Before The Lights Go Out by Steve Hunter

Before The Lights Go Out is the long time Alice Cooper/Lou Reed Guitarist Steve Hunter‘s latest solo album released September 25, 2017 on the Deacon Records label.  This album shows Steve’s great guitar styling on such track as Mojo Man (featuring Joe Satriani), Cinderblock, Ice Storm, The Other Side Of The Coin, and so much more.  I loved this album from start to finish and I am going to enjoy listening to this album when I am out running errands.  This is one artist I wish to hear more from.  If your thing is blues or rock, you will definitely love this album.

The Lost Tapes and Channel One Set by Buddy Rich

There is not very often I would review two CD’s in the same review but this is an exception.  Thirty years after his death, jazz drummer Buddy Rich releases two of his albums which were live concerts that was previously only available on video is now available on two CD’s The Lost Tapes and Channel One Set.  Both recorded in 1985 on two nights at the King Street Studios in San Francisco.  The Lost Tapes album has such great tracks as Willow Crest, Cotton Tail, New Blues, West Side Story and much more while Channel One Set has such great tracks as Machine, One O’Clock Jump, Love For Sale, and a great cover of the Beatles classic Norwegian Wood.  Both albums were well performed, recorded and produced.  I recommend these two albums to one’s jazz library.  The two audio albums will be released on September 15, 2017 through Caroline Distribution, the independent distribution arm of Universal Music Group, on the Lightyear/Lobitos Creek label.

Places by Mark Vickness

For my 511^th review I am proud to present Places, a September 15, 2017 album by guitarist Mark Vickness.  This relaxing acoustic guitar album was released on his own label and is two years in the making. I liked this album from start to finish with such tracks as A Thousand Islands, New York City, Wonder Lake Suite and much more.  This a perfect CD for me to listen to when my pain level is elevated because it helps me relax and bring pain level down.  This album was well written, performed, and recorded.  I highly recommend this album to one’s music library.  You can purchase this album at Amazon, Itunes, CD Baby and other places where CD’s and digital downloads are sold.

Laughing With The Raindrops Self Titled Album

Laughing With The Raindrops is my 510^th review, a self titled album by UK jazz band Laughing With The Raindrops released October 2016 on the Raindrop Music Records label.  This album features the great instrumentation and vocals which such great tracks as Did I Miss My Cue?, Any Joke, Hide Away, Lay Down The Words, and much more.  I am very impressed on how well this album was written, performed, recorded and produced. If you are a jazz fan, or looking for something to listen to relax, this is definitely the perfect album for you. You can purchase this album at Amazon, Itunes, Bandcamp, http://laughingwiththeraindrops.com and everywhere else the CD’s and digital downloads are sold.

Lost Dreams and Nueva Vida by Curtis Oddo

This is the first time I ever reviewed two albums in one review.  In this case I am reviewing the albums Lost Dreams and Nueva Lida by acoustic guitar artist and pediatrician Dr. Curtis Oddo who hails from the great state of Oregon.  His style of music is the kind you love sitting on the front porch and listen to.  His guitar influence is late great Stevie Ray Vaughn.  His guitar style is clean, no reverb or any other effects.  On the album Lost Dreams released in April 2013 my favorite tracks are Knocking At The Jam Door, Natural Soul Blues, The Long Slide Down and others while on the album Nueva Vida released in June 2015 my favorite tracks were Phantom Of The Blues, The Message, White Charger, In Trouble Again and much more.  Both albums were well written, performed, recorded and produced.  You can purchase both of these great albums on Amazon, CD Baby and other places were CD’s and digital downloads are sold.

 

Chris Stephen by Chris Stephen

Chris Stephen is the self titled debut album by East Tennessee country music singer/songwriter Chris Stephen.  I am very impressed with his rich voice and the style he sings a song.  My favorite songs on this six track album, even though I liked the whole album were Country Side, Lucky That Way and Never Seen Nothing Like You.  This album was well written, recorded, performed and produced.  I am looking forward to hearing more from this great artist and I wish him much success in his career.  This album is available for purchased at Amazon, Itunes, CD Baby and other places where CD’s and digital downloads are sold.

 

Greatest Hits by Earth Wind And Fire

Greatest Hits is a compilation album of American R&B group Earth, Wind & Fire. It contains several songs recorded between 1973 and 1981 and it was released on November 17, 1998 on the Columbia/Legacy Records label.  Listening to this great compilation brings so many great memories with such great tracks as September, Shining Star, Boogie Wonderland, After The Love Is Gone, and my all time favorite That’s Way Of The World.  This compilation is great from start to finish and was well performed, recorded and produced.  This is one album you would want to add to your library.

Honkytonk Land by James Carothers

For my 506^th review I am presenting my second review for country artist James Carothers, who is from McNairy County, Tennessee home of Sheriff Buford Pusser from the Walking Tall series.  Jame’s June 2014 album Honkytonk Land is a great release with his rich baritone voice.  My favorite songs off this eight track album are Have Another Round, Trouble in Paradise, the title track Honkytonk Land as well as the bonus track on this album Lonesome Road.  I am impressed on how well this album was recorded, produced and performed.  This album is available on Amazon, Itunes and every where else that CD’s and digital downloads are sold.

 

Wrong Planet by Electric Mud

For my 505^th review, I am listening to something almost totally different.  The album Wrong Planet is a May 2016 progressive rock album by German rock band Electric Mud on the Timezone Records label.  This album is totally instrumental and reminds me of some bands in the past such as Pink Floyd, Yes and Kraftwerk with a little Jimi Hendrix guitar riffs in there.  Among the great songs on this nine track album are Liquid Sky, Rabbit Hole, Deep Sand and Empire Of The Sun. I am very impressed on how well this album was written, performed, recorded and produced.  Empire Of The Sun. I am very impressed on how well this album was written, performed, recorded and produced.  You definitely need to check out this album which is available on Amazon, Itunes and Bandcamp.

Honkin’ and Jivin’ At the Palomino! by Big Jay McNeely

Honkin’ and Jivin’ At the Palomino! is an September 15, 2017 album by blues saxophonist Big Jay McNeely released on the Cleopatra Blues Records label.  This album is a live concert recording from August 15, 1989 at the world famous Palomino Blues Club in North Hollywood, California.  Big Jay has been performing since the the 1940s and this album still shows his great performances 40 years later. Include in his album was his great hits such as All The Wine Is Gone, Pretty Girls Everwhere, and There Is Something On Your Mind as well as great tracks as I Can’t Stop Loving You, Young Girl Blues and so much more.  This album also includes a DVD which Jay talking about his long and influential carreer.  This album was well performed, recorded and produced.  This album is available on Amazon, Cleopatra Records, Itunes and everywhere else CD’s and digital downloads are sold.