Takara – ‘Eternity: The Best of 93-98’ (1998) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)

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After Takara’s third album, The label decided to release a greatest hits compilation of those first three albums. Jeff Scott Soto was no longer a member of the band…okay…he was never an “official” member of the band even though he sang on three albums with them. Now that the band needed to search for a new singer, the label wanted to release this to hold fans over until that process was done. Neal Grusky’s search for a replacement would take a little while as their follow-up album didn’t come out until 2001 with Michael James Flatters as their new singer.

This compilation had 16 tracks and was released on November 18, 1998. If you have the Japanese Edition, you get two additional acoustic tracks as well which is always a plus. However, I think you get those two acoustic tracks on every edition so it isn’t that special…although I don’t think they were ever previously released. You also get the ever cherished OBI Strip along with a booklet with lyrics in both English and Japanese. As far as a breakout between albums you get 5 tracks from the debut, ‘Eternal Faith’, 6 from the follow-up ‘Taste of Heaven’ and 5 from the final Soto album, ‘Blind in Paradise’. The songs are in chronological order and even in the same order they were on the album so not much thought was put in to sequencing for this release. But it is a money grab, so what do you expect.

“Spotlight” kicks it all off and is the first of five tracks from ‘Eternal Faith’. It sounds like you are right back in 1985 with the keyboards and heavy guitar riffs. It is Bon Jovi meets Europe. The album sounds so dated in the 80’s which is not where the music scene was going in 1993!! It has the obligatory guitar solo and Jeff’s vocals have that higher register tone which was key for 80’s rock. The biggest problem is the keyboards are high in the mix and sound like crap. They have this crisp, clink, clink sound to them which I find rather annoying. But not too much that I don’t enjoy the song…more a production note.

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The Collection: Ep. 76 – David Coverdale on Vinyl (Deep Purple to Whitesnake)

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This week, we are going to explore my David Coverdale Collection on vinyl. We will start with his time with Deep Purple and go through the Whitesnake collection as well as any solo and side projects. I’ll even throw in some bootlegs and 12″ Singles. It is all things Coverdale for this episode as he is one of my favorite Rock & Roll Singers and I think I have enough stuff to go through that I think you’ll enjoy!!

So go check it out as it will be live tonight, October 6, 2025 at 7pm. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.

My Sunday Song – “Last American Summer” by Will Hoge

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For My Sunday Song #453, we are talking “Last American Summer” off the new album from Will Hoge, ‘Sweet Misery’ which came out on August 22, 2025. The song was written by Cleto Cordero of the band Flatland Cavalry with the help of Will Hoge. Flatland Cavalry actually released this song back in 2023, however, their version was straight up country. This one is not. This has Will Hoge’s slant all over it.

Cleto Cordero came up with the song during Covid while sitting in what called his “quarantine garden”. It was Summer and he started thinking back to all those fun Summers when he was young and innocent where everyone was together having a good time, fireworks, good food and everything you think of when you think of Summer. Covid stopped all of that and he thought we might never have another one of those type of Summers again. Thankfully that wasn’t true. He got with his pal Will Hoge and they took the song and turned it into a little love song to Summer.

The song talks about all those things they did during Summer seeing the butterflies, the melted popsicles, the drugs, the cigarettes and the fireworks. You know, good wholesome stuff. Late nights, good long talks and being with the girl you love. Well, time goes by and life changes. You lose your innocence and life gets in the way and those great Summer good times are gone. You had your last American Summer and didn’t know it was going to be your last.

Musically, it starts off as this slow moving, sad, nostalgic sounding song. An acoustic guitar, some keyboards and Will Hoge singing this lyrics with such heartbreak. As the song moves on, the drums kick in and the tempo picks up ever so slightly. The song keeps building until about 2:30 minutes in and the drums pound and everything explodes including a killer rock and roll electric guitar solo. The full band is in hammering away and rocking out until the very end.

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Friday New Releases – October 3, 2025

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Does it really matter all the releases that are coming out today? Seriously, is anyone going to talk about anything other than the new Taylor Swift album? Doubtful, but I will at least try. I have at least 30+ other releases for you that are not Taylor Swift. Hopefully there is something for you to listen to this week. There is nothing for me to go and grab so nice to have a break. Let me know what you want to hear this week or what we may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

  • Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl – (Taylor Swift)
  • Oasis – Whats The Story Morning Glory (30th Anniversary) – (Big Brother Recordings)
  • Waylon Jennings – Songbird – (Son of Jessi / Thirty Tigers)
  • Dirkschneider & The Old Gang – Babylon – (Reigning Phoenix Music)
  • Michael Schenker Group – Don’t Sell Your Soul – (earMusic / Edel Music & Entertainment)
  • Thrice – Horizons / West – (Epitaph)
  • AFI – Silver Bleeds The Black Sun… – (Run For Cover Records)
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Scorpions – ‘Icon’ (2010) – Album Review (The Scorpions Collection Series)

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Back in November 2010, Scorpions were on their first farewell tour…and as we know now, it wasn’t their last farewell tour. To help capitalize on that tour, Mercury released a compilation for the band called ‘Icon’. The ‘Icon’ compilations have been around a while and numerous bands have these such as Kiss, Poison and so many more. The single disc version, what we have here, is simply a 12 track compilation that covers the biggest hits of their career. It is not very comprehensive, but there is a 2 Disc version that gives you a little more meat. This release covers mostly the 80’s with a few other timeframes sprinkled around as well. If you only have time for a handful of Scorpions classics, then this disc might fit that bill nicely.

The album kicks off with one of the band’s most famous songs, “Rock You Like A Hurricane” which is off their 1984 release ‘Love At First Sting’. Every band needs a signature song and Scorpions did that on their 9th album with the song “Rock You Like a Hurricane”. It only went to #25 on the Top 40 chart, but it has lived on and given the band one of the quintessential 80’s rock songs ever made. There is no one that doesn’t know this song the second that opening riff kicks in. It is a rock anthem like very few achieve. For ever how many songs the album sold, most were sold because of this track. With heavy riffs, killer solos and one of the most catchiest choruses ever, this song took the band to a level they probably never thought they would see.

Then we get one of the best songs ever by the band, “No One Like You” off the 1982 album ‘Blackout’. The band’s first #1 in the U.S. on the Mainstream Rock Tracks. The song is legendary. A power ballad like no other. With strong guitar playing by both Mathias Jabs and Rudolf Schenker, it is a most impressive opening riff and a solo that plays so well for the song. Klaus Meine’s vocals are so clean, smooth and even tender at times. The verses keep it soft and the chorus explodes with passion. What more could you want. As close to perfection as any band could get.

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The Collection: Ep 75 – September 2025 Wrap-Up

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September draws to a close, so it is time for the monthly wrap-up so lets see what 2 Loud 2 Old Music added to the collection this month. This is the September 2025 Wrap-Up and we have a little vinyl, a whole lot of CDs and even a book. Plus, I visited a record store…twice, ordered from Discogs, ordered from another record store online and went thrifting. So much to go through including a couple new Rock Candy CDs in the collection, Kiss and a Box Set. Lots of great new and old stuff to go through and show for this month so I hope you enjoy the show!!

So go check it out as it will be live tonight, September 29, 2025 at 7pm. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.

And here it all is if you can’t watch…but please watch!!

My Sunday Song – “On And On” by Saigon Kick

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For My Sunday Song #452, we are talking “On and On” by the very underrated band Saigon Kick. The song is off their third album, ‘Water’, which came out on September 28, 1993. This was an album I didn’t discover until a few years back when I interviewed Jason Bieler on The Lebrain Train with Mike Ladano. I remember “Love is on the Way” off ‘The Lizard’, but I didn’t explore them more back then and boy did I miss out. This song was not a single on the original issue, but when they reissued the album in 2023 the did release it a promotional singer.

“On and On” was written by Jason Bieler and it is a simple song. All it is saying is live in the moment as that feeling can’t be beat. Give your full heart and go for it because everything could be gone tomorrow. The song is specifically talking about a girl that he loves, but it can be applied to anything…an adventure you want to take, a walk on the beach or taking that trip you’ve always wanted to take. Don’t let everything be gone and you regret the what ifs!

Musically, you have Jason on vocals and this is actually the first album he handled the vocals as former lead singer Matt Kramer had left the band. Jason’s vocals are simply stellar. I love his delivery and his energy. On bass, you have Chris McLernon and let me tell you. His work is the coolest thing on the song. He is the driving force as he delivers some killer bass lines. A little funk, a little reggae mixed together with Jason’s simple riffs are pure joy. Phil Varones drumming also knocks it out of the park. The song is so simple, yet so catchy, so joyful and straight up fun. You can’t help but be in a good mood after hearing it.

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Friday New Releases – September 26, 2025

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We are to the last Friday Releases in September and it is the most I think we’ve had in a while as we are close to 50 releases for you to check out. Sadly, for me, there is nothing I’m dying to check out, but that doesn’t mean you will have nothing. Take a look and 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.

  • Robert Plant – Saving Grace – (Nonesuch Records / Es Paranza Recordings)
  • Doja Cat – Vie – (Kemosabe Records / RCA Records)
  • Hardy – Country! Country! – (Big Loud Records / Mercury Records)
  • Mariah Carey – Here For It All – (Mariah / Gamma)
  • The Bangles – Watching The Sky: The Bangles (Box Set) – (Cherry Pop Records)
  • Sloan – Based On The Best Seller – (Two Minutes For Music / Yep Roc)
  • Ronnie Wood – Fearless: Anthology 1965-2025 – (BMG Rights Mgmt)
  • Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway – (Atlantic Records)
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Kiss – ‘Live Vol. 1: Detroit, Michigan April 7, 1974 – Album Review (The Kiss Bootleg Series)

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I have been doing a Kiss Bootleg Series for years. You get a review every time I add a new one to the collection. Well, after buying 38 Bootleg CDs from John Humphrey’s personal collection, I figured let’s jump right back in and do a whole lot of reviews on the Bootlegs. Oh, if you don’t know who John Humphrey is, you need to know he is a massive Kiss collector. And he is the drummer of the band Seether. John decided to sell off his entire collection…sort of…he kept all the vinyl (like 4,000 of them). He did it through an auction at Backstage Auctions and I had to have a piece of it…and I did wind up with some things.

This time around we go back to 1974. April 7, 1974 to be exact. This bootleg is from their Detroit, Michigan show that was recorded at the Michigan Palace. The release is called Live Vol. 1 and is out of Australia from a label called Joker. It is Unauthorized as it says in rather large print on the front cover. This is real early in their career and is from The First Kiss Tour!! This was for the Radio Station WABX-FM Kite-In and Balloon Fly show and if I’m not mistaken, there was another up and coming band called Aerosmith on the same bill along with Michael Finnelly and The Mojo Boogie Band. As far as the track listing, there is an error…well, not an error but more of an omission. On the same track as “Cold Gin” is the song “100,000 Years” which is not listed. So that was a plus.

The sound is not that great. Very muddy and sounds like a recording of a recording of a tape. The volume starts off low and suddenly you can hear it getting louder as someone was turning it up. The band is introduced as “the most unusual band” which is totally awesome and so true for the time. Kiss opens with “Deuce” and like I said, the sound is bad. The volume goes up and down and not a good recording at all. But this is hungry, early Kiss and you can hear how good they still sound. A rocking opening song and Gene’s scream during Ace’s solo towards the end was awesome!!

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The Collection: Ep. 74 – Everything RATT with Deke from The Distortion Den

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This week on The Collection, my buddy Deke from The Distortion Den joins me to talk everything Ratt!! We start with the debut album all the way up to Stephen Pearcy’s latest release and as much as we can in between. We show off Vinyl, CDs, Cassettes, Singles and even a book. Nothing is off limits as long as it relates to Ratt. And that even includes some Stephen Pearcy side projects such as Arcade and even some of his solo albums. Sit back and join us for this hour long conversation that any Ratt fan will enjoy!!

So go check it out as it will be live tonight, September 22, 2025 at 7pm. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.