TOM RUSH IN CONCERT / MARCH 28TH 2008

Last night myself and my wife went to a concert that for me was 40 years in the making. Until I heard last November that Tom Rush was coming to Muskegon he was just one on a long list of performers that I figured I'd never be fortunate enough to see perform live, but when I got the newsletter and the concert listing had a Muskegon date on it I was stoked. Once the date was official and tickets went on sale I went to the box office and with a bit of fanagalin' I got front row, center seats! Once I had the tickets it was just a matter of waiting two months or so for March 28th to roll around.

Yesterday I left work early, came home and grabbed the wife and then headed up to Muskegon and El Caminoes for a good meal. After dinner we drove downtown, parked the truck right next to the theatre and went inside. Just as further evidence that I haven't grown up (as if anyone needed more evidence) I had brought along a couple old Tom Rush record jackets (The Circle Game and Tom Rush) with the intention of course of getting the man to sign 'em for me. I had been in contact with him several times since November and he was kind enough to humor me and return my emails. The last one telling me to bring the albums along and meet him at intermission. So, there you go.

Along with that bit of immaturity I also struck up a conversation with the old gentleman handing out the "will Call" tickets while the wife was making a bathroom trip and after a couple minutes of coaxing he went over and took one of the Tom Rush posters off the wall and gave it to me to put in my bag. Thank you sir!

Not long after that the doors opened and we headed for our seats in the front row :-) A couple minutes past 7:30 the gentleman responsible for promoting the concert gave a small talk and then an introduction and Tom walked out on the stage with his cowboy boots and a guitar. For the next 2 1/2 hours, except for a short intermission, he played and sang and told wonderful stories and jokes. He had the whole place laughing and at one point during the encore even singing along with him. Pretty big deal when you figure that even at my age I was one of the younger ones there.

Our seats were smack in front of him and had we been much closer we'd have been sitting on his feet. It was almost like sitting around the campfire.....After about an hour of music and stories there was an intermission so I took my album covers and the wife and headed for the lobby. While she was doing the bathroom thing I hung out and kept my eyes open and sure enough Tom came walking out right where I was standing. So I said "Mr. Rush, I'm Michigan Tom and it's a long overdue pleasure to meet you" He gave a big smile and took the album covers and graciously signed both of them for me plus I had him sign the concert bill too which was pretty cool. We talked for a couple minutes and the wife got to meet him too before I said thanks and let other folks have their turn.

The second half of the show was just as great as the first. I had asked him during intermission that if there was time would he play No Regrets and Rockport Sunday, two of my favorites from The Circle Game and about halfway thru the set he started picking familiar notes and played a great rendition of No Regrets which went directly into Rockport Sunday. I was a happy camper at that point and hated to see the night come to an end. He did a two song encore, got a standing ovation and then he was gone and it was over. I had a great time and the wife seemed to enjoy herself. She didn't know much of anything about Tom Rush before this started so I made her a CD so she could get some time in and hopefully that helped.

I would've liked to have stuck around and maybe talked to him again for a bit but that would've bordered on groupyism so I did the mature thing and headed out the door, very pleased that I got to hear another of my heroes play and sing live.

Here's a couple albums to give you a taste of the width and breath of the man. If you like what you hear go to his website and buy the rest of his stuff. It's all good and if you get a chance to see him live I'd do it if I were you. It'll be a good time and well worth the money.

TRACK LISTING:

Duncan And Brady
I Don't Want Your Millions Mister
San Francisco Bay Blues
Mole's Moan
Rye Whiskey
Big Fat Woman
Nine Pound Hammer
Diamond Joe
Mobile-Texas Line
Joe Turner
Every Day In The Week
Alabama Bound
More Pretty Girls
Sister Kate
Original Talking Blues
Pallet On The Floor
Drop Down Mama
Rag Mama
Barb'ry Allen
Cocaine

REVIEW:

Classic Blues/Folk, June 13, 2000
By: A. Everett Logan (New England, USA) - (Amazon Customer Review)

This is a combination CD made from the original LPs "Got a Mind to Ramble" and "Blues, Songs, Ballads." An excellent example of the blues/folk revival of the early 1960s. The singing, guitar, and washtub bass are great. The only thing that keeps me from giving it five stars is that they left off the gospel classic "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" that was on the original "Got a Mind to Ramble" LP. But, it's still one of the best albums out there, and more than worth the price!

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Sings and plays his way into your memory, for good!, July 2, 2002
By: Phil Rogers (Ann Arbor, Michigan) - (Amazon Customer Review)

Yep, this is definitely one of the best of the best. And it's just Tom, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, backed up by [who was it?], Mitch or Bruce somebody or other on gut bucket, also known as washtub bass. Tom was young at the time he made this, but sounds like a real old-timer. At the time these two albums were made, he was one of the main characters in the Cambridge (Mass.) folk revival, along with the Baez sisters, Jackie Washington, Eric Von Schmidt, Debbie Green. Eric Andersen, and the like.
This one starts out like a gunshot with "Duncan and Brady", and basically never lets up. Rush mixes pathos and humor and plenty of other assorted moods and reveries. The fellow can sing and play with the best of them. Check out the wonderful slide guitar playing on "Rye Whiskey". And he almost chews/ruminates on his words, with his terrific sounding, relaxed baritone voice. When he tells (sings) a story, you get lost in the believability of it. It's awesome, really.
As of 3-4 years ago, Rush was still tremendous in concert, and his banter and joke telling are as good as his playing and singing. He can be truly hilarious, make you nearly fall off your seat a' laughing. I'd say he's as good a showman and interpreter of old tunes as Michael Cooney, but that's a tough contest given the fact that they inhabit somewhat different (though not too) emotional dimensions.
CONTACT:

READ THIS for more information on this album.

TRACK LISTING:
Driving Wheel
Rainy Day Man
Drop Down Mama
Old Man's Song
Lullaby
These Days
Wild Child
Colors Of The Sun
Livin' In The Country
Child's Song

REVIEW:

Classic Tom Rush For The True Folk Fan!, August 5, 2000
By: Barron Laycock "Labradorman" (Temple, New Hampshire United States) - (Amazon Customer Review)

No one is a more masterful or powerful interpreter of other artists' music than Tom Rush. In this album he showcases these talents to advantage from the opening bars of his signature "Driving Wheel" to "Drop Down Mama" to the subtly ironic "Living In The Country". He is at his best with songs like Jackson's Browne's "These Days" or "Colors Of The Sun", and I have always loved his version of "Child's Song" as well as "old Man's Song". He is the only one other than James Taylor that I like to hear sing Taylor songs, and his version of "Rainy Day Man" is really quite different from Taylor's. Rush has a voice and guitar style that's distinct, well developed, and always used to performing advantage. Trevor Veitch, a wonderful acoustic and electric guitarist, backs him here and the arrangements help to make this a classic folk album. Try this one out, folks; I think you will wind up agreeing it is a keeper, and a nice alternative to all that trash now on your local FM station. Ah, remember when FM rocked? Enjoy!

CONTACT:

READ THIS for more information about this album.

...And here's a couple of Videos of Tom doing two of my very favorite tunes of his, Joni Mitchell's "Urge For Going" and his Own "No Regrets". Keep in mind when viewing these that the man is in his mid 60's now and still out there playing and singing and having a darn good time doing it. Enjoy.

Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley MA on 30-Nov 2007

Humphreys By The Bay, San Diego, CA

MELLENCAMP INDUCTED INTO ROCK 'N' ROLL HALL OF FAME

A Soundboard recording produced April 8th 2006 at the Bogata Casino in Atlantic City N.J.

Format: Mp3
Bit Rate: 320 kbps

TRACK LISTING:
Our Country
Small Town
Love & Happiness
Check It Out
Jackie Brown
Rain On The Scarecrow
Paper In Fire
Authority Song / Drum Extravaganza
Jack & Diane
Crumblin’ Down
R.O.C. K. In The U.S.A.
Hurts So Good
Pink Houses / Band Intro
Walk Tall
Cherry Bomb

THE PLAYERS:
John Mellencamp – Vocals, Guitars
Dane Clark – Drums, Percussion
John Gunnell – Bass
Troye Kinnett – Keyboards
Miriam Sturm – Violin
Mike Wanchic – Guitars, Vocals
Andy York – Guitars, Vocals

WEBSITE(S):

http://www2.mellencamp.com/ The Official Site

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mellencamp Wikipedia Site

http://www.clubcherrybomb.net/ Club Cherry Bomb - Fan Club Site

http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.2723763/k.99C1/John_Mellencamp.htm
Farm Aid Site

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=35092774

MySpace Site

REVIEW:
By Yours Truly
Well, as it says above this is a soundboard recording of the April 8th 2006 concert at Bogata Casino in Atlantic City New Jersey. As a member of the fan club and the human wheels list, occasionally gifts like this live recording will come across the wires. I have 4 or 5 excellent live Mellencamp shows but cuz of the fact that he just got inducted into the R n R Hall of Fame on March 10th and I actually got to see him on this particular tour I decided to put this one up for a share.
While I wasn’t at this particular concert I did get to see John on this tour, April 18th at the Joyce Arena on the campus of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. I wrote a review for that show in my blog back in April of 06 so if you’d like to know more about the show then follow this link

http://tcsoldnewmusicreview.blogspot.com/2006_04_01_archive.html

If you have any interest at all in Mr Mellencamps music I would highly suggest attending a live performance as I’ve not seen too many other performers in all my concert going years who can work up a crowd like John. Even at today’s prices his shows are money well spent.
In this package I’ve also included the CD covers, back and front and the CD labels that I designed for this recording. Enjoy!

CONTACT:

READ THIS for more information on this Sound Board Recording

WENDY WALDMAN / STRANGE COMPANY

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1978 on Warner Bros. Records.
Format: Mp3
Bit Rate: 320kbps
ALBUM INFO:
Produced By: Mike Flicker
Engineered By: Mike Flicker & Rick Keefer
Assistant Engineers: Larry Greene, Terry Gottlieb & Steve Katz
Recorded & Mixed At: Sea West Studios, Seattle, Washington
TRACK LISTING:
Fool To Let Him Slip Away /Long Hot Summer Nights / Train Runnin’ / You’ll See / The Wind In New York City / Strange Company / Hard Times / Since Love Is Gone / The Man Is Mine / Love Is The Only Goal
All songs written by Wendy Waldman
THE PLAYERS:
Wendy Waldman – Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Dulcimer
Guitars – Mark Goldenberg, Craig Hull
Keyboards – Peter Robinson, Peter White
Bass – Peter Bernstein
Drums – Steve Beers, Cat Hendrikse
Percussion - Steve Beers, Debbie Dobkin

WEBSITE(S):
http://www.wendywaldman.com/ Official Site

http://www.myspace.com/wendywaldman My Space Site

http://www.bryndle.com/ Bryndle Site

http://www.therefugeesmusic.com/ The Refugees Site

REVIEW:

By Yours Truly
I tried to find a review on Amazon or All Music that would express how good an album this is and then I realized that was a fool’s errand for the simple reason I love this album past the music and words themselves. I was a big Wendy fan from the first time that I heard her voice on the first album and each succeeding release just furthered my love for the woman and her music. When this album came out though my admiration rose to a whole new level. Here was this beautiful girl who wrote beautiful music rocking out full tilt with a great group of musicians backing her up. I can’t help but be biased about these tunes, they mean special things to me. This album came out at a time in my life when I was suffering some rather severe growing up pains and wondering just where to go from here. Every song on this album seemed to be directed to my pain and suffering and Wendy’s voice was very soothing. To hear her singing “You’ll See” kept me going at a time in life when I wasn’t sure how to keep going. This album is ingrained in my soul and I can’t play it today without singing along with every word from “Fool To Let Him (Her) Slip Away” to “Love Is The Only Goal”. The music is excellent on this record. Every musician in the band is very talented and the song arrangements are tight and flow from one song to the next like the most natural thing in the world. The guitar playing is superb. Some of the tastiest, melodic guitar solo’s you’ll ever hear grace this album. I could go on and on but the best idea is to put on the headphones, turn off the phone, turn up the volume and give your undivided attention to these 10 tracks that make up this great piece of work.

CONTACT:
READ THIS for more information on this album.

JOHN MILES / REBEL

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1976 on London Records.
Format: Mp3
Bit Rate: 320 Kbps
ALBUM INFO:
Produced By: Alan Parsons
Engineered By: Alan Parsons
Assistant Engineers: Mike Jarratt & Chris Blair
Recorded At: Abbey Road Studios during November and December 1975
Album Cover: Terry O'Neill
TRACK LISTING:
Music / Everybody Wants Some More / Highfly / You Have It All / Rebel / When You Lose Someone So Young / Lady Of My Life / Pull The Damn Thing Down / Music
THE BAND:
John Miles - Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Synthesizers
Barry Black - Drums, Percussion
Bob Marshall - Bass
Strings on "Rebel": The Maggini Quartet
Sax Solo on "Lady Of My Life" Phil Kenzie
Orchestral Arrangements - Andrew Powell
WEBSITE(S):
http://www.john-miles.net/ Official John Miles Site
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Miles_(musician) Wikipedia Site

REVIEW:
Miles ahead of the pack..., November 2, 2000
By D. Hartley (Seattle, WA USA) (Amazon Customer Review)
John Miles is a veritable Frankenstein of monster talent. Imagine a laboratory creation with the vocal range of a George Michael, who can also play piano like Elton John, sizzle on guitar like Brian May, and write songs with the eclectic range of a Todd Rundgren. Miles' mid-70's release "Rebel" is a near-perfect blend of progressive and melodic pop rock sensibilities. From the soaring "High Fly" (which recalls the Beatles' "Got To Get You Into My Life"), the Stevie Wonderish "Lady Of My Life", to the epic mini-opera "Pull The Damn Thing Down", this set is a winner. Crisp production by Alan Parsons, who thankfully doesn't allow the horn and string arrangements to lead the music into "schmaltz" territory.(Miles has continued to work as a session musician on various Parsons "Projects" over the years). Prog rock/70's enthusiasts will not be disappointed!

CONTACT:

READ THIS for more information on this album.

JESS RODEN / JESS RODEN

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1974 on Island Records.
Format: Mp3
Bit Rate: 320 Kbps
ALBUM INFO:
Produced by Allen Toussaint & Chris Blackwell
Engineered in New Orleans by Ken Laxton and in London by Richard Smith
Album Cover: Dick Polak
TRACK LISTING:
Reason To Change / I'm On Your Side / Feelin' Easy / Sad Story / Under Suspicion / On Broadway / Ferry Cross / Trouble In The Mind / What The Hell
All songs written Jess Roden except "On Broadway"
THE PLAYERS:
Jess Roden - Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Bass
Guitars - Leo Nocentelli - Steve Webb / Bruce Robertson
Keyboards - Allen Toussaint, Art Neville, Ray Davies / John Bundrick / Mike Weaver
Bass - George Porter / Mickey Feat / John Cartwright / Rat Donaldson
Drums - Joseph Modeleste / Richard Bailey / Peter Hunt / Simon Kirke
Percussion - Alan Sharp
The New Orleans Horns: Saxophone - George Lee, Ronnie Taylor - Trombone, Chris Oower Flute - Steve Gregory
WEBSITE(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jess_Roden
http://musiquarium.wordpress.com/2007/02/18/unsung-heroes-no1-jess-roden/
http://eil.com/shop/ExtSearch.asp?DiscArtist=Jess-Roden

BIOGRAPHY:
One of the great British vocalists, with an immediately distinctive sound,Roden cut his teeth with the Alan Bown Set in the 60's, achieving a minor hit with the single "Emergency 999″. He eventually left to form the band Bronco which recorded two albums, which though well received, particularly "Ace of Sunlight" failed to set the world on fire. Roden surfaced again on the eponymously titled "Butts Band" album, a wonderful collection of songs performed by a great band comprising Roden, Robbie Krieger and John Densmore of The Doors, and session favourite Phil Chen on bass. Check out the wonderful "Baja Bus" and "Sweet Danger"Around this time Roden also appeared on Keef Hartleys "Lancashire Hustler" album with Robert Palmer. Island records then stood by Roden for a string of great albums, both solo and with his band. The self-titled "Jess Roden" album features the wonderful "Ferry Cross". "The Player Not the Game" is a beautifully made album with the cream of New Orleans session men, including Allan Toussaint. Jess also made a memorable version of "You can leave your hat on" from the album "Keep Your Hat on".Sadly, he was never destined for the big time, and albums like "Play it Dirty" and "Stonechaser" became the rarities at the back of the record shop. A brief return in the 80's with "Multiplay" by the Rivits and some session work, notably Grace Jones

'Nightclubbing" album marked a less productive Roden.However, in the mid 90's he made a surprise return with a band called The Humans,featuring ex-Strider and Rod Stewart guitarist Gary Grainger, recording one great album, subsequently disappearing from the scene once more following a live album.This Kidderminster born vocalist has a voice of pure gold, and for most of the record buying public, he is an undiscovered gem, check him out!

REVIEW:
Fine album by underrated artist, September 22, 2001
By Nicolas S. Martin (Indianapolis, IN United States)
This is a superb album on several levels. Roden is a powerfully emotional singer who is not prone to self-indulgence. The songs are well chosen and concisely performed. There is no doubt that this is one of the ignored gems of what was the rock era. Sadly, Jess Roden has 2 even better albums that have never made it to CD: The Player Not the Game and Stonechaser. These are gorgeous albums. Please, Island Records, release these titles on CD!
CONTACT:

READ THIS for more information on this album.

EDGAR WINTER / ENTRANCE

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1970 on Epic Records.
Format: Mp3
Bit Rate: Variable, Avg. 192
ALBUM INFO:
Produced By: Edgar Winter
Associate Producer: Steve Paul
Engineered By: Roy Segal & Stu Romain
TRACK LISTING:
Entrance / Where Have You Gone / Rise To Fall / Fire And Ice / Hung Up / Back In The Blues / Re-Entrance / Tobacco Road / Jump Right Out / Peace Pipe / A Different Game / Jimmy’s Gospel
THE PLAYERS:
Edgar Winter – Vocals, Alto Sax, Keyboards
Jimmy Gillen – Drums
John Turner – Drums on Tobacco Road
Randal Dolanon – Guitar
Johnny Winter – Guitar on Tobacco Road
Gene Kurtz – Bass
Tommy Shannon – Bass on Tobacco Road
Johnny Winter - Harmonica
Horns: Ray Alonge, Earl W. Chapin, Brooks Tillotson,
Strings: Paul Gershman, Gene Cahn, Ralph Oxman, Russel Savkus, and Emanuel Green.
WEBSITE(S):
http://www.edgarwinter.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Winter_Group

http://edgar.thevine.net/

REVIEW:
Stunning Debut, March 31, 2002
By kamus (United States) - (Amazon Customer Review)
Edgar's first album is still one of his best. His extraordinary voice, his energetic sax and keyboard playing are all heard to great advantage here. The strong jazz infuence may come as a surprise to those who only know him from "Free Ride" and later but it's a style that he is obviously quite at home in. The best part of this record is remarkable compositional talent that Edgar displayed at such a young age. Everything about this record is first rate and even though I'm a fan of most everything he's done, this is still my favorite Edgar Winter recording of all time. Just buy it!
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The Best Music ANY Winter EVER Recorded!, October 26, 2004
By H. Brown "Bubs Boy" (Omaha, Nebraska United States) - (Amazon Customer Review)
I've been trying to find this in CD format for years. As I read some of the reviewers comments I was not surprised how few understand what Edgar was doing and feeling. This isn't the recording he would make money or fame on, but this is where you hear the progressive jazz that rocked the era's reviewers. Not the Rock & Roll world. The New York Times and other publications gave him outstanding RAVE reviews. He made Playboy's list as the Best New Jazz performer AND their ALLSTAR band at Sax. Side one on the LP was one song after another segwaying into the next. In the lyrics he tells the listeners that though he loves jazz and blues, he is going to try to make some money in music. Lo and behold came White Trash briefly then followed up on his promise to make money in the form of "They Only Come Out At Night". As others have said, I bought Entrance because he was Johnny's brother. I've enjoyed both mens music thoughout the years, but this offering was clearly the best music any Winter ever gave the public.

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A Heckuva Start for a Career

By Yours Truly

This is one of those albums that made enough of an impression on me that I remember where I was when I first heard it. It was 1970, I was still in high school (for what that was worth) and was playing Bass in a jazz / Rock band called FLIGHT. We were all hanging around the drummer's house, making plans and talking music when one of the guys pulled out this new album that they'd just gotten and plopped it onto the turntable. When the needle hit the vinyl things got quiet and stayed quiet until the end of side one. We were all in awe as what was in those grooves was the kind of stuff that we were attempting to play. I believe this album was a source of inspiration for all of us. I know I played my copy to death, listening to the bass lines and trying to keep up as best I could. (That's me in the white T-shirt at 17).

To my mind Edgar should have stayed in this groove and put out more stuff like Entrance but everybody likes to eat so later releases got more and more accessible to the masses and less and less interesting to me. The White Trash albums were great stuff, don't get me wrong but after that I just kind of lost interest although I'm still an Edgar Winter fan based on the strength of this album alone. It still sounds great tonight as I write this.......give it a go and see what you think.

CONTACT:

READ THIS for more information on this album.

MICHAEL FENNELLY / STRANGER'S BED

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1975 on Mercury Records.
Format: Mp3
Bit Rate: 256 Kbps
ALBUM INFO:
Produced By: Denny Bruce for Dave Swaney's Co.
Engineered By: Keith Olson
Recorded At: Sound City, Los Angeles, Californi
TRACK LISTING:
Pretty Face / Hard Bargain Driver / Tomorrow's Star / Only A Child / Stranger's Bed / Dreamer / Turn To Me / Sweet Pain / Sad Dream Of Louise / The Day Of The Fire
All Songs Written and Arranged by Michael Fennelly
THE PLAYERS:
Michael Fennelly - Vocals, Guitars, Synthesizers
Brian Page - Guitars
Dave Catron - Bass
Dana Green - Drums, Percussion
WEBSITE(S):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Fennelly

BIOGRAPHY:
Michael Fennelly was born in 1949, in New Jersey, but moved to L.A. where he became involved in California's pop/protest movement. By 1967, Fennelly had secured a publishing deal with songwriter/producer Curt Boetcher's Mee Moo Music and became a member of Boettcher's studio-based collective of musicians, including the two main groups, Sagittarius, and the Millennium. Fennelly -- one of five singer/guitarist/songwriters in the latter group, who were actually intended to be a proper live act -- provided fabulous falsetto vocals in addition to co-writing much of the group's material, often with guitarist/vocalist Joey Stec, another member of the Sagittarius/Millennium collective. In 1969, Fennelly was looking to form a group of his own to showcase his lead vocal talents and songwriting, when met the members of a band called Stonehenge, a blues-oriented group who were being scouted by Elektra's David Anderle, a friend of their manager's. The band -- with Fennelly now taking over lead vocals and songwriting duties -- changed their name to Crabby Appleton and signed to Elektra Records. Their first album, Crabby Appleton, was produced by Don Gallucci (from Don & the Good Times) and released in 1970. It enjoyed reasonable success with a catchy Top 40 hit, "Go Back," which peaked at number 36 in July 1970 after five weeks on the charts. Crabby Appleton's second album, Rotten to the Core, was released in October 1971. Despite complimentary reviews, the group's two albums proved ultimately unsuccessful and the band broke up. Fennelly later traveled to England, where he began focusing on a solo career, recording two solo albums. The first, Lane Changer, was recorded in London with the support of ex-Zombies bassist/producer Chris White and Rod Argent on synthesizer. A second solo album, Strangers Bed, was recorded in L.A., produced by Denny Bruce and engineered by Keith Olsen (incidentally, Fennelly's album was Olsen's last as a engineer -- he was, at the same time, producing Fleetwood Mac's first album with two new members, Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks). Released by Mercury in 1975, Stranger's Bed failed to chart. Fennelly is still involved in the music business, and continues working with Joey Stec.
Bryan Thomas, All Music Guide

REVIEW
By Yours Truly:
This is an excellent piece of musical vinyl. Each song on this Lp is a gem in it's own right. Michael can rock with the best of them one minute and then the next pull you in close with a beautiful ballad. The album starts off with a Rockin' 2 fer and I mean rockin' If by the time Hard Bargain Driver is over you don't want to hear what comes next then I guess there's no hope for ya. The rest of side 1 is full of great vocals and guitar riffs not to mention great lyrics. Side two starts out with another rocker, Turn To Me. Why this one wasn't a monster hit is beyond me. Everybody at the record company musta been sitting on their hands back in those days. The Theme of the last two cuts on this fine disc have to do with Racism and Aliens and that's all I'll say about that......Don't let the album cover scare you away.....download this excellent piece of work and let it groove thru your veins for a couple plays and see if you don't end up being a Michael Fennelly fan.

CONTACT:

READ THIS for more information on this album.

SO LONG JEFF HEALEY

Jeff Healey, Guitarist and Singer, Dies at 41

By DOUGLAS MARTIN
Published: March 4, 2008

Jeff Healey, a Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter whose band sold millions of blues-rock records and who also pursued a passion for old-time jazz, playing the trumpet and clarinet, died on Sunday, March 2nd, in Toronto. He was 41. He died of lung cancer, his publicists said.
Mr. Healey, who was blind, played his guitar with the instrument flat on his lap, resulting in what Guitar Player magazine called “astoundingly fluid bends and vibrato.” He blended jazz, rock and the blues.
Mr. Healey’s greatest success came in the late 1980s, when his band recorded the album “See the Light.” It reached platinum status in the United States by selling more than one million copies and eventually two million worldwide. A single from that album, “Angel Eyes,” was the Jeff Healey Band’s only Top 40 hit, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1989.
The same year the band performed the soundtrack for “Road House,” a movie starring actor Patrick Swayze. The band also had speaking parts. Soon the group was big enough to be booked in stadiums.
Mr. Healey also played the trumpet and clarinet in his own traditional jazz band, the Jazz Wizards. He collected as many as 30,000 old-time jazz records, mainly those on 78 r.p.m., which he played as the host of an hour-long radio show on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Mr. Healey, son of a firefighter, was born and raised near Toronto. He lost his sight to eye cancer when he was a year old and was given his first guitar two years later. At a school for the blind, he was shown how to play the guitar the usual way but found it felt more comfortable on his lap.
At a Toronto-area high school he played the guitar and trumpet in school bands. His early guitar inspirations were country stylists like Chet Atkins, but he moved on to Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and B. B. King, according to the reference work Contemporary Musicians. He studied music theory on his own.
He formed the Jeff Healey Band in 1985, with the drummer Tom Stephen and the bassist Joe Rockman. The trio gave as many as 300 concerts a year for about two years before signing with Arista Records in 1988. Their second album for the label (after “See the Light”) was “Hell to Pay,” which featured guest artists including George Harrison.
As the group’s popularity grew, so did their concert venues. Jon Pareles, writing in The New York Times in 1989, described the band’s music as “showy, arena-style blues rock,” although he praised Mr. Healey’s technique.
In 1990, a reader poll in Guitar Player magazine named Mr. Healey the best blues guitarist and best new talent.
Mr. Healey is survived by his wife, Cristie; his daughter, Rachel; and his son, Derek.
By 2002, Mr. Healey had opened a music club named after himself in Toronto; he later closed it to open a larger one. In 2003, he started his jazz band.
He made a total of 10 albums, including both jazz and blues-rock; it would be hard to guess that some of the albums were by the same artist. In January 2007, Guitar Player said, “Jeff Healey may be the only cat around who can play the prewar jazz of Louis Armstrong on the trumpet, and the heavy electric blues-rock of ZZ Top on the guitar.”

Jeff Healey - See The Light

My first exposure to Jeff Healey was via T.V. I don't remember which show it was but I do remember watching him in amazement as he wailed on a guitar, laid across his lap. That in itself was pretty impressive but to do it without the benefit of something most all of us take for granted, sight, made what I was watching even more amazing. It wasn't long after that T.V. performance that I bought his album called "SEE THE LIGHT". I never got to see him live but I have spent a fair amount of time listening to his recordings since 1989. If you've never heard his music and what I mean by that is if you've never really sat down and paid attention to what he was doing then I'd like to suggest you start with the album "SEE THE LIGHT" and then go from there. Trust me when I say it will be worth your time.

CONTACT:

READ THIS for more information on this album.

CINDY BULLENS / DESIRE WIRE

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1978 on United Artists Records.
Format: Mp3
Bit Rate: 320kbps
ALBUM INFO:
Produced By: Tony Bongiovi & Lance Quinn For Mainman LTD
Engineered By: Bob Clearmountain & Don Berman
Assistant Engineers: Rayarella Willhard, Tommy Millmore & Dee Rob
Recorded & Mixed At: The Power Station, New York, New York & Cherokee Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
Album Cover: Georgina Karvellas
TRACK LISTING:
Survivor / Anxious Heart / Desire Wire / Time N Charges / High School History / Mean In Your Heart / Hot Tears / Knee Deep In Love / Finally Rockin'
All songs written by Cindy Bullens
THE PLAYERS:
Cindy Bullens - Vocals, Guitars
Guitars - Jeff Mironov, Mark Doyle, David Mansfield, Lance Quinn, Danny Gatton
Keyboards - Leon Pendarvis Jr. Billy Mernit, Rob Mounsey, Paul Shaffer
Bass - Neil Jason, Bob Babbitt
Drums - Jerry Marotta, Alan Swartzberg
Synthesizer - Leon Pendarvis Jr, Kenny Bishell
Percussion - Jimmy Maelen
Backing Vocals & Arrangements - Cindy Bullens, Jon Joyce, Billy Mernit
String & Horn Arrangements - Harold Wheeler
Horns - Lou Marini, George Young, Jerry Peterson
WEBSITE(S):
http://www.cindybullens.com/ Official Site
http://www.myspace.com/cindybullensmusic MySpace Page
http://www.publikmusic.com/index3.aspx?featID=231575/ Publik Music Site

BIOGRAPHY
Born in 1953, in West Newbury, Massachusetts, USA. Now based in Maine, this singer-songwriter traveled to Los Angeles, California in 1974 in an attempt to break into the music business. Her dedication paid off when she was taken on tour by Elton John, and appeared on his 1976 collection, Blue Moves. Further session work entailed before Bullens was picked to sing on the Grammy nominated Grease soundtrack. A solo deal with United Artists Records followed, and Bullens earned another Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance for her single "Survivor', taken from 1979"s Desire Wire. The follow-up, Steal The Night, was less successful, although "Trust Me" became a minor hit single. Bullens appeared on Bryan Adams' You Want It, You Got It in 1981, and over the course of the decade performed with artists including Bonnie Raitt, Rod Stewart, Lucinda Williams, Joe Cocker and Bob Dylan. She resurrected her own solo career with a strong album for MCA Records in 1989.In the 90s, Bullens concentrated on songwriting, composing songs for blues singer Sarah Brown, country trio Dixie Chicks and R&B legend Irma Thomas, and co-writing the Radney Foster hit "Hammer And Nails'. She also set up her own Blue Lobster label, releasing 1994's Why Not? and 1999"s Somewhere Between Heaven And Earth. The latter was a heartfelt collection of songs inspired by and dedicated to her daughter Jessie, who died of cancer in 1996. The album also demonstrated how highly Bullens is regarded within the music industry, featuring contributions from her friends Adams, Raitt, Williams, Beth Nielsen-Chapman and Rodney Crowell. The collection's high point, however, was a touching vocal duet with her other daughter, Reid, on "As Long As You Love (Scarlet Wings)".

REVIEW:
By Yours truly

I love this woman. Have since the first time I heard this album waaay back in 1978. I played this one to death until the second one came out but the second one was a disappointment at the time and I never saw another album out of her until my wife brought home her 1999 CD, Somewhere between Heaven And Earth. (A masterpiece in it's own rite, but that's another review). What had happened between 1980 and 1999? Well, she'd got married and had a family, like myself and that took up most of her time. She did put out an excellent album in 1989, that I didn't know about until 10 years later.Anyhow, this is her 1st album and it's a rock and roll affair. It's my humble opinion that there's not a bad cut on this disc. Survivor, Desire Wire, Mean In Your Heart & Knee Deep In Love are probably my favorite cuts but there are no slouches. She has a stellar crew backing her up and everyone does their part to make this a high quality event. If you like a woman who can sing her heart out and rock with the best of them then I'd recommend that you give this baby a couple listens at a decent volume. Actually I'd recommend her whole catalog. Visit her website and check out her history......she's a grandma now and is still making some of the best music out there.......Rock and Roll will never die!!

DOWNLOAD:

Cindy has written to me and asked me to remove the link, which I have done. It was not / is not my intention to take income from her, but to turn new people on to her music and the fact that she's been around for more than a year or two.

As we all know though there are differing opinions on music sharing these days and I do not want to hurt anyone's chances of making a living in music, I just want to get the word out as much as possible about people I think need to be heard. The radio is a wasteland these days and without music sharing via the blogs I would not have bought at least 90% of the CD's that I've bought in the last two years. ALL the new music I've heard that appeals to me has come to me from sharing and word of mouth.

My blog is a tiny thing, with a small audience and only 5 people have downloaded Cindy's album from me, but 20%, yup, 1 out of 5, took the time to write back and say how my post convinced him to finally listen to this album. who knows now where his listening took him? Did he not like it and delete it or did he love it and plan to BUY more of Cindy's music?

I'll continue to expose people around me to new and old music just like I did 30 years ago with a cassette tape recorder, but obviously this way is not the best way for everybody and it's not my intention to upset the very folks who I have the most respect for so I will honor the request not to help spread the word.

Tom - 5/6/08

TERENCE BOYLAN / SUZY

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1980 on Asylum Records.
Format: Mp3
Bit Rate: 320kbps
ALBUM INFO:
Produced By: Terence Boylan
Production Assistant: Alma Boylan
Engineered By: Kevin Beamish, Michael Braunstein, Paul Grupp, Tom Edmonds, John Holbrook, David Rideau, Erik Zobler
Assistant Engineers: David Rideau, Erik Zobler, George Carnell
Recorded At: Amigo Studios, Bearsville Sound Studios, Westlake Audio
Mixed At: Westlake Audio
Album Cover: Paul Jasmin
TRACK LISTING:
Suzy / Shake Your Fiorucci / College Life / Dump It In The River / $50 An Hour / Roll Your Own / Did She Finally Get To You / Tell Me / Ice And Snow / Going Home / End Of The World / Miso Soup
All Songs Written By Terence Boylan
THE PLAYERS:
Terence Boylan - Vocals, Guitar
Drums - Dennis Whitted, Ed Greene, Jim Gordon, Russ Kunkel, David Kemper
Guitars - Will McFarlane, Jeff Baxter, Larry Carlton, Jay Graydon, Ben Benay, Don Felder
Bass - Will McFarlane, John Holbrook, Michael Porcaro
Keyboards - Jai Winding, Paul Harris, Michael Omartian, Victor Feldman
Percussion - Victor Feldman, Emil Richards
Background Vocals - Timothy Schmit, Don Henley, Miranda McGrath, Alma Boylan
Saxophone - Gary Foster
Flute - Gary Foster
Strings arranged and conducted by Paul Harris
WEBSITE(S):
http://www.terenceboylan.com/ Official Site
http://www.bluedesert.dk/terenceboylan.html/ Fan Site
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terence_Boylan/ Wikipedia Site
REVIEW:
This one, I'm Excited About!, October 27, 2007
By Bill Board - Amazon Review
I've had...oh, SEVERAL copies of this album, but they just kept getting "stole out from under me" by other musicians. And, in all honesty, I have to admit that I'm only peripherally aware of most the other tracks on this album (MIGHTY impressive sidemen though, Steeley Dan for instance...) But that one opening track, "Shake Your Fiorucci" is as great a "disco sucks" comment as was Ian Hunter/Ellen Foley's "We Gotta Get Out Of Here." To wit, the chorus "...Shake your Fiorucci/Mixin' ludes & tookski/I know what you came here for, I can't use it/I love you, honey, but I just can't swindle this music." He says that, because after the first verse, the band plays the Stones' "Bitch," and after the second, Eric's "Layla," almost note-for-note perfectly. Ah, but next, Terence delivers the VERY BEST LINE in ALL of "eighties' music" (with but one exception, Geo Clinton's immortal "Bow-wow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yay"), when he almost-chants the incredible "Vitamin Q/Vitamin C/What are we all gonna grow up to be?/Get down." That one song is a stone GEM, (I'm gonna SAY this!) along the lines of "Gimme Shelter," "In My Life," "Whiter Shade Of Pale," "Tangled Up In Blue," "Charity Ball," or even "White Room." Don't believe me? Well, for once, I'm NOT writing a "negative review," am I? - and, look, just GET "Suzy" and let me know your reaction to "Fiorucci." You'll ("eighties," now) "fer sure" DIG what goes ON there...

CONTACT:

READ THIS for more information on this album.

TERENCE BOYLAN / TERENCE BOYLAN

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1977 on Asylum Records.
Format: Mp3
Bit Rate: 320 Kbps
ALBUM INFO:
Produced By: Terence Boylan
Engineered By: Paul Grupp & Steve Hodge
Assistant Engineers: Deni King & Lloyd Clift
Recorded At: The Record Plant, Amigo Studios, Capitol Recording Studios, Village Recorders & Westlake Audio
Album Cover: Robert Motherwell
TRACK LISTING:
Don't Hang Up Those Dancing Shoes / Shake It / Sundown Of Fools / The War Is Over / Shame / Hey Papa / Where Are You Hiding? / Rain King / Trains
All music, lyrics & arrangements by Terence Boylan
THE PLAYERS:
Terence Boylan - Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards
Drums - Jim Gordon, Mickey McGee, Jeff Pocaro, Russell Kunkel, John Guerin
Bass - Chuck Rainey, David Jackson, Bob Glaub, Leeland Sklar, Wilton Felder, Max Bennett
Keyboards - Donald Fagan, Victor Feldman, Al Kooper, David Paich, Jai Winding
Guitars - Dean Parks, Ben Benay, Don Evans, Steve Lukather
Percussion - Victor Feldman
Background Vocals - Timothy Schmit, Don Henley, Dodie Petit
Sax - Gary Foster, John Klemmer
WEBSITE(S):
http://www.terenceboylan.com/ Terence Boylan Home Page
REVIEW:
Complex Beauty in Composition, Lyrics and Performace, June 4, 2001
By J. Winokur "Jimmy Winokur" (Denver, CO USA) (Amazon Customer Review)

Like the others, I happily welcome this album, from one of the very finest of the extraordinary singer-songwriters of the late 70s. Reportedly, it may signal the return of Terence Boylan to new writing, recording and performance. My awareness of Terence Boylan's music derived from the overlap between his musical backup performers and folks on early Steely Dan albums. In retrospect, this is no accident, since some of these fellows' roots trace back to the offbeat, academically excellent Bard College. In looking to Boylan for challenging but accessible music by perfectionistic music-makers, I was hardly disappointed! Yet, the Terence Boylan recordings are far from the style of Steely Dan (or Donald Fagan & Walter Becker). Boylan's lyrics are highly literate -- deft portrayals of very specific emotional moments, but far less inclined than Fagan's to the seamy-side. The music is a bit closer to familiar melodic and harmonic material, but original and different enough to remain fresh, engaging and welcome over decades of careful listening. The texture on almost all tracks is thick and tasty, sharpening the lyricism of the underlying music. Production is excellent. For me, these recordings would rate in the very top -- "desert-isle-stash" -- tier of music I have ever enjoyed!

CONTACT:

READ THIS for more information on this album.

JOHN PALUMBO / INNOCENT BYSTANDER

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1978 on Lifesong Records.
Format: Mp3
Bit Rate: 320 Kbps
ALBUM INFO:
Produced by Peter Sullivan
Engineered By: Ron Malo
Recorded At: Wally Heider's and Devonshire Studios, Los Angeles, March - May 1978
Album Cover: Roberto Rocco
TRACK LISTING:
Madness On Comet Way / Family Man / Dear, Dear / A Man In The Sky / I Lean On You / Kangaroos / No One Wants To Be Alone / It's Okay To Die / The Crying Father From Idaho / They Go To Movies
All songs written by John Palumbo
THE PLAYERS:
John Palumbo - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Guitars - Lee Ritenour, Steve Beckmeyer
Bass - Dennis Bellfield, Reggie McBride
Drums - Harvey Mason, Alvin Taylor
Keyboards - Michael Columbier
Background Vocals - Badfinger
WEBSITE(S):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crack_the_Sky Wikipedia Site
http://www.bobbyshred.com/crackthesky.html Bobby Shred Tribute Site

REVIEW:
By Yours Truly
Well, lets start off this way. I like this album, quite a bit, but you may not. Like quite a few things in life certain performers are a matter of taste. Not everyone likes mushrooms either, but to those of us who do, a steak would not be complete without them.

Normally I'd say, if you like Crack The Sky (John's band, for the most part) then you'll like this album, but again, this solo work doesn't hold a lot in common with the Crack the Sky albums. This is an album where John branches out and covers themes and styles of music that would be out of place on a CTS album. Although I enjoy the entire album, my favorites have always been Dear, Dear, I Lean On You, It's Okay to Die & They Go To Movies.

If you consider yourself open-minded musically and enjoy hearing new stuff then I'd suggest giving this one a go. The worst that can happen is you don't like it in which case the delete key is only a click or two away. Who knows though, you might find it's a keeper and find yourself singing along after just a couple plays.

CONTACT:

READ THIS for more information on this album.