Neil Peart – Dies at only 67

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I had stopped doing memorials for musicians that had died, but this was Neil “fucking” Peart!  The best drummer…EVER!!!

My gateway in to Rush was the album ‘Moving Pictures’ and the song was “Tom Sawyer”.  That sound, that drumming, that everything grabbed my attention and I have been a fan ever since.

Rush…they were one of the best bands I have ever seen live.  I was able to see them back in 1996 and it was a show I won’t ever forget.  There was no opening act and it was all Rush!!  They played “2112” in its entirety which was mind blowing!!  I never saw them again, sadly, which in part is probably due to me thinking that they couldn’t top that show…and you know…they definitely would have been able.

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Neil Peart died from brain cancer after a long battle and when Rush called it quits a few years back, we knew then that it was the last time we would ever see the amazing trio ever play together again.  There would be no reunion and then another farewell tour, we actually believed Rush when they said they were done.

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Friday New Releases – January 10th

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Wow!  We are in 2020 and we are now to our first Friday of new releases.  2020!  It is hard to imagine another decade.  How time flies when you are having fun.  And we are having fun…aren’t we???  Anyway, here is our first batch of releases for the new year and if you are in to Pop music, there might be some music for you.  If you are in to some pretty Heavy Metal music, there might be something for you as well.  Otherwise, not so much.  Me, there is nothing I am interested in which is great as I am still digesting my big purchase from a couple weeks ago.  Let me know what you like or if there is something I missed or if there is nothing for you…whatever the reason, leave a comment and have a wonderful music weekend.

  • 71woOwjz-TL._AC_UL115_  Selena Gomez – Rare – (Interscope Records):  An album that was supposed to come out in 2017, finally sees the light of day.  Selena had to work through a lot of issues to get to this point. My kids are interested in this, sadly, not much interest from me.  Apparently a lot of people are interested as the video below is pushing 200 million views.  Good for her.

  • 91eKtR1Hh7L._SS500_  Echosmith – Lonely Generation – (Echosmith):  The pop band that brought us “Cool Kids” is back with another release.  Good luck to them as no dollars will come from me.

And the rest…

A little bit country…

  • 912zz6-zksL._SS500_  Ronnie Dunn – Re-Dunn – (LWR, LLC)

And a whole lot of rock & roll…with a heave dose of metal…

  • 71gF+e-HRRL._SX522_  Apocalyptica – Cell-O – (Silver Lining Music)
  • 81yMFIpzCuL._SS500_  Poppy – I Disagree – (Sumerian Records)
  • download-1  Behemoth – Live from Maida Vale E.P. – (Metal Blade Records)
  • 81kgWPW2Y2L._SS500_  Brothers of Metal – Emblas Saga – (AFM Records)

Rick Springfield – “Don’t Talk to Strangers” (The 45 Single)

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When I am out on my record store digging adventures, I always go through the 45’s to see if there is anything I like and occasionally I find something.  I am a closet Rick Springfield fan.  Yes, I am out of the closet now and will admit openly, I like Rick Springfield!!! There, I said it.  I feel so much better that it is out in the open now.  Thank you for that!

I found this single in the $1 bin and was happy to grab it.  The single of is for the song “Don’t Talk To Strangers” from his 1982 album ‘Success Hasn’t Spoiled Me Yet’.  The single was released in March 1982 and went all the way to #2 on the Billboard.  It was Rick’s second biggest hit after that little song you might know called Jessie’s Girl.

The song is about Rick’s girlfriend at the time (future wife). When Rick was traveling and touring for his career, he had a lot of insecurities that his girlfriend was out with other guys.  This was his way of expressing those feelings.  The irony is that Rick was screwing around as he was touring and such.  Such a hypocrite.

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Gene Simmons – ‘The Vault’ – Album Review (Part 2 of 15 – Disk 1)

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Welcome back to the Gene Simmons The Vault review.  We are starting with Disk 1, naturally, and I will try and keep some consistency between each disk.  I will go through each song and mention who wrote, who played on it and what I think about the song. I won’t go through all the stories as you should get the vault to get all the information.  I will grade each song (ranking 1 to 5, 5 being best) and then take an average of the grades for the score of the disk.  I know most of these are demos, so I won’t be taking quality of the sound in to play that much because I know what I am getting and I am more interested in the overall song.

At the end of all the reviews, we will average the score of each review and come up with an overall ‘The Vault’ score which I hope will be a fair representation of the whole package.  I am going to do my best to do one a week, but as I said before, life sometimes gets in the way so I am not going to promise one a week.  Plus, this is 11 disks to digest and that is a lot as I am also doing the David Coverdale Series at the same time.  That is a bunch of music to go through.

The songs aren’t in chronological order.  Gene states they are more of a mood or vibe.  The first three or four discs appear to be pretty much the Rock selections and I am quite happy to start with those.

Well, are you ready?  Then let’s get right to it.

The first disc is housed in a picture of Gene with a lot of Platinum albums behind him…

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Whitesnake – ‘Saints & Sinners’ – Album Review (The David Coverdale Series)

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After the album ‘Come an’ Get It’, the band was starting to crack.  Issues were developing, tensions were rising.  They started to work on the album during 1981, but it wasn’t a smooth ride.  In December 1981, Micky Moody left the band.  Then in early 1982, David Coverdale put the band on the back burner and took some time off to be with his daughter who had become ill.

The sick daughter wasn’t the only reason Coverdale put things on hold.  The band was having financial troubles and he couldn’t understand where the money was going.  During the hiatus, he parted with his management and Coverdale started to handle the business side of things.  Also during this time, three other members left the band (or were fired). They would be Ian Paice, Bernie Marsden and Neil Murray.  Jon Lord was the only one to stay in the band with David. And of course Martin Birch still produced. He hadn’t left yet either.

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As a result, David needed a new band.  Not to finish the album because it was basically done, but to tour with.  David found guitarist Mel Galley from Trapeze and Cozy Powell on drums from Rainbow and lastly, Colin Hodgkinson on bass.  The band was complete.  However, the album still had some backing vocals needed so Micky came back briefly to finish the backing vocals along with Galley.  Galley is the only new player to appear on the album.

 

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My Sunday Song – “Them Blues” by Collective Soul

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For My Sunday Song #177, we are discussing a new song from Collective Soul called “Them Blues” from the 2019 album ‘Blood’.  The album finds the band still hitting on all cylinders even after over 25 years together.  “Them Blues” is a mature band with serious topics still showing they can pull brilliance out when most bands are passed their prime.

Musically, the song was inspired by Prince’s album “Purple Rain” as Ed Roland loved the chord progression and when he was tinkering around with it on the piano while listening to that song,  “Them Blues” developed from there. Lyrically, the theme is about life and what was going on in his families life as his wife was going through some hard times.  The song was for her and to let her know that this too shall pass and though it is hard now, it will get better.  A rather touching song.

The song turned into a piano-based song that is very blues influenced and takes a more serious tone.  I love the slow opening piano notes and then a really cool and short guitar riff.  Ed’s (or E as he likes to be called…WTF??) vocals are great, the style switch is a nice change of pace and it seems to take the band into a more serious realm as they captured the emotions nicely.  The best part is the super long guitar solo by Jesse Triplett to end the album…it is killer.  It lifts the song when it needing lifting and it made you feel all was going to be right with the world.  It is a time where lyrically and musically, everything that they wanted you to take away from the song comes across loud and clear.

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Motley Crue – “Helter Skelter” (12″ Picture Disc)

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With Motley Crue back in the news and announcing a return to touring with Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, I thought it perfect time to discuss this really cool 12″ Picture Disc I recently found of the band’s cover of the Beatles classic “Helter Skelter”.  It is a thing of beauty.  It is a promotional copy and it was in mint condition.

How beautiful?  Well look at the picture above.  And if that isn’t enough, look at the picture on the B-Side…

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Stunning pictures on both side.  You also get an insert with the lyrics on one side showing a refrigerator with bloody handprints on it…

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Gene Simmons – ‘The Vault’ – Album Review (Part 1 of 15 – The Grand Opening)

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I have actually been wanting this since the day it was announced back at the end of 2017 or early 2018, I can’t remember.  However, at the time, the price was the hinderance.  Then at the beginning of 2019, they offered a less pricey Vault that didn’t include the Gene Simmons Vault Experience.  You only received The Vault.  Still, I didn’t pull the trigger.  I always thought, if it ever a hit a certain price, I would pull the trigger.  Lo and behold almost two years later, there was Black Friday Sale and it hit that price. It didn’t take much convincing then, I pulled the trigger!  Bang!!

And to make it even better, 2 days before Christmas it arrived!!  And if you didn’t know, my birthday is Christmas…so it was a Big Early Present to myself!!  My kids poked fun at me because I have been chomping at the bit for it to arrive.  Two weeks after ordering, I had heard nothing, not a word.  I emailed the company and asked if I would get a tracking number and they replied back pretty quick with a tracking number.  The item shipped 4 days earlier and I didn’t know.  I checked that tracking often, to an obsessive level as I wanted my Vault.  I guess they weren’t going to send it until I said something. I am glad I got, because it did calm me down…a little.

On day of arrival, I received box 2 of 2 first.  A smaller box that I figured contained the contents of the vault, but it only contained the book and the CDs which if I am going to get a box early, at least it was that box. And if I didn’t have that tracking number I would have freaked not knowing it was shipped in two boxes.  I would have also been freaked if I received the Vault first with no book or CDs inside!!  Tracking number told me that so it wasn’t unexpected.  About 4 hours later, I received The Vault itself.  In a massive box inside another box…

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What to Expect for Music in 2020?

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2020 is upon us and it is always fun anticipating what new albums are and will come out in the year.  There are quite a few we already know about, but some haven’t been officially announced or even a date set yet.  From what I have gathered around the internet, here are the bands that should have new albums out in 2020, but no dates announced yet. The ones I would give a try (and my kids) will be highlighted in Blue.  The ones with Dates Announced are at the bottom of this post.  The list is building up nicely!!

  • Ace Frehley – Origins, Vol. 2
  • Alicia Keys – A.L.I.C.I.A.
  • Angels & Airwaves
  • Bon Jovi
  • Bush – The Mind Plays Tricks On You
  • Busta Rhymes
  • Cardi B – Tiger Woods
  • A Day to Remember – You’re Welcome
  • Deep Purple
  • Deftones
  • Dixie Chicks – Gaslighter
  • Dokken
  • The Doobie Brothers
  • Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
  • Evanescence
  • FM
  • Greta Van Fleet
  • Harem Scarem
  • Iron Maiden (rumor)
  • J. Cole – The Fall Off
  • Jeff Scott Soto
  • Kid Cudi – Entergalactic
  • Lana Del Rey – White Hot Forever
  • Megadeth
  • Miley Cyrus
  • Niall Horan
  • One Desire
  • OneRepublic
  • Ozzy Osbourne
  • Pearl Jam
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • Royal Blood
  • Sam Smith
  • Sanctuary
  • Scorpions
  • Skid Row
  • Static-X – Project Regeneration
  • Steven Wilson
  • Stryper
  • The Airborne Toxic Event
  • The Cure
  • The Killers
  • The Offspring
  • Winger

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December Purchases (& Gifts) – Vinyl (2019)

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First off, December is a little light compared to the last two months of purchases  December was a more normal month of purchases mainly because it is the month for Christmas and my Birthday.  For that reason, I have to leave things for people to buy for me as gifts.

The month started out actually on Black Friday and yes, I know that is November. The problem is I couldn’t get these purchases into last months post due to timing issues and Thanksgiving and all.  I am sure you won’t mind.

Record Store Black Friday was on November 29th and I got up bright and early to pick up are few things and I got exactly what I was going for and nothing more…I stuck to the plan for once.

First up is the RSD Exclusive Release of Pearl Jam’s MTV Unplugged and you saw that one already at THIS POST!!!!

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