Cinderella – ‘The Mercury Years’ (2018) – Box Set

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We have Gene Simmons of Kiss and Jon Bon Jovi to thank for Tom Keifer and Cinderella. Gene tried to get them signed first, wasn’t successful though. Then Jon came in the picture and boom, a contract. Cinderella’s debut album came out in 1986 and wow was it over the top with the packaging of the band’s look and their sound. They fit right in to the Hair Metal style. Their next album in 1988 came out, ‘Long Cold Winter’, and they got as far away from that sound and look as they could. With their third album, that took it the extreme the other way. That lineup of Tom Keifer, Eric Brittingham, Jeff LaBar and Fred Coury were a house hold names for me.

After their third album, Tom suffered major throat problems with paralysis of his left vocal cord. This delayed their fourth and final album, ‘Still Climbing’ in 1994, With little to no fanfare, the band basically called it quits…well with at least albums as we never received another one. It wasn’t until 2013 did we even get Tom Keifer’s first solo album, but that is a story for another day. We are talking ‘The Mercury Years’ box set of Cinderella which takes all 4 studio albums and puts them in one set. You also get a Bonus disc of live tracks and a booklet that gives some album information but mostly is a great story of the band. Since it is the music we love and want to talk about, let’s go through the albums included.

CD 1: ‘NIGHT SONGS’ (1986):

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The Collection: Ep. 51 – Is Sixx A.M. Better Than Motley Crue?

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What started off as a side project for Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue, became a full fledged band and lasted 5 studio albums.  They started off to only do a soundtrack to Nikki’s autobiography ‘The Heroin Diaries’ and then the rest is history.  Sixx A.M. consists of Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba and James Michael. Are they better than Motley Crue? Who knows…we just want to go through their collection.

So go check it out as it will be live tonight right now, April 7, 2025 at 8pm. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.

Eclipse – ‘Wired’ (2021) – Album Review

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If it wasn’t for Jeff Scott Soto, I probably would’ve never heard of this band. Jeff isn’t in Eclipse, but he is in a band called W.E.T. which had members from Talisman, Work of Art and Eclipse. Through that connection, I went down the rabbit hole of Eclipse and lead singer Erik Martensson who was in W.E.T. Funny enough, he was the guitarist in W.E.T. and not the singer (well, with the exception of a few songs). And now I am a huge fan of Eclipse as a result of diving in to that said rabbit hole.

I have a number of their albums, but finally got a hold of their 2021 album called ‘Wired’. It was released on October 8, 2021, at least in Japan it was that date as that is the edition I have in my collection. ‘Wired’ was the band’s 9th studio album and has Erik Martensson on vocals, Magnus Henriksson on guitar, Philip Crusner on drums and Victor Crusner on bass. In Japan, the album was released on Avalon Records, but elsewhere around the world, it was on Frontiers Records. If you aren’t familiar with them, Eclipse are a melodic hard rock band out of Sweden and they understand how to deliver heavy rock anthems with gang vocal choruses, ripping solos and catchy, yet simple, lyrics.

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My Sunday Song – “Lift You Up” by Gotthard

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For My Sunday Song #427, we are going all the way to Switzerland and talk about the song “Lift You Up” by Gotthard. The song is off their album ‘Lipservice’ which came out on June 5, 2005. The album went to #1 in Switzerland and charted in a handful of other countries. I think they are the highest selling band to come out of Switzerland surpassing Krokus. I hope I’m not wrong in that fact. It was a single and they even did a video which you can see below. If you didn’t know, the band consists of the amazing singer, the late Steve Lee, guitarists Leo Leoni, bassist Marc Lynn, drummer Hena Habegger and guitarist Freddy Scherer.

The song was written by a slew of people including Anders Wikstroem, Fredrik Thomander, Heinz Habegger, Markus Probst, Mary Susan Applegate, Leo Leoni and Steve Lee. It took all these people to tell you that you are part of a greater plan and that there happiness is key to everything. The singer wants to put a smile on your face and no matter how bad it gets, there is something good around the corner. There is a plan for it all. It is uplifting, it is motivational and it is so damn fun.

When you hear this song, it will take you back to the rock anthems of the 80’s a la Bon Jovi or Def Leppard. The drum beat is uplifting in its military, marching style beat. The music is as uplifting as the lyrics and Leo’s guitar riffs and little solo breaks are killer. The rhythm section is spot on and the driving force behind the song. Steve Lee’s vocals are beyond description. The man could sing the phone book and I would listen. Such a shame on his early passing as we lost a vocal treasure with him. If you need a boost in your day…throw this song on.

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Friday New Releases – April 4, 2025

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Happy Friday! Only one for me this week and that is Richie Kotzen and Adrian Smith’s new Smith Kotzen album. Outside of that, nothing really I’m dying to hear, plus all the stuff I got last week I’m still diving in to and absorbing. Let me know what you want to hear this week or what we may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a great weekend.

  • Smith Kotzen – Black LIght / White Noise – (BMG Rights Mgmt)
  • Bleed From Within – Zenith – (Nuclear Blast)
  • L.A. Guns – Leopard Skin – (Cleopatra Records)
  • Quireboys – Hey You! The Parlophone Years 1989-1993 – (Lemon Records)
  • Elton John & Brandi Carlile – Who Believes in Angels? – (EMI / Mercury Records)
  • Pat Travers – Live in Baltimore 1982 – (Cleopatra Records)
  • Mekons – Horror – (Fire Records)
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Ace Frehley – ‘Now Playing’ (2025) – Album Review

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Ace Frehley has a number of greatest hits album. Do we really need another one? The short answer is No! The long answer is we do need a solid greatest hits album that is a career retrospective of his entire catalog. I would like that very much. In 2025, we get new Ace Frehley comp from Rhino Records and Atlantic and I can tell you with 100% certainty…this is not a career retrospective and is total waste of time and money. “Now Playing” is a generic compilation that is a series and many artist have had one of these comps such as Ratt and Twisted Sister. It is a cheap, low budget comp and it only covers his first 3 solo albums outside of Kiss. Two with Frehley’s Comet and then his solo album ‘Trouble Walkin”. And that is it.

It is only a vinyl issue and was released on March 7, 2025. It is on a very pretty cobalt blue vinyl and that is the only thing it has going for it. Really, that is it. There are no special mixes, live mixes or unreleased tracks. It is simply 4 songs from “Frehley’s Comet”, 3 from “Second Sighting” and 3 from “Trouble Walkin'”. Woohoo…so exciting…NOT!!! The picture on the cover is one we’ve seen a million times, there is no insert, there is nothing special about it at ALL!! Thank goodness it only cost $19. So, why did I buy it? I have every Ace release available on vinyl so I need it to complete the collection ( I do not have every variant as my house isn’t big enough to hold all of them…I believe there were at least 30 from his last album alone). Enough negativity…let’s talk music. What is on it?

SIDE ONE:

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The Collection: Ep. 50 – March 2025 Wrap-Up

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As we end another month, it is time to go back and see what 2 Loud 2 Old Music added to the collection. This is March 2025 and we have lots of vinyl, CDs and even some 8-Tracks. So much to go through including a new Rock Candy collection, new items for the Kiss collection and a couple Box Set collections. Lots of great albums to go though and show for this month so I hope you enjoy the show!!

So go check it out as it will be live tonight right now, March 31, 2025 at 8pm. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.

Farm – ‘Farm’ (1971/2022) – Album Review

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One of the more popular Noble Record Exclusives they’ve released, ‘Farm’ by the band Farm, has been re-issued 4 times by Noble and all with a different color vinyl. My copy is the Gold Edition and was limited to around 300 copies. I am not someone who will buy different color variants so this is the only one of the four re-issues I have. If for some reason I have a bunch of money laying around wanting to be spent, I’ll get the other colors, but don’t hold your breath. Don’t get me wrong, the album is great, just don’t need four copies of the same album unless you give me a different song or an entirely different cover. But enough of that stuff, let us talk about Farm.

Farm is a band out of southern Illinois that recorded one album way back in 1971. Southern Illinois in 1971 was not exactly a mecca of famous bands, heck, I don’t think they have ever been. As a result, this band went mostly unheard of from the average music fan. However, the cult level fans knew about them and loved them and is the reason why there have been a ton of re-issues of this album. If you have around $2,000, you can pick up an original vinyl…but no point since these are way cheaper.

If you like dual guitar bands, then this band is for you. The band consists of Del Herbert on one guitar and Gary Gordon on the other. They are joined by Jim Elwyn on bass, Steve Evanchik on percussion, Roger Greenwalt on organ and Mike Young on drums. Together, they make up Farm and they are a southern rock, bluesy boogie band with elements of progressive rock thrown in for good measure. If you like Quicksilver and The Allman Brothers, these guys will be right up your alley. A short album with only 5 songs, but those songs leave quite the impression.

SIDE A:

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My Sunday Song – “God Can You Hear Me” by Tait

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For My Sunday Song #426, we are going to talk about a song that is very appropriate for a Sunday. The song is called “God Can You Hear Me” by the band Tait. Tait is fronted by former DC Talk member, Michael Tait on vocals along with drummer, Chad Chapin; guitarists Justin York; and bass player, Lonnie Chapin. The song is off their second and final album, ‘Lose This Life’ which was released on November 4, 2003. The song, itself, was not a single, but it was one of my favorite songs on the album.’

Written by Chad Chapin, Mark Heimermann, Ashley Clark and Michael Tait, the song is a very raw plea to God for comfort during a very difficult time. There is a vulnerability to it, a desperation in the lyrics and vocals as the person is seeking guidance and asking for God’s presence in their life. I think we have all been that desperate at one time or another and that comfort means more than you realize. We have desired that connection with God or with any one that you believe can help.

Musically, the song is full of soulful piano notes, a driving bass line, simple, yet effective drum fills and great guitar work. It all has a somber feel, a desperate tone and so much heart and soul. Michael Tait’s vocals are nothing short of sensational. He has so much depth and emotion in those vocals. He is a modern day Nat King Cole with his sound and I can’t think of a higher compliment than that one. A softer, ballad that makes you feel everything the person is going through in the song and your empathy floods over you as you’ve been there before yourself.

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Friday New Releases – March 28, 2025

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Happy Friday. Things are heating up as Winter is coming to an end and Spring is starting to hit in full bloom. And speaking of heating up, so are the pre-orders as I have The Darkness, W.E.T., Fleetwood Mac and Van Halen arriving today so a lot to listen to when they arrive. What do you want to hear this week and what did we miss? Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.

  • The Darkness – Dreams on Toast – (Napalm Records)
  • W.E.T. – Apex – (Frontiers Records)
  • Sick Puppies – Wave the Bull – (ONErpm)
  • Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power – (Roadrunner Records)
  • Fleetwood Mac – Fleetwood Mac 1975-1987 – (Rhino / Warner Records)
  • Santana – Sentient – (Candid)
  • Bryan Ferry – Loose Talk – (Merry Star Productions)
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