December 31

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 31:
Andy Summers from the Police is 66; Peter Quaife from the Kinks is 65; Burton Cummings from the Guess Who is 61; Tom Hamilton from Aerosmith is 57; Paul Westerberg from the Replacements is 49; Ric Ivanisevich from Oleander is 46; Scott Ian from Anthrax is 45; Mikko Siren from Apocalyptica is 33;

December 30

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 30:
Michael Nesmith, formerly with the Monkees, is 66; Davy Jones, formerly with the Monkees, is 63; Patti Smith is 62; Jeff Lynne, formerly with ELO, is 61;

On this date in 1999 former Beatle George Harrison fought off a knife-wielding intruder who broke into his mansion west of London and stabbed him in the chest.

New Releases

ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES:

January 13
Stevie Nicks...The Soundstage Sessions;
Stevie Nicks...Live in Chicago (DVD);
The Kinks...Life On The Road (DVD)

January 20
The Kinks...Beat, Beat, Beat (DVD)

January 27
Rush...Retrospective 3 (CD/DVD)
Neil Young...Neil Young Archives Vol. 1:1963-1972 (10 Disc blu-ray and 10 disc DVD)

February 3
Kid Rock...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus (VH1 Storytellers) (CD/DVD)

February 24
AC/DC...Classic Interviews Unauthorized (DVD)
MOTORHEAD...No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith

March 9
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND...The Best Of What's Around, Vol. 1

March 23
U2...No Line On The Horizon

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 29:
Ray Thomas from the Moody Blues is 67; Dexter Holland from the Offspring is 43; Glen Phillips from Toad The Wet Sprocket is 38

ON THIS DATE
1942 Rick Danko is born in Greens Corners, Ontario. Danko died in 1999

December 28

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 28:
Edgar Winter is 62;

December 27

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 27
Mick Jones from Foreigner is 64; David Knopfler from Dire Straits is 56; Guthrie Govan from Asia is 37;

December 26

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 26:
James Kottak from The Scorpions is 46; Lars Ulrich from Metallica is 45; Peter Klett from Candlebox is 39; Chris Daughtry is 29;

Top 10 CD's/Downloads For This Week

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FORT THIS WEEK
1. NICKELBACK...Dark Horse
2. AC/DC...Black Ice
3. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
4. GUNS 'N' ROSES...Chinese Democracy
5. METALLICA...Death Magnetic
6. HINDER...Take It To The Limit
7. SLIPKNOT...All Hope Is Gone
8. DISTURBED...Indestructible
9. LINKIN PARK...Minutes To Midnight
10. SAVING ABEL...Saving Abel

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR CHRISTMAS DAY, DECEMBER 25, 2008:
Annie Lennox, formerly with the Eurythmics, is 54;

MERRY CHRISTMAS

December 24

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 24:
Lemmy from Motorhead is 63;

December 23

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 23
Jorma Kaukonen from Jefferson Airplane is 68; Ron Bushy from Iron Butterfly is 67; Dave Murray from Iron Maiden is 52; Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam is 44;

ON THIS DATE
1987 Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue is pronounced dead, but is then revived with 2 adrenaline shots to the chest

New Releases

ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES:

December 23:
OASIS...(What's The Story) Morning Glory

January 13
Stevie Nicks...The Soundstage Sessions;
Stevie Nicks...Live in Chicago (DVD);
The Kinks...Life On The Road (DVD)

January 20
The Kinks...Beat, Beat, Beat (DVD)

January 27
Rush...Retrospective 3 (CD/DVD)
Neil Young...Neil Young Archives Vol. 1:1963-1972 (10 Disc blu-ray and 10 disc DVD)

February 3
Kid Rock...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus (VH1 Storytellers) (CD/DVD)

February 24
AC/DC...Classic Interviews Unauthorized (DVD)
MOTORHEAD...No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith

March 9
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND...The Best Of What's Around, Vol. 1

March 23
U2...No Line On The Horizon

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 22:
Rick Nielsen from Cheap Trick is 62;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #40. James Brown - Live at the Apollo (1963)

James Brown - Live at the Apollo (1963)
Label - King
Producer – James Brown
Art Direction - Dan Quest
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 31:33

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Introduction To James Brown
2. I'll Go Crazy
3. Try Me
4. Think
5. I Don't Mind
6. Lost Someone
7. Medley: Please, Please, Please/You've Got The Power/I Found Someone/Why Do You Do Me/I Want You So Bad/I Love You So Bad/I Love You, Yes I Do/Strange Things Happen/Bewildered/Please, Please, Please
8. Night Train

Mr James Brown. AKA - The hardest working man in showbiz! This recording at the famed Apollo theatre in New York is nothing short of an astonishing record. James is in top form as are his backing band the Flames.
In reading about the album (as I do with each record to learn more about each one) I was amazed to read that at the time King Records owner Syd Nathan flat out refused to fund this recording!! Too un-commercial. It will never sell. In his bravado style - Brown proceeded anyway, and paid for it out of his own pocket. His reasoning was that he had been out on the road night after night for a while, and he knew that the magic that was part of a James Brown show was something no studio record had ever caught. Hit follows hit without a pause — "I'll Go Crazy," "Try Me," "Think," "Please Please Please," "I Don't Mind," "Night Train," and more.
The reissue of this record is the one to get – as it is features the original audience track – not the one overdubbed at the time featuring POLITE clapping. This music is full of soul and the audience is as much a part of the recording as the band!
Highly recommended.

AC/DC - St Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida - December 21, 2008

Barr Music 101 ventured over to Tampa last night check out AC/DC. Here is what we saw:

Set list:

Rock And Roll Train / Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be / Back In Black / Big Jack / Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap / Thunderstruck / Black Ice / The Jack / Hells Bells / Shoot To Thrill / War Machine / Anything Goes / You Shook Me All Night Long / TNT / Whole Lotta Rosie / Let There Be Rock // Highway To Hell / For Those About To Rock

During the frantic “Let There Be Rock,” near the end of AC/DC’s set Sunday night at the St. Pete Times Forum, guitarist Angus Young sprinted down the catwalk to a small circular stage near the middle of the arena. As the stage rose, Young threw himself to the floor, playing his solo while frantically kicking his legs, a spectacle somewhere between a Three Stooges routine and a child’s temper tantrum. Young likely has done that leg-kicking routine during every AC/DC show since as far back as anyone can remember. It wouldn’t be an AC/DC show without it, or the cannons during the finale of “For Those About to Rock, We Salute You,” or the inflatable harlot during “Whole Lotta Rosie.” This time Rosie straddled the “Rock ‘n’ Roll Train” which appeared to crash into the rear of the stage as the band opened with the song of that name. It was one of five songs AC/DC played from this year’s “Black Ice,” album, which must be some kind of record, considering that the 28 years between the new disc and the career-making “Back in Black” were represented by exactly two songs. Beyond that, any fan could have called most of the set list — nice to hear “Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be” and “Shoot to Thrill”(easily the highlight song of the evening) in there. But no one goes to see AC/DC to be surprised. Do they?You go to see Angus go nuts; to hear his brother, rhythm guitarist Malcolm, and bassist Cliff Williams hammer out the riffs; to hear Brian Johnson growl and howl about rolling thunder and dirty women; and to watch drummer Phil Rudd smoke cigarette after cigarette – all the while never changing the expression on his face. And that’s what they did. Thank goodness!!.

December 21

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 21:
Brett Scallions, formerly with Fuel, is 37

December 20

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 20:
Peter Criss, formerly with Kiss, is 63; Alan Parsons is 60; Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes is 42;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #39. Charles Mingus - The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady (1963)

Mingus - The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady (1963)
Label – Impulse
Producer – Bob Thiele
Art Direction – Hollis King
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 39:25

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Solo Dancer
2. Duet Solo Dancers
3. Group Dancers
4. Trio And Group Dancers

So in reading up about this album I read the following line: “The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is one of the greatest achievements in orchestration by any composer in jazz history.” All I can say to that is - what the HELL were they listening to. This record is pure torture to listen to. Just dreadful. You may notice that no tracks are listed as standout tracks as I would not recommend anyone ever subject themselves to listening to ANY of this horrible record.
The liner notes, penned by his psychologist, should be your first clue as to how uneven a work this is. It’s desribed as “Charles Mingus consciously designed six-part ballet, an examination of his own tortured psyche also a conceptual piece about love and struggle.” The only thing that fits the music (and I use the term lightly here) is the word torture. The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady the first jazz album to rely on overdubbing technology. Unfortunately that is NOT a good statement. There is so much going on at times it’s hard to distinguish one instrument from another. Just dreadful. One reviewer wrote “Imagine free-jazz, now imagine it mixed with very slow, almost porn/gangster film like music and a dash of flamenco guitar.” Not as interesting as it sounds.
NOT recommended.

December 19

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 19:
Alvin Lee from Ten Years After is 64;

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK
1. NICKELBACK...Dark Horse
2. AC/DC...Black Ice
3. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
4. GUNS 'N' ROSES...Chinese Democracy
5. METALLICA...Death Magnetic
6. HINDER...Take It To The Limit
7. NEIL YOUNG...Sugar Mountain-Live At Canterbury House 1968
8. SLIPKNOT...All Hope Is Gone
9. LINKIN PARK...Road To Revolution: Live At Milton Kenyes
10. LINKIN PARK...Minutes To Midnight

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 18:
Keith Richards is 65; Elliot Easton, formerly with the Cars, is 55;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #38. Sam Cooke - Live At The Harlem Square Club (1963)

Sam Cooke - Live At The Harlem Square Club (1963)
Label - RCA
Producer – uncredited
Art Direction - uncredited
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 36:05

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Feel It
2. Chain Gang
3. Cupid
4. Medley: It's All Right/For Sentimental Reasons
5. Twistin' the Night Away
6. Somebody Have Mercy
7. Bring It on Home to Me
8. Nothing Can Change This Love
9. Having a Party

Sam Cooke is considered by music critics and fellow artists alike as the most important singer in soul music history. I’ve always KNOWN about Sam Cooke – but never really heard more than his greatest hits from time to time over the years. The title "the king of soul" is often over-used but Sam Cooke's legacy is undeniable. He had 29 Top 40 hits in the U.S. between 1957 and 1965. He is therefore seen by many as "the creator" of the genre. But for those like me who only knew Sam Cooke's music based on those hit singles, this disc will be nothing short of a revelation. This is the real Sam Cooke, doing a sweaty, raspy soulful set captured live in his prime at the Harlem Square Club in North Miami, FL, on Jan. 12, 1963
This recording and one at the Copa were both recorded for a live album to be released at the time. The more generic, more pleasing , more polished “Sam Cooke at the Copa” recording (in front of a mainly white audience) was chosen to be released – and this recording went unreleased for almost 22 years!
In many ways this record is superior to Sam Cooke's studio recordings, the way in which he feeds off the public's attention and love is amazing. His interaction with the public make them as much part of the album as Sam himself.
Highly recommended

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #37. Phil Spector - A Christmas Gift For You (1963)

Phil Spector - A Christmas Gift For You (1963)
Label - Philles
Producer – Phil Spector
Art Direction - uncredited
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 35:11


Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. White Christmas - Darlene Love
2. Frosty The Snowman - Ronettes
3. The Bells of St. Mary's - Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans
4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Crystals
5. Sleigh Ride - Ronettes
6. Marshmallow World - Darlene Love
7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Ronettes
8. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Crystals
9. Winter Wonderland - Darlene Love
10. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers - Crystals
11. Christmas - Baby Please Come Home - Darlene Love
12. Here Comes Santa Claus - Bob B Soxx & The Blue Jeans
13. Silent Night - Phil Spector & Artists

As fate would have it – I was able to listen to this Christmas record – the week before Christmas! Nice! Featuring Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" in its prime – it features his early stable of artists, the Ronettes, Crystals, Darlene Love, and Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans, they are all here.
In doing some reading about this record, it stands as arguably the greatest Christmas record ever to be made. Spector believed he could produce a record for the holidays that would capture not only the Christmas spirit, but at the same time be a pop masterpiece. He more or less succeeds with all the singers as they turned in some memorable performances – and as I mentioned – is considered the Christmas album by which all later holiday releases had to be judged.
On an interesting note – I read that Phil withdrew the album from release initially as it came out the week that John F. Kennedy was shot and he though it was in ‘poor taste’ to play this happy music while the country was in mourning. Kinda ironic that he may be an assassin himself now!!! The final track – Silent Night – features Spector's pleseant voice talking about love and harmony – actually pretty sad with hindsight.
Recommended for Christmas

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 17:
Paul Rodgers is 59: Mike Mills from R.E.M. is 50;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #36. Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963)

Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963)
Label - Columbia
Producer – John Hammond
Art Direction - Uncredited
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 50:04

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold
1. Blowin' In The Wind
2. Girl From The North Country
3. Masters Of War
4. Down The Highway
5. Bob Dylan's Blues
6. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
7. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
8. Bob Dylan's Dream
9. Oxford Town
10. Talkin' World War III Blues
11. Corrina, Corrina
12. Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance
13. I Shall Be Free

And here we have a almost pure only guitar and vocal album by Bob Dylan. A guy, his guitar and a harmonica. Considered one of the great craftsmen of our time, it may be hard to estimate the importance of The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan record. It DID firmly established Dylan as an unparalleled songwriter. At the time, folk had been quite popular on college campuses and bohemian circles, but nobody had transcended the scene as Bob Dylan did with this record. There are a couple of covers ("Corrina Corrina" and "Honey Just Allow Me One More Chance") but it’s the originals here that everyone remembers. "Blowin' in the Wind," "Masters of War," and "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" – all are staples in the Dylan canon. I’m not 100% sure – but this is probably the first album reviewed here where all but two songs are written by the performer. With the last entry by the Beatles and this one – it was truly the birth of the age of the singer-songwriter.
All of that said – this is actually a hard record to get through. Dylan can write a song like no other there is no denying that – but his vocals are just terrible in my humble opinion. Always have been. And his guitar and harmonica playing really aren’t that great either! Yet strangely though – it all works somehow. Perhaps it’s the craftsmanship of the songs that makes it all come together.
Oddly highly recommended.

December 16

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 16:
Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top is 59;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #35. The Beatles - With The Beatles (1963)

The Beatles - With The Beatles (1963)
Label - Parlophone
Producer – George Martin
Art Direction – Robert Freeman
Nationality - UK
Running Time – 33:24

Track Listing (standout tracks in bold)
1. It Won't Be Long
2. All I've Got To Do
3. All My Loving
4. Don't Bother Me
5. Little Child
6. Till There Was You
7. Please Mr Postman
8. Roll Over Beethoven
9. Hold Me Tight
10. You've Really Got A Hold On Me
11. I Wanna Be Your Man
12. Devil In Her Heart
13. Not A Second Time
14. Money

What can be said about the Beatles that has never been written before. Simply put – the greatest rock and roll group in history. Ever. Period.
I could select each track as a standout – as they are all just fantastic. There is an equal ratio of covers-to-originals, a familiar blend of girl group, Motown, R&B, pop, and rock, and a show tune thrown in for good measure. The Beatles could do it all. Straight ahead rock and roll, ("I Wanna Be Your Man") or twist it around with a little Latin lilt ("Little Child," easily one of their most underrated early rockers). John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote great ballads ("All I've Got to Do") and classic pop/rockers ("All My Loving"). Then there are the driving rockers ("It Won't Be Long") and melodic slower slower songs ("Not a Second Time"). Even George Harrison’s first song recorded ("Don't Bother Me”) is a standout!
The covers only pale slightly in comparison, (although "Devil in Her Heart" qualifies as a forgotten gem). With John’s vocals on "You Really Got a Hold on Me," this track is always an enjoyable performances.
It was clear that this record was head and shoulders above the music that was being released around the same time. The Beatles were rapidly turning into the icons they would become and the standard by which to measure all others from this point forward.
Highly recommended.

New Releases

UPCOMING ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES:

December 16
Bob Dylan...Playlist: The Very Best of Bob Dylan 1960's;
Santana...The Best Of The Fillmore Years
MOTORHEAD...BBC Live In Session, Vol. 1 (LP Record)
MOTORHEAD...BBC Live In Session, Vol. 2 (LP Record)
SALIVA...Cinco Diablo
MOTLEY CRUE...Journals Of The Damned (Box Set) (LP Record)
DAVE MATTHEWS...Live At Miles High Music Festival
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND...DMB Live Trax Vol. 13

January 13
Stevie Nicks...The Soundstage Sessions;
Stevie Nicks...Live in Chicago (DVD);
The Kinks...Life On The Road (DVD)

January 20
The Kinks...Beat, Beat, Beat (DVD)

January 27
Rush...Retrospective 3 (CD/DVD)
Neil Young...Neil Young Archives Vol. 1:1963-1972 (10 Disc blu-ray and 10 disc DVD)

February 3
Kid Rock...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus (VH1 Storytellers) (CD/DVD)

February 24
AC/DC...Classic Interviews Unauthorized (DVD)
MOTORHEAD...No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith

March 9
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND...The Best Of What's Around, Vol. 1

March 23
U2...No Line On The Horizon

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 15:
Carmine Appice from Vanilla Fudge is 62; Paul Simonon from the Clash is 53;

December 14

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 14
Cliff Williams from AC/DC is 59;

December 13

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 13:
Believe it or not, but the Motor City Madman, Mr. Ted Nugent, is 60 years old today. Also 60 today is Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, formerly with Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers. Amy Lee from Evanescence is 27

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #34. Ray Price - Night Life (1962)

Ray Price - Night Life (1962)
Label - Koch
Producer – Frank Jones; Don Law
Art Direction – uncredited
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 37:36

Track Listing (standout tracks in bold)
1. Introduction And Theme/Night Life
2. Lonely Street
3. Wild Side Of Life
4. Sittin' And Thinkin'
5. Twenty-Fourth Hour
6. Girl In The Night
7. Pride
8. There's No Fool Like A Young Fool
9. If She Could See Me Now
10. Bright Lights And Blonde Haired Women
11. Are You Sure
12. Let Me Talk To You

Something unexpected popped out when I played this album. I’m not a big country music fan (REAL country like this – not what passes as country music these days). And it WAS tough to get through this album. What surprised me is that this is a concept album. By Ray Price. In 1962. WHO KNEW! Certainly not me!
As I said – this is true classic country honky tonk music. Ray Price and his band – the Cherokee Cowboys were riding high when this record came out, and the toured regularly. His spoken word introduction lays out what is to come – songs about living in the night life – a side of life he saw on a regular basis. A life spent on the road full of hotels, bar rooms, one-night stands, heartache, and regrets.
Yet it’s not so much a story being told throughout the album as it is just a collection of simular themed tracks.
In reading about Ray Price I found that as the decade wore on, Price would go on to major superstardom as a mellow balladeer, (working with full string sections) which reached a more mass audience that most probably never even heard this music or his other honky tonk classics that preceded it. This album just may be Price's defining moment as an artist, but I just can’t get into the country of it.
Not recommended.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 12
Dickey Betts is 65; Eric Schenkman from the Spin Doctors is 45

Top 10 CD's/Downloads For This Week

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK
1. NICKELBACK...Dark Horse
2. AC/DC...Black Ice
3. GUNS 'N' ROSES...Chines Democracy
4. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
5. METALLACA...Death Magnetic
6. NEIL YOUNG...Sugar Mountain - Live At Canterbury House 1968
7. HINDER...Take It To The Limit
8. LINKIN PARK...Road To Revolution: Live At Milton Keynes
9. SLIPKNOT...All Hope Is Gone
10. MUDVAYNE...The New Game

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 11:
David Gates from Bread is 68; Mike Mesaros from The Smithereens is 51; Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue is 50; David Schools from Widespread Panic is 44;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #33. Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd - Jazz Samba (1962)

Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd - Jazz Samba (1962)
Label - Verve
Producer – Creed Taylor
Art Direction – Olga Albizu
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 33:08

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)
1. Desafinado
2. Samba Dees Days
3. O Pato
4. Samba Triste
5. Samba De Uma Nota Só
6. É Luxo Só
7. Bahia

This is the definitive bossa nova record. Calling it Jazz Samba is actually quite misleading as it is less jazz and not so much samba, it’s bossa nova in a Jazzy context setting. With that said – it is a thoroughly enjoyable record and a good album. For those (like me) who know nothing of Brazilian music – this would be a good starting point. No so much a true reflection of ‘typical’ Brazilian music (minus the flare and most of all lacking any lyrics so predominate in Brazilian music). But I’m sure that was the point to begin with the fact that this was the first full-fledged bossa nova album ever recorded by any American jazz musicians.
And it was successful too. It topped the LP charts and produced a pop chart hit single in "Desafinado." (who knew!!!) It was the true beginning of the bossa nova craze that swept the nation around this time.
If I had to use one word to describe this record it would be “graceful”. Again this one falls into the category as absolutely essential for any jazz collection.
Highly recommended.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 10
Scot Alexander from Dishwalla is 37

December 9

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 9
Nick Seymour from Crowded House is 50; Jakob Dylan from the Wallflowers is 39; Tre Cool from Green Day is 36;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #32. Booker T. & the M.G.s - Green Onions (1962)

Booker T. & the M.G.s - Green Onions (1962)
Label - Stax
Producer – Jim Stewart
Art Direction – Haig Adishian
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 34:55

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Green Onions
2. Rinky Dink
3. I Got A Woman
4. Mo' Onions
5. Twist And Shout
6. Behave Yourself
7. Stranger On The Shore
8. Lonely Avenue
9. One Who Really Loves You
10. You Can't Sit Down
11. Woman A Lover A Friend
12. Comin' Home Baby

I will admit – other than the track ‘Green Onions’ I was not familiar with any of the work of Booker T and the M.G.’s , nor familiar with any of the band members. After looking them up – I stand corrected. Turns out they were the house band at Stax Records in Memphis. Booker T Jones and Steve Cropper were the anchors and they can be heard on classic hits by Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Carla Thomas, Albert King, and Sam & Dave, just to name a few examples. That alone would be enough of a resume, but on their own they were one of if not THE top instrumental outfits of the rock era, cutting classics like "Green Onions" – their first and biggest hit. So much so they’d have trouble recapturing its commercial success. That track kicks off this album – and the same can be said for this album as their career. “Green Onions” is a GREAT song – but they never capture that groove or feel again for the rest of the record.
For me personally, the organ sound in each song is just too much – even though at 35 minutes the record is pretty short – and mid way through I was really ready to stop it playing. Which is a shame. The second best track – “Mo’ Onions” – is simply that, more of “Green Onions”!! There is a cover of Smokey Robinson's "One Who Really Loves You," with a very nice lead performance by Jones on organ and Cropper’s guitar handling the choruses that was very nice, but the album is just to much filler around one great track.
Not recommended.

UPCOMING ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES

UPCOMING ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES:

December 9
White Lion...La Nueva Kamada;
Bob Dylan...Changing Tracks (DVD);
Asia...Quadra (Box Set);
Oasis...The Lowdown Unauthorized
Europe...Almost Unplugged
Jimi Hendrix...At Last...the Beginning: The Making of Electric Ladyland (DVD)
Jimi Hendrix...Electric Ladyland (with DVD)
AC/DC...Church of Rock: The Bon Scott Years (DVD)

December 16
Bob Dylan...Playlist: The Very Best of Bob Dylan 1960's;
Santana...The Best Of The Fillmore Years

January 13
Stevie Nicks...The Soundstage Sessions;
Stevie Nicks...Live in Chicago (DVD);
The Kinks...Life On The Road (DVD)

January 20
The Kinks...Beat, Beat, Beat (DVD)

January 27
Rush...Retrospective 3 (CD/DVD)
Neil Young...Neil Young Archives Vol. 1:1963-1972 (10 Disc blu-ray and 10 disc DVD)

February 3
Kid Rock...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus (VH1 Storytellers) (CD/DVD)

February 24
AC/DC...Classic Interviews Unauthorized (DVD)

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 8
Gregg Allman is 61; Phil Collen from Def Leppard is 51; Marty Friedman, formerly with Megadeth, is 46; Ryan Newell from Sister Hazel is 36;

December 6

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 6
Peter Buck from R.E.M. is 52;

December 5

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 5
Little Richard is 76; J.J. Cale is 70; Jim Messian from Buffalo Springfield and Poco is 61; John Rzeznik from The Goo Goo Dolls is 43;

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK
1. GUNS 'N' ROSES...Chinese Democracy
2. NICKELBACK...Dark Horse
3. AC/DC...Black Ice
4. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
5. METALLICA...Death Magnetic
6. LINKIN PARK...Road To Revolution: Live At Milton Keynes
7. HINDER...Take It To The Limit
8. MUDVAYNE...The New Game
9. THE FIREMAN...Electric Arguments
10. LINKIN PARK...Minutes To Midnight

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 4
Chris Hillman, formerly with the Byrds, is 64; Gary Rossington from Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Rossington Collins Band is 57; Vinnie Dombroski from Sponge is 46;

December 3

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 3:
Believe it or not, but Ozzy Osbourne is 60; Mickey Thomas from Jefferson Starship is 59;

December 2

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 2:
Rick Savage from Def Leppard is 48; Nate Mendel from the Foo Fighters is 40;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #31. Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)

Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)
Label - ABC-Paramount
Producer – Sid Feller
Art Direction – Flynn / Viceroy
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 39:51

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Bye Bye Love
2. You Don't Know Me
3. Half as Much
4. I Love You So Much It Hurts
5. Just a Little Lovin' (Will Go a Long Way)
6. Born to Lose
7. Worried Mind
8. It Makes No Difference Now
9. You Win Again
10. Careless Love
11. I Can't Stop Loving You
12. Hey, Good Lookin'
Ray Charles was unhappy with Atlantic records and so he signed with ABC Paramount and took full advantage of his contract's "full artistic freedom clause" with this collection of revamped country classics on Modern Sounds in Country and Western. This was quite a gamble for Ray Charles and took plenty of guts not just for him, but for his new record label to release this record. Yet, this album featured Don Gibson's "I Can't Stop Loving You" and a Top Ten hit with a cover of Eddy Arnold's "You Don't Know Me," that helped this album remain at the top of the pop charts for nearly three months and more importantly brought Ray Charles international fame and made him a superstar. Charles’ covers of these songs actually have become the definitive versions of the tracks over the last 45 years.
It’s actually less country and more big band with a splash of gospel – with no steel guitars or fiddles – just lots of orchestral arrangements by Gerald Wilson. At times the tracks are overdone with orchestra and backing vocals which is a shame as they needn’t be. So while I prefer the ‘Genius of Ray Charles’ (reviewed earlier in this series) over this one as a definitive work of Ray Charles, this is still a good listen.
Highly recommended.

November 30

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 30
Roger Glover from Deep Purple is 63; Billy Idol is 53; Mike Stone, formerly with Criss and currently with Queensryche, is 39;

George Harrison

A very sad anniversary falls on this date in Rock 'N' Roll History. George Harrison passed away on this date, November 29, 2001. He was 58. But George's memory still lives within us Rock 'N' Rollers with his sweet love songs, his awesome slide guiter, his gentle soul and his brilliant songwriting. Harrison purposely explored into areas with his music that always intrigued his fans but seemed to annoy music critics. Put on a Beatles or George Harrison solo CD today and enjoy.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 29:
Blues singer-musician John Mayall is 75; Ringo Garza from the Los Lonely Boys is 27;

November 28

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 28:
Matt Cameron, currently with Pearl Jam, is 46;

Top 10 CD's/Downloads For This Week

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK:
1. Nickelback...Dark Horse
2. AC/DC...Black Ice
3. MUDVAYNE...The New Game
4. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
5. HINDER...Take It To The Limit
6. METALLICA...Death Magnetic
7. ROD STEWART...The Definitive Rod Stewart
8. SAVING ABEL...Saving Abel
9. SLIPKNOT...All Hope Is Gone
10. SAMMY HAGAR...Cosmic Universal Fashion

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 27
Charlie Burchill from Simple Minds is 49; Charlie Benante from Anthrax is 46; Mike Bordin from Faith No More is 46;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #30. Bill Evans - Sunday At The Village Vanguard (1961)

Bill Evans - Sunday At The Village Vanguard (1961)


Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Gloria's Step (Take 2)
2. Gloria's Step (Take 3)
3. My Man's Gone Now
4. Solar
5. Alice In Wonderland (Take 2)
6. Alice In Wonderland (Take 1)
7. All Of You (Take 2)
8. All Of You (Take 3)
9. Jade Visions (Take 2)
10. Jade Visions (Take 1)

And yet another jazz album. This one I didn’t really care for that much. Sunday at the Village Vanguard is the initial volume of a huge recording session by the Bill Evans Trio recorded in June of 1961 at New York's Village Vanguard. This trio is widely regarded as his finest. Tragically, the bassist Scott LaFaro was killed in an automobile accident just ten days after this session was recorded!
If you were to want to get into Bill Evans I suppose this is a great place to begin with, but it doesn’t have that good ‘feel’ to the music that the jazz albums that I have been playing recently have had. It is a very demanding album to listen to and asks a lot of the listener – a commitment if you will – to understand the music and what’s going on. Sadly, the music just isn’t good enough to do that.
Not recommended

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #29. Muddy Waters - Muddy Waters at Newport (1960)

Muddy Waters - Muddy Waters at Newport (1960)

Track Listing (standout tracks in bold

1. I Got My Brand on You
2. (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man
3. Baby Please Don't Go
4. Soon Forgotten
5. Tiger in Your Tank
6. I Feel So Good
7. I've Got My Mojo Working
8. I've Got My Mojo Working, Pt. 2
9. Goodbye Newport Blues

A live blues recording. I was apprehensive when I started this record. Could they capture the thrill of a live blues setting on a festival recording. This is pretty impressive stuff – even 40-plus years down the line. The version I played is the March 2001 remastering from MCA. Reading about the transfer they used high-resolution digital audio, and brought up the bass overall and the details of just about every aspect of the playing, as well as moving Muddy's singing several layers forward in the mix, creating a vivid stage ambience, making you feel like you are there!
Muddy, with a band featuring Otis Spann, James Cotton, and guitarist Pat Hare, are a great unit playing awesome versions of "Got My Mojo Working," (with a reprised again in a short encore version), a version of "I've Got My Brand on You" that just smokes. With impressive versions of "Hoochie Coochie Man," Big Bill Broonzy's "Feel So Good," and "Tiger in Your Tank.", this record was a breakthrough moment in blues history, where the jazz audience at Newport opened its ears and embraced dirty Chicago blues.
Supposedly a film of this performance exits. Now THAT would be something to see!
Highly recommended

November 25

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 25
Mark Lanegan from the Screaming Trees is 44;

Guns And Roses - Chinese Democracy - *1/2

Axl Rose finally got around to releasing his epic 'Chinese Democracy'. It's the audio equivalent of Axl erecting a monument to himself. He calls the band Guns N' Roses, but it's an Axl Rose solo album - an Axl Rose self-portrait. When he tries to recall the glory days of his former band, the music sounds forced, imitative. But mostly he tries to erase the aura of the old group, which is another kind of mistake. As a whole, there's no direction, no theme, no focus. And after 15 years, well, that's bound to happen.
At times bewildering and frequently exhausting, it's easy to imagine that Chinese Democracy took 10 years just to mix.
There ARE flashes of real promise in some of the melodies here but all too often they are mired in bombast and misguided arrangements. None of the team of lead guitarists Rose has recruited are any substitute for Slash, but ultimately this album is conclusive proof that Izzy Stradlin was the genuine songwriting talent in Guns N' Roses.
There's talented people here of course but they've missed the mark. Fifteen years? It will be another 15 years before I listen to this album again. Now that he has this epic out and behind him, let's hope that maybe he will now get back to his roots, strip away the gloss and make a rock and roll record soon.
Not recommended.

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #28. The Incredible Jimmy Smith - Back at the Chicken Shack (1960)

The Incredible Jimmy Smith - Back at the Chicken Shack (1960)

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Back At The Chicken Shack
2. When I Grow Too Old To Dream
3. Minor Chant
4. Messy Bessy
5. On The Sunny Side Of The Street

Another jazz album. Another cool one. It’s closer to funk than to jazz. Again -
I had never heard of Jimmy Smith until I went to play this record. Doing some research I found that he ruled the Hammond organ in the '50s and '60s. He is considered to be the one who revolutionized the instrument, showing it could be creatively used in a jazz context and popularized it in the process. His Blue Note sessions from 1956 to 1963 (which includes this 1960’s release) were extremely influential and are considered classics. In the jazz world.
I don’t know about all of that – but the music is – well – COOL. Recorded in 1960 with Kenny Burrell on guitar, Donald Bailey on drums, and Turrentine, the group is tight and as I say it’s ‘funky’ it’s ‘soul-jazz’ it’s ‘relaxed’. It’s a pleasure to listen to.

November 23

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 23:
Bruce Hornsby is 54; Ken Block from Sister Hazel is 42; Charlie Grover, formerly with Sponge, is 42;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #27. Everly Brothers - A Date With the Everly Brothers (1960)

Everly Brothers - A Date With the Everly Brothers (1960)



Track Listing (standout tracks in bold)



1. Made To Love

2. That's Just Too Much

3. Stick With Me Baby

4. Baby What You Want Me To Do

5. Sigh Cry Almost Die

6. Always It's You

7. Love Hurts

8. Lucille

9. So How Come

10. Donna Donna

11. Change Of Heart

12. Cathy's Clown



Just a fine album. Great material and some very fine songs on the Everly Brothers (Phil and Don) on their second Warner LP released in 1960. It includes one of their best known songs "Cathy's Clown". It also includes their rocking cover of Little Richard's "Lucille," "Love Hurts" (which preceded Roy Orbison's hit version and of course later hit by Nazareth in the 70's), and "So How Come" (covered by the Beatles in 1963 on the BBC). In fact - you can hear the influences that the Everly Brothers had on the Beatles listening to this album. There is a nice innocence to this music. It's like they want to break loose but keep it clean and close to the vest. The very thing that Beatles did with this material.
Some of the songs are written by one or both of the brothers: "Cathy's Clown", "Made To Love" (a hit for Eddie Hodges), "Sigh, Cry, Almost Die", and"That's Just Too Much" but most of the songs are written by Boudleaux Bryant and his wife Felice Bryant who wrote most of the hits for The Everly Brothers. Add in a an early Mel Tillis song, "Stick With Me Baby", and you have a collection of songs that while nonessential to collectors are very good examples of well crafted sometimes not often heard songs that are hard not to listen to and well worth the time.
Highly recommended.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 22:
Steve Van Zandt (AKA Little Steven) is 58; Tina Weymouth from the Talking Heads is 58; Lawrence Gowan, currently with Styx, is 52;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #26. Miriam Makeba - Miriam Makeba (1960)

Miriam Makeba - Miriam Makeba (1960)

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. The Retreat Song (Jikele Maweni)
2. Suliram
3. The Click Song
4. Umhome
5. Olilili
6. Lakutshn, Ilanga
7. Mbube
8. The Naughty Little Flea
9. Where Does It Lead?
10. Nomeva
11. House Of The Rising Sun
12. Saduva
13. One More Dance - Charles Coleman

I must admit, I had never heard of Miriam Makeba before hearing this album, and to tell you the truth, I was not looking forward to listening to it. While I was not overly impressed with the record, I was pleasantly surprised.
Miriam’s mentor was Harry Belafonte, who accompanies her on some of the tracks – and wrote the liner notes for the lp. No wonder RCA Victor Records snapped her up and recorded this her first album in May 1960. Clearly, the label was hoping to repeat the success of Harry Belafonte. "The Naughty Little Flea," sounds like a Belefonte number . She too turns in a version of "House of the Rising Sun.", but unlike the dismal treatment given to the track by Joan Baez – reviewed early this week – this isn’t half bad. Such familiar type English material offset the songs sung in her native South African tongue of Xhosa. (I had to look it up). Makeba has a smooth voice and she uses it to its limit with the different range of material she recorded. This ever includes “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” which is here called “Mbube” sung in the original language.
Again not overly impressed with the record – but can recommend it – with reservations

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 21:
Dr. John is 68;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #25. Elvis Presley - Elvis is Back! (1960)

Elvis Presley - Elvis is Back! (1960)




Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)


1. Make Me Know It

2. Fever

3. Girl Of My Best Friend

4. I Will Be Home Again

5. Dirty Dirty Feeling

6. Thrill Of Your Love

7. Soldier Boy

8. Such A Night

9. It Feels So Right

10. Girl Next Door

11. Like A Baby

12. Reconsider Baby



Fresh out of the Army Elvis Presley stepped into the studio looking to regain the status he had held before he left to serve our country. He turned in what may be his bet set of recordings of his entire career. I have always been fascinated with these sessions – 18 songs recorded in all with 12 selected for the album. . It's a slightly different Elvis here than the one who was drafted, still in fine voice yet slightly tamer. He jumps from style to style--from R&B (Such a Night) to pure pop (The Girl of My Best Friend) to doo-wop (Soldier Boy) to some of the hardest blues of his career (Reconsider Baby). He even makes transforms Peggy Lee’s "Fever" into his own. No hit singles, (, "It's Now or Never" and "Are You Lonesome Tonight" from these sessions were released as singles) just a great record and thankfully no indication of the "movie years" songs that was soon to follow. Highly recommended.
[Note - The 1999 remaster of this album features the complete sessions for a total of 18 songs, including the three singles and their B-sides from those sessions. I would seek this version out]

ABSOLUTE ROCK TOP 10 CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK
1. AC/DC...Black Ice
2. HINDER...Take It To The Limit
3. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
4. METALLICA...Death Magnetic
5. SLIPKNOT...All Hope Is Gone
6. SAVING ABEL...Saving Abel
7. DISTURBED...Indestructible
8. LINKIN PARK...Minutes To Midnight
9. 3 DOORS DOWN...3 Doors Down
10. SHINEDOWN...The Sound Of Madness

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 20:
Norman Greenbaum is 66; Joe Walsh is 61;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #24. Joan Baez - Joan Baez (1960)

Joan Baez - Joan Baez (1960)

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Silver Dagger
2. East Virginia
3. Fare Thee Well (Or Then Thousand Miles)
4. House Of The Rising Sun
5. All My Trials
6. Wildwood Flower
7. Donna Donna
8. John Riley
9. Rake and Rambling Boy
10. Little Moses
11. Mary Hamilton
12. Henry Martin
13. El Preso Numero Nueve

The female version of Bob Dylan. The main difference is Joan Baez didn’t write her own material, where as Dylan did. These are stark bare recordings of a young girl and her guitar letting the songs stand on their own merit – which they do for the most part. Unfortunately like Dylan – Joan cannot sing. Just 19 at the time she recorded the album, it was made up of mostly traditional songs. Including a dismal version "House of the Rising Sun". This record was difficult to get all the way through and I cannot recommend it.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 19:
Matt Sorum from Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver is 48; Travis McNabb from Better Than Ezra is 39;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #23. Dave Brubeck - Time Out (1959)

Dave Brubeck - Time Out (1959)

Track Listing (standout tracks in bold)

1. Blue Rondo A La Turk
2. Strange Meadow Lark
3. Take Five
4. Three To Get Ready
5. Kathy's Waltz
6. Everybody's Jumpin'
7. Pick Up Sticks

Another jazz album. Good thing that I’m liking the jazz albums that have been coming along as there have been quite a few. Considered Dave Brubeck's defining masterpiece, Time Out is said to be one of the most rhythmically innovative albums in all of jazz history! From what I read it is the the first jazz album to consciously explore time signatures outside of the standard 4/4 beat or 3/4 waltz time. It was considered a very risky move at the time. So much so the record company didn’t want to release it!
Time Out became an unexpectedly huge success, and you see it listed on all of the major ‘must have’ jazz lists – and is considered by many as one of the most popular jazz albums ever.
It is a nice listen and I can see where it belongs in even the most rudimentary jazz collection. Recommended.

November 18

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 18:
Herman Rarebell, formerly with the Scorpions, is 59; Kirk Hammett from Metallica is 46;

UPCOMING NEW RELEASES

UPCOMING ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES:

November 18
Nickelback...Dark Horse;
Twisted Sister...Live At The Astoria;
Asia...Live In Moscow 1990
The Who...The Who At Kilburn 1977 (DVD)
Sammy Hagar...Cosmic Universal Fashion
Cinderella...Live At The Key Club 1998
The Doors...Live At The Matrix, San Francisco, March 10, 1967
Foo Fighters...Live At Wembley Stadium (DVD & BluRay)
Mudvayne...The New Game
Rod Stewart...The Definitive Rod Stewart (CD or CD/DVD Deluxe Edition)

November 23
Guns 'N' Roses...Chinese Democracy

November 25
Linkin Park...Road To Revolution (CD/DVD);
The Fireman...Electric Arguments;
Ian Gillan...The Difinitive Ian Gillan Live
Asia...Progressive Rock Friends
Asia...Live In Nottingham (extra tracks)

December 2
Queen...The Singles Collection (13 CD Box Set)

December 9
White Lion...La Nueva Kamada;
Bob Dylan...Changing Tracks (DVD);
Asia...Quadra (Box Set);

December 16
Bob Dylan...Playlist: The Very Best of Bob Dylan 1960's;

January 13
Stevie Nicks...The Soundstage Sessions;
Stevie Nicks...Live in Chicago (DVD);

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 17
Jim Babjak The Smithereens is 51; Ben Wilson from the Blues Traveler is 41;

November 16

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 16:
Dave Kushner from Velvet Revolver is 42;

November 15

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 15:
Chad Kroeger from Nickelback is 34;

November 14

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 14:
James Young from Styx is 59; Brian Yale from Matchbox 20 is 40; Tobin Esperance from Papa Roach is 29;

Top 10 CD's/Downloads For This Week

ABSOLUTE ROCK TOP 10 CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK:
1. AC/DC...Black Ice
2. HINDER...Take It To The Limit
3. METALLICA...Death Magnetic
4. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
5. SLIPKNOT...All Hope Is Gone
6. SAVING ABEL...Saving Abel
7. BUCKCHERRY...Black Butterfly
8. DISTURBED...Indestructible
9. LINKIN PARK...Minutes To Midnight
10. THEORY OF A DEADMAN...Scars And Souvenirs

Novembere 12

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 12:
Neil Young is 63; Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser from Blue Oyster Cult is 61; David Ellefson, formerly of Megadeth, is 44;

November 11

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 11:
Vince Martell from Vanilla Fudge is 63; Scott Mercado from Candlebox is 44;

UPCOMING ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES

UPCOMING ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES:

November 11 -
Stephen Stills...Just Roll Tape: April 26th,1968 (LP record);
J.D. Souther...If The World Was You (LP record release);
Justin Hayword & Friends...Sing Moody Blues Classics;
Living Colour...The Paris Concert (DVD);
Johnny Winter...Live Through The 70's (DVD);
Pink Floyd - Meddle (DVD);
Pink Floyd...Great Gig in the Sky: Album by Album Guide (DVD);
Deep Purple...Speed King (DVD);
Eric Johnson...Anaheim Live (DVD);
Cheap Trick...Budokan!(30th Anniversary DVD+3CDs) (Box Set);
AC/DC...Collector's Box
Live...Live at the Paradiso Amsterdam (CD or DVD);
Mudcrutch...Extended Play Live EP;
Slipknot...Rank Outsiders (DVD);
Smashing Pumpkins...If All Goes Wrong (DVDS);
Peter Green/Nigel Watson...The Robert Johnson Sogbook;
Warrant...They Came From Hollywood (DVD)

November 18
Nickelback...Dark Horse;
Twisted Sister...Live At The Astoria;

November 23
Guns 'N' Roses...Chinese Democracy

November 25
Linkin Park...Road To Revolution (CD/DVD);
The Fireman...Electric Arguments;
Ian Gillan...The Difinitive Ian Gillan Live

December 9
White Lion...La Nueva Kamada;
Bob Dylan...Changing Tracks (DVD);

December 16
Bob Dylan...Playlist: The Very Best of Bob Dylan 1960's;

January 13
Stevie Nicks...The Soundstage Sessions;
Stevie Nicks...Live in Chicago (DVD);

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 10:
Greg Lake from Emerson, Lake and Palmer is 61; Chris Jannou from Silverchair is 29;

November 8

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 8:
Bonnie Raitt is 59;

November 7

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 7:
Greg Tribbett from Mudvayne is 40; Zach Myers from Shinedown is 25;

Top 10 CD's/Downloads For This Week

TOP 10 CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK:
1. AC/DC...Black Ice
2. METALLICA...Death Magnetic
3. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
4. SLIPKNOT...All Hope Is Gone
5. QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS...The Cosmos Rocks
6. SAVING ABEL...Saving Abel
7. BOB DYLAN...The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs - Rare and Unreleased 1989-2006
8. DISTURBED...Indestructible
9. JOURNEY...Revelation
10. STAIND...The Illusion Of Progress

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 6:
Glenn Frey from The Eagles is 60; Corey Glover from Living Colour is 44;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #22. Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (1959)

Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (1959)


Track Listing

1. Big Iron
2. Cool Water
3. Billy The Kid
4. Hundred And Sixty Acres
5. They're Hanging Me Tonight
6. Strawberry Roan
7. El Paso
8. In The Valley
9. Master's Call
10. Running Gun
11. Little Green Valley
12. Utah Carol

Marty Robbins has a pretty smooth voice. Other than that it’s hard to say a lot good about this album. It’s not that I HATED it – it just seemed like it was the same song – over and over and over!! I read that it is the “single most influential album of Western songs in post-World War II American music”. That very well may be – but it’s just not my kinda thing. "El Paso" is a time worn classic that really just drags on and on. Actually kind of hard to believe radio would actually play such a long track in 1959! Not recommended.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 5:
Art Garfunkel is 67; Bryan Adams is 49;

November 4

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 4:
Delbert McClinton is 68;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #21. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (1959)

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (1959)

Track Lisiting (standout tracks in bold)

1. So What
2. Freddie Freeloader
3. Blue In Green
4. All Blues
5. Flamenco Sketches

This is a record generally considered as the definitive jazz album of all time. EVER. A universally acknowledged standard of jazz music excellence. And it truly is a ‘beautiful’ album to listen to. Each of the tracks (there are only 5) is simple, to the point. Each tune has a similar relaxed feel to it, and the music flows easily like a crisp stream on a cool winters day. The musicians read like a whose who of jazz greats: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, etc.., how could they go wrong. Reading the liner notes one finds that the band never played any of the selections through prior to recording them. Miles provided the basic layouts for the songs and then the band just improvised. When researching a bit about the album a line that stood out was “if you don’t like ‘Kind of Blue’ – you don’t like jazz.” That DOES pretty much sum it up!
Highly recommended

New Releases

UPCOMING ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES:

November 4 - Hinder...Take It To The Limit (CD/DVD Combo); Canned Heat...Boogie House Tapes, Vol. 3: Recorded Electrically; George Lynch...Let The Truth be Known; ZZ Top...Live From Texas (CD or CD/DVD Combo); Steve Walsh...Shadowman; Jackson Browne...Solo Acoustic 1 & 2;
November 11 - Stephen Stills...Just Roll Tape: April 26th,1968 (LP record); J.D. Souther...If The World Was You (LP record release); Justin Hayword & Friends...Sing Moody Blues Classics; Living Colour...The Paris Concert (DVD); Johnny Winter...Live Through The 70's (DVD); Pink Floyd - Meddle (DVD); Pink Floyd...Great Gig in the Sky: Album by Album Guide (DVD); Deep Purple...Speed King (DVD);
November 18 - Nickelback...Dark Horse;
November 25 - Linkin Park...Road To Revolution (CD/DVD); The Fireman...Electric Arguments;
December 9 - White Lion...La Nueva Kamada; Bob Dylan...Changing Tracks (DVD);
January 13 - Stevie Nicks...The Soundstage Sessions; Stevie Nicks...Live in Chicago (DVD);

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 3:
Adam Ant is 54; C.J. Pierce from Drowning Pool is 36;

November 2

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER 2:
Keith Emerson from Emerson, Lake and Palmer is 64; J.D. Souther is 63; Carter Beauford from The Dave Matthews Band is 51; Bobby Dall from Poison is 45; Fieldy from Korn is 39;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #20. Ray Charles - The Genius of Ray Charles (1959)

Ray Charles - The Genius of Ray Charles (1959)

Track Listing (standout tracks in bold

1. Let The Good Times Roll
2. It Had To Be You
3. Alexander's Ragtime Band
4. Two Years Of Torture
5. When Your Lover Has Gone
6. Deed I Do
7. Just For A Thrill
8. You Won't Let Me Go
9. Tell Me You'll Wait For Me
10. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'
11. Am I Blue
12. Come Rain Or Come Shine

Just a fantastic listen. Ray Charles voice is heard throughout in peak performance. Giving soul to the fast tracks and ballads that just drips from the speakers! The ‘sides’ of the album feature songs in two distinct styles. Big Band arrangements (arranged by Quincy Jones) on one side, string orchestra arrangements on the other. No matter – whatever style he is playing – it is just so damn soulful! Released in 1959 – this to me could be the definition of the birth of soul music. Truly great tracks throughout and highly recommended.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 31:
Larry Mullen from U2 is 47; Mikkey Dee from Motorhead is 45;

Top 10 CD's/Downloads

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS
1. AC/DC...Black Ice
2. METALLICA...Death Magnetic
3. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
4. SLIPKNOT...All Hope Is Gone
5. BOB DYLAN...The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs - Rare and Unreleased 1989-2006
6. SAVING ABEL...Saving Abel
7. DISTURBED...Indestructible
8. JOURNBEY...Revelation
9. STAIND...The Illusion Of Progress
10. BUCKCHERRY...Black Butterfly

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 30:
Grace Slick is 69; Chris Slade from Asia is 62; Timothy B. Schmit from The Eagles 61; Gavin Rossdale from Bush is 41;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #19. Ella Fitzgerald - Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook (1959)

Ella Fitzgerald - Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook (1959)

Track Listing

1. Ambulatory Suite
2. Prelude
3. Sam And Delilah
4. But Not For Me
5. My One And Only
6. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
7. I've Got Beginner's Luck
8. Oh Lady Be Good
9. Nice Work If You Can Get It
10. Things Are Looking Up
11. Just Another Rumba
12. How Long Has This Been Going On
13. It's Wonderful
14. Man I Love
15. That Certain Feeling
16. By Strauss
17. Someone To Watch Over Me
18. Real American Folk Song Is A Rag
19. Who Cares
20. Looking For A Boy
21. They All Laughed
22. My Cousin In Milwaukee
23. Somebody From Somewhere
24. Foggy Day
25. Clap Yo' Hands
26. For You For Me For Evermore
27. Stiff Upper Lip
28. Boy Wanted
29. Strike Up The Band
30. Soon
31. I've Got A Crush On You
32. Bidin' My Time
33. Aren't You Kind Of Glad We Did
34. Of Thee I Sing
35. Half Of It Dearie Blues
36. I Was Doing All Right
37. He Loves And She Loves
38. Love Is Sweeping The Country
39. Treat Me Rough
40. Love Is Here To Stay
41. Slap That Bass
42. Isn't It A Pity
43. Shall We Dance
44. Love Walked In
45. You've Got What Gets Me
46. They Can't Take That Away From Me
47. Embraceable You
48. I Can't Be Bothered Now
49. Boy What Love Has Done To Me
50. Fascinating Rhythm
51. Funny Face
52. Lorelei
53. Oh So Nice
54. Let's Kiss And Make Up
55. I Got Rhythm
56. Somebody Loves Me
57. Cheerful Little Earful

During the late '50s, Ella Fitzgerald continued her Song Book records with Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book, featuring 57 songs written by George and Ira Gershwin. These songs are considered by many to be among Fitzgerald's very best.
Considered by many to be arguably the finest female jazz singer of all time (and she DOES have an incredibly smooth and soulful voice!!). That said….
WOW – what a incredibly LONG listen. Truly this is a case of too much of a good thing. Clocking in at a whopping 3 hours and 15 minutes this was a tough listen to a extreme novice jazz fan. As I only have select times of each day (to and from work) to actually LISTEN to each of these 1001 albums, (which is the point right? TO actually LISTEN to them), it took over a week to play the record.
Again – I loved her voice – and her interpretations are great – but by about track 25-30 I was really ready for this record to be over!! And I was only HALF WAY!!
So indeed – pretty long!
Her vocal deliveries are swinging, infectious, heartfelt and as a overview I would go so far as to say this is actually a great album – just overly long for the casual fan – and hard to really ‘connect’ with the music.
Recommended

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 29:
Denny Laine, formerly with the Moody Blues and Paul McCartney & Wings, is 64; Peter Green, formerly with Fleetwood Mac, is 62;

New Releases

UPCOMING ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES:

Rocktober 28 - Queen and Paul Rodgers...The Cosmos Rocks; Jim Croce...Have You Heard Jim Croce Live (CD & DVD); The Byrds...Playlist:The Very Best of The Byrds; Jon Anderson...3 Ships; Thin Lizzy...UK Tour 75; Thin Lizzy...Live And Dangerous (DVD); Living Colour...Cbgb Omfug Masters: August 19 2005 the Bowery Coll; Bruce Springsteen...Dream Baby Dream (EP/LP); Bob Dylan...Inside Bob Dylan's Jesus Years: Busy Being Born... Again! (DVD); Lynyrd Skynyrd...Sweet Home Alabama: The Rockpalast Collection (DVD);
November 4 - Hinder...Take It To The Limit (CD/DVD Combo); Canned Heat...Boogie House Tapes, Vol. 3: Recorded Electrically;
November 11 - Stephen Stills...Just Roll Tape: April 26th,1968 (LP record); J.D. Souther...If The World Was You (LP record release); Justin Hayword & Friends...Sing Moody Blues Classics; Living Colour...The Paris Concert (DVD); Johnny Winter...Live Through The 70's (DVD); Pink Floyd - Meddle (DVD); Pink Floyd...Great Gig in the Sky: Album by Album Guide (DVD);
November 18 - Nickelback...Dark Horse;
November 25 - Linkin Park...Road To Revolution (CD/DVD); The Fireman...Electric Arguments;
December 9 - White Lion...La Nueva Kamada; Bob Dylan...Changing Tracks (DVD);
January 13 - Stevie Nicks...The Soundstage Sessions; Stevie Nicks...Live in Chicago (DVD);

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 27:
Garry Tallent from Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band is 59; K.K. Downing from Judas Priest is 57; Simon LeBon from Duran Duran is 50; Jason Finn from the Presidents of the United States of America is 41; Scott Weiland is 41;

Rocktober 25

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 25:
Jon Anderson from Yes is 64; Glenn Tipton from Judas Priest is 61; Matthias Jabs from the Scorpions is 52; Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers is 46;

Rocktober 24

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 24:
Bill Wyman is 72; Ben Gillies from Silverchair is 29;

TOP 10 CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK

TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK:
1. METALLICA...Death Magnetic
2. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
3. BOB DYLAN... The Bootleg Series Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs: Rare And Unreleased 1989-2006
4. SLIPKNOT...All Hope Is Gone
5. OASIS...Dig Out Your Soul
6. ROBERT PLANT/ALISON KRAUSS...Raising Sand
7. STAIND...The Illusion Of Progress
8. BUCKCHERRY...Black Butterfly
9. DISTURBED...Indestructible
10. SAVING ABEL...Saving Abel

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 23:
Robert Trujillo from Metallica is 44; Brian Nevin from Big Head Todd and the Monsters is 42; Eric Bass from Shinedown is 34;

ROCKTOBER 22

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 22:
Leslie West from Mountain is 63; Cris Kirkwood from the Meat Puppets is 48;

ROCKTOBER 21

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 21:
Manfred Mann is 68; Charlotte Caffey from The Go-Go's is 55; Steve Lukather from Toto is 51;

New Releases

UPCOMING ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES:

Rocktober 21 - AC/DC...Black Ice; A Flock Of Seagulls...Space Age Love Songs (CD release); Paul Stanley...One Live KISS (DVD); Kiss...Kiss Ikons (Box Set);
Rocktober 28 - Queen and Paul Rodgers...The Cosmos Rocks; Jim Croce...Have You Heard Jim Croce Live; The Byrds...Playlist:The Very Best of The Byrds; Jon Anderson...3 Ships; Thin Lizzy...UK Tour 75; Thin Lizzy...Live And Dangerous (DVD);
November 4 - Hinder...Take It To The Limit; Canned Heat...Boogie House Tapes, Vol. 3: Recorded Electrically;
November 11 - Stephen Stills...Just Roll Tape: April 26th,1968 (LP record); J.D. Souther...If The World Was You (LP record release); Justin Hayword & Friends...Sing MNoody Blues Classics;
November 18 - Nickelback...Dark Horse;
November 25 - Linkin Park...Road To Revolution (CD/DVD); The Fireman...Electric Arguments;
December 9 - White Lion...La Nueva Kamada;

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 20;
Tom Petty is 58; Jim Sonefeld from Hootie And The Blowfish is 44; Doug Eldridge from Oleander is 41;

ROCKTOBER 19

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 19:
Karl Wallinger from World Party is 51; Todd Park Mohr from Big Head Todd and the Monsters is 43;

ROCKTOBER 18

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 18:
Chuck Berry is 82; Tim Cross from Sponge is 42;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #18. Sarah Vaughan - At Mister Kelly's (1958)

Sarah Vaughan - At Mister Kelly's (1958)

Track Listing

1. September In The Rain
2. Willow Weep For Me
3. Just One Of Those Things
4. Be Anything But Darling Be Mine
5. Thou Swell
6. Stairway To The Stars
7. Honeysuckle Rose
8. Just A Gigolo
9. How High The Moon
10. Dream
11. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
12. It's Got To Be Love
13. Alone
14. If This Isn't Love
15. Embraceable You
16. Lucky In Love
17. Dancing In The Dark
18. Poor Butterfly
19. Sometimes I'm Happy
20. I Cover The Waterfront

Now this was a nice listen. This is what I had anticipated and had hoped for several albums ago with the Billie Holiday record. Smooth vocals, great arrangements and just a delight to listen to.
During the '50s, Sarah Vaughan spent most of her time recording songbook standards backed by large orchestras in huge arrangements, but on this night captured live at Mr Kelly’s in the heart of Chicago’s rush street café disctrict, she is backed by just a simple trio, and the recording finds her relaxed, and stretching out her vocals on a varied set list of late-night torch songs and ballads. The recording is great. The record I actually listened to was a 2001 re-release of the complete concert, and in this case, that is a good thing. It shows her playful side, messing up lyrics (even though the MC had told the audience prior to her taking the stage that Sarah would be using lyric sheets that night), not taking herself so serious, and having a great time performing. Her mood is infectious and even during the sad songs she sounds happy to be singing. Just a fine release and HIGHLY recommended.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 17:
Sergio Andrade from Lifehouse is 31;

Top 10 CD's/Downloads

THIS WEEK'S TOP 10 ABSOLUTE ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS:
1. METALLICA...Death Magnetic
2. BOB DYLAN...The Bootleg Series Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs: Rare And Unreleased 1989-2006
3. KID ROCK...Rock 'N' Roll Jesus
4. SLIPKNOT...All Hope Is Gone
5. PRETENDERS...Break Up The Concrete
6. TESLA...Forever More
7. BUCKCHERRY...Black Butterfly
8. STAIND...The Illusion of Progress
9. DISTURBED...Indestructible
10. JOURNEY...Revelation

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 16:
C.F. Turner from Bachman-Turner Overdrive is 65; Bob Weir is 61; Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers is 46; Chad Gray from Mudvayne is 37;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #17. Ramblin' Jack Elliott - Jack Takes the Floor (1958)

Ramblin' Jack Elliott - Jack Takes the Floor (1958)

Track Listing (standout tracks in bold)

1. San Francisco Bay Blues
2. Ol' Riley
3. The Boll Weevil
4. Bed Bug Blues
5. New York Town
6. Old Blue
7. Grey Goose
8. Mule Skinner Blues
9. East Texas Talking Blues
10. Cocaine
11. Dink's Song
12. Black Baby
13. Salty Dog

Ramblin' Jack Elliott is one of music's most influential people – yet many have never heard of him. He influenced everyone from Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger to the Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead. (Elliott often performed opening sets for Jerry Garcia's solo bands and occasionally sat in with the Dead).
It’s apparent from the first few minutes of this record where Jack Elliott got the name ‘Ramblin’ from – as he sure can ramble!!!
This in essence could be a long lost Bob Dylan album – as the style and sound is the same. Bare recordings, not such great vocals, alone, with his guitar weaving stories for the listener. (in fact - Elliott joined Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue and was featured in Dylan's film Renaldo and Clara.)
There is some yodeling which can get on the nerves at times, but there is no denying that Jack Elliott has style. Which made this a fun album to listen to. Recommended.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 15:
Mark Reznicek from the Toadies is 46;

Rocktober 14

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 14:
Justin Hayward from The Moody Blues is 62; Thomas Dolby is 50;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #16. Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin (1958)

Billie Holiday - Lady In Satin (1958)

Track Listing (standout tracks in bold)

1. I'm a Fool to Want You
2. For Heaven's Sake
3. You Don't Know What Love Is
4. I Get Along Without You Very Well
5. For All We Know
6. Violets for Your Furs
7. You've Changed
8. It's Easy to Remember
9. But Beautiful
10. Glad to Be Unhappy
11. I'll Be Around

First off – as I have said in other reviews - I admit to be an extreme novice when it comes to jazz – so all of the jazz records I’ve been listening to have been a total learning experience for me. I knew very little about Billie Holiday, other than that the Diana Ross movie “Lady Sings The Blues” was loosely based on her Holiday’s life. I approached this record with some anticipation thinking this would be just a fantastic listen as I had always read where Billie Holliday was the voice all other jazz greats were compared too! I was severely disappointed.
I have since learned, that the hard life (including an 8 month prison run in 1947) and severe amount of drug usage had essentially left Billie’s voice completely shot by the time she recorded these sides. There is a unique bareness and honesty to the vocals – chock full of emotion, but her vocals are so bad it makes it very hard to listen to this album. I initially thought these were recordings of a 70-80 year old woman, and was surprised to read she was 43 when these were recorded! Her croaking voice is at times unbearable. Not surprisingly, she died just over a year after these recordings were released of heart and liver disease.
Not recommended.

New Releases

UPCOMING ABSOLUTE ROCK NEW RELEASES:

Rocktober 14 - Chris Isaak...Chris Isaak Christmas (DVD); B.B. King...Collector's Edition; Blackfoot...Live In Kentucky (DVD); Canned Heat...If You Can't Stand the Heat, Get out of the Kitchen: Live; The Byrds...The Byrds Slipcase (Box set); House Of Lords...Anthology; Fleetwood Mac...Blues Jam At Chess (LP release); Rick Wakeman...Classic Tracks; J.D. Souther...If The World Was You; Elton John...In Peformance (DVD); Red Hot Chili Peppers...The Red Hot Chili Peppers Phenomenon; (DVD): Yngwie Malmsteen...Perpetual Flame; Tommy Bolin...Savannah Woman: Demos and Jam Sessions (LP record release); Ratt...The Early Years (LP record);
Rocktober 21 - AC/DC...Black Ice; A Flock Of Seagulls...Space Age Love Songs (CD release); Paul Stanley...One Live KISS (DVD); Kiss...Kiss Ikons (Box Set);
Rocktober 28 - Queen and Paul Rodgers...The Cosmos Rocks; Jim Croce...Have You Heard Jim Croce Live; The Byrds...Playlist:The Very Best of The Byrds; Jon Anderson...3 Ships;
November 4 - Hinder...Take It To The Limit; Canned Heat...Boogie House Tapes, Vol. 3: Recorded Electrically;
November 11 - Stephen Stills...Just Roll Tape: April 26th,1968 (LP record); J.D. Souther...If The World Was You (LP record release);
November 18 - Nickelback...Dark Horse;
November 25 - Linkin Park...Road To Revolution (CD/DVD); The Fireman...Electric Arguments;
December 9 - White Lion...La Nueva Kamada;

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 13;
Paul Simon is 67; Sammy Hagar is 61; Joey Belladonna, formerly with Anthrax, is 48;

Rocktober 12

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 12:
Pat DiNizio from the Smithereens is 53;

Rocktober 11

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 11:
Scott Johnson from the Gin Blossoms is 46;

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #15. Tito Puente - Dance Mania (1958)

Tito Puente - Dance Mania (1958)

Track Listing (standout tracks in bold)

1. El Cayuco
2. Complicación
3. 3-D Mambo
4. Llego Mijan
5. Cuando Te Vea
6. Hong Kong Mambo
7. Mambo Gozón
8. Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembe
9. Varsity Drag {Mambo)
10. Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti
11. Agua Limpia Todo
12. Saca Tu Mujer

Dance Mania as I read is probably Tito Puente's best-known album. This reminded me a lot of the Machito album I just listened to. Another collection of mambo, congo cha cha cha tracks. It’s fun enough, and I didn’t hate… but again – this kind of music is just not my thing and I found myself really glad when it ended. If you like conga, cha cha cha music – it would be recommended – if not – pass on this one.

ABSOLUTE ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR ROCKTOBER 10:
Midge Ure is 55; David Lee Roth is 54; Mike Malinin from the Goo Goo Dolls is 41;