LYNYRD SKYNYRD
STREET SURVIVORS
1977-MCA
Produced By TOM DOWD, JIMMY JOHNSON & TIM SMITH
1. What's Your Name
2. That Smell
3. One More Time
4. I Know A Little
5. You Got That Right
6. I Never Dreamed
7. Honky Tonk Night Time Man
8. Ain't No Good Life
The 5th album by Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the last before the plane crash. The band was moving into a new direction with the addition of new guitarist Steve Gaines. The album starts with the 2 big hits, "What's Your Name" and "That Smell". "One More Time" was recorded previously before Gaines joined...but after that, it's Gaines' album. All of the remaining tracks were written by Gaines except for the Merle Haggard cover "Honky Tonk Night Time Man", with Gaines sharing the lead vocal with Ronnie Van Zant on "You Got That Right". He also sings lead on the last song, "Ain't No Good Life", the only pre crash song to not have a Van Zant vocal on it. The band loved Gaines, and Van Zant said that they'd all be in his shadow one day. Bottom line...this is a great album. Great songs, great guitars.
The original album cover with the flames has been restored after many years. Later versions have bonus tracks, including "Jacksonville Kid", Van Zant's last vocal recording. Skynyrd has endured many tragedies over the years, and continues to play with only one remaining original member (Guitarist Gary Rossington). It would have been interesting to see where they would have gone from Street Survivors, but we'll never know. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
T BONE WALKER
THE COMPLETE IMPERIAL RECORDINGS 1950-1954
1991-EMI
Produced By PETE WELDING
T Bone Walker was maybe the most important blues guitarist of all time. Among those who cited him as an influence are BB King, Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, and Duane Allman. He is most famous for "Stormy Monday", but released many classic songs during his career. This 2 disc, 72 song compilation covers his years with Imperial Records. One of the first to record on electric guitar (and a protege of Blind Lemon Jefferson), his style is heard everywhere in blues to this day. Every song here is stamped with his signature sound and excellent fretwork, and he was clearly laying the groundwork for rock & roll blues years later.
Walker didn't record much after 1954, but he did release some music. He died in 1975, but is still a major influence today. If you love electric blues, this album is a treasure of great music. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
VAN HALEN
VAN HALEN II
1979-WARNER BROS
Produced By TED TEMPLEMAN
1. You're No Good
2. Dance The Night Away
3. Somebody Get Me A Doctor
4. Bottoms Up!
5. Outta Love Again
6. Light Up The Sky
7. Spanish Fly
8. D.O.A.
9. Women In Love...
10. Beautiful Girls
First of all, I don't like David Lee Roth much. His squealing scream is the most annoying I've ever heard. I'm also not a big fan of Eddie Van Halen's guitar style. While he did bring something fairly new to the table, he also spawned a generation of agonizing guitar players who squealed almost as much as Roth. That said, Van Halen II is still a good album. All of the songs except for 2 were from a 1975 demo they recorded with Gene Simmons of KISS, and while none of them really stand out except for "Beautiful Girls", they are a solid group of songs. The album opens with a curious cover of "You're No Good" (which had recently been a huge hit for Linda Ronstadt), followed by the only song actually written specifically for the album, "Dance The Night Away".
Roth seems under control for a good part of the album, and Eddie's guitar histrionics are not as crazy. Alex Van Halen's drums are excellent, and Mark Anthony, the best backup singer in rock, is solid as well. The album was recorded in 6 days, which seems to have given it a good live feel. To me, this is the most consistently listenable album of the Roth era, and was proof that they were not just a one album wonder. This is actually very good. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
1992-EPIC ASSOCIATED
Produced By RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE & GGGARTH
1. Bombtrack
2. Killing In The Name
3. Take The Power Back
4. Settle For Nothing
5. Bullet In The Head
6. Know Your Enemy
7. Wake Up
8. Fistful Of Steel
9. Township Rebellion
10. Freedom
"No samples, keyboards or synthesizers used in the making of this record" Just one reason to love the debut album from Rage. A powerful mix of metal and rap, political messages and great songs, this is one of the better albums of the 90's. They didn't make another one for 4 years, and ended up with only 3 albums of original music, but what they did do was awesome. "Killing In The Name" is instantly recognizable, but there isn't a single weak track to be found.
They've been on hiatus since 2011, with no word of possible new material any time soon. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
BILLIE HOLIDAY
THE QUINTESSENTIAL BILLIE HOLIDAY VOL 3 (1936-37)
1988-COLUMBIA
Produced By JOHN HAMMOND & BERNIRE HANIGHEN
1. Who Loves You?
2. Pennies From Heaven
3. That's Life I Guess
4. I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Baby)
5. One Never Knows-Does One?
6. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
7. If My Heart Could Only Talk
8. Please Keep Me In Your Dreams
9. He Ain't Got Rhythm
10. This Year's Kisses
11. Why Was I Born
12. I Must Have That Man
13. The Mood That I'm In
14. You Showed Me The Way
15. Sentimental And Melancholy
16. My Last Affair
Billie Holiday never had an easy time of it. From her birth to her death, she went through it. But she could sing. This series covers her early years, and this volume hits the songs she recorded before drugs started taking her voice away. She was a stunning talent, with more emotion and pure skill than anyone else of her time. The tracks here are all beautifully done, full of passion and life that only Billie Holiday could add to a song. These aren't her most famous songs, but she did a lot more great work than just "God Bless The Child", "Strange Fruit", and "Lady Sings The Blues". If you're a fan of Billie, then you'll love this.
Such great music from a woman in so much pain. From her birth into a broken home, prostitution, drugs, bad marriages, and finally, to her death at 44 in a hospital under arrest for posession...with 70 cents in the bank...Billie Holiday still gave some of the greatest music we have. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND
DREAMS
1989-POLYDOR
VARIOUS PRODUCERS
Disc 1
1. Shapes Of Things (The Allman Joys)
2. Spoonful (The Allman Joys)
3. Crossroads (The Allman Joys)
4. Cast Off All My Fears (Hour Glass)
5. Down In Texas (Hour Glass)
6. Ain't No Good To Cry (Hour Glass)
7. BB King Medley (Hour Glass)
8. Morning Dew (The 31st Of February)
9. God Rest His Soul (The 31st Of February)
10. I Feel Free (The Second Coming)
11. She Has Funny Cars (The Second Coming)
12. Goin' Down Slow (Duane Allman)
13. Dreams
14. Don't Want You No More
15. It's Not My Cross To Bear
16. Trouble No More
17. Dreams
Disc 2
1. Statesboro Blues
2. Hoochie Coochie Man
3. Midnight Rider
4. Dimples
5. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town
6. Revival
7. One More Ride
8. Whipping Post
9. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed
10. Drunken Hearted Boy
Disc 3
1. You Don't Love Me/Soul Serenade
2. Blue Sky
3. Little Martha
4. Melissa
5. Ain't Wastin' Time No More
6. Wasted Words
7. Ramblin' Man
8. Southbound
9. Jessica
10. Midnight Rider (Gregg Allman)
11. One Way Out
12. Long Time Gone (Dickie Betts)
Disc 4
1. Can't Lose What You Never Had
2. Come And Go Blues (The Gregg Allman Band)
3. Bougainvillea (Dickey Betts & Great Southern)
4. Can You Fool (Allman & Woman)
5. Good Time Feeling (Dickey Betts & Great Southern)
6. Crazy Love
7. Can't Take It With You
8. Just Ain't Easy
9. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed
10. Angeline
11. Things You Used To Do
12. Nancy (Dickey Betts)
13. Rain (Gregg Allman)
14. I'm No Angel (The Gregg Allman Band)
15. Demons (The Gregg Allman Band)
16. Duane's Tune (The Dickey Betts Band)
All songs by The Allman Brothers Band unless noted otherwise.
Wow. This may be one of the finest rock & roll box sets ever. Starting with several pre Allman Bros. groups, there are several great covers of songs by Cream, The Yardbirds, and Jefferson Airplane. Of the Allman Brothers tracks, many live performances here, as well as all of the hits. Solo projects of Gregg, Duane, and Dickey Betts are covered. They even included a song from Gregg's awful collaboration with Cher!
This box has everything. If you dig the Allmans, this is heaven in a box. Excellent choices, great arrangement, awesome notes, good looking...you can't ask for better for one of the best bands ever. It's costly, but well worth every penny. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
THE BLACK KEYS
ATTACK & RELEASE
2008-NONESUCH
Produced By DANGER MOUSE
1. All You Ever Wanted
2. I Got Mine
3. Strange Times
4. Psychotic Girl
5. Lies
6. Remember When (Side A)
7. Remember When (Side B)
8. Same Old Thing
9. So He Won't Break
10. Oceans And Streams
11. Things Ain't Like They Used To Be
Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are the Black Keys, and this is their 5th studio album. Their work with Danger Mouse began as a project with Ike Turner, but that was scrapped when Turner died in late 2007. They came out with this, which sounds nothing like anything Turner would have had a hand in.
On previous albums, the Keys were more about songs. Here, it's more about the overall sound. And while this album sounds great, the songs just don't grab you the way they did on previous albums. "I Got Mine", "Psychotic Girl" and "Strange Times" are immediate highlights, and everything sounds really cool. The last track is a duet with the then 17 year old country singer Jessica Lea Mayfield. You'll love the way this album sounds, you just will have a hard time remembering any of the songs on it. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
ELVIS PRESLEY
ROCKER
1984-RCA
Production Credits Not Listed
1. Jailhouse Rock
2. Blue Suede Shoes
3. Tutti Frutti
4. Lawdy Miss Clawdy
5. I Got A Woman
6. Money Honey
7. Ready Teddy
8. Rip It Up
9. Shake, Rattle & Roll
10. Long Tall Sally
11. (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care
12. Hound Dog
For those who like Elvis but want to hear him rock without the soupy ballads...here you are. Rocker was a short lived compilation that presents Elvis singing rock songs only. The songs are all from 1956-57, many of them successful for other artists at the time as well (Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Carl Perkins). He's called the King of Rock & Roll, and while I don't buy that, this at least presents his case.
Rocker is also quick...at only 25 minutes, it's all the Elvis you should want at one time. If you want "Love Me Tender", go someplace else. It's good to be able to hear him rock for 25 minutes straight without breaking into a croon. And the songs are all important 50's rock pieces. Well worth the time. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
CHEAP TRICK
HEAVEN TONIGHT
1978-EPIC/LEGACY
Produced By TOM WERMAN
1. Surrender
2. On Top Of The World
3. California Man
4. High Roller
5. Auf Wiedersehen
6. Takin' Me Back
7. On The Radio
8. Heaven Tonight
9. Stiff Competition
10. How Are You?
11. Oh Claire
If you didn't like Cheap Trick in the late 70's, you can leave now. Unless you weren't born yet. Heaven Tonight is their 3rd album, and their best work. "Surrender" became their first US hit (they were already the equivalent of The Beatles in Japan, and pretty much still are), and from there the great songs keep on coming. A smart cover of The Move's "California Man" is included, and every song shows a hungry band deep in hooks. Every song is a highlight, and this is one of the best power pop albums ever made. The two bonus tracks are pure garbage...horrible vocals over alternative versions. People...if it wasn't good enough to be on the album 30 years ago, leave it on the floor where it belongs.
Heaven Tonight was also the first album recorded with 12 string bass. The original band is still together (sort of), although the songs dried up quickly after this album. But in the mid to late 70's, there was nobody better than Cheap Trick. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
RAY CHARLES
GREATEST COUNTRY & WESTERN HITS
1988-DCC
VARIOUS PRODUCERS
1. Your Cheating Heart
2. Hey Good Lookin'
3. Take These Chains From My Heart
4. Don't Tell Me Your Troubles
5. I Can't Stop Loving You
6. Just A Little Lovin' (Will Go A Long Way)
7. It Makes No Difference Now
8. You Don't Know Me
9. You Are My Sunshine
10. I'll Never Stand In Your Way
11. Someday (You'll Want Me To Want You)
12. I Love You So Much It Hurts
13. Careless Love
14. Oh, Lonesome Me
15. Hang Your Head In Shame'
16. Midnight
17. No Letter Today
18. Crying Time
19. Together Again
20. Don't Let Her Know
Between 1962 and 1966, Ray Charles recorded, his own way, a large number of country songs. Most of these are from the albums Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music Vol 1 & 2, with the last 3 tracks being from other albums. This may actually be Ray at his best. Taking songs by Hank Williams, Buck Owens, Don Gibson, and others and turning them into soul music was pure genius, and Charles is up to the task. These are 20 of the best sides recorded in the 60's, period. Charles fills these songs with so much soul and makes them completely his own. An easy one to rate a full blown classic....simply Ray Charles at his best.
The compilation was remixed by Charles himself, after the tapes had sat unused for 25 years. This is great, historic stuff. Buy it. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
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