Friday New Releases – April 26, 2024

This is a big week for me. Two of my favorite artists are releasing 40th Anniversary Editions of their biggest albums. First, Def Leppard and ‘Pyromania’ and Billy Idol with ‘Rebel Yell’. Yes, I ordered both and they are on their way. Can’t wait to dive in to this and here the previously unreleased material. If those don’t shake your tree, there are ton more new releases this week that are actually new releases. Let us know what you want to hear or what we may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

  • Def Leppard – Pyromania 40th Anniversary Box Set – (Mercury Records)
  • Billy Idol – Rebel Yell (40th Anniversary Expanded Edition) – (Universal Music)
  •  Pet Shop Boys – Nonetheless – (Parlophone Records / x2 Recordings Ltd)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – April 26, 2024”

Journey – ‘Turn the Page: Live in Atlanta, GA’ (Bootleg)’ (2006) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)

Journey were on a massive Stadium Tour with Def Leppard in 2006. Journey’s lead singer, Steve Augeri had struggled with throat issues and was really having a hard time vocally. The decision was made by Neal Schon to replace Steve and he needed someone he knew could handle the Journey catalog. Luckily for Neal, he had been working with Jeff Scott Soto in their supergroup Soul SirkUs and knew he was the man for the job. Neal called Jeff and there was no way Jeff could say no, it was a dream of his to sing with Journey. He had already been working with Neal, but now he could do it and sing those classic Journey songs, No way he was turning it down.

Jeff got the call and was on a plane the next day and arrived in D.C. on July 5th 2006 and luckily the band had a couple days off, but Jeff had to be ready to sing as the first show with him was on July 7th in Bristow, Virginia. And Jeff was thrown in to the deep end as he didn’t really get to talk with anyone until the day of the show and didn’t even have a setlist for the show until that day and to top that off, he didn’t even get a soundcheck or any real rehearsal with the band…damn that is insane. The only time he had with the band was on the tour bus prior to the show to discuss the set and show. Jeff, of course, survived and continued on with the band.

Jeff’s stint was supposed to be short term, but he was doing so well and the tour was extended until December. Then on December 19, 2006, Jeff was announced as the official new lead singer with the band. His reviews from the tour were glowing and all was going well. There were plans for a new album and work had begun, but by June 2007, it all fell apart rather quickly and as far as Jeff was concerned, unexpectedly. It was announced on June 12, 2007 that Jeff was no longer in the band and the band was going to take the rest of the year off. I don’t think anyone is really sure what happened, but the band eventually wound up with Arnel Pineda who is still with the band today.

Continue reading “Journey – ‘Turn the Page: Live in Atlanta, GA’ (Bootleg)’ (2006) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)”

Dead or Alive’s Pete Burns Dies at 57

The lead singer of Dead or Alive, Pete Burns, dies at age 57 of cardiac arrest.   Pete passed yesterday, Sunday, October 23rd.  The band Dead or Alive was most famous for the 80’s hit “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)”.  The song made it to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1984 and was one of the more fun Pop/Dance songs that came out in the 80’s. It was in heavy rotation on MTV where the band’s look help propel them to success. They had another hit in 1986 that made it to #15 called “Brand New Lover”.  The band didn’t do much more in the states, but they will live in music history as everyone knows that song “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record).

Rest in Peace!