Friday New Releases – October 14, 2022

Welcome to another Friday New Releases. We have a bunch here for you this week, I mean a ton…over 50 coming your way. I am sure there will be something for everyone on this one. Have a few I want to hear and I will mark those in Blue. Let me know what you want to hear this week and what we may have missed as that does happen believe it or not. I’m not as perfect as you think I am…really!! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

And this one won’t have videos for all them as the time I’m writing, I’m still recuperating and still uncomfortable.

  • 81jObf5RGOL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Skid Row – The Gang’s All Here – (earMusic / Edel Music & Entertainment): Skid Row is doing something they haven’t done since Sebastian Bach left the band and that is have people optimistically anticipating a new album. That is all because they now have Eric Gronwell (formerly of the band H.E.A.T.) as their lead singer. Hell, I want to hear it now as I love Eric. Can’t wait for this one.
  • 81v5MgKJ5XL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Alter Bridge – Pawns & Kings – (Napalm Records): Mark Tremonti and Myles Kennedy return with another album. I will admit, I have been a little bored lately with their releases. Now, I love Tremonti releases and Myles solo stuff, but Alter Bridge has left me with a feeling somethings missing. Hopefully this will recapture some of the early magic.
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“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.

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

Skid Row – ‘B-Side Ourselves E.P.’ – Album Review

Skid Row were two albums in and after 1991’s ‘Slave to the Grind’ going #1, there were riding high. Little did they know that the rug was about to be pulled out from under them thanks to the likes of Nirvana. But that didn’t stop them from releasing material to keep the fans happy. They released an E.P. which was a collection of covers and a collection of B-Sides from previous singles. This an idea that today band’s like Halestorm do between albums…the only difference is the Halestorm covers are not B-Sides. Still glad they do it.

The album came out on September 22, 1992 almost 30 years ago. My version is not an original copy, but a re-issue released on October 17, 2017. This release is part of the Rhino Rocktober’s 2017 and is limited to 3,000 copies worldwide. It comes with original inner-sleeve and vinyl disc in charcoal black poly-lined inner whatever the hell that means. The vinyl is silver…or maybe gray…either way, it is nice…

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Friday New Releases – December 3, 2021

Welcome to December and its beginning to look a lot like Christmas. If you need some gift ideas, you might know some people that will want new music so here is the latest batch of new releases. If you are interested, I would take the Skid Row box set if you are thinking of getting me something. If not, I would still like the box set! HA!! Otherwise, there is nothing I am interested in this week. Take a look through and see what you may like and let me know what interests you or if we missed anything. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.

  • 51y4W2gcKtL._AC_UY436_QL65_  Skid Row – The Atlantic Years (1989-1996) Box Set – (BMG Rights): The collection includes seven 180-Gram Audiophile vinyl LPs, including the band’s multi-million selling, worldwide-charting first three studio albums, plus the B-Side Ourselves EP and the live EP, Subhuman Beings on Tour!!, which was previously only available on CD in Japan. It is now being made available globally and on vinyl for the first time ever. I want this but not sure I if it is worth it yet.

And all the rest…

  • 51WzSEJfyPL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  U2 – Achtung Baby (30th Anniversary) – (Island Records / Universal)
  • 61YPCu5LAxL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  Tom Morello – The Atlas Underground Flood – (Comandante / Mom+Pop)
  • A1QLtC-mRxL._AC_UL640_FMwebp_QL65_  Of Mice and Men – Echo – (Sharptone)
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Tuesday’s Memes – Skid Row

Will he or won’t he?  That is the question.  Will Sebastian Bach re-join Skid Row?  Who knows and really, who the hell cares.  If you want to hear Skid Row songs, go see Sebastian Bach perform live.  If you want to hear the band Skid Row, go see the band…also, can you name one member of Skid Row that isn’t Sebastian Bach?  I didn’t think so.  So to celebrate the band, here are a collection of memes from around the internet, I hope you enjoy!!

Sebastian Bach…

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November Purchases – Vinyl

First off, November does not have the amount of Purchases as October had as October was an anomaly…which I actually bought the album “Anomaly” by Ace Frehley last month so it was a double anomaly, if that is possible.  November was a more normal month of purchases.  And I am thankful for that. I am thankful for a lot of things.  Oh, and by the way…Happy Thanksgiving!!

I started off the month going back to Noble Records over in Matthews, NC.  They have been open for two months and I have been twice.  I think a regular monthly stop is what I should do and is what I am going to do.  As usual with Noble (even on his Pop-Up stores), I always walk away with some fantastic stuff and this trip was no different. This time, I only walked away with 3 Vinyl and they are great stuff.  They are all 80’s releases and actual 80’s vinyl, not re-issues.  And there are NO TURKEYS in this bunch. (Sorry bad Thanksgiving joke!!!)

First up is the debut album from the band Twisted Sister.  The album is ‘Under the Blade’ and it is the Italian release of the album by Secret Records.  It is also the original mix of the album and not the re-mixed version Atlantic Records released which I didn’t realize when I bought so thank’s to Scott at HMO for that information.

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The 2nd LP was the debut from the band Skid Row simply called Skid Row.  You know this one. It has “Piece of Me”, “I Remember You”, “18 and Life” as well as “Youth Gone Wild”.  It is a beast of a debut and it isn’t a first pressing, but it is the Columbia House Record Club version.  Remember that, for just $.01 you get like a bajillion albums if you buy 500 within two years…something like that.  It is mint shape and still has the plastic wrapper on it.

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The last one from Noble is Europe’s ‘Final Countdown’ album.  I am so sick of the song “Final Countdown”, that I had put off buying this one for years.  Well, Noble had one in one of the best shapes I have seen and at a decent price.  Also, still in the plastic wrapping.  So, I finally bit the bullet and added to the collection.  I am up to 5 vinyl releases for Europe and still a few more to go.

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Next up is one I finally grabbed from my WishList on Amazon.  I keep a list of albums I am looking to obtain and if the price ever gets right, I grab it.  This one I grabbed because it is a new release and it fell below my $15 threshold.  It actually wound up being only $14 for a 2LP set.  It is not my favorite Billy Idol album which is why I was waiting to grab it at the right price. It is his latest Re-Mix album Re-Vitalized.  I needed it to help complete my Billy Idol collection.  Still need a few more though before I am done.

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And then next up was a Record Show at the Fillmore here in Charlotte…at least I thought it was a record show.  It turns out it was market for mostly vintage clothing and jewelry.  Dang it!  I saw it advertised by Hardy Boy Records and Comics who have a shop over in Mint Hill so I thought it was going to be this huge record show. Wrong.  However, I wasn’t disappointed as I picked up a ton of stuff from the Hardy Boy’s booth as he never disappoints. If you are in or around Charlotte check out the shop at11237 Lawyers Rd in Mint Hill, NC.

Let’s start with the some Motley Crue.  I found The Dirt still sealed for $16.  I have avoided buying it because it is usually over $20 and I don’t like the new songs that much, but I figured for that price why not.  I also found a 12″ Picture Disc of Helter Skelter with the poster…Really cool…

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Next up is a classic Punk record I have been wanting for a while and finally found one in good shape at a good price.  It is The Clash’s ‘London Calling’.

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Then a couple really interesting pieces.  First up is an album I already have called ‘Love at First Sting” by the Scorpions…I don’t have it with this cover though!!  And for $6…sold!

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Next is one that is a round album cover with a blue vinyl which is really strange because yellow and black would have made more sense for an album color since the album is Stryper’s ‘Yellow and Black Attack’.

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And lastly is an album I have rarely seen it and it is usually north of $75.  This one was $15 all because someone named Lori wrote her name on the album cover.  Thanks Lori for saving me at least $60.  It is Kiss – ‘Smashes, Thrashes & Hits’.

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And that is it!  Sorry, no CD purchases this month.  Maybe next month!

Since I don’t post on Saturday, generally and tomorrow is a New Release Friday, I am doing my Purchase Summary today.  Which means, if I grab anything tomorrow for Record Store Day Black Friday, it will be in the December Summary.  I hope that is okay to have purchases from the wrong month included.  Don’t sue me, I am giving you a disclaimer with plenty of advance notice.

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

 

My Sunday Song – “I Remember You” by Skid Row

For My Sunday Song #94, “I Remember You” by Skid Row is the next power ballad on the list.  The song came out in November 1989 and by 1990 it was a huge success. It made it to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and ended up in being played at every high school’s prom according to Sebastian Bach in interview with SleazeRoxx.com.  Who doesn’t remember dancing to this song (well, I don’t because I had already graduated high school three years earlier).

What band wasn’t doing power ballads back in the day, so why is this one so special? Well, it is easy.  It is Sebastian Bach’s vocals.  He delivered such a powerful, heartfelt, emotional performance of the song written by fellow bandmates Rachel Bolan and Dave Sabo.  Now, Scotti Hill also laid down a killer guitar in the middle of the song that could stand up with any of the time.  It was lethal combination.  If you saw them live and this song came on, your lighter would be flickering as you raised your arm high into the air with everyone else in the building.

The song’s lyrics reflect a sadness and regret for a long lost love.  A longing for the times together and Bach captures that essence perfectly.  Rob Affuso’s drumming is strong and underlines the song with a punch that helps lift the ballad to another level.  There is no denying this was one of the best power ballads to come out of the whole movement.  I find it just as good today as it was back then.

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