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”

Richie Sambora – ‘Stranger In This Town’ (1991) – Album Review (The Bon Jovi Collection Series)

While Bon Jovi was on an extended hiatus, Jon Bon Jovi wasn’t the only to put a solo album. The band’s lead guitarist, Richie Sambora, decided to spread his wings and release a solo album as well. Richie would step out of the shadows and take on the lead vocals as well as most of the guitar duties as well. And like Jon on his solo album, Richie brought along a few friends for the ride including fellow Bon Jovi bandmates, Tico Torres and David Bryan. On bass, he had Tony Levin, but he also had Randy Jackson on one song who also worked on Jon’s solo album too. The biggest guest on the album would be one of his idols, Eric Clapton for Mr. Bluesman.

Speaking of Blues, Richie didn’t stick with the same Bon Jovi sound. He shook things up and focused the album on more of a blues sound and I would say he captured it beautifully. The album would be released on September 3, 1991 and would #36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #20 on the UK Charts. He would release 3 singles officially as well as one promo single. None went Top 40, but they still had moderate airplay and one single did hit #13 on the Mainstream Rock Charts. Richie might not have sold as many albums as Jon, but for me had the more interesting album of the two.

My version is a Japanese reissue from 2020 and came with the ever cherished OBI strip as well as a bonus track which is the cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “The Wind Cries Mary”. You can’t have a Japanese edition without a bonus track, then it is just an overpriced copy of the CD. I have to say that I think Bon Jovi isn’t the same without Richie for the reason of his backing vocals (and songwriting abilities). His solo work gives us the chance to hear how well Sambora can sing and a chance for his vocals to be front and center. Too band Bon Jovi, the band, didn’t utilize the two singer approach as it wouldn’ve been awesome. But it is and willl albums be Jon’s band so I get it. I am off on a tangent now, so let’s get back to the album.

The album opens with “Rest in Peace”, an atmospheric, bluesy piece that sees Richie sparsely place the licks as David Bryan gives the orchestrated sounds that give it an ethereal tone. Richie’s vocals are sparse as well, sounding angelic and little sad. The song is more of an opening for “Church of Desire” than a song on its own, but the tone is set and we know this is NOT going to be a Bon Jovi style album. When “Church of Desire” comes bleeding in, the tempo picks up, the bluesy riffs keep coming and Richie’s vocals come in strong. The song is polished, all glossy and perfect production which doesn’t make it pure blues, just dashed with its essence. The solo is exciting as it plays for the song while showcasing the talent he is and then the 2nd solo is pure joy as he takes it to another level. The thing we learn from this song is that Richie’s vocals are better than we ever heard as backing vocals with Bon Jovi.

Continue reading “Richie Sambora – ‘Stranger In This Town’ (1991) – Album Review (The Bon Jovi Collection Series)”

Friday New Releases – June 23, 2023

June has seen some big releases a few that I am really enjoying and might end up in my Top 10 list of records for the year. This week has a ton of releases, although nothing I’m running out and buying just yet (if at all). There are a few I will stream such as the new Ayron Jones record as his last was pretty dang great. If this one is, I might be buying this one. There is also a Candlebox live album and a new Jason Mraz. If you are in to them, there is a new Portugal, The Man album and so much more. Check them out and let me know what you want to hear. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a great weekend!

  • A15ppvT55rL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Ayron Jones – Chronicles of the Kid – (Big Machine Records / John Varvatos Records)
  • 91ecp0lCtwL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Candlebox – Live at the Neptune Theatre – (Pavement Music)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – June 23, 2023”

You Picked It! – Ozzy Osbourne – ‘Patient Number 9’ (2022) – Album Review

Alright…You Picked It! And this one I thought was going to be a blowout as Ozzy jumped out front right out of the gate, but others gained ground. In the end, Ozzy held on and never lost its #1 ranking. Therefore the winner was Ozzy Osbourne’s – ‘Patient Number 9’ which is a new release and not one I’ve actually bought yet…will this make me run out and buy it? We will see. Here are the results.

  1. Ozzy Osbourne – ‘Patient Number 9’ – 10 votes
  2. Joy Division – ‘Unknown Pleasures’ – 5 votes
  3. The Darkness – ‘Permission to Land’ – 5 votes
  4. Loretta Lynn – ‘Van Lear Rose’ – 3 votes
  5. Peter Gabriel – ‘So’ – 2 votes

Thanks to all for participating. The November choices will be up on Saturday! And the choices are changing as they are all now from my collection and will have a loose theme.

OZZY OSBOURNE – ‘PATIENT NUMBER 9’ (2022):

Ozzy started work on this album about 2 years ago, just days after the release of the stellar “Ordinary Man” release in 2020. I really liked that album so this one had some big shoes to fill. You keep seeing pictures of Ozzy in the media and you think to yourself, how is this man still alive. He looks like death is standing next to him, tapping him on the shoulder. However, when you hear the last album and this one, you realize, there is still plenty of life in the Prince of Darkness.

This album sees Ozzy bring back in a ton of old friends as we have guest appearances from Jeff Beck, Mike McCreedy, Eric Clapton and his old Sabbath bandmate, Tony Iommi. And if that wasn’t enough, former Ozzy guitarist Zakk Wylde is back on guitar for four of the 13 tracks. So, 10 of the 13 tracks all have a special guest, those last 3 do not. But the listed special guests are only the tip of the iceberg as there are some big names playing on this album. And speaking of 13 tracks, this album feels long…very long as it runs over an hour long…that is a lot of Ozzy.

Continue reading “You Picked It! – Ozzy Osbourne – ‘Patient Number 9’ (2022) – Album Review”

Friday New Releases – June 24, 2022

With over 60 albums released today, you would think I would find something I had to buy. However, you’d be wrong. There are things I will eventually give a listen, but nothing I am running out to buy. That doesn’t mean there isn’t anything good. There are a ton. And I am sure, as a result, you would find something in this batch of stellar releases. Let me know what you want to hear or what I may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

  • 81RjYMOky6L._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Black Stone Cherry – Live From the Royal Albert Hall… Y’all – (Mascot Label Group)
  • 71hIuy3yYZL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Coheed & Cambria – Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind – (Roadrunner Records / Elektra Records)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – June 24, 2022”

Friday New Releases – November 12, 2021

Happy Friday!! Another week gone by and only 6 more Fridays until Christmas!! Can you believe it? There are a bunch here for you to decide if you want to add some things to your Christmas List. You have a wide variety so hopefully there is something for everyone. I only have a couple I am really interested and they are in Bold. Let me know what you want to hear or maybe what we may have missed so everyone knows about it that stops by and checks out the list. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful and exciting weekend.

  • 81Q5sUh0asL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak) – An Evening with Silk Sonic – (Aftermath Entertainment / Atlantic): First up for me is Silk Sonic. You get the both Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak in one band and let me tell you it doesn’t get any smoother than that!! I really loved the first single “Leave the Door Open” and it has made me so excited for this release!! This will get my weekend going.
  • 71HVud5EPQL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Taylor Swift – Red (Taylor’s Version) – (Republic Records): Say what you will about her, but she did shake up radio and music in general. Hell, she is one of the only people out there that actually sells massive amounts of physical product. My kids and I decided we would collect these “Taylor Versions” of her re-recordings as there is an abundance of music from the Vault to come with each release. This is her 2nd re-recording and actually a favorite album of the family so we will be grabbing this one.
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – November 12, 2021”

Friday New Releases – August 20, 2021

Happy Friday! We’ve made it through another week and not a moment too soon. I am ready for this weekend. Thankfully, we also have a ton of new releases to listen to this week (like most weeks lately. There are only a couple I really want to hear and I have marked those in Blue. There are others I’m curious about, but we will see if I have the time. Check out all the releases and let me know what you want to hear this week and let me know what album releases I may have missed. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

  • 81bYHjvl9vL._SS500_  Anderson East – Maybe We Never Die – (Low Country Sound / Elektra): Anderson’s last album, ‘Encore’, was exceptional. I am hoping for more of the same. If you like country mixed with soul, R&B and Americana, then this will be right up your alley. Can’t wait to give it a spin.
  • A1V5INA0ecS._SX522_  Switchfoot – Interrobang – (Fantasy Records / Concord): Switchfoot is always labeled as a Christian act, but they are so much more. They are alternative, a little post-grunge and power pop and I like it all. I am also a big fan of Jon Foreman’s vocals. I will be seeing them in concert in a couple months as they open for Needtobreathe so this will be a good show.
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – August 20, 2021”

June 2021 Purchases – Vinyl & CDs

We are now half way through the year, man, that is so hard to believe. Before we know it, the year will be over 2022 will be upon us, but for that, let us see what June had in store for 2 Loud 2 Old Music. The month started off with my youngest daughter and I doing some thrift store shopping. I didn’t expect to be buying any music there, but lo and behold, they actually had some CDs for $1 a piece so I grabbed a few (or more). I got Seal, Jonny Lang, Eric Clapton and David Lanz…

I also picked up a couple of Cheap Trick albums. I had a gift card to Amazon from MyPoints.com and so I picked up Special One on CD and then their latest album finally arrived a month after it was released…it must have been lost In Another World for a little while…

Continue reading “June 2021 Purchases – Vinyl & CDs”

The Original vs. The Cover – “I Shot the Sheriff”

For this time around on The Original vs. The Cover, we are going to discuss the classic song, “I Shot The Sheriff”. The original was by Bob Marley & the Wailers and the cover was by Eric Clapton. Two heavy hitting artists this time around, but which one will come out on top? The song was written by Bob Marley and released back in 1973 on the album ‘Burnin”. Eric released his cover only a year later in 1974 on his album 461 Ocean Boulevard. Marley’s version didn’t chart, but Clapton went all the way to #1 on the U.S. Charts.

The song is supposedly about a man who is harassed by the sheriff and he ends up shooting the officer, but claims it was really self-defense. According to Marly only parts of the song are true, but we don’t which ones. Now in 2012, Bob Marley’s old girlfriend, Esther Anderson, claims the song was about how Marley was opposed to her using birth control. She claimed if you switch the word sheriff with doctor on the 2nd verse, it would make sense. I have to say, I am not sure I believe her, but an interesting twist anyway.

Now, sit back and let’s discuss each song and pick a winner.

BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS

Continue reading “The Original vs. The Cover – “I Shot the Sheriff””

Friday New Releases – November 20, 2020

Another week of a ton of new releases as everyone tries to get their albums out in time for the Christmas rush. And there are quite a few that interest me and one that interests a ton of my fellow blogging friends which is why it is #1 on the list. For those of us in the U.S., this coming week is Thanksgiving and with a year like we’ve had, we do have a lot to be thankful for and now more than ever we should make sure we let everyone know how special they are in our life and what they mean to us. But before we do that, why don’t you check out the releases this week and let me know which ones you want to hear or what I may have missed as everyone needs to know. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend! Oh yeah, my choices are in Blue!!

  • 81EapgdgF4L._SX522_  Iron Maiden – Nights of the Dead, Legacy of the Beast: Live in Mexico City – (Sanctuary Records): I am not a huge Iron Maiden fan, but that doesn’t stop me from listing this as the #1 release of the week. My first thought is that this is yet another live album as Maiden has millions of them it seems. But a friend told me that this one is cool as the track list is so different the last album and there are songs they haven’t done in awhile. I would agree that would make this one worth getting. What are those songs? I don’t remember, but if you are real fan, you will know when you see the track listing. I hope you all enjoy. And yes, I will give it a spin.
  • A1+JpbHIlSL._SS500_  The Wild Feathers – Medium Rarities – (The Wild Feathers): This is my top choice. An album of rare tracks from The Wild Feathers and since I have everything they have done and for the fact that I love rare tracks, demos any thing new by a band, this has been ordered and on its way. Oh yeah, and it will be signed by the band!!! Cool stuff. And if you want to know, they are a little country, a little folk, a little southern rock and a whole lot of awesome.
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – November 20, 2020”