Wiped Out in a car crash, but he was 2 Young 2 Die…thankfully for us! Because of that, we have all this music he has left behind. When I got the news that he passed it hit me like 10,000 Volts and definitely Shocked Me! Now when I look Up to The Sky past the Ozone, I know Ace won’t be a Little Below the Angels. Instead he will be A Space Invader on his Mission to Mars where he will be forever in everyone’s heart. So pour yourself a glass of Cold Gin and toast the great Ace Frehley. Thanks for the music and We Got Your Rock right here!!

Eyes – ‘November Mass / Full Moon’ (1994) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)

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Eyes only recorded two albums with Jeff Scott Soto…well..one studio album and the other was a collection of demos but we will count it. Jeff had departed the band due to creative differences, however, his popularity in Europe was growing. As like the ‘Windows of the Soul’ album, this too was probably released to capitalize on that popularity. This is an interesting release as it is a two disc set with the first being called ‘November Mass’ (basically a greatest hits compilation for the debut and ‘Windows of the Soul’) and the second disc is called ‘Full Moon’ that is a complete album for Eyes with a different singer, Mark Weitz that was recorded in 1992/1993. The 2CD set was released in 1994 on Bulletproof Records and it was only released in Germany & Switzerland yet thanks to the internet, I obtained a copy.

The first disc is ‘November Mass’ and is supposed to be a greatest hits compilation of the first two albums. Well, it isn’t…sorry. It is really only the debut Eyes album on a shuffle with a different track listing. There is not one song off ‘Windows of the Soul’. Yes, three songs appear on that album that are on the debut, but as demo versions of those songs. And those songs are not used here. These are the same tracks as the debut album. A nice thought to think it a compilation, however, that would be false. Does it make this album no good…not in the least. The songs are still great no matter the order.

The second disc is called ‘Full Moon’ and I think there is a misconception with this album. Jeff Scott Soto does not sing on this album except he does appear merely as a background singer. Jeff did record a handful of these demos as the were preparing for a new album. Jeff left the band before the album was finished so Aldy Damian removed Jeff’s lead vocals, while leaving the backing vocals, and brought in a new singer to record the album…in full. The new singer was Mark Weitz and he does an amazing job turning the final Eyes album into a very underrated classic. The band for this album was Aldy Damian on drums, Mark Weitz on vocals, Steve Dougherty on guitar, Jamie Sheriff on keyboards and Bobby Fraga on bass.

‘NOVEMBER MASS’ Songs:

The song opens with Jeff calling out Stevie who lays down so riffs and has Soto screaming when the band kicks in . “Walkin’ Fire” sees Soto change up his deliver a little on the lyrics as he gets a little more gritty. However, the song is a little generic and I would say probably filler. When you compare it to some of the early stuff, not as solid and developed. But still not too bad.

Next is the balls-to-the wall rock anthem, “Callin’ All Girls”. It is a great party song full of bluesy guitar licks, great harmonies, head banging drums and full on sleazy lyrics that wouldn’t do well in the #MeToo movement of today. Jeff’s vocals soar and is right in his wheelhouse of vocal capabilities. When he sings this type of music, he could sing the phone book and I would be on board. The production layers tons of backing vocals (all sound like Jeff) and the sound is immense. You get your typical guitar solo break and the catchy choruses, everything you want in a melodic rock song.

Continue reading “Eyes – ‘November Mass / Full Moon’ (1994) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)” →

The Collection: Ep. 77 – Poison (Vinyl, CDs, Cassettes and Singles)

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This week on The Collection, we are going through all things Poison. Whether is on Vinyl, CDs, Cassettes or even 7″ Singles & CD singles. From ‘Look What The Cat Dragged In’ all the way to ‘Poison’d’ and everything in between including live albums and greatest hits compilations. We will even through a Bret Michaels Solo album for good measure. If you like Glam Metal, then this one is for you.

So go check it out as it is live right now. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.