The Yardbirds - Making Tracks DVD Review

Written by General Jabbo

It’s not exaggerating to suggest that The Yardbirds are one of the most important bands of the Rock and Roll era. Pushing the boundaries between blues, hard rock and psychedelia, the band helped launch the careers of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page and many of their songs are considered classics. These days, the band consists of original members Jim McCarty on drums and Chris Dreja on rhythm guitar, along with singer Andy Mitchell, lead guitarist Ben King and bassist Dave Smale. The band tours and plays their classic 1960s songs, along with newer material from 2003’s Birdland. The DVD, The Yardbirds – Making Tracks, captures live performances of the band from several locations between 2010 and 2012.

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Lady Antebellum - Own The Night World Tour Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

In the short time since they formed in 2006, Lady antebellum has gone from playing acoustic shows at gas stations to headlining arenas, selling millions of albums and winning numerous awards and critical praise for their albums. Their music blends country with pop and rock with tight vocal harmonies. Their lives shows are energetic affairs, with fans singing all the words to their many hits. A stop in Little Rock, AR, on their 2011 tour for Own The Night was documented and makes up the new Blu-ray, Lady Antebellum – Own The Night World Tour.

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Paul McCartney - Live Kisses Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

Paul McCartney has always had an old-time sensibility that has come out in his music on numerous occasions. Songs such as “When I’m Sixty-Four” and “Honey Pie” have more to do with the music his father would have grown up with than the songs the Beatles were writing during the 1960s. There’s a reason for that – It was the music that McCartney heard as a young child via his father or through parties his family would have when people would get together to sing these songs around the piano.

McCartney had wanted to do an album of standards for a number of years, but others, most notably Rod Stewart, beat him to it and he didn’t want to look like a copycat. Finally, in February 2012, McCartney realized his goal and released Kisses On The Bottom, an album of old standards with two new original compositions. That same month, he descended upon the Capitol Studios in Los Angeles to perform cuts from the album with Diana Krall’s band. The result is Paul McCartney – Live Kisses, a Blu-ray of the event.

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Let The Music Play – The Story Of The Doobie Brothers DVD Review

Written by General Jabbo

To say the Bay Area music scene had a lasting influence on Rock and Roll would be an understatement. At the tail end of that period came the Doobie Brothers, named after their left-handed cigarette of choice. The Doobie’s sound was unique, contrasting Tom Johnston’s chunky guitar rhythms against Pat Simmons’ more intricate finger picking style and incorporating three-part (or more) harmonies. The formula worked, as more than 40 years later, we are still talking about them. The DVD, Let The Music Play – The Story Of The Doobie Brothers, does justice to the legacy of this classic band.

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FCA! 35 Tour: An Evening With Peter Frampton DVD Review

Written by General Jabbo

The 1970s were a time of bloated excess, disco, and the live album. Bands from Cheap Trick to Kiss were catapulted to stardom thanks to their respective live releases, but the biggest live album might have come from Ex-Humble Pie guitarist, Peter Frampton. Like the aforementioned bands, Frampton built his reputation on tight live shows, but hadn’t sold tons of albums until he released a live album himself. Frampton Comes Alive! changed all that, turning Frampton into a household name.

Thirty-five years later, Frampton is still going strong. To commemorate the anniversary of his most famous release, Frampton played the album in its entirety during his concerts. The shows were filmed and are now available as FCA! 35 Tour: An Evening With Peter Frampton.

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Stray Cats - Live At Montreux 1981 DVD Review

Written by General Jabbo

The year was 1981. Disco was fading while punk was morphing into post punk and new wave. The 80s hair metal scene was just beginning to take root, but three guys from Long Island, NY, had different ideas for what their new music should sound like. Instead of looking forward, they looked to the past, specifically the rockabilly music of the 1950s. Formed in 1980, they called themselves the Stray Cats and none of its three members (Guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer was the oldest at age 22) were even born when rockabilly was in its heyday, yet here they were with simple drums, an upright bass and a Gretsch guitar playing a revved up new music that was completely rooted in the past.

The problem was, America wasn’t ready for their sound quite just yet, so they took it across the pond to more appreciative audiences in England, releasing their debut album in 1981. That album, along with their second release, was cherry picked to select tracks for their American debut, Built For Speed, but that was still to come. On July 10, 1981, the band played the prestigious Montreux Jazz festival. Thankfully for fans, the cameras were rolling and their exciting performance is now available as Stray Cats – Live At Montreux 1981.

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Simon Townshend - Looking Out Looking In CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

It’s hard to make a name for oneself when the shadow of their famous sibling looms so large, yet, in Simon Townshend’s case, he has managed to do just that. Besides lending his talents to The Who and Roger Daltrey’s live shows, Townshend has performed with the likes of Jeff Beck and Pearl Jam and began his musical career at a young age, contributing backup vocals to Tommy at age nine. He’s also released seven solo albums, the latest of which is called Looking Out Looking In.

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Hungarian Rhapsody - Queen Live in Budapest Deluxe Edition Blu-Ray/CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

In 1986, Queen mounted their most ambitious tour yet, a stadium outing for their latest release, A Kind Of Magic. It would prove to be the band’s final tour with their charismatic front man, Freddie Mercury. One of the most memorable stops on the tour — and arguably of the band’s career — came on July 27, 1986, when Queen played Budapest, Hungary. Though there was no money to be made at this gig, it was more important than that. Queen became the first western act to play a stadium show behind the old Iron Curtain, which, for the members of Queen who grew up during the Cold War, was a significant event.

To commemorate the occasion, the show was filmed on 35mm, shown in theaters in Europe and eventually released on VHS and laserdisc. It has never gotten a DVD or Blu-ray release, however, until now. The original negatives were scanned at HD quality and a new 5.1 audio mix was created for this new version. Add in a two-CD set of the complete concert and you have Hungarian Rhapsody – Queen Live In Budapest Deluxe Edition.

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The Doors: Live At The Bowl '68 Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

The Doors’ live performances have become something of legend over the years. Few bands blended poetry, theater, blues, psychedelia and unpredictability quite like the Doors and their live shows took their songs to places not possible on the studio recordings. One of their finest performances was on July 5, 1968, at the Hollywood Bowl. Fortunately for fans, the cameras were rolling and the show was filmed. Technical problems during the concert prevented the inclusion of three tracks in the original VHS version of the show, but modern technology has enabled those tracks to be presented for the first time in the new Blu-ray, The Doors: Live At The Bowl ’68.

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Peter Gabriel - Classic Albums: So Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

Peter Gabriel’s fifth solo album, So, was the first to have a title (His fourth album was titled Security by the record label in the U.S.). It was also his most successful, spawning numerous radio hits, including “Sledgehammer,” “Big Time” and “In Your Eyes,” among others. So is the latest entry in the Classic Albums series, taking its rightful place among other great critical and commercial successes.

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Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones: Live At The Checkerboard Lounge Chicago 1981 DVD/LP Review

Written by General Jabbo

Seeing the late, great Muddy Waters in person was always a treat for fans. Seeing him live at Buddy Guy’s Checkerboard Lounge in Chicago was even better. An intimate venue, it served as the perfect environment for Waters’ songs. In November 1981, fans not only got to see Waters in this setting, some very special guests also joined him. Seems The Rolling Stones were in town in support of their album, Tattoo You and Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and pianist Ian Stewart decided to take in the show. It didn’t take much persuading from their hero to join him on stage, making a memorable evening even better. Fortunately, the cameras were rolling and the results make up the new DVD/LP set, Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones: Live At The Checkerboard Lounge Chicago 1981.

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The Rolling Stones: Some Girls Live In Texas '78 DVD/LP Review

Written by General Jabbo

The Rolling Stones’ tour for their 1978 album, Some Girls, is considered to be one of their very best. In a response to the aggression of punk and the bloated excess of disco, the album of the same name finds the band at their stripped down best. While the punks labeled many bands from the Stones’ generation dinosaurs, the Stones ended up showing the punks a thing or two about who pioneered snarling rock and roll. For the tour, the band played stadiums, arenas and small theaters. Fans in Forth Worth, TX, were treated to a small show at the Will Rogers Auditorium, which fortunately for us, was captured live on audio and video. The results make up the new DVD/LP collection, The Rolling Stones – Some Girls Live in Texas ’78.

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The Who - Live In Texas '75 DVD Review

Written by General Jabbo

While the Who have had their fair share of studio triumphs, they have always been known, first and foremost, for their powerful live performances. In the band’s prime, on a good night, they could blow anyone off the stage. While on tour for their 1975 release, The Who By Numbers, fans in Houston, TX, were treated to such an aural assault. Fortunately, the cameras were rolling and the show is now available as The Who – Live In Texas ’75.

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Jon Lord - Concerto For Group And Orchestra CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

After the breakup of Deep Purple’s original lineup, the band took a bold next step. Out were bassist Nick Simper and singer Rod Evans and in were Roger Glover and Ian Gillan in their place. While this newly minted Mk II lineup of the band would become its definitive one, its first release was a puzzling one for the band’s fans. In September 1969, the band was joined onstage by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to perform a composition written by organist Jon Lord. This became Concerto For Group And Orchestra and was groundbreaking in that a live melding of rock and roll with an orchestra had never really been attempted before.

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Gary Moore - Blues For Jimi DVD Review

Written by General Jabbo

On October 25, 2007, history was made as Gary Moore took the stage at the London Hippodrome with his band to perform a set of Jimi Hendrix classics. The performance was part of the lunch of the Jimi Hendrix Live At Monterey program and makes up the new DVD, Gary Moore — Blues For Jimi.

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Gary Moore - Blues For Jimi CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

Jimi Hendrix was considered by many to be the greatest rock guitarist who ever picked up the instrument. Hendrix inspired countless guitarists, many who became virtuosos in their own right. One of those players was the late Gary Moore. In 2007, as part of the launch of the Jimi Hendrix Live At Monterey program, Moore performed a set of Hendrix classics with his band and some very special guests at the London Hippodrome. The show was recorded and filmed, and makes up the CD, Gary Moore — Blues For Jimi.

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Freddie Mercury - The Great Pretender Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

When one thinks of Queen, the first person he or she usually thinks of is Freddie Mercury. This in spite of the fact that all four members of the band were major forces in their own right, contributing hit songs and, in guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor’s case, the trademark harmonies that enabled Queen to sound like no band before or since. Mercury was one of popular music’s best singers and arguably the greatest rock front man to ever grace the stage, effortlessly making crowds of 100,000 seem like intimate shows of 1,000. He was flamboyant, but he had the musical chops to back it up. In short, he was that good. In spite of his public persona however, little is known about the private life of this near recluse. A new documentary, Freddie Mercury – The Great Pretender, attempts to unravel the mystery of one of music’s greatest characters.

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Produced By George Martin Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

Produced by George Martin. Those four words rightly conjure up images of The Beatles, as Martin was considered by many to be their fifth member, bringing to life the wild ideas they had in their endlessly creative minds. It’s also the name of a new documentary, originally shown on BBC television and now available on Blu-ray, that shows Martin was far more than just The Fab Four.

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Re-Machined - A Tribute To Deep Purple's Machine Head CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

Deep Purple’s Machine Head has long been considered one of the high water marks for hard rock and heavy metal music. Now, to celebrate the album’s 40th anniversary, an all-star group of musicians has come together to pay tribute to this legendary release with Re-Machined – A Tribute To Deep Purple’s Machine Head.

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Etta James - Live at Montreux 1993 Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

Throughout her legendary career, the late Etta James made many appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Her 1993 appearance showed that even more than three decades into her career, she had lost none of her swagger. This performance is captured on the Blu-ray, Etta James – Live At Montreux 1993.

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Tanita Tikaram - Can't Go Back CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

For more than two decades, Tanita Tikaram has been blending folk and pop music with her unique voice to create something special. On her seventh album, Can’t Go Back, she mixes in influences of Americana to go along with Motown and Chess soul. The blend gives the album its unique style.

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Interview: Dave Fields Discusses New Album 'Detonation'

Written by General Jabbo

Blinded by Sound had a chance to interview New York blues guitarist, Dave Fields. He spoke about his new album, Detonation, playing with Hubert Sumlin, building guitars and some of his influences.

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Dave Fields - Detonation CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

New York blues guitarist, Dave Fields’ new CD, Detonation, is making people take notice. Big City Rhythm‘n’Blues magazine opined, Detonation explodes with a harder rocking sound as Fields works through a variety of styles touching on classic rock and reggae mixed in with a blast of blues.” While Detonation is indeed more rock-oriented than his previous two releases, the recent New York Blues Hall of Fame inductee still manages to incorporate the blues for his most diverse album yet.

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Never Say Never Again Collector's Edition DVD Review

Written by General Jabbo

The year 1983 was strange, but interesting for James Bond fans. It saw the release of Octopussy, starring the then current EON Productions' James Bond, Roger Moore, but it also saw the release of Never Say Never Again, starring original Bond Sean Connery. The film is a loose remake of 1965’s Thunderball, which producer Kevin McClory and screenwriter Jack Whittingham had successfully sued Ian Fleming over after he did not credit them for their contributions to the Thunderball novel. The title of the film came from Connery’s wife, Micheline, after Connery vowed he’d never play the role again. While McClory wanted to film a new Thunderball adaptation for much of the 1970s, further legal action prevented the movie from being released until 1983.

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Ian Gillan & Tony Iommi - WhoCares CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

In 2011, Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan reunited with his old Black Sabbath band mate, Tony Iommi, to record a charity single to benefit a music school in Armenia that was destroyed in the 1988 earthquake that devastated the region. The pair recruited a number of A-list musicians for the lead track, “Out Of My Mind,” including Iron Maiden’s Nicko McBrain on drums, Jason Newsted on bass and the late Jon Lord on keyboards. That track, along with its B-side, “Holy Water,” is included in the two-CD compilation album, WhoCares, the profits of which will further aid the charity.

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Saga - 20/20 CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

Canadian prog-rockers, Saga, are back with 20/20, their first album since the return of original vocalist, Michael Sadler. Like The Beach Boys before them, 20/20 refers to the fact that it is the band’s twentieth studio album (The Beach Boys included compilations in their tally), but it has a double meaning as well, as keyboardist/vocalist Jim Gilmour had eye surgery during the band’s most recent European tour leaving his vision, you guessed it, 20/20.

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Staind - Live From Mohegan Sun Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

For over 15 years, Staind have delivered their unique brand of heavy music. Part grunge, with a big dose of detuned metal guitars, but not lacking in melody, the band has racked up more than 15 million album sales worldwide as well as the most-played rock song of the last ten years, “It’s Been Awhile.” The band was captured live on November 25, 2011, at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Montville, CT. That performance makes up the Blu-ray, Staind – Live From Mohegan Sun.

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Alvin Lee - Still On The Road To Freedom CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

In 1969, the Woodstock Music & Art Fair catapulted Ten Years After and their young guitarist, Alvin Lee, into the spotlight. Seemingly overnight, the band went from playing clubs to arenas and, by 1973, Lee had had enough of the lifestyle and of being expected to produce hits. He was tired of being just product. That year, he released his first solo album along with Mylon LeFevre, the star-studded On The Road To Freedom. Now, nearly 40 years later, Lee is back with a sequel of sorts, Still On The Road To Freedom.

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Queen - Greatest Video Hits DVD Review

Written by General Jabbo

Throughout their illustrious career, Queen presented a unique experience for their fans, both with their complex, operatic music featuring multilayered guitars and vocals and visually, with their extensive, groundbreaking use of music videos. Queen Greatest Video Hits celebrates the latter, presenting many of the band’s videos in both restored picture and sound.

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Quadrophenia Criterion Collection DVD Review

Written by General Jabbo

Though much of the music listened to by the so-called mods and rockers in mid-1960s England gets played on the same oldies stations today, there was a real cultural divide back then. The mods favored sharp, colorful suits, the music of The Kinks and The Who, riding scooters and popping pills. Clad in black leather, the rockers rode motorcycles and preferred the likes of Gene Vincent and Elvis Presley. In reality, they were two sides of the same coin – young people searching for identity with like-minded youths. Pete Townshend brilliantly told their tale in The Who’s 1973 masterpiece, Quadrophenia, and director Franc Roddam brought those images to life in the 1979 film of the same name, available as a two-DVD set as part of the Criterion Collection.

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The Beatles: Their Golden Age DVD Review

Written by General Jabbo

It’s not possible to thoroughly cover the Beatles’ unparalleled career in an hour, but The Beatles: Their Golden Age attempts to do just that. Narrated by Les Krantz – a publisher, author, and filmmaker – Their Golden Age combines still photos with newsreel footage and scenes from the Beatles’ movies. No Beatles music is included, though instrumental sound-alike tracks make up the film’s score.

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Neil Sedaka: The Show Goes On – Live At The Royal Albert Hall CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

Neil Sedaka’s amazing career has touched parts of seven decades. From his beginnings as a pop singer in the 1950s and 1960s to his rebirth as a songwriter in the 1970s, Sedaka has had a remarkable run. Not only has Sedaka had hits with the over 500 songs he has written or co-written, many of music’s biggest names, from Elvis Presley to Frank Sinatra to The Carpenters have had success with his music. Sedaka’s popularity has always been high with his fans in Great Britain and, in April 2006, they got to see Sedaka in a stripped-down performance – just the man and his piano – at the legendary Royal Albert Hall. This show was recorded and makes up the CD Neil Sedaka: The Show Goes On – Live At The Royal Albert Hall.

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Thunderball DVD Review

Written by General Jabbo

Beautiful women, exotic locations, and criminal masterminds threatening nuclear holocaust? These are business as usual for M16 agent 007, James Bond . The fourth entry in the franchise, Thunderball is based on the book of the same name, the ninth in Ian Fleming’s successful series, which itself was based on an original screenplay Fleming collaborated on with screenwriters Kevin McClory and Jack Whittingham. It was one of the most successful Bond films and, adjusted for inflation, is the highest-grossing Bond film of all time.

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Ozzy Osbourne - Speak Of The Devil DVD Review

Written by General Jabbo

In late December 1981, Ozzy Osbourne and his band set out on tour for Diary Of A Madman, the second solo album from the former Black Sabbath front man. The tour was legendary from the get-go with a replica castle on stage and a crack band featuring Randy Rhoads on guitar, Rudy Sarzo on bass, Tommy Aldridge on drums and Don Airey on keyboards. The tour was by all means a success and Osbourne and his new band seemed unstoppable. Then, in March 1982, it all came to an abrupt end. Randy Rhoads was dead. A freak airplane accident had taken one of metal’s brightest stars at age 25.

After a three-month break, Osbourne decided to continue the tour, with Night Ranger’s Brad Gillis having the enviable task of filling Rhoads’ shoes. The band filmed a show in Irvine Meadows, CA, titled Speak Of The Devil, which was broadcast on MTV that Halloween. Originally released on VHS and laserdisc, the show is now available on DVD with remastered audio for the first time.

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Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones: Live At The Checkerboard Lounge Chicago 1981 DVD/CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

In November 1981, fans attending the Muddy Waters show at Buddy Guy’s old club, the Checkerboard Lounge, were in for a treat. It’s not often one can catch one of the architects of the blues playing in an environment as intimate as the Checkerboard. What they may not have realized was, the Rolling Stones were in town that week, and several of them decided to check out the show. Not only that, all of them ended up on stage with Waters. Fortunately this historic event was captured on video, and is now available as the DVD/CD Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones: Live At The Checkerboard Lounge Chicago 1981.

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Pink Floyd: The Story of Wish You Were Here Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

At the Live 8 concert in London, England, in 2005, Roger Waters joined his old mates in Pink Floyd for a show-stopping set. With the passing of keyboardist Richard Wright, it would be the last time the classic Dark Side Of The Moon lineup of the band would play together in public, making “Wish You Were Here,” a high point in their set, even more poignant. The scenes for this concert serve as the introduction to the Blu-ray about the album of the same name, Pink Floyd: The Story Of Wish You Were Here.

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Stone Temple Pilots: Alive In The Windy City Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

While the members of Stone Temple Pilots have often made for a volatile mix off the stage, there is no denying their chemistry on the stage. In March 2010, the band took to the Riviera Theatre in Chicago, IL, for a rock solid, sold-out show that forms the basis of the band’s first-ever concert video release, Stone Temple Pilots: Alive In The Windy City.

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Kasabian Live!: Live at the O2 15/12/11 Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

British indie rockers, Kasabian, took the UK and Ireland by storm with a sold-out arena tour at the end of 2011. Their energetic live performance was captured for the band's first-ever Blu-ray release, Kasabian: Live! – Live At The O2 London 15/12/11.

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Duran Duran: Live 2011: A Diamond In The Mind Blu-ray Review:

Written by General Jabbo

Duran Duran has always been as much a visual experience as an audio one. During the 1980s, their songs dominated the airwaves and their videos — shot in exotic locales with exotic women — dominated MTV (back when they still played music). This aspect of the band translated into their live shows as well, so it is no surprise that for their first live release in nearly a decade, Duran Duran: Live 2011: A Diamond In The Mind, the band would release a Blu-ray.

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Duran Duran - Live 2011: A Diamond In The Mind CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

When Duran Duran singer, Simon Le Bon lost his voice in May 2011, he didn’t know if he’d be able to continue on with the band. The group had to cancel a number of shows, including some in their home country of England and the wait over the summer proved tortuous. Le Bon persevered and the London shows were rescheduled for December 2011. The band came back strong, finishing with some of the best shows of the tour. These shows make up the new live CD, Duran Duran - Live 2011: A Diamond In The Mind.

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The ABC and D Of Boogie Woogie - Live in Paris CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

Charlie Watts is known the world over as the legendary drummer of the Rolling Stones, currently celebrating their 50th anniversary. What many people do not know is that his first love is jazz and he has an affinity for the nearly forgotten boogie woogie. Fortunately for music fans, he has managed to team with like-minded musicians, who also happen to be virtuosos on their respective instruments to form the A, B, C & D of Boogie Woogie. Named for the initials of its members, the band is made up of Axel Zwingenberger on piano, Ben Waters on piano and vocals, Watts on drums and Dave Green on bass.

In September 2010, they were captured live at the Duc Des Lombards jazz club in Paris, the results of which make up their debut album, The A, B, C & D Of Boogie Woogie – Live In Paris.

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Foreigner - Alive & Rockin' CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

Foreigner is a band often associated with radio-friendly power ballads. At the Bang Your Head!!! Festival in Germany 2006, they got to show off their more rocking side with a strong, hour-long set. This performance is captured on the CD Foreigner – Alive & Rockin’.

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Bachman & Turner - Live At The Roseland Ballroom, NYC CD Review

 Written by General Jabbo

After the seeming career suicide of leaving The Guess Who at the height of their popularity, many likely figured Randy Bachman’s days on rock radio were numbered. Bachman’s second act was not to be taken lightly, however, as a few short years later, he returned with C.F. Turner to form Bachman-Turner Overdrive. BTO’s music dominated the airwaves in the 1970s and many of their songs are still staples of classic rock radio.

Much like The Guess Who, they’ve reunited in various forms over the years and, much like The Guess Who, they have legal issues with ex band mates over the use of their band’s name. Bachman and Turner reunited for a new album and tour in 2010, the results of which are captured on Bachman & Turner: Live At The Roseland Ballroom, NYC.

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Simply Red: Live At Montreux 2003 Blu-Ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

For 25 years, Simply Red offered their British take on American bluesy, blue-eyed soul. Driven by the powerhouse vocals of leader Mick Hucknall, the band was a popular visitor to the Montreux Jazz Festival stage. Their performance at the 2003 festival, along with selected tracks from a 2010 appearance on their farewell tour make up the Blu-ray Simply Red: Live At Montreux 2003.

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Paul and Linda McCartney - Ram: Special Edition CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

When Paul and Linda McCartney released Ram in 1971 — the only album credited to both of them — it didn’t meet with the warmest of reviews from critics or McCartney’s former band mates in the Beatles. Fans of McCartney’s pop master craftsmanship in the Beatles were puzzled by the rough, unfinished quality of his first solo album, McCartney, and when Ram was more of the same, it was too much for some to take. As for the Beatles, Ram was written at the height of McCartney’s feud with ex-songwriting partner John Lennon, who believed many of the songs (correctly in some instances) were not so subtle jabs at him.

In the years since, Ram has undergone a critical reappraisal. No longer in the giant shadow of the Beatles, when viewed for what it is, Ram stands as one of McCartney’s best solo efforts. The album has been remastered as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection and is available in a number of formats from single disc to a five-disc Deluxe Edition. This review focuses on the two-CD Special Edition, as well as the DVD that is only included in the Deluxe Edition.

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Chris Barber - Memories Of My Trip CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

British bandleader, trombonist and bassist, Chris Barber is a legend on that side of the pond. Since the 1950s, he’s been a prominent name on the jazz scene, as well as a well-known blues and gospel player. He’s played alongside many of the greats and was a founding director of the legendary Marquee Club, but he’s not that well known in America. Chris Barber – Memories Of My Trip intends to rectify that. A two-CD anthology, Memories covers Barber’s impressive 60-year career.

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Laura Wilde - Sold My Soul CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

Australian import Laura Wilde’s debut album, Sold My Soul mixes hard-charging, Joan Jett-influenced rockers that betray the singer/guitarist’s young age of 22. People have started to take notice. Wilde recently landed the opening slot on Ted Nugent’s tour and she certainly holds her own.

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Peter Gabriel - Live Blood CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

In 2010, Peter Gabriel had the idea to record a cover album of some of his favorite songs. That’s nothing new — artists do that all the time. What was unique about the project was that the covers were to be orchestral versions with no guitars or rock drums. This album was called Scratch My Back and was generally well received. There was to be a companion album entitled, I’ll Scratch Yours where the artists Gabriel covered on his album would return the favor, covering one of his tracks. That never happened, though a few artists came through and their tracks were released as double A-sided singles with Gabriel’s versions of their songs. What happened instead was, in 2011, Gabriel released an album of orchestral versions of his own songs called New Blood. The ensuing tour with the New Blood Orchestra was captured on the new CD, Peter Gabriel - Live Blood.

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Deep Purple - Total Abandon: Australia '99 CD Review

Written by General Jabbo

Replacing a guitar legend is never an easy task, but by the 1999 tour for Abandon, Steve Morse’s second album with Deep Purple (and Jon Lord’s last), the guitarist had firmly entrenched himself in the band, a position he has not relinquished. Total Abandon: Australia ’99 finds the Mark VII lineup (which is the Mark II lineup with Morse replacing Ritchie Blackmore) as vital as ever, delivering a blistering live performance.

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Phil Collins Live at Montreux 2004 Blu-ray Review

Written by General Jabbo

As Phil Collins embarked on his “First Final Farewell Tour” in 2004 and 2005, it occurred to him that he should pay his old friend, Claude Nobs, a visit and perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Collins had played there before, including a stint in 1996 with the Phil Collins Big Band and both of these performances are included on Phil Collins – Live at Montreux 2004.

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