Tag: David Bowie

Turntables & Vinyl #22 – The Live Albums

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One way to tell how good a band really is is to see them live.  If you can’t do that, then it is to listen to one of their live albums.  If they can capture what they have done in the studio and bring it to the stage or even take it up a notch, then you have a solid band.  Growing up, I was never in to live albums.  It was all studio albums for me.  One day, that changed and live albums became the thing.

Now, I tend to be gravitating to the live albums and trying the get them on vinyl or even CD if that is all I can get.  I figured we would go through what Live albums I have in my collection, then with the ones I am trying to get, my Top 5 Favorites and lastly let you weigh in on which ones I have to get my hands on as I am sure there are some I am not aware are great and I should go grab.

We will kick it off with the Hottest Band in the Land…KISS!!  It was the Kiss Alive albums that did it for me.  These things are great.  I have 4 of them…Kiss Alive!,  Kiss Alive II, Kiss Alive III and Kiss Unplugged.  They did get original with their names as you can tell.

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But that is not all, I also have a ton of Kiss Bootlegs as you have seen through my Kiss Bootleg Series…

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Friday New Releases – November 30th

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The last Friday of November and Christmas is just around the corner which means one thing.  Album releases start to become relatively scarce. You want to drop your album early enough that it makes it on people’s Christmas list, but not too late where no one will grab it as they have spent all their money already on Christmas presents.  Now, there isn’t a whole lot I care about this week and in fact, there is only one.  Some of the other might get a listen sooner or later.  Have a great day and let me know what you are interested in hearing.  Mine is in Blue.

  • 61WAzq7sdaL._AC_US320_QL65_.jpg   Def Leppard – The Story So Far – (Virgin EMI/Mercury):  Def Leppard is bringing yet another greatest hits release.  Just what we needed, right?  Well….not really.  However, that doesn’t stop me from buying it.  I have it on pre-order for the vinyl so I can’t get the 7″ Single of their Depeche Mode cover of “Personal Jesus”.  Yes, I am becoming a completist with Def Leppard.  Anyway, this is a pretty complete greatest hits package and not a bad one to get if you don’t have on yet.  Enjoy!!

  • 31Ncg-T41kL._SS500  The 1975 – A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships – (Dirty Hit / Polydor / Interscope)
  • 91CRBGCU3QL._AC_UL115_  Neil Young – Songs for Judy – (Shakey Pictures Records)

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Friday New Releases – October 12th

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Welcome to another Friday of music new releases.  There are a bunch to choose from, but sadly I am not real thrilled about any of them.  That is probably a good thing since I had so many from last week that I am still enjoying.  There is one I will listen to out of the bunch (highlighted in Blue) and the rest who knows if they will ever find the playlist.  Hopefully with all to choose from, there is something that you will gravitate towards. Let me know what interests you are doesn’t.  Thanks and have a great weekend!!

  • 51DBuL6UKqL._AC_US436_QL65_  Tobymac – The Elements – (Forefront Records):  Tobymac has always proven to me he is a talented artists whether it was with DC Talk or his solo works.  The mixture of hip-hop, pop and rock is always a great combination.  He spreads the word and makes it an enjoyable experience.  This will be the only album this week that is a must listen, the rest…ehh!.

  • 614qJEKidaL._AC_US436_QL65_  Live – Local 717 E.P. – (Kalvary Records):  It has been awhile since any new Live material and it is much needed.  I heard the song below and was intrigued.  This might be first up for the day.

  • 51pFKgIYAtL._SY300_QL70_  Elvis Costello & the Imposters – Look Now – (Concord Records)

  • 413OeeqtLUL.jpg  Tom Morello – The Atlas Underground – (Comandante): This one might get a listen…this song is pretty good.

  • 51uS3scxmmL._AC_US436_QL65_  Kurt Vile – Bottle It In – (Matador):  Okay, maybe this one too.

  • 61K5jDNoQFL._AC_UL115_.jpg  David Bowie – Loving the Alien 1983-1988 (11 CD Set) – (Rhino)
  • 61cLx3dyPoL._AC_US320_QL65_  Blues Traveler – Hurry Up & Hang Around – (BT Recordings)
  • 81MY6RPdsAL._SX522_.jpg  Evanescence – Synthesis Live – (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
  • 81GSD64tv0L._SX522_  Nazareth – Tattooed on my Brain – (Frontiers Record)
  • 51BqXIWsX0L._AC_US436_QL65_  Seventh Wonder – Tiara – (Frontiers Record)
  • 81pOu3lDOCL._SX522_.jpg  Imperllitteri – The Nature of the Beast – (Frontiers Record)
  • 71gM8z8h7QL._SX522_  City of Thieves – Beast Reality – (Frontiers Record)
  • 71sWDhwaRML._SX522_  Creye – Creye – (Frontiers Record)
  • 81mu9XvjxML._AC_UL115_  Eric Clapton – Happy Xmas – (Bushbranch/Surfdog)
  • 41cGdmvrV0L._SS500  Young the Giant – Mirror Master – (Elektra)
  • 512S+VNZwlL._AC_US436_QL65_  Edie Brickell & New Bohemians – Rocket – (Verve Forecast)
  • 71NkozUUzaL._AC_UL115_.jpg  Graham Parker – Cloud Symbols – (100% Records)
  • 81fgAt+w9vL._SX522_  Atreyu – In Our Wake – (Spinefarm Records)
  • 51JfdCwUb4L._AC_US436_QL65_  John Hiatt – The Eclipse Sessions – (New West Records)

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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Friday New Releases – June 8th

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Happy Friday and welcome to this week’s list of notable releases…at least notable in my book.  There is only one MUST HAVE and a couple others I will get to as well.  Take a look and let me know what you are looking forward to and what I might have missed.  My choices are highlighted in Blue.

  • 4846771  Tremonti – A Dying Machine – (Napalm Records):  The Creed and Alter Bridge guitarist strikes out on his own with his other band Tremonti.  This time he takes on lead vocals and fronts one hellavu hard rock band.  If you are a fan, then this is a MUST HAVE in your collection as it is mine.  The band bring us their fourth album…that is right…their fourth and we can never get enough.

  • 51ePleVw4rL._SY300_QL70_  Sunstorm – The Road to Hell – (Frontier Records):  The great Joe Lynn Turner brings his vocals to the band’s fifth album and the man can still sing at just 66 years young.  The Hackensack-ack-ack-ack born singer has fronted a few bands you might have heard about…Rainbow and Deep Purple.  He still brings the fire and intensity with Sunstorm.  Check them out.

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Turntables & Vinyl #14 – #RSD 2018

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Record Store Day is upon us.  It is April 21st, 2018 and I can’t believe I stood in line to get vinyl in 40ºF temperature.  It could be worse, it could be freezing & raining.  Thankfully, it was absolutely beautiful and sunny…just cold.

My daughter and I were tackling it again this year.  This time my daughter had something in mind she wanted.  I called the Record Store on Friday and asked if they had the album she wanted and he said he didn’t see it.  So, we made a plan to divide and conquer.  I asked my daughter to call a friend to see if they were stupid enough to stand outside with her at Lunchbox Records while I stood in line at Repo Records 5 minutes down the road.

We arrived at 7am (which means we left the house at 6:15am since it is a 45 minute drive to the record stores – we live in the boonies).  We decided on 7am since last year we arrived at 8am and the store lines were awful (except at Repo).  I get my daughter and her friend over to Lunchbox right at 7am and the line is not that long.  They jump out and get in line and I head over to the other store.

Repo Records line was shorter than Lunchbox and so I jumped in line.  Now the 2 hour wait since the stores didn’t open until 9am.  After chatting with everyone around me and everyone discussing what they were there for and what bands they liked and concerts they had seen, the doors opened.  The time flew by.  That was an enjoyable 2 hours…wait…it hadn’t been 2 hours.  The store opened a little early at 8:40am.  There is a God!! (yes, there truly is but that is another discussion).

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My Sunday Song – “Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy” by David Bowie & Bing Crosby

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My Sunday Song #71 is “Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy” sung by David Bowie & Bing Crosby.  Since tomorrow is Christmas, why not do a Christmas song and this is one of my favorites as I thought the combination of these two was weird and beautiful at the same time.  It covered two different generations as you had the newer generation for Bowie and the old fogeys (I was young when this came out) could enjoy Bing Crosby.

The song was recorded on September 11, 1977 for an Bing Crosby television special that was coming soon. From what I have read about the song, David didn’t really want to sing Little Drummer Boy as he didn’t like the song.  In a panic, the “Peace On Earth” part was written to appease Bowie and it was mixed in with the song.  Whatever the reason, the two pieces together are pure Christmas magic.  I found an article on the story behind the song by Gary Shannon.  (Click on his name to go read the article).

I am not going to ramble on about the song as I will let it speak for itself.  Plus, Christmas is tomorrow so go spend time with you friends and/or family.  Merry Christmas!!

 

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T-Shirts, T-Shirts, T-Shirts #2 – A Family Affair

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Welcome back to T-Shirts, T-Shirts, T-Shirts.  I didn’t expect to do another post so soon, but the Rock T-Shirt collection has taken a little twist.  It has become a family affair.  Not only have I been buying, but now my kids have to have band T-Shirts as well.

My oldest daughter is the worst.  Almost as bad as I am.  She has some concert T’s and now she has quite a few band shirts as well.  Here are her concert shirts for Ed Sheeran, James Bay and Tori Kelly…

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Friday New Releases – September 29th

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Welcome to the last Friday New Releases of the month.  There are too many new releases this week and no way to even come close to listening to it all.  There a handful I will attempt to get to and those will be highlighted in Blue, but doesn’t mean there aren’t others on this list I don’t want to hear.  I have to some way prioritize the listening choices.  I am sure there is something on here that you will find exciting.  Let me know what you are interested in getting.

  • 91+F7bRBJkL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg  Shania Twain – Now – (Universal Nashville):  Oh Shania, how we have missed you.  Back with her first album in 15 YEARS!!!.  I have heard a couple songs off the album and haven’t been overly impressed so I am little worried about this one.  My wife and I enjoy Shania and went saw her in concert about 2 years ago and we also had “From This Moment” played at our wedding.  As a result, I will give this a listen despite my hesitations.

  • 51-RUWDsUjL._AC_US218_  Black Stone Cherry – Black to Blues EP – (Mascot Label Group): The Southern Hard Rock band is bringing us a little EP to hold us over until their next album…I am so cool with that.  They don’t seem to ever disappoint and I could use a good old rock album about now.

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