February 26, 2013

Check out What We're Listening To This Week


THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BON JOVI...New Jersey  (1988)
New Jersey was released 25 years ago in 1988.  It reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  Bon Jovi had achieved major success with their previous album Slippery When Wet as their videos from that record were splashed all over MTV (remember when they were a good network?).  As we've all witnessed throughout the rock n roll era when an artist has such a major hit their next album finds it almost impossible to match the success or quality.  New Jersey didn't match the album sales of Slippery When Wet but the quality is better, in my opinion.  The album opens with the powerful "Lay Your Hands On Me".  The set continues to rock with other highlights "Bad Medicine" and "Born To Be My Baby".  The power ballad "I'll Be There For You" is really good, too.  Highly recommended, receiving 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 26
Fats Domino is 85; Paul Cotton from Poco is 70; Jonathan Cain from Journey is 63; Tim Commerford from Audioslave is 45;

ON THIS DATE
1943 Bob “Bear” Hite of Canned Heat was born in Torrance, California. Hite died in 1981
1985 At the Grammy's: Best Rock Male Performance - Bruce Springsteen "Dancing In The Dark"
1996 At the 38th Grammy's: Best Hard Rock Performance - Pearl Jam “Spin The Black Circle”
2008 Buddy Miles dies at the age of 60. He had been the drummer for Jimi Hendrix. He had also performed with Carlos Santana and David Bowie