Thursday, December 3, 2009
Rock 'n' Roll Alert: Tom Pettys Live Anthology Box Set
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Mayor of the Sunset Strip Ost Shout Factory
2. Rodney On The ROQ- Brian Wilson
3. Los Angeles - X
4. My Back Pages - The Byrds
5. It Was A Real Eye Opener - Pamela Des Barres
6. Welcome To Hollywood - Leon Russell
7. All The Madmen (Live In Hollywood/Studio) - David Bowie
8. Get It On (Band A Gong) - T. Rex
9. School's Out - Alice Cooper
10. What Kind Of Music Is This?" - Rodney Bingenheimer
11. I Wanna Be Sedated - Ramones
12. London - The Smiths
13. He Picked This Song- Chris Carter
14. Anything, Anything (I'll Give You) - Dramarama
15. Jennifer Love Hewitt - Ronald Vaughan
16. Parklife - Blur
17. I Stalked Him- Courtney Love
18. Malibu - Hole
19. Good Souls - Starsailor
20. Yellow (Live In-Studio Performance) - Chris Martin (of Coldplay)
21. Who Is Rodney Bingenheimer - Anthony Marinelli (and Clint Bennett)
22. Mayor Of The Sunset Strip - Marizane
23. I Hate the '90s (Bonus Track) - Rodney & The Tube Tops
L.A. has always been the place to be for the film industry, but music has also been a big part of the city's history. When your talking about the L.A.'s music scene then you talking about Rodney Bingenheimer. Who has been the most "hooked up" guy in Hollywood for over forty years. In Hollywood you did not know anybody if you did not know Rodney. He introduced the nobodies to the somebodies, and as a radio DJ he gave the USA some Rock 'n' Roll that might have never been played otherwise. Before putting the Los Angeles rock station KROQ on the map Rodney worked with stars like The Byrds, Sonny & Cher, Brian Wilson, Phil Spector and Linda Rondstadt. This is when he started being referred to as "The Mayor of the Sunset Strip." During a brief move to London Rodney meet British glam rock stars David Bowie and Rod Stewart. It was Bowie who suggested that Bingenheimer return to Los Angeles and open a music club, Rodney Bingenheimer’s English Disco. Here bands like The New York Dolls and The Stooges got to shock and amaze the city of angles in the early 70's, but the club closed in 1975. Not one to just sit around Rodney started his Radio Rodney on the ROQ show in 76'. He was not only the ambassador of LA punk in the late 70's and New Wave in the 80's, but he continued to bring in the UK sound helping the Brit Pop wave in the 90's. Having total control over his show meant he could play demos and was first to play many up-and-coming bands. (Blondie, The Ramones, The Germs, X, The B-52s, Dramarama, Social Distortion, Van Halen, Duran Duran, Coldplay, Doves, Muse, Pulp, Oasis) Now after that history lesson lets get to one of the best Soundtracks ever put together. This collection is seamless, running smoothly from one track to another with some short interruptions to set the mood. Starting with an introduction to Rodney and then his them song written by Brian Wilson. Then Rodney introduces X as "the band that made you" and their song "Los Angeles" puts us in our place. Jumping backwards in time to "My Back Pages" by The Byrds and non other then the lovely Pamela Des Barres's take on the Streets of LA. As if we did not get the hint, it's driven home with Leon Russell's "Welcome To Hollywood." Only after putting LA on the map do we get to the English artiest with David Bowie and T. Rex. Bowie's "All The Madmen," makes one feel that they are to straight, know matter who they are. Alice Cooper's "School's Out" is now a summer time anthem with its hanging guitar notes and rolling bass. After Rodney explains punk we get "Sedated" with the Ramones. Then the Smiths "London" is just thrown in but it fits. If Rodney liked a track he played it and that's what happened with "Anything, Anything" (I'll Give You) by Dramarama. This is such a stand out track you can see why he fell for it. After a ode to Jennifer Love Hewitt its back across the pond with Blur's upbeat "Parklife." You have to give it to Courtney Love know else is quite like her. Whatever she is doing now forget it and remember the music she made with Hole. The song "Malibu" makes California seem a little like Seattle. Then a perfect transition into "Good Souls" by Starsailor. A live In-Studio performance of Coldplays "Yellow" slows down the compilation toward the end. The end of the CD and movie come with reflection. Its good to know that even a man with a life as great as his would change things in the end. Yes he was the Mayor, given the title for life and even had some songs written about him. "Mayor Of The Sunset Strip" by Marizane would be the last song on the Soundtrack except the bonus track by the man himself - "I Hate the '90s"
Best Song: Anything, Anything (I'll Give You) - Dramarama
Worst Song: Jennifer Love Hewitt - Ronald Vaughan
Weired Stand Out: Good Souls - Starsailor
P.S. This discs is flawless.. one of the only Soundtracks that is a non-skip album.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Rock and Roll Alert: AC/DC Backtracks Box Set
http://www.acdcbacktracks.com
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Art of the Motorcycle - Songs of the Open Road Inside Sounds/Wonders 2005
2. Born to Be Wild / Jim Dandy 3:56
3. A Harley Someday / Wally Ford 3:11
4. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning / Eddie Dattel 4:57
5. Down the Line / Beat Generation 2:08
6. King of the Road / Billy Gibson 3:36
7. Little Honda / Jack Oblivian 2:18
8. Midnight Rider / Phillip Durham 4:19
9. On the Road Again / Dr. David Evans 3:16
10. I Want to Hop on Your Harley / Ann Rabson 2:17
11. Highway 61 Revisited / Beat Generation 2:47
12. Riders on the Storm / Hal Butler 5:02
13. Jitterboppin' / Richard Ray Farrell 2:42
14. Travelin' Band / Charles Ponder 2:32
Best Song:1952 Vincent Black Lightning - Eddie Dattel
Worst Song:Born to be wild - Jim Dandy
Weired Stand out:I Want to Hop on Your Harley - Ann Rabson and or Jitterboppin' - Richard Ray Farrell
P.S. The Beat Generation had some good tracks on this album. They sounded like they where having fun and play this kind of stuff all the time.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Listen To Bob Dylan a Tribute Drive-Thru Records 2005
1."Don't Think Twice (It's Alright)" performed by Steel Train
2."Like a Rolling Stone" performed by Anberlin
3."Mr. Tambourine Man" performed by Roark
4."Tonight I'll Be Staying Here with You" performed by Socratic
5."Blowin' in the Wind" performed by House of Fools
6."Girl of the North Country" performed by As Tall as Lions
7."The Man in Me" performed by Jenoah
8."I Believe in You" performed by Cerys Matthews
9."Simple Twist of Fate" performed by The Format
10."A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" performed by Jason Mraz
Disc two
1. "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" performed by Rock n Roll Soldiers
2. "It Ain't Me Babe" performed by David Melillo
3. "Positively 4th Street" performed by I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business
4. "Just like a Woman" performed by Something Corporate
5. "She Belongs to Me" performed by Kisschasy
6. "To Ramona" performed by Days Away
7."Boots of Spanish Leather" performed by Julia Haltigan
8."I Want You" performed by James Blunt
9."I Shall Be Released" performed by Steel Train
10."The Times They Are A-Changin'" performed by The Stay at Home Joneses
11."The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" performed by Rx Bandits
Highlights on the first disc of this double album are laid back and pleasing to the ears. Steel Train "Don't think twice (it's all right)," starts us off and running. Anberlin with "Like a Rolling Stone," makes one want to look into this bands catalog to see if they are always this good. Next is a uplifting "Mr. Tambourine Man" by Roark. Socratic can stay here any time with there playful harmonies. Might have picked a different song for House of Fools, "Blowin in the Wind" needed something more. Coming in on number six is As Tall As Lions, they make the north country very inviting. Then Jenoah does "Man in Me" bringing out something in anyone listening. Cerys Matthews in the first girl on this collection and belts out the lyrics to "I Believe in You." Then a soft and stunning "Simple Twist of Fate" by The Format. And coming in at the rear Jason Mraz with "Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall." Marz really channels Dylan on this track.
Then when you thought it was all over, there is a second disk. Great to see that lots of the younger singer songwriters are up to playing Dylan. Rock 'n' Roll Soldiers have a lot of fun hooting' and hollering on "Rainy Day women #12 & 35." Then on "It Ain't Me Babe," Dave Melillo puts out a nice effort. If there is a bad cover of "Positively 4Th Street" I have not heard it. It's such a great song done justice again by I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business. (winner of longest band name) The piano on this "Just Like a Woman" is a nice touch, most songs on this tribute are guitar songs. Something Corporate also seems to find the inner Dylan. Kisschasy has a slight ascent that makes "She Belongs to Me" different but most enjoyable. Days Away seem like they are in a far off place with "To Ramona." Then a song that does go somewhere, "Boot of Spanish Leather." This is the second girl in this group, and be glad Julia Haltigan was included because her voice is so sweet. To bad it is followed by a lack luster "I Want You," by James Blunt. Steel Train chimes in again with "I Shall Be Released," they have to be good live. The Stay at Home Joneses sings a "Times Are A-Changin'" that seems like a bar sing along. At last we come to the end with "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll." The Rx Bandits putter and roll on to a jazzy end to this tribute of the great Bob Dylan.
Best Song: Boots of Spanish Leather - Julia Haltigan
Worst Song: I Want You - James Blunt
Weired Stand Out: The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll - Rx Bandits
Friday, August 14, 2009
Rock and Roll Alert- Les Paul Jazz-Guitar Virtuoso and Inventor, Dies at 94
Les Paul, 94, a Grammy Award-winning guitar virtuoso and inventor who helped bring his instrument, typically assigned to chug along rhythmically and compliantly, to the forefront of jazz performance, died today at a hospital in White Plains, N.Y. He had pneumonia.
Thank you Les for everything....
Friday, July 10, 2009
No Depression - What it sounds like vol.1 Dualtone Music Group 2004
1.The Time of the Preacher -Johnny Cash 3:42
2.Is Heaven Good Enough for You -Allison Moorer 4:44
3.Faithless Street -Whiskeytown 3:55
4.Five Hearts Breaking -Alejandro Escovedo 4:11
5.Cowboy Peyton Place -Doug Sahm 4:44
6.Does My Ring Burn Your Finger -Buddy Miller 3:15
7.Parallel Bars -Robbie Fulks, Kelly Willis 3:07
8.Thrice All American -Neko Case 3:14
9.Down to the Well -Kevin Gordon ... 4:09
Performed by:Kevin Gordon, Lucinda Williams
10.Dam -Kasey Chambers 5:32
11.Farther Along -Hayseed, Emmylou Harris 4:59
12.How I Love Them Old Songs -Hole Dozen 5:41
13.No Depression in Heaven -Carter Family 2:53
The question is... What is Alternative-Country? Is this a younger cousin of Country Music or just Rock with a back-woods sound. No Depression is a magazine that dives into this debate. Keeping an opened mind and looking into the blending of genres "whatever that is." Started in 1995, No Depression has come up with many examples of Alt-country and in 2004 gave us a taste of "what it sounds like" For starters is a great collaboration on a Willie Nelson song with Johnny Cash and some players of grunges big bands. (Thayil-Soundgarden, Novoselic-Nirvana, Kinney-Alice in Chains) The hard guitar Matches the with the powerful lyrics. Next Allison Moorer sings a pretty song written for her mother and recorded with her sister Shelby Lynne. Then you hear a hint of Gram Parsons in Whiskeytown's "Faithless Street." Putting new next to old school with Escovedo and Sahm as tracks 4 and 5 sounds great. Lots of people cover Buddy Miller but can not duplicate his lean and twang. This collections first duet "Parallel Bars" makes one picture dive bars and pool tables. Strange next to see Neko Case in here but it shows that when they say "Whatever" they mean it. Gordon could not go wrong with Lucinda Williams as a partner on there duet. Country is very American but Ms. Chambers shows that Australians can be a little bit Country too. Now its time to step into the past with the next three songs. Starting with Hayseed doing an old standard with the beautiful Emmylou. Then a song written by the often forgotten Mickey Newbury, and recorded live as a tribute with gang of musicians. And to lead us off into the night the Carter family. This disc does everything but depress. Put together by people that want to show you what Alt-country is, but not tell you what it could be.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Good Rockin' Tonight Sun Records 2001
1.Paul McCartney: That’s All Right
2.Jeff Beck & Chrissie Hynde: Mystery Train
3.Jimmy Page & Robert Plant: My Bucket’s Got a Hole In It
4.Johnny Hallyday: Blue Suede Shoes
5.Elton John: Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On
6.Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Blue Moon of Kentucky
7.Van Morrison & Carl Perkins: Sittin’ on Top of the World
8.Bryan Ferry: Don’t Be Cruel
9.Bob Dylan: Red Cadillac and a Black Moustache
10.Eric Clapton and the Impressions: Just Walkin’ in the Rain
11.Matchbox Twenty: Lonely Weekend
12.Sheryl Crow: Who Will the Next Fool Be?
13.Chris Isaak: It Wouldn’t Be the Same Without You
14.LIVE: I Walk the Line
15.Howling Diablos and Kid Rock: Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee
16.Mandy Barnett and the Jordanaires: You Win Again
Everyone that loves Rock understands the link to Country Music. Sun Records was one of the early labels that helped bridge the gap and became the birthplace of rock'n'roll. This tribute is star studded and why not? All the musicians have a deep respect for the founding fathers that laid the ground work. Unlike some other tributes this one done for Public Televisions American Masters is fun, loose, and rolls on with very little bumps in the road. Everything is all right when Paul McCartney says so. Jeff Becks recording with Chrissie Hynde makes one hopeful that there are more tracks together somewhere. Plant is so into the nostalgia that you can hardly pick-up his English accent. Elton John has been playing "Whole Lotta Shakin Going On" since the 70's. Using it as the encore on the live two disk First Visit 1971. Could you make a tribute of any music from the south without Tom Petty? "Sittin' On Top of the World" a great song with two great performers Morrison and Perkins. Next Bryan Ferry sounds toned down, solid and crisp on "Don't Be Cruel." Dylan and Clapton both do love songs. Then Matchbot Twenty sounds like an alt-country band with "Lonely Weekend." Sheryl Crow always impresses when doing covers. Live hardens "Walk the Line," and Kid Rock gives a hip-hop feel to "Drinkin Wine." These where the only two to put a modern spin on the classic songs. Everyone wins with this CD, the listener, Sun Records, and of course Public Television.
Best Song: Mystery Train-Jeff Beck & Chrissie Hynde
Worst Song: Walk The Line-Live
Weired Stand Out: Lonely Weekend-Matchbot Twenty
Friday, June 5, 2009
Rock and Roll Alert - Neil Young Box Set
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Almost Famous Ost Dreamworks 2000
Simon & Garfunkel: "America" (Paul Simon) – 3:37
The Who: "Sparks" (Pete Townshend) – 3:48
Todd Rundgren: "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" (Rundgren)– 3:51
Yes: "I've Seen All Good People: Your Move" (Jon Anderson) – 3:33
The Beach Boys: "Feel Flows" (Carl Wilson, Jack Rieley)– 4:44
Stillwater: "Fever Dog" (Nancy Wilson) – 3:10
Rod Stewart: "Every Picture Tells a Story" (Rod Stewart, Ron Wood) – 5:55
The Seeds: "Mr. Farmer" (Sky Saxon) – 2:51
The Allman Brothers Band: "One Way Out" (Live) (Elmore James, Marshall Sehorn, Sonny Boy Williamson II) – 4:59
Lynyrd Skynyrd: "Simple Man" (Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant) – 5:56
Led Zeppelin: "That's the Way" (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant) – 5:37
Elton John: "Tiny Dancer" (John, Bernie Taupin) – 6:15
Nancy Wilson: "Lucky Trumble" (Nancy Wilson) – 2:42
David Bowie: "I'm Waiting for the Man" (Live from Live In Santa Monica '72) (Lou Reed) – 5:43
Cat Stevens: "The Wind" (Stevens) – 1:40
Clarence Carter: "Slip Away" (William Armstrong, Marcus Lewis Daniel, Wilbur Terrell) – 2:32
Thunderclap Newman: "Something in the Air" (John Keen) – 3:54
We all loved watching the story of a young rock writer, what about listening to it? "America" an American song for a home grown story. This is one of every ones favorites from Simon & Garfunkel, go ahead sing along. Quiet Who instrumental "Sparks" goes well with light mood. "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" if this Rundgren song was left out of the soundtrack. Then it would go from the Who To Yes, small names for big bands. The old Dreamworks label through in one of the trippiest Beach Boys songs, "Feel Flows," even the name is Trippy. Then the fake band from the movie makes an appearance. Rod Stewart wrote "Every Picture Tells a Story" With Ron Wood, a very successful calibration. Wonder what kind of seeds "Mr.Farmer" was planting in 1966 when it was written. Now for the southern rock portion of the evening, we get both the Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The Allmans playing the Elmore James cover they mad popular with rock audiences in the 70's. Another soft sounding song from a heavy band with "That's The Way" from Led Zeppelin. "Tiny Dancer" a singalong the movie always makes you feel like your on the road to another show. Cant go wrong with live Bowie...especially when covering Lou Reed. Then short but sweet Cat Stevens with "The Wind" The soulful Clarence Carter helps us "slip away" back to a better time when radio was king. But even then people knew that something was in the air, something that just kept slipping. How much fun it must have been to not only live the rock n roll dream but also to write about it.
Best Song:Tiny Dancer -Elton John
Worst Song: It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference-Todd Rundgren
Weird Stand Out:Mr.Farmer-The Seeds
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Love Sucks 2006 Rhino
Tracks:
- 1. Love stinks-J Geils Band
- I hate myself for loving you-Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
- Everything about you-Ugly Kid Joe
- Ever fallen in love(with someone you shouldn't've?)-Buzzcocks
- Love will tear us apart-Joy Division
- Pictures of you-Cure
- Answering machine-Replacements
- You're no good-Linda Ronstadt
- I'm not in love-10cc
- Love hurts-Gram Parsons
- Who loves the sun-Velvet Underground
- Glad to see you go-Ramones
Love sucks as a compilation rolls on and on one great song after another, all linked together by love. The bad part of love, the tough and unfair love....J. Geils thinks it sucks, Joan Jett hates herself for it. You get the feeling you should stay away from love. Why let it tear you apart? Why fall for the wrong person and end up hating everything about them? At least the Cure makes it sound like love is special and devastating. Then with the Replacements you can here the heart break in his voice. The switch from "Answering machine" to "You're no good" is a little ruff, maybe bring the Cure down to make a better mix. Can't talk about how hard love is without Gram Parsons. "Love hurts" sounds so calm and understanding, just what you need after love is gone. The Velvet underground at least sound upbeat about heartbreak, who cares about everyday things when in and out of love. And to send us off the Ramones are "Glad to see us go." This compilation hits it target right where it hurts, the heart.
Best song: Love hurts- Gram Parsons
Worst song: I'm not in love- 10cc
Weird standout: Answering machine- Replacements
PS. I have to say that the liner notes are hilarious. Written by Cory Frye,the northwest feature writer/columnist for Rhino, funny funny guy. First he badmouths the Beatles and there concept of every kind of love. Then goes on to pick love apart. You can see a real generation gap when it comes to thoughts on love. The way he writes you get the feeling he does not get that the only reason love sucks so much is because it is so good...while its good. Is it worth all the disappointment? Hell yeah it is!! Over and over and over loves brings you up to let you down, but the highs out weigh the lows most of the time. So maybe the Beatles where High on loves peaks, not just drugs. SQ