Ratt – ‘Reach For the Sky’ – Album Review

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We are now up to the fourth studio album by Ratt called ‘Reach for the Sky’.  The album was released on November 1, 1988 and as the predecessors, it also reached Platinum status. The only difference was that the critics really did not like this album.  It has been said this was the worst of their albums so far.  I personally disagree.

Yes, the album is a little hit or miss at times, but overall I think the album holds up over time and there are some really great songs on here.  But before we get to the songs, let’s talk about the band and what was going on with them at the time of making this album.

Ratt brought in Mike Stone to produce the album, but due to some sub-standard production work, longtime Ratt producer, Beau Hill, was brought back in to save the day and that is what he did.  This would be the last album the band would do with Beau.

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My Sunday Song – “Still Loving You” by Scorpions

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For My Sunday Song #98, we take it back to the 80’s and hand it over to Scorpions with their ballad “Still Loving You” off the album ‘Love At First Sting” from 1984.  With “Rock You Like a Hurricane”, I became a Scorpion fan and this song sealed the deal for life.

The song was the second single from the album and it only reached #64 on the Billboard Hot 100 which is crazy considering this song hit #1 in France.  Yes, France.  The Scorpions are credited with starting a baby boom in France in 1985 because of this song.  I am not kidding!

The song is about a man who is in love with woman, but they fear the end of the relationship is fading and almost over. So what do they do, they try again to reignite that passion and flame and give it another shot.  France is the country about love so that might be why it did so well.

At around 6:30, the song isn’t your typical power ballad..well at least in length.  In style, it is exactly like every power ballad which is why it is a power ballad.  The song’s slow crescendo throughout the song is it’s magic.  The song keeps building and adding instruments and it gets more powerful and louder as it goes.

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Friday New Releases – June 29th

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We are at the end of another month and what a way to end it.  There are so many releases this week I hope there is something you can find and enjoy.  My vacation will be ending this week and then back to work next, so I am going to try and do nothing for a couple days except listen to music.  My choices are in Blue.  Let me know what you are feeling and if I missed anything.  Have a great weekend!!

  • 51tBEraJ-2L._SS500  The Wild Feathers – Greetings from the Neon Frontier – (Reprise Records):  This is where I will spend most of my time.  I really think these guys are great.  They are a mixture of Rock, Folk, Country and blend it all together so nicely.  It is always a listening pleasure and so much to take in.  Give them a try and as this is their third studio release, go back and get the other two.

  • A1-BihGWkML._SX522_  Guns N Roses – Appetite for Destruction Super Deluxe Edition – (Geffen Records):  What can I say about this one.  One of the greatest debut albums by any band and now we get the ultimate deluxe edition.  I can’t afford the big daddy release as I just bought the Def Leppard Vinyl collection (Volume One) so I will end up settling for one of the lesser expensive releases.  Either way, it is nice to have for the collection.

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The Tubes – “She’s A Beauty” (The 45 Single)

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In the fledgling days of MTV, they didn’t have a ton of videos so a lot of bands that weren’t getting played on the radio, suddenly had prominence on MTV simply because they had a video.  One lucky band was The Tubes with their amazing song and video for “She’s A Beauty”.  The song was released in 1983 and was off their album ‘Outside Inside’.  The song reached all the way to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks to MTV.  I know I became a fan off that video and the constant rotation on MTV.  When I came across the 45 a few months back, I had to grab it.

The song was written by Fee Waybill, famed producer David Foster and Steve Lukather from the band Toto.  And the inspiration for the song came from a San Francisco peep show where Fee paid $1 to talk to a naked woman.  The conversation was rather frustrating and that frustration turned into the song.  There is a line in the song that references that conversation…”She’ll give you every penny’s worth / But it will cost you a dollar first” (thanks to Fee for discussing this in a YouTube video for the song).

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Motley Crue – The Albums Ranked Worst to First

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Motley Crue called it quits  back in 2016 with The End Farewell Tour. I have The End Deluxe Edition Tombstone set which I love and I have all their CDs (only missing a couple that will be remedied shortly.  I was listening to them the other day and thought it was time to rank their Albums from Worst to First.  As usual, I will keep it to strictly the Studio albums and will exclude greatest hits and live albums.  However, I am going to include the Supersonic And Demonic Relics album which was a collection of rare songs and unreleased tracks.  It isn’t a greatest hits collection and I think it stands out nicely on its own.

With all that being said, let’s get started…

10 – THE WORST – ‘THEATRE OF PAIN’ (1985):

The album was an utter disappointment after the first two.  There was so much filler and not enough memorable songs.  Yes, you have “Home Sweet Home” and “Smokin’ in the Boys Room” but the album felt lost.  The band lost it’s edge of the last two albums and overall it was just lacking.  There were a couple other good songs as I really liked “Tonight (We Need a Love)” and “Louder than Hell”.  Outside of that it wasn’t the same band.  Luckily, the regained that edge for the next release.

The album did well and sold over 4 million copies and went to #6 on Billboard.  The success of the ballad “Home Sweet Home” was good enough to keep the momentum going and drive further success, but it is one of the albums I revisit the least.

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My Sunday Song – “Fall To Pieces” by Velvet Revolver

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For My Sunday Song #97, we will keep it into the more recent years of power ballads and do Velvet Revolver’s “Fall To Pieces”. The song was off the band’s debut album ‘Contraband’ and went to #1 on the Mainstream Rock Charts.  It was almost a crossover hit as it did reach #67 on the Billboard Hot 100.

For those that don’t know (and shame on you), Velvet Revolver consisted of lead singer Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots) and Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum (all from Guns ‘N Roses) and Dave Kushner (played with Dave Navarro).  The song follows the typical power ballad formula of a slower temple with some heavier moments and all with a softer sound even though theirs was a little dirtier and grittier.

The song is based on Scott Weiland’s addiction to heroin and the impact it had on his life and his relationship with is wife.  The title of the song “Fall to Pieces” was exactly how Weiland felt.  Now with his passing years later, you wonder if he ever didn’t feel this way.  That to me makes the song a little sadder.

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The music video for the song actually mirrors the events in Scott’s life and its impact.  It shows the spoils of rock & roll fame and the complete dark, scary side of fame.  It is a stark, disturbing picture of what a junkie can go through.

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Friday New Releases – June 22nd

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Vacation starts after close of work today and I can’t wait.  I wish there was a ton of new music to listen to but sadly that is not the case.  The are only a couple I will give a listen and I know one I had to pick up for my daughter (on vinyl of course).  I actually think there is more for my kids this week than me.  And actually the 5 Second of Summer was released last week. My choices are in Blue, which ones are you interested in or what have I missed.  Have a great weekend as I know I will have a great next week…NO WORK!!

  • 61HMCRxKBuL._AC_US436_QL65_  Panic at the Disco – Pray for the Wicked – (Fueled by Ramen LLC):  Panic is on the top of the list this week.  Why?  Well, because my oldest loves this band.  She is going to Atlanta to see them since they aren’t coming to Charlotte.  I am sure I will be hearing this for some time and actually I don’t mind.  They are pretty darn good.  We should have the vinyl sitting on the doorstep when I get home…if my daughter doesn’t get to it first.

  • 510x3-DT1oL._SS500  Ben Rector – Magic – (OK Kid Recordings):  Ben Rector returns and I really like this Singer/Songwriter’s style.  He tells great stories and has a great voice so there isn’t anything he has done I haven’t enjoyed.  This is on the lighter side, but some days you just need that to relax.

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The Original vs The Cover – “China Girl”

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As everyone is aware, David Bowie had what is called his Berlin Era which was the time period between 1976-1979 when he lived in Berlin and recorded several albums including ‘Low’, ‘Heroes’ and ‘Lodger’.  During that same period, Iggy Pop was living in Berlin as well and the two got together and wrote the song we covering this month on The Original vs. The Cover.  That song is “China Girl”.

The Original version of this song is actually by Iggy Pop.  It was released by Iggy in 1977 on his album ‘The Idiot’.  David Bowie’s version didn’t come out until 1983 on his album ‘Let’s Dance’.  I will tell you that at the time of Bowie’s release I was completely unaware that Iggy had done this song 6 years earlier so I thought this was the original.

There has been discussion over the meaning of the song over the years.  One group believes the song is about a Vietnamese woman that Iggy was completely infatuated with.  Her name is Kuelan Nguyen.  The song is about his desire to be with her, but at the same time warn her of the problems of Western Civilization and the damage it can do as you can see with the line…”Visions of swastikas in my head”.  The fact the were in Berlin probably added to that commentary.

The other camp thought the song was about Heroin since the term “China White” is a term used to describe heroin.  The girl in the song was considered the Heroin and all the problems it can cause.  I can believe either version, but the truth is it was actually about the woman that Iggy was crazy about.  I prefer the love story over the drugs.  Now, let’s get to the music.

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The Wild Feathers – “Big Sky” – Single Review

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The Wild Feathers are back with a new single, “Big Sky”, and a new album coming on June 29th titled, ‘Greeting From the Neon Frontier’.  If you are not familiar with them, they are a cross between southern rock, country, folk and what ever label you want to lay on them.  For me, their songs are a country rock blend that harkens back to the 70’s and this one is exactly that and more.

The song kicks off with some harmonies that take you immediately to sound of The Eagles and it has guitar playing that would fit perfectly in that era with an Allman Brothers feel.  What you get is the feeling of the great outdoors and that you are driving down some Montana road with the top down and the wind in your hair, the radio blasting and you are in paradise looking at the mountains, the forests and whatever other scenery is around.

It also feels like a campfire song, so pop up a tent, start a campfire, grab the s’mores, pull out that old guitar and sing along.  The Wild Feathers never disappoint and I am hoping this is a good sign of things to come.

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My Sunday Song – “Beautiful With You” by Halestorm

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For My Sunday Song #96, I am discussing the beautiful song by Halestorm called “Beautiful with You”.  The song is off the gold selling album ‘The Strange Case of…’ which went to # 1 on the Hard Rock Charts.  However, despite the album having 5 singles, this was not one.  I chose this one since we are currently discussing power ballads and I thought I would bring the power ballad into the 21st Century and highlight a newer song that I felt fit the mold.

The song definitely has the power with Lzzy Hale’s vocals and it is a slower tempo and softer song you would expect with a ballad that ebbs and flows between harder and soft. The song has a great tone to it and is a very emotional song.  The song is about loving your self and realizing it is okay to reach out to others for help.  It doesn’t make you weak, but strong.  Here is what Lzzy told journalist Valerie Bastien (from Songfacts.com) about her low self-esteem…

“Believe me, I don’t always feel like a rock star, and there are times when I look in the mirror and scream. Especially emotionally,” admitted Lzzy. “I used to hide a lot of my feelings of insecurity and powerlessness, and just wouldn’t reach out to someone because I thought it meant that I was weak if I did. I wanted people to see that it’s ok to need a shoulder sometimes, and to have those “ugly days” and to let down your guard. We’re human and we’re not perfect… don’t let those thoughts in your head rule your life and prevent you from opening yourself up.”

I really love the verse that states the following:

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