“Nothin’ But A Good Time: The Uncensored History of the ’80’s Hard Rock Explosion” by Tom Beaujour & Richard Bienstock – Book Review

It took me a long time to finally get to this book as I’ve had it a long while, but life kept getting in the way. When I was on vacation a few weeks back, I was bound and determined to finish this book and man was it a great read. The 80’s Hard Rock Explosion is the music scene I grew up with and is what I am most passionate about so this book was a no-brainer for me. This book was written by journalists Tom Beaujour who was co-founder of Revolver magazine and Richard Bienstock who was a senior editor for Guitar World magazine plus he has been published in Rolling Stone and New York Times. Both very accomplished writers.

These guys go back to the beginning even before the Sunset Strip music scene and we find out what was really happening and how things got started. The craziness, the sex, the drugs, the rock & roll all here in full uncensored glory. There are so many fascinating stories and I loved learning about the musical chairs between band members in the early days with Jake E. Lee jumping from one band to another, Warren DeMartini possibly playing with a band other than Ratt and just who was in Guns N Roses first and who wasn’t….it was so much to keep up with and a blast to read about. There are a cast of characters chapter showing all the people that were interviewed and quoted and it was 7 pages long. If they were part of the scene, they are in here from Steven Adler to Zakk Wylde and everything in between.

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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.
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Friday New Releases – July 9, 2021

We had a slow week last week and this week is a little bit better but neither up to the pace of what we have been seeing and will be seeing in the coming weeks. But there are releases which is always a good thing. I have two I am interested in hearing and maybe even buying. I have highlighted those in Blue. Let me know what you want to hear or what I may have missed that is out today and not on the list. That way everyone can know what all is out today. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful and wild weekend!!

  • 81jltAMY-WL._SX522_  The Wallflowers – Exit Wounds – (New West Records): It has been way too long since the last Wallflower album. The last one from Jakob Dylan and company was way back in 2012 so we are talking 9 years ago…crazy. I am excited to have them back on the scene and this will be the first thing I listen to this morning. Can’t wait to see how they’ve changed since the last one and still hoping for that classic Wallflower sound though!!
  • 81NV-pVM5zS._SX522_  Almost Famous Original Soundtrack (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) – (Geffen Records): In what might be one of my all time favorite movies, I am excited it see this massive deluxe edition out for the soundtrack. The digital is out today and the 2CD set I believe. The big deluxe albums won’t be out for a few more weeks and they will be 5 CDs or 6LPs worth of music. There will be all the songs from the movie including all the Stillwater tracks plus the demos of those Stillwater tracks with the songwriters singing (such as Nancy Wilson). This should be sweet!!
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Friday New Releases – November 13, 2020

There is only one album this week that even matters. I am not sure why I have the rest on the list. This album is something the world needs in what has been such a crappy year. And we will get to the one in a minute. There are a bunch of other releases this week as the last few weeks have seen an abundance as well so the trend continues. My choice is highlighted in Blue. Let me know what you want to hear and what I may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend. Let’s get to the one that matters!!!

ALBUM OF THE WEEK!!!!

  • 71ZtvcarSPL._SX522_  AC/DC – Power Up – (Columbia Records Group): YES!! AC/DC IS BACK!!! The first single, “Shot in the Dark”, is what we needed and is typical AC/DC. And typical AC/DC is what we need right now. I have the Light Box Special Edition CD on order and it should be here shortly. I can’t wait to plug it in and light up the room and I can’t wait to play the CD cranked up to 11 on the Stereo. I don’t think anything else needs to be said!! Get It and Crank It NOW!!!

And here a few I might listen to when I have time…

  • 71p4UXBxpML._SX522_  Chris Stapleton – Starting Over – (Mercury Nashville)
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Friday New Releases – March 23rd

Happy Friday!  Of course, all Friday’s are happy.  The last day of the work week and new album releases.  What could be better…maybe everyday being a Friday.  There are a handful of albums this week for me and one was on pre-order and should be at my door when I get home from work…yes, it will be a great Friday.  My choices are highlighted in Blue.  Let me know what you are interested in or if I missed anything which happens all the time.  Have a great weekend and enjoy any new music you pick up.

  • 51eohOeVCWL._AC_US436_QL65_  W.E.T. – Earthrage – (Frontiers Records):  Jeff Scott Soto is a busy man between his solo album, Sons of Apollo and now a new W.E.T. album.  And it has been too long since the last one, 5 years I believe since the last studio album and that is way too long.  Jeff’s vocals are what keep me coming back to everything he releases.  With W.E.T., he teams up with Erik Martensson and Robert Sall to form this sensational trio.  The bands this trio is from makes up the name…Work of Art, Eclipse & Talisman…all three great bands in their own right.  If this first song is what we can expect, hold on tight!!  Check them out!

  • 51i8VbzMIkL._SS500  Kip Winger – Solo Box Set Collection – (Frontiers Records):  Kip Winger is such an underrated talent…well at least he used to be.  He is now a Classical Composer (Grammy nominated I think)…pretty cool!  This set is a collection of all his solo works (it isn’t classical music though). We get 5 CDs, the 3 solo albums, an acoustic album (with Winger songs included) and some rare demos and an unreleased track.  Pretty damn fine set of music and worth picking up.  This is what I have on pre-order and should keep me busy for awhile!!  Here is the collections trailer…

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Friday New Releases – October 13th

Here we are on another Friday and another week of great releases.  But before I get into that I just noticed that this is my 400th post since I started.  Crazy to think it I have been able to think of that many things to write about and that people still come to check out the site.  Pretty cool.

Okay back to the post…If you like rock, there is a plethora of new music.  There is probably a little something for everyone.  My choices are highlighted in Blue.  Let me know what you are looking to pick up.  I hope you find something.  Have a great weekend.

  • 61ldUwPrdAL._AC_US218_  Revolution Saints – Light in the Dark – (Frontiers Records):  Frontiers Records has a knack for putting together little supergroups. Most of the time those supergroups only last one album.  Thankfully, Revolution Saints are back with record number two!!  Who is in Revolution Saints you may ask (please ask)?  Well, I am glad you asked…you get Jack Blades (Night Ranger and Damn Yankees), Deen Castronovo (Journey and Ozzy) and Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio, Dead Daisies).  The first album was spectacular and expect more of the same greatness.

  • 71ZApFbDTuL._AC_UL115_  Fozzy – Judas – (Century Media):  When you hear the name Chris Jericho, what is the first thing you think of???  Wrestling??  No, Heavy Metal Music.  Chris has been lead singer of Fozzy for 18 years and they are now on their seventh album with ‘Judas’.  As I always, I look forward to hearing what they bring to the table each time and this time is no different.

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