LISA MARIE PRESLEY NOW WHAT…? By Ken Sharp Throw out all your pre-conceptions and dispose of the unyielding weight of those unfair comparisons to her father, Lisa Marie Presley is the real deal. Her new CD, Now What is a strong collection of immaculately crafted, emotionally charged songs that showcase Lisa’s distinctive smoky voice and display her uncompromising … Continue reading
END OF THE CENTURY: THE STORY OF THE RAMONES (2004) Starring Johnny Ramone, Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, Tommy Ramone, Marky Ramone, C.J. Ramone, Richie Ramone, Danny Fields, Lars Fredericksen, Kirk Hammett, Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Legs McNeil, Rick Rubin, Joe Strummer, Clem Burke, Ritchie Adler, Ed Stasium, Thurston Moore, Rob Zombie, John Frusciante and … Continue reading
BACKBEAT (1994) Starring Sheryl Lee, Steven Dorff, Ian Hart, Gary Bakewell, Chris O’Neill, Scot Williams, Kai Wiesinger, Gertan Klauber, Marcelle Dupruy, John White, Bernard Merrick, Nicholas Tennant, Finola Geraghty, Rob Spendlove, Charlie Caine, Jennifer Ehle, Frieda Kelly, Paul Humpoletz, Christiana Uriarte, Abigail Wrapson, Galit Herskovitz, Stephan Grothgar and Lynn Lowton. Screenplay by Iain Softley, Michael … Continue reading
Sammy Hagar – The Essential Red Collection (Hip-O) There are two kinds of Van Halen fans, the ones who like Diamond Dave and the ones who dug Sammy. (Okay, somewhere out there may be a Gary Cherone fan, too, but I doubt it.) I was always a David Lee Roth guy as far as the band … Continue reading
Three Dog Night In Black and White by Ronald Sklar The feat would be impossible to achieve in today’s market-fragmented world, but back in ’71, the bell-bottomed-and-walrus-mustachioed anthem “Joy To The World,” by Three Dog Night, shone through the polluted air and permeated the culture. In a world already torn every which way but loose, Jeremiah … Continue reading
The Ed Sullivan Show Rock ‘n’ Roll Classics (Rhino-2002) Your tolerance of the variety show format is equally proportional to the amount of hours you’ve viewed MTV since 1981. More than two decades have passed since the rest of television adapted to the now-taken-for-granted style of the quick-edited, odd-camera-angled, sound-bit, irony-heavy entertainment presentation. You are … Continue reading
Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002 (Mercury) From 1970 to 1977 Elton John had an almost unprecedented run of musical brilliance, during that time his work with lyricist Bernie Taupin rivaled the work of Lennon and McCartney and Brian Wilson. In this short bridge of time, John recorded about two very good albums a year … Continue reading
Chicago – The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning (Rhino) Very few bands have had two completely separate stylistic periods. The late 60s-early 70s incarnation of Chicago was a pioneering force that wed rock and roll with jazz horns and improvisational playing in a way that was totally unique. By the time the late 70s … Continue reading
Chicago At Carnegie Hall-Volume I, II, III & IV (Columbia C4X 30865) ©1971 Description: Chicago had only been recording for two years and three albums before they released this four-record (remember records?) concert set. Entirely overblown and slightly pretentious, an artistic and popular failure at the time, this still can claim to being the first … Continue reading
DON’T LOOK BACK (1967) Featuring Bob Dylan, Albert Grossman, Bob Neuwirth, Joan Baez, Alan Price, Tito Burns, Donovan, Derold Adams, Chris Ellis, Allan Ginsberg, John Mayall, Howard Alk, Jones Alk and Marianne Faithfull. Written by D.A. Pennebaker. Directed by D.A. Pennebaker. Distributed by New Video Group. 96 minutes. Not Rated. There are not nearly enough … Continue reading
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