January 2022 Purchases – Vinyl & Cds

Welcome to the first round of purchases for 2022. Yes, I know, it never seems to end…my wife and wallet keep telling me that, but I don’t listen…obviously. And this week was another stellar month and a few really good deals as well…at least I think so. The first set of purchases were from gift cards left over from Christmas that I hadn’t spent and it was tough to decide. First I went with a vinyl I had been wanting for awhile and finding an original vinyl pressing was going to be expense so I went withe re-issue from Music on Vinyl for Extreme!!

The other items I picked up on those gift cards were the studio albums I was missing for Robbie Williams…I figured no time better than to complete that collection so I did. There were four left and here they are… Now I just need to the rare stuff that I am missing…challenge accepted!!

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Classic Rock is Dying!

I am starting to feel old.  Why you might ask?  Well, I will tell you and it is not that I turned 50 last year.  It is not that my kids are growing up too fast.  Okay, that is part of it.  The main reason is that all the musicians I grew up listening to are now starting to die.  Not by drug addiction or overdosing. Nope, those are generally younger rockers and although sad, it doesn’t make me feel old.  The musicians are now dying of natural causes due in part to old age.  They are getting cancer or having heart attacks…you know…normal things that tend to happen when you are older.

Recently, we have seen the deaths of Eddie Money and Ric Ocasek who were both in their 70’s when they passed.  Let that sink in.  They were in their 70’s.  When I listened to them growing up, their music was mainstream.  Not today.  They fall under the Classic Rock category.  I loved both Eddie Money’s and The Cars’ music.  I remember sitting in my basement watching MTV and seeing Eddie scream out “Take Me Home Tonight” and The Cars “You Might Think” video which is one of the most innovative music videos ever done (at least at the time).

Their deaths brought to light a real issue that the world is facing.  The heroes of the classic rock era of the late 60’s, the 70’s & the 80’s are getting a lot older and won’t be around much longer.  Soon, we won’t be catching these acts on tour or won’t even have any new material be released.  The iconic music makers will be dying and the music of generations will start to fade away.  When that happens, how many radio stations will play Classic Rock anymore?  Think about it…there are no stations specific to the 40’s, the 50’s or even the 60’s music (ok, maybe unless you have Satellite Radio).  Some of the 60’s will fall under Classic Rock, but not the early 60’s music.  Gone.  Classic Rock’s days are numbered.

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Friday New Releases – July 19th

Things might finally start heating up.  No, not the weather it has been pretty damn hot for awhile. I am talking about new releases.  What has felt as a pretty lackluster year so far in new releases, maybe it is time for some good ones to start coming out.  I have 2 this week, one of which is on pre-order and the vinyl should be there when I get home.  My choices this week are marked in Blue. Let me know what you want to hear or if I missed anything.  Have a great weekend!!!

  • 915+NFr-JoL._SS500_  Scott Stapp – The Space Between the Shadows – (Napalm Records):  The former lead singer of Creed and the very short stint with Art of Anarchy, Scott comes back with his third solo album.  It has been 6 years since the sensational ‘Proof of Life’, so high expectations for me as that is a favorite.  I have the vinyl on order and can’t wait to drop the needle.  The opening single, “Purpose of Pain” is great so this should be another homerun.

  • 912ZvH1ZnPL._SS500_  Through Fire – All Animal – (Sumerian Records):  Justin  McCain, lead singer of Emphatic, is on his second band and second album with Through Fire’s new album ‘All Animal’.  The first was a heavy dose of rock that is right up my alley.  Looking for more of the same and will be cranking this one up pretty damn loud!!

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Ace Frehley – ‘Spaceman’ – Album Review

In the last 10 years, Ace has been quite productive with four solo albums, including this one over that time span.  How many albums has Kiss put out (studio albums, not greatest hits or live albums)?  Only 2 with no signs of anything new coming.  I would say Ace is winning in this category.

Ace’s new album is a throwback of sorts.  Let’s start with that cover.  The cover is paying homage to the photo shoot from his 1978 Kiss solo album which was 40 years ago.  Here is the picture I found on pinterest…

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The album title as well is a throwback to his days as “The Spaceman” in the Band.  He will always be the Spaceman in my book (even though Tommy Thayer is killing it as that character in the band now).

The whole album has a reflective feel to it.  As Ace has gotten older (and sober), he seems to be reflecting on the past and with songs like “Bronx Boy” and “Rockin’ with the Boys” (the first two singles) you definitely get that feeling that he now appreciates his past, embraces it and thinks fondly of it.  Heck, even the cover song he does, “I Wanna Go Back” (Eddie Money cover), is looking back.  And makes me think he wants the Kiss job again.

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