Little River Band

With their country-rock influences and tight vocal harmonies I've long referred to Little River Band as the Australian Eagles.  While they never achieved quite the level of success as the Eagles, the talent was certainly there and I'd argue at least as far as the vocals were concerned Little River Band was superior to the Eagles-- their vocal harmonies often so tight they sounded like one voice.

And while not as well known, I'd argue the guitar solo on It's a Long Way There is just as good as the guitar solo on Hotel California.

Apparently, I'm not the only one who heard the similiarities between the two groups.  On their 2CD Reminiscing set they included a live performance featuring Glenn Frey singing a medley of Lyin' Eyes/Take It Easy with LRB acting as his back-up band.  The vocal harmonies give me chills just thinking about them.

Perhaps LRB's legacy isn't as firmly entrenched in the collective musical psyche due to their rotating personnel issues.  As it is, the band that currently tours under the Little River Band moniker features no original members.  The band is fronted by long time bass player/vocalist, Wayne Nelson, who replaced original bass player, David Briggs, back in the early eighties (Nelson is best known for his vocals on The Night Owls).  With the Eagles there was at least the stability of Frey and Henley and a rotating cast of equally (and at times superior) talented peers like Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit...  Heck they even poached 2 band members out of fellow country-rock band, Poco.

The nucleus of the Little River Band sound was lead vocalist Glenn Shorrock, rhythm guitarist/vocalist Beeb Birtles, and keyboardist/vocalist Graeham Goble.  Their harmonies were augmented on their first few albums by bass player David Briggs and later Wayne Nelson.  The turning point, or when Little River Band "jumped the shark" was when lead vocalist Glenn Shorrock was forced out and replaced by John Farnham.

The problem was Farnham's voice was a force unto itself.  Where Shorrrock's voice had blended beautifully with his bandmates, Farnham's voice soared above the vocals of his bandmates.  The band no longer sounded like Little River Band, they suddenly sounded like JOHN FARNHAM featuring Little River Band the chemistry had been irrevocably altered.  And, while some of the material he recorded with the band was certainly enjoyable (The Other Guy was a particularly enjoyable song) it just wasn't the same.  It was good music, but it just didn't sound or "feel" like LRB any more.

After three albums (The Net, Playing to Win, and No Reins) both the band and Farnham realized it had been a bad fit.  Farnham left before No Reins was even released.  Despite convincing Glenn Shorrock to return, the damage had been done.  Farnham's stint in the band had killed the momentum they'd had with their string of hits in the late seventies and into the early eighties.

With Shorrock back in the band they released a couple more respectable albums-- Monsoon and Get Lucky and continued touring throughout the 90s.  Beeb Birtles left during Farnham's tenure in the band, followed by Graeham Goble shortly after Glenn Shorrock's return and eventually even Shorrock departed the band leaving it in the hands of then guitarist, Stephen Housden and long time bass player/vocalist, Wayne Nelson and a rotating cast of supporting musicians. 

In the mid 'aughts Shorrock reunited with Graeham Goble and Beeb Birtles to form "Birtles, Goble, & Shorrock" as they'd lost the rights to the name of the band they had founded.  They released a live DVD and an accompanying CD showing they still had it-- the talent, the voices, and the chemistry that had made them so popular in the late seventies and early eighties. 

DAVE "BUCKET" COLWELL

GUITARS, BEERS & TEARS

Following years of providing stellar fretwork for iconic groups such as Humble Pie and Bad Company, Dave "Bucket" Colwell has stepped out to showcase his talents as a world class writer/guitarist with a rock solid, debut solo disc. Colwell has enlisted quite a cast of heavy friends to contribute to his record, including IRON MAIDEN's Adrian Smith, Edwin McCain, Steve Conte from the NEW YORK DOLLS, THE QUIREBOYS' Spike, Danny Bowes from THUNDER, Bekka Bramlett and BAD COMPANY's Robert Hart.

For listeners who have bemoaned the lack of visceral, contemporary hard rock with a melodic edge, Bucket and Co. are coming to the rescue with Guitars, Beers and Tears.

This is a fantastic set.

Opening with a brief, swelling keyboard line that gives a nod to the salad days of Deep Purple and Uriah Heep, the title track wastes no time getting to business. Kicking in with salvos of scorched earth policy riffing, the tone is set perfectly. Guitars and beers often go hand in glove, though the only tears here will be those of joy as this marks the beginning of a banquet laden with fist-pumping anthems interspersed with very pleasant surprises.

Despite the presence of multiple lead vocalists, Colwell's vision of a big, unashamed rock record remains intact and not one iota of continuity or momentum is lost. His personality shines through in the writing and is never submerged at any point in the proceedings. Formidable skills in the guitar department allow him to light up each cut, with impeccable and tasteful playing being the rule rather than the exception.

Graciously, he chooses to shine the spotlight on his guests as much as possible. The presence of Adrian Smith is strongly felt, with a brilliant recasting of "Reach Out" (which was the flip side to Maiden's "Wasted Years" single). Smith acquits himself quite well in the role of lead vocalist, while the band burns behind him. Very much a highlight of the pack. Speaking of which, my personal favorite here is "Life" which is built on a strong hook, features great changes and is topped by a passionate vocal from Danny Bowes. Running a close second is "Hey Mr. Nobody" which is the lone tune that features Bucket himself singing lead. It's a pity that he didn't take the opportunity for more mic time as he turns in a great performance.

Harking back to a time when the music sold itself, without recourse to artificial spectacle, Bucket and Co. put craftsmanship ahead of all other consideration to great effect.

All of the components that make a successful end product are present on Guitars, Beers and Tears, with top class production being the icing on a very satisfying, layered cake. Listeners will feel compelled to give the volume a healthy nudge toward the sky (as I did) and revel in the pleasure of one spectacular rock record.

Find out more about the artist and grab yourself a copy of the CD here

Let's now give credit where it's due:

THE BAND

Dave ‘Bucket’ Colwell Guitars/Vocals
Jaz Lochrie Bass/Vocals
Gary ‘Harry’ James Drums

Guitars, Beers & Tears (Colwell)
Vocals - Chris Ousey

Girl of My Dreams (Colwell)
Vocals - Spike (The Quireboys) Keyboards - Mark Read (A1)

Make Up Your Mind (Colwell/Adrian Smith)
Guitar/Vocals - Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)

Somebody To Love (Colwell/Tommy Lee James)
Vocals - Robert Hart (Bad Company)

Why You Call (Colwell)
Vocals - Edwin McCain Sax - Andy Hamilton Keyboards - Mark Read

If You Need Me (Colwell)
Guitar/Vocals - Steve Conte (NY Dolls)

Reach Out (Cowell)
Vocals - Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)

I’d Lie To You (Frankie Miller)
Vocals - Spike (The Quireboys) Backing Vocals - Bekka Bramlett

Survive (Colwell)
Vocals - Edwin McCain Harmonica - Judd Lander

Life (Colwell/J. Leo)
Vocals - Danny Bowes (Thunder) Keyboards - Mark Read

Why Can’t It Be (Colwell)
Vocals - Seth Romano

Mr. Nobody (Colwell)
Vocals - Dave Colwell Backing Vocals - Lauren Harris

20 Years Ago Today We Lost Stevie Ray Vaughan

In my opinion one of the most tragic losses in rock and roll, an accident that didn't have to happen :(

I remember hearing the news. I was pregnant at the time and considered naming the baby either Stevie, Ray or Vaughan. Now that the future has been seen, I see how appropriate it would have been to name my son after someone who overcame a serious drug addiction and alcoholism.

Some of us can be examples about going ahead and growing, and some of us, unfortunately, don't make it there, and end up being examples because they had to die. I hit rock bottom, but thank God my bottom wasn't death.
Stevie Ray Vaughan

Awesome News for Springsteen Fans!

When forced to choose my favorite of all Bruce's albums, I pick Darkness, so now I know what I want Santa to bring me this year :)

From brucespringsteen.net:

Bruce Springsteen's The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story Unveiled for Nov. 16 Release

Columbia Records has just announced Bruce Springsteen's The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story will be released on November 16.

For the first time, fans will have access to 21 never-before-heard complete songs from the "Darkness" recording sessions on 2 CD
or 4 LP 180-gram vinyl sets that will be available as The Promise.

"'Darkness' was my 'samurai' record," Springsteen writes, "stripped to the frame and ready to rumble. But the music that got left behind was substantial."

The Promise will also include the new essay from Bruce Springsteen, lyrics to all new tracks and unseen photographs from theDarkness On The Edge of Town sessions.

Containing a wealth of previously unreleased material, The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story offers an unprecedented look into Springsteen's creative process during a defining moment in his career. In addition to the The Promise 2 CDs, the deluxe 3 CD/3 DVD
and 3 CD/3 Blu-ray Disc versions include the Darkness on the Edge of Town album digitally remastered for the first time. Comprising over six hours of film and more than two hours of audio, The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story is packaged within an 80-page spiral-bound reproduction of Bruce's original notebooks documenting the recording sessions for the album, containing alternate lyrics, song ideas, recording details and personal notes.

Visit brucespringsteen.net for an exclusive sneak peek of the The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story video content as well as a first-listen of the song, "Save My Love," fromThe Promise, and complete details about this new release.

New Music From Heart!

For the first time in six years Ann and Nancy have released a new original record: Red Velvet Car. It will be released on August 31. Here's a sneak peak:

Here are a few things being said about it:

“The barracudas are back and at the top of their game.” (Rolling Stone, September 2, 2010)

“Aggressive, Delicate and Enduring” (New York Times, August 4, 2010)

"Red Velvet Car, to be released by Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings, boasts an evolved sound that doesn't pander to the iPod generation. The women of Heart have strong stories to tell through the music.” (The Virginian-Pilot, August 13, 2010)

And from their press release:

"Like all Heart albums, Red Velvet Car rocks hard but also has a deep acoustic side. Nancy Wilson has long been known to play her acoustic guitar with rock ferocity. This time an abundance of resonant acoustic instruments (guitars, mandolin, dobro, banjo, fiddle, viola, cello, and autoharp), played by Nancy Wilson and the album’s producer, Ben Mink, are showcased in Heart’s unique style. Nine of the album's songs were written for, and appear for the first time on Red Velvet Car. The album's closer, "Sand," is a newly recorded version of a song originally written and recorded by the Lovemongers, Ann and Nancy's 1990's acoustic side project. The release of Red Velvet Car heralds Legacy's forthcoming reissues of the classic Heart catalog in new physical and digital editions.

I can't wait to hear it, just wish Ann and Nanc were touring in my area! I guess I'll be driving to Los Angels is I want to see them this time. If you hear any of the new songs, let me know what you think!

Happy Belated Birthday, Robert

Robert Plant will forever be a Golden God in my eyes :)

My love is in league with the freeway

Its passion will ride, as the cities fly by

And the tail-lights dissolve, in the coming of night

And the questions in thousands take flight

My love is a-miles in the waiting

The eyes that just stare, and the glance at the clock

And the secret that burns, and the pain that grows dark

And it's you once again

Leading me on - leading me down the road

Driving beyond - driving me down the road

My love is exceedingly vivid

Red-eyed and fevered with the hum of the miles

Distance and longing, my thoughts do provide

Should I rest for a while at the side

Your love is cradled in knowing

Eyes in the mirror, still expecting they'll come

Sensing too well when the journey is done

There is no turning back - no

There is no turning back - on the run

My love is in league with the freeway

Oh the freeway, and the coming of night-time

My love is in league with the freeway

The Cat Empire - s/t (2003)

First a disclaimer-- I normally don't cross-post things from my own music blog.  My apologies for doing so this time.  However, when I hear what I feel to be a truly fantastic band that isn't well known or established I really want to get the word out about that band:

If you were to look "Party Band" up in the dictionary you'd find a photo of The Cat Empire performing live.  These guys are the epitome of what a party band should be. 

Take a bit of ska, a pinch of funk, a few hints of funk, a cup of reggae, a teaspoon of rap, and a tablespoon or two of jazz toss it in the blender, set it to puree... and you'll get The Cat Empire.

The band is comprised of Felix Reibl (percussion & vocals), Harry James Angus (trumpet & vocals), Ollie McGill (keyboard & backing vocals), Will Hull-Brown (drums), & Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwhala (decks & percussion).  The band is often backed by the brass trio, The Empire Horns (Kieran Conrau/trombone, Ross Irwin/trumpet flugelhorn & backing vocals, & Carlo Barbaro/tenor sax).

As a lover of horns, I'm especially pleased that The Cat Empire does not skimp on the horns when the songs warrant a good solid wall of brass but also know when to show restraint when the material doesn't warrant any brass. 

One might not expect such an eclectic mix of different styles would mix well, but The Cat Empire mixes various different genres with a deft skill that speaks volumes to their musical talent and overall creativity.

Their 2003 debut album starts out with a festive, catchy bang with How to Explain which remains a staple of their live shows to this day.  Days Like These is a catchy fun romp as well, although not quite as fun as How to Explain. 

The album picks up speed again with The Chariot with catchy, upbeat lyrics and an infectuous beat that is near impossible to avoid dancing to.  The band would re-visit this song with a slightly different arrangement on their 2nd album, Two Shoes, but this version has a catchier groove than the more recent updated 2005 arrangement.

The lyrics are at times at empowering and other times downright amusing:

And my knees were shaking
And my jaw was dropping
And my eyes were squinting
And my smile was growing
And my pants were bulging
And my hands were sweating
And my chest was beating
So I cry 'excuse me,
What is the secret to your song?'

Cause when you're walking along
When you're walking along:

Your legs are a melody my hands
Would like to play
And your hips are a note
That does take me away
And your face and your eyes and your hair
And your waist and your smile
Drive me to distraction - excerpt from The Rhythm

After The Rhythm the album downshifts and borrows more from the band's jazz influences.  The material is no less enjoyable and it puts on display the full breadth of their musical talents.

While The Cat Empire has released several more exceptional albums, and their 2005 follow-up Two Shoes is easily superior to this debut.  The album is the best place to start as it whets the appetite for the even better music that was yet to come.

Related media & Links
How to Explain video

The Rhythm video

The Chariot video

Days Like These video

Hello video

The Cat Empire (official website)
The Cat Empire (wikipedia)
The Cat Empire (CD) (wikipedia)
Felix Reibl (wikipedia)
Harry James Angus (wikipedia)
Ollie McGill (wikipedia)

CLAPTON

DATELINE - Guitar icon and three time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Eric Clapton announced today that he will release his 19th solo studio album on September 28, 2010 simply titled CLAPTON.

After 18 solo albums, not to mention countless other releases with his many bands and assorted collaborations, Eric Clapton doesn’t have much left to prove. But regardless, he still rocks, and he’s going to continue to do so until he’s dead and buried. And to prove that, he’s called lucky No. 19 simply CLAPTON. All caps means he isn’t playing around.

Co-produced by long-time guitarist and collaborator Doyle Bramhall II, the album will feature the likes of Steve Winwood, Wynton Marsalis, and Sheryl Crow. Despite being in the business a long time, Clapton said via a press release that the end result was a shocker to him. “It’s an eclectic collection of songs that weren’t really on the map—and I like it so much because if it’s a surprise to the fans, that’s only because it’s a surprise to me, as well.” That’s right– he’s still got it.

Enjoy the tracklist below. As always, stay tuned for more news (maybe possibly a tour?!) as it’s announced. CLAPTON hits stores September 28th via Warner Bros. Records.

CLAPTON Tracklist:
01. Travelin’ Alone
02. Rocking Chair
03. River Runs Deep
04. Judgement Day
05. How Deep Is The Ocean
06. My Very Good Friend The Milkman
07. Can’t Hold Out Much Longer
08. That’s No Way To Get Along
09. Everything Will Be Alright
10. Diamonds Made From Rain*
11. When Somebody Thinks You’re Wonderful
12. Hard Times Blues
13. Run Back To Your Side
14. Autumn Leaves

Thanks to a couple of sources for this info....

I can not wait to hear this!

Wedding Bells Are Ringing....

In case you hadn't heard, our very own DAN, is getting married this weekend!  I say there is one lucky bride out there :)  And of course, a very lucky groom.

Congratulations to Dan and Cindy - your marriage will rock!  Wishing you many happy loving years together.

3 Days Of Peace & Music

41 years ago today on a muddy hill at Yasgur's Farm some stoned hippy freaks witnessed this amazing performance. This very day was the last day of the exposition.

Check it out.

JODY JOSEPH

JODY JOSEPH

Jody Joseph is “One Diva, One Legend, One Woman,” a culmination of the incredible musical works of Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks, and Jody herself. The songs by these two musical icons have helped shape and influence Jody’s musical career throughout her life. With her energetic persona, Jody celebrates the positive aspects of these artists’ lives, and intertwines them with her own music to create an amazingly unique live performance that has received nothing but outstanding reviews thus far.

The upcoming show will be held at Brookdale Community College PAC in Lincroft, NJ on September 25, 2010. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Mary’s Place by the Sea. Due to the size of the venue, and the limited amount of seats, tickets will be available by calling this hotline: 732-544-8513 after May 1, 2010. Tickets will not be sold anywhere else.

This is one event that classic rock aficionados will definitely want to catch.

Australian Crawl - The Boys Light Up (1980)

There are certain bands and musicians that capture a nation's identity. The United States has Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, and John Mellencamp whose music speaks to working class blue-collar America in a way that captures the nation's identity in a way that listeners don't only hear but also feel and relate to.

Similarly Australia has their artists that not only make great music but capture their national identity in song. In 1980, borrowing elements of punk and New Wave, Australian Crawl burst onto the Australian music scene with their debut album, The Boys Light Up. While they never enjoyed the same level of success beyond their own shores as they did within their own little South Pacific corner of the globe, for five years their star burnt like a bonfire. As quickly as they burst onto the scene their star faded.

While lead vocalist, James Reyne, has enjoyed phenomenal success with his own solo material and even some scaled down more acoustic versions of his Australian Crawl classics in his homeland since the dissolution of his band, the hopes of a reunion are slim as their guitarist and co-lead vocalist, Guy McDonnough passed away in the early 80s (one of the many factors leading to the band's demise).

As such Boys Light Up is a snapshot of Australian surf culture in the early eighties. Indeed, this debut remained on the Aussie pop charts for 104 weeks! While Reyne's voice at times is reminiscent of American blue-eyed soulster, Daryl Hall, and other times British musical chameleon, Joe Jackson and sometimes even sounds a bit like Mick Jagger, Australian Crawl's musical style more closely resembles their Kiwi counterparts from "across the ditch," Split Enz.

Part of what makes this band so enjoyable is Reyne's flair for lyrics:

Let me tell you about my mountain home
Where all the ladies names are Joan
Where husbands work back late at night
Hopes are up for trousers down
With a hostess on a business flight
Taxi in a Mercedes drive
I hope that driver's coming out alive.
The garden is a dorsetted
That lady -- she's so corsetted
She's got 15 ways to lead that boy astray
He thinks he's one and only
But that lovely she's so lonely
She pumps him full of breakfast and she sends him on his way
-- From Boys Light Up

I said, Beau-tiful People, you know they're going out tonight to get their Bombay Rocks off
Beau-tiful People, they 've got a Kerouac condition, gotta cocaine cough
Beau-tiful People, studio 54 is the only place to dance
Beau-tiful People, you know the gardens full of furniture, the house is full of plants
-- From Beautiful People

Antiques flown in from Venice fill your house upon the hill
While your money sold the soul love of rock and roll
For some cheap disco thrill
I've seen your peers pouting over beers
The loneliness it showed
Mistaking tacky sex for sensuality
They bought in toorak road -- From Hootchie Gucci Fiorucci Mama

Australian Crawl are a delight to listen to and this debut is an excellent introduction to their brief but notable stint in Australia's rock canon. Start, but certainly don't stop with this excellent release as you'll be missing out on some of the gems from their later albums.

Related Media & Links
Boys Light Up

Down Hearted

Beautiful People


Australian Crawl (The All Music Guide bio)
Australian Crawl (on Last.fm)

Who Is the Queen of Rock?

A few posts ago Dan asked us all what our favorite rock magazine is, then yesterday I heard of this new one that sounds interesting and worth checking out: Venus Zine is a "Chicago-based national magazine Venus Zine, the leading source for emerging talent in music, art, film, fashion, and culture"


They recently polled their readers and asked industry insiders to answer this question:


Who is the Queen of Rock?


I was thrilled to learn that my top choice was the winner, Chrissie Hynde.




Patti Smith has been called the Godmother of Punk. Joan Jett is often termed the Original Riot. Michael Jackson will always be known as the Prince of Pop. Aretha Franklin will forever be the Queen of Soul. The big question is“Who is the Queen of Rock?”
There are so many brilliant women in the history of Rock – this decision is a tough one, but it is time to name the the girl to hold the crown along with Elvis... , along with input from polled online readers and industry insiders decided upon this rocker chick, and the winner is...Chrissie Hynde.

"Long before it was widely accepted for women to front Rock ‘n’ Roll bands. Chrissie Hynde had no problem stepping up to the mic and into the spotlight. Best known for leading the Pretenders since its inception in the late ‘70s. Hynde has been a one-woman wrecking ball and also a magnetic force field of rock music for the past 35-plus years.

Chrissie Hynde will always be the “talk of the town,” and for that Venus Zine proudly crowns her the Queen of Rock."

There next issue hits the stands on August 17, be sure to check out their article on Chrissie.

Now the Big Question Is:

Who do you think should be crowned "Queen of Rock"?

I love Chrissie and have written about her Here, Here and on several other posts that can be found if you click on her name in the sidebar under "labels".

Rock Magazine: Questions

1. Do you subscribe to a rock and roll oriented magazine?

2. If so, which is your favorite?

3. If not, where do you get most of your rock news and reviews?

Obviously the above magazine, Uncut, is my favorite right now. It is produced in the UK and they just seem to have the most comprehensive reviews of all new released albums each month. They have many cool special features, like this months Nick Cave special report.

They also have reviews of all the new movies and of newly released DVD's and even books. Plus each month they include a special edition CD that goes with the special feature of the month. It is a great way to sample some great new music.

All-in-all, it has pretty much all I am looking for in a rock and roll magazine. Give me your input and let me know what you think.

Thanks.