Friday New Releases – October 25, 2024

Happy Friday…the releases are hot & heavy this month so a great way to close out the month! Let me know what you want to hear or what we may have missed. I have the Whitesnake box set and the H.I.M. Greatest Hits collection on order. Can’t wait to get them both. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great weekend.

  • Whitesnake – Into the Light: The Solo Albums – (Saltburn LLC / Rhino Entertainment)
  • Mr. Big – The Big Finish Live – (Evoxs)
  • HIM – When Love & Death Embrace: Best of 1997-2003 – (BMG Rights Mgmt)
  • Dug Pinnick – Thingamajigger – (Rat Pak Records)
  • Halsey – The Great Impersonator – (Columbia Records / Sony Music)
  • Kelsea Ballerini – Patterns – (Black River Entertainment)
  • Tears for Fears – Songs for a Nervous Planet – (Concord Records)
  • Duran Duran – Danse Macabre: De Luxe – (BMG Rights Mgmt) – Physical release as digital came out on October 11th.
  • 311 – Full Bloom – (Skp, Inc.)
  • Queen – Queen 1 (2024 Mix) – (Hollywood Records)
  • Motorhead – We Take No Prisoners The Singles 1995-2006 – (BMG Rights Mgmt)
  • ABBA – The Singles: The First Fifty Years – (Polydor)
  • Josh Lovelace – Shelters – (Stonycroft Records / Missing Piece Records)
  • Devin Townsend – PowerNerd – (HevyDevy Records / InsideOutMusic)
  • Atreyu – The Pronoia Sessions – (Spinefarm Music Group)
  • Amyl and the Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness – (Virgin Music International)
  • Bastille – “&” (Ampersand) – (Best Laid Plans Records / Universal Music)
  • Green Day – American Idiot (20th Anniversary) – (Reprise Records)
  • Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Live at Fillmore East, 1969 – (Atlantic Records)
  • The Allman Brothers Band – Final Concert 10-28-14 – (Peach Records)
  • Pixies – The Night the Zombies Came – (BMG Rights Mgmt)
  • Beth Hart – You Still Got Me – (Mascot Label Group / Provogue)
  • Bryan Ferry – Retrospective: Selected Recordings 1973-2023 – (BMG Rights Mgmt)
  • Andrea Bocelli – Duets (30th Anniversary) – (Decca Records / Universal Music)
  • Frank Sinatra – L.A. is my Lady – (Frank Sinatra Enterprises)
  • The Oak Ridge Boys – Mama Boys – (Lightning Rod Records)
  • Laura Marling – Patterns in Repeat – (Chrysalis Records / Partisan Records)
  • Chuck Prophet – Wake the Dead – (Yep Roc Records)
  • Casandra’s Crossing – Garden of Earthly Delights – (Frontiers Records)
  • Behemoth – XXX Years Ov Blasphemy – (Nuclear Blast)
  • Fit for an Autopsy – The Nothing That Is – (Nuclear Blast)
  • Gaerea – Coma – (Season of Mist)
  • Trauma Ray – Chameleon – (Dais Records)
  • Better Lovers – Highly Irresponsible – (Sharptone)
  • Nitrogods – Valley of the Gods – (Massacre Records / Soulfood Music Distribution)
  • Miranda And The Beat – Can’t Take It – (Ernest Jenning Record Co.)
  • League of Distortion – Galvanize – (Napalm Records)
  • Baldwin – Rally E.P. – (Edgewater Music Group)
  • Mark Bryan – Popped – (Mark Bryan Music Publishing)
  • The Effigies – Burned – (Effigies)
  • Courteeners – Pink Cactus Cafe – (Ignition Records)
  • Harpyie – Voodoo – (Metalville)
  • St. Lenox – Ten Modern American Work Songs – (Don Giovanni Records)
  • Onsloow – Full Speed Anywhere Else – (Tiny Engines)
  • Beach Weather – Melt – (Last Nite / Arista Records / Sony Music)
  • Fievel is Glauque – Rong Weicknes – (Fat Possum Records)
  • Amythyst Kiah – Still + Bright – (Rounder Records / Concord)
  • Katie Gavin – What A Relief – (Saddest Factory Records)
  • Pom Pom Squad – Mirror Starts Moving Without Me – (City Slang)
  • Soccer Mommy – Evergreen – (Loma Vista Recordings / Concord)
  • Naked Roommate – Pass the Loofah – (Naked Roommate)
  • One True Pairing – Endless Rain – (Domino Recordings)
  • Little Moon – Dear Divine – (Joyful Noise Recordings)
  • Elderbrook – Another Touch – (Mine Recordings)
  • Lone Justice – Viva Lone Justice – (AFAR)
  • Ben Folds – Sleigher – (New West Records)

Queen – ‘Command Performance: Live at the Hammersmith Odeon – Christmastime 1975’ – Bootleg Review

I love me a good bootleg and I found with this one. It is from Queen and it is called ‘Command Performance: Live at the Hammersmith Odean at Christmastime 1975’. In fact, it was recorded on December 24, 1975. The bootleg came out some time in 1976 and I love the simplicity of it all. A green sheet with a photocopy of the band and setlist in black. Nothing fancy about it at all. Nothing on the back cover and the labels on the vinyl were white and someone had typed ‘Side One’ or ‘Side Two’ depending on the side. No expense was spared…LOL!!

And like all bootlegs, there are mistakes. The opening track is listed as “Now I’m Sure”…and I’m sure that is wrong. It should be “Now I’m Here”. If that wasn’t enough, Roger Taylor is now spelling his name differently as Rodger Taylor. That “d” makes a difference. The other thing, this isn’t the full show. It is a single LP so several songs and medley were cut, but what you get here is still rather amazing. It is the best of the best.

What was special about this show is it was broadcast live on the BBC and it was the first time the band had ever done that. With that being said, the sound quality on this is exceptional (with minor exceptions). This is one of the cleanest sounding bootlegs I have ever owned. However, what makes this bootleg obsolete now is that the band actually did release this show officially on November 20, 2015. It was called ‘A Night at the Odeon – Hammersmith 1975’.

That didn’t matter to me, as I love bootlegs and still wanted it as it was a cherished piece in the bootleg world back in the 70’s. Plus, nothing beats the simplicity of the whole set. This was so prized because several songs on this set were later dropped from the setlist and did not appear on any official live release back in the day. In the grand scheme of things, yes, I can get the official release, but this to me is more authentic and more special. Now, let’s get to the music.

Continue reading “Queen – ‘Command Performance: Live at the Hammersmith Odeon – Christmastime 1975’ – Bootleg Review”

CMT Crossroads – Taylor Swift & Def Leppard (2009) – DVD Review (The Def Leppard Collection Series)

CMT (Country Music Television) had a great show called CMT Crossroads. The show would bring together two famous acts, one being a country artist and the other either Rock, Pop or whatever they felt would work together. One of those episodes that aired on November 7, 2008 brought together and a young rising country star named Taylor Swift and a band she grew up listening to thanks to her parents, Def Leppard. A dream come true for her and a strange match-up for me. But it was Leppard so I watched. And when the DVD was released, I bought it.

The DVD came out on June 16, 2009 and was exclusive to Wal-Mart stores here in the States. The DVD contained the entire show that was broadcast as well as some bonus material. That bonus material was three bonus songs that were performed and not aired. You also get a bunch of interviews. In total, you get 75 minutes of Country Rock Crossover. Honestly, I wish there was a CD for the show, I’d like that in the collection. Now, was the show good? Let’s find out.

The show kicks off with “Photograph” from Def Leppard and a good one to start as it is one of their most famous songs. Phil Collen breaks out that famous riff while fully dressed and still some hair; and Taylor sings the first verse. Dang, she is so young here. She has a great voice, but she can’t muster the power needed for this song but she can hit some of those notes Joe can’t. Joe Elliott takes on the second version and that is they way this song should be sung. They share the choruses. The band is all the Lep folks and even Taylor’s band so we get two drummers and numerous guitarists and bass players. I even see a keyboard player in the background there. The bands sound awesome and they do play the song to perfection. Who knew it would actually work so well.

Continue reading “CMT Crossroads – Taylor Swift & Def Leppard (2009) – DVD Review (The Def Leppard Collection Series)”

Y&T – “All American Boy” – 7″ Single

While on vacation this Summer, I came across a single for a band that did not get enough love. The band is Y&T and the single was for “All American Boy”. The song is a cover and was written by Dave Robbins and Van Stephenson. I believe it was first recorded by Stan Bush in 1983 on his self-titled album. Van had recorded this song and it appeared on the soundtrack to the movie “The Slugger’s Wife” back in 1984/1985. Y&T got ahold of the song in 1985 as well and it was included on their album ‘Down for the Count’ with quite possibly one of the worst album covers ever as you can see below for the back cover of the single. A funny enough, the front cover of the single is taken from the back cover of the album. The song went to #48 on the mainstream rock chart.

It was the the first single off the album, but for me not a great song choice to start with a cover. It was probably a label decision, who knows, but singer/guitarist Dave Meniketti, guitarists Joey Alves, bassist Phil Kennemore and drummer Leonard Haze deserved better. The had never recorded a cover song prior and they did two on this album…definitely label pressure. The follow-up single did much better which was their big single “Summertime Girls”. Y&T is a very underrated band. If you want to learn a lot about their albums, check out Tim Durling’s book ‘Down for the Count: The Y&T Album Review’ on Amazon.

A-SIDE:

Continue reading “Y&T – “All American Boy” – 7″ Single”

Friday New Releases – October 18, 2024

We are to another Friday New Release and we have another handful of releases for you. Ok, that handful is about 40 so it is a pretty good handful. I want to apologize right away for no videos. It takes a lot to do these posts and I’m a little burnt. I don’t want to leave you high and dry, but I need some sanity back so I am stripping out the videos to save me some time. I hope you understand. Now, let me know what you want to hear this week. There is nothing for me, but hopefully you find something. As always, thanks for stopping by and have a great weeknd.

  • Jerry Cantrell – I Want Blood – (Jerry Cantrell)
  • Shawn Mendes – Shawn – (Island Records / UMG) – SORRY THE ALBUM RELEASE WAS MOVED AFTER I DID THIS POST – NEW DATE IS NOVEMBER 15TH
  • Asking Alexandria – Where Do We Go From Here: The Remixes E.P. – (Better Noise Music)
  • Bishop Briggs – Tell My Therapist I’m Fine – (Terry Eighteen, Inc.)
  • Susanna Hoffs – The Lost Record – (Baroque Folk Records)
  • David Garrett – Millennium Symphony – (Polydor / Universal Music)
  • Kylie Minogue – Tension II – (BMG Rights Mgmt)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – October 18, 2024”

Kiss – ‘The Very Best of Kiss’ (2002) – Album Review (The Kiss Review Series)

Kiss and their label are know for releasing a ton of greatest hits compilations as you have seen over the last few months from what I’ve posted. And we’ve barely scratched the surface. I have another one for you and this one is was released on August 27, 2002. It is called ‘The Very Best of Kiss’ and you get 21 songs. There is nothing new, unreleased or anything special about these songs. They are all taken from the albums they represent with the exception of “Detroit Rock City” which is the edited version but it is from ‘Double Platinum’ and has been released before. Basically, there is really no reason to buy this one.

It is not well representative of their whole career as we only get 3 songs from the 80’s and 1 from the 90’s and that is it. We also only get 1 song from the solo albums and that is Ace’s “New York Groove”. The 70’s heyday is what is mostly represented here and if you want that era, get the ‘Gold’ compilation we mentioned awhile back as it is splendid. You do get a lot of band members represented as we have songs with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanely, Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, Eric Carr, Vinnie Vincent, Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer. No Mark St. John nor Tommy Thayer though. The album did chart at #52 on the Billboard 200 album chart and it did go Gold in the U.S., but otherwise nothing special. And with that, let’s get in to the music.s

The album kicks off with the song “Strutter” from the debut album.  The song was written by both Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons and over the years, this would be a rare experience as they would wind up writing songs by themselves.  The music of the song was based off an old Gene song called “Stanley the Parrot” which was recorded even before there was a Wicked Lester. 

Continue reading “Kiss – ‘The Very Best of Kiss’ (2002) – Album Review (The Kiss Review Series)”

The Collection: Ep. 37 – Scorpions On Vinyl (Part 2 of 2)

A few years back I did a complete collection series on the Scorpions. I figured it was time to show all the vinyl off on The Collection. We will break it up in to two parts with the first being from the debut album, ‘Lonesome Crow’, all the up to ‘Blackout’ with every thing I have in between which we covered last week. For Part 2, this week we will cover ‘Love at First Sting’ up to their latest ‘Rock Believer’. This will cover from 1984 all the way up to their most recent released in 2022. This will have the classic line-up of Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker, Mathias Jabs, Francis Buchholz and Herman Rarebell. There will be new members on bass and drums down the road including Mikkey Dee from Motorhead on drums. We will talk covers, music and sound…all the good and bad an inbetween.

So go check it out as it will be live tonight right now, October 14, 2024 at 8pm. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.

Def Leppard – ‘Yeah! Live’ (2021) – Album Review (The Def Leppard Collection Series)

On June 11, 2021, Def Leppard finally released The Collection, Vol. 3. It had been 2 years since the released of Vol. 2 in part probably due to Covid-19. By 2021, things were slowly starting to get back to normal. This was a crucial collection because these albums were not available on vinyl prior to this. So, it is is a must have set for you vinyl collectors. Ok, not really because they are available now individually…well…except for the bonus material. We’ve talked through the B-Sides, Yeah! II and now it is time for the final bonus album in The Collection, Vol. 3…Yeah! Live.

‘Yeah! Live’ is a compilation of 8 live cover songs the band have done over the years. They are B-Sides or recorded from tribute shows they have done and now they are all in one spot. I feel like they have to have more then this, but maybe not. What is cool is Side B as it has Brian May on most of the tracks. I guess he is the 6th member of the band now.. It is not a vast chunk of songs, but it is all quality here not quantity. What is cool is there is a couple recordings on here from the 80’s so we get Steve Clark on a couple tracks. But the rest of the guys are here too with Joe Elliott, Rick Savage, Rick Allen, Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell.

SIDE A:

The B-Side to the song “Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad” is a live version of the Alice Cooper classic, “Elected”. It was recorded in July 1987 at Tilburg, Netherlands on the ‘Hysteria’ Tour. The crowd was really in to this show as they are screaming loud. Joe attacks the vocals with that Alice Cooper style, with grit and attitude. I wonder if the crowd noise is pumped in as they repeat some of their chants throughout. Anyway, the band rocks it out and does a fair job at this one. All I know is when it came out and I picked it up with this song as the B-Side I was happy to have something I didn’t have in my collection at the time. I’ll take new stuff any day.

Continue reading “Def Leppard – ‘Yeah! Live’ (2021) – Album Review (The Def Leppard Collection Series)”

Ratt – “Lay It Down” – 7″ Single

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 first single off that album was “Lay It Down” and released in the same month as the album. This is the 2nd 7″ Single I found while on vacation down in Florida. My copy is another standard US Version and it doesn’t use the cover of the album as the single cover. Instead, we get individual shots of each band member.

The single was the band’s second, and last, Top 40 Hit and I am honestly surprised by that fact. The band has had so many great songs and is a legend in the Hair Metal/Glam Metal scene that to have only 2 Top 40 sings is nuts. It did go to #4 on the Mainstream Rock Chart which is probably where most of their songs charted anyway.

A-SIDE:

Continue reading “Ratt – “Lay It Down” – 7″ Single”

Friday New Releases – October 11, 2024

Welcome back to Friday New Releases. We don’t have as many as last week, but we have a solid list of new albums for you to try this week. I want to hear the new Myles Kennedy and I have the Def Leppard One Night Only on order. I have the RSD Vinyl release, but need the CD / Blu Ray too! Jelly Roll will probably be the big release this week for most if you like that thing. Let me know what you want to hear this week or what we missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a great weekend!

  • Myles Kennedy – The Art of Letting Go – (Napalm Records)
  • Def Leppard – One Night Only: Live at the Leadmill May 19, 2023 – (Mercury Studios) – CD/DVD/BluRay
  • The Offspring – Supercharged – (Wabi Sabi Worldwid / Concord)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – October 11, 2024”