3 comments about Move to Groove: The Best of 1970s Jazz-Funk.

1. Some of the songs are slow and boring, but this CD set has some stuff that's hard to find. It's probably worth $10 just for Chick Corea's song "Fickle Funk" which is on an album that is very hard to find and has to be imported (Secret Agent) and can't be found on Itunes. "Party Sex" by Roy Rogers is also very exciting and upbeat with a rippin' vibes solo, and "Hot Stuff" by Wayne Henderson has a great groove. My other two favorites are "Candido's Funk" and "Lord of the Golden Baboon" which is pretty wacko and awesome.
   
   I am a drummer too young to be alive in the 70s, so of course I am a poor authority on 70s jazz-funk, although I do play those styles of music today. Enjoy! or get some Weather Report or Return to Forever's Romantic Warrior album or Mahavishnu Orchestra's Birds of Fire. Yeah!



2. Worth it just for the short but vital 1975 George Duke tital
   cut "The Aura Will Prevail",Sea Level's grooving "Sneakers" and
   Wayne Henderson's essencial "Give Up The Booty".Oh yea and there's all kinds are rare stuff by Roy Ayers,Jimmy Smith,
   Hugh Masekela,Coke Escovedo and James Brown.This plus Kool & The
   Gang's "Univeral Sound" make this a can't-be-without collection.
   As a matter of fact if your a funk fan don't listen to any more
   reviews and just pick this up!'Nuf said!



3. Wow!! Polygram have out done themselves with this one! Their Chronicles series of re-issues has reached some giddy heights in the past and this is definitely one of the highest peaks among them. 2 CD's worth of hard to find jazz funk, including some never before issued, all guaranteed to keep fans of any kind of rare groove and dance music moving.
   It would be too long and too pointless for me to go through all the tracks, but it's enough to say that there isn't a turkey among them, and that some are the sublimest examples of this kind of music you will find anywhere. And there isn't a drum machine to be heard. Sensational!

4 comments about The Next Adventure.

1. I've been a Tucker fan for 30 years. I understand the usual comparisons that always come with every new CD. But on it's own, this is an outstanding album with incredible variety and first rate perfromances.
   
   I can't understand a rating of less than 4 stars for this amazing CD. Yes, I know it's all opinions but c'mon. What has happened to music today? Furthermore, what has happened to music lovers today? Those who vote and claim to understand what great music is!
   
   To rate a CD of this caliber less than 4 stars shows that there's a musical appreciation problem out there with the population and perhaps those individuals should just keep listening to mainstream pop hits.
   
   The song writing couldn't be better. Ballads, fantasies, rockers and even a biker anthum. The band has meshed together which such perfection it's beginning to sound like on old MT CD. But the truth is, they don't need to worry about sounding like the old MT. This album shows the incredible talent and skill they have now. So much variety, it's like hearing four different bands on one CD. Let's face it, most of us hate today's music and the radio for the most part stinks. We complain about not having new great music and now a CD by The Marshall Tucker band has come through for us with an album that drips of emotion, talent and variety. Doug Gray's daughter's voice is stunningly beautiful. I'll be looking for further work from her whether with good ole dad or something on her own hopefully produced by Doug.
   
   The production on the CD is excellent. The soundstage is coherent, sound quality is stupendous without the usual compressed, lack of dynamics found on many CD's today.
   
   This is jus a great CD. Thank you, Marshall Tucker boys (and lady). I have every CD you've ever made. All are great. This effort is up there with the very best you've done.
   
   Listen to it 6 or 7 times before writing a review. 5 stars no question about it. One of the best CD's Marshall Tucker have made.



2. Like any other classic Southern Rock Band...The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet...that's still on the concert / CD trail today with "one or more original members," it's all too easy to dismiss the 2007 Marshall Tucker Band. That's a shame, because people who do are missing some good music that's true to its roots.
   
   Founding member Tommy Caldwell died in 1980. Toy Caldwell, Paul Riddle and George McCorkle left the MTB in the mid-80s, which marked the beginning of Doug Gray's "last man standing" revival of the band. In 2004, the MTB released "Beyond The Horizon"...not "A New Life" or "Where We All Belong" by any means, but surely the best effort by the band since its core members headed for greener pastures. "The Next Adventure" is the follow-up to that album. As is often the case in life, you'll appreciate this a lot more if you focus on what it is rather than what it isn't.
   
   "The Guitar Playing Man" gets things off to a nice start...one of three runes co-written by George McCorkle (who joined Toy & Tommy in Rock 'n' Roll Heaven on June 29th, 2007...read Charlie Daniels' eulogy @ http://www.georgemccorkle.com/).
   
   Eric Anderson's "Come Runnin' Like A Friend" is next, and it expresses sentiments well in keeping with the voice of MTB through the years. Honest, simple, sweet.
   
   "Travelin' Man"...with former Jerry Garcia Band member Melvin Seals on organ (he also wrote the track)...is a little out of place with its faux-Otis Redding soul strut. I find myself skipping over this track when I play the CD in my car. Not bad, just not what I look for in MTB music.
   
   "I Love You That Way"...Chris Hicks' duet with Doug Gray's daughter Gabrielle...is the second McCorkle-penned track. Not "characteristically" MTB in sound, but a nice enough track. Gabrielle can be compared...favorably or unfavorably, depending on your viewpoint...to a number of modern-era Nashville divas.
   
   "Cold Steel" is closer to what you might expect from the band...lead guitar and flute solos intermingle with Doug's vocals.
   
   "Why Am I Crying"...a slow blues that just might be a little TOO laid back. On my mix CD, this one and "Travelin' Man" don't make the final cut, even though it was written by Toy Caldwell.
   
   "Down This Road Before II"...Drummer Barry Borden takes the lead vocals on this one. Sounds a little more like late-period Poco than MTB (or maybe The Band, since Borden sounds a little Rick Danko-ish). Nice, especially the dobro fills from Chris Hicks and the steel guitar / mandolin from Ronald Radford.
   
   "A Sad Cowboy Song"...talk about truth in labeling. Nice job, Doug...sing it!
   
   "Crossroad"...sort of MTB with a dollop of Doo-Wop and sixties soul. Very, very nice.
   
   "Jesus Never Had A Motorcycle"...the final McCorkle track, and the only one that left me feeling truly "Tuckerized." Doug carefully paces his vocal, the chorus has a nice hook, Radford shoots and scores again with mandolin and pedal steel, and Hicks (along with Stewart Swanlund) shines on electric guitar. This one lives up to the legend...and will leave you hungry for the next album.
   
   All in all, a solid three stars, and a resounding vote of confidence as the band keeps the legacy alive.



3. and have been wondering when Doug Gray was going to dig back to the bands roots, retrace those true desert sounds, and bring back that classic flute that makes this band so unique, then this CD should make you happy.I know Doug's voice isn't at it's peak, but he has a good showing here, and some of the vibrado that he overdoes so much in concert, takes a backseat on this cd.
   Some MTB recordings as of late have had an abscence of that lead guitar that make you miss Toy Caldwell so much, but this CD has some great licks that are very reminiscent of "Carolina Dreams" , with a thick Western feel, and even a touch of Flamenco in the leading song......one song "Cold Steel" will take you out of your Suburban dwelling and put you right on a horse, spurs and all.
   "Come runnin'like a friend" has such a melodic pronounced quitar riff,that I'm waiting to hear the song in a movie just to take advantage of it's true emotion, while "Travelin Man" sung by Chris Hicks will inspire you to pull out your favorite blues album and shout along. I'm not a fan of "Jesus never had a motorcycle", but the rest of the cd is solid, and grows on you more each day. When Chris Hicks sings, you lose that classic MTB sound, with a little more rock, and a smattering of Blues, but it's worth it, he has damn good voice, and the songs always get your attention.
   I would like to see more duets between Doug and Chris ala "Ride of your life" from "Beyond the horizon", where Hick's seems to get Gray to step up and really belt out a song, which we all know he's still capable of doing.
   I really missed that classic sound of MTB that no other band could replicate and this cd has given me a "fix"
   Overall, I highly recommend this recording, and to be honest, it has me wondering when they're going back in the studio.



4. MTB latest is a refreshing, breezy musical journey. its been a long 30+yrs for the band and as with all bands--suffered tragic losses etc. MTB has struck paydirt with 10 passionate songs that spin cowboys and the west. DOUG GRAY is still the keeper of the stable and his voice is tired but true. there are 3 songs from GEORGE MCCORKLE and one from TOY CALDWELL and both need no introduction. highlights are: A SAD COWBOY SONG and I LOVE YOU THAT WAY-thrown in a couple well to do rockers and you have a great lazy day lemonade song parade. with each listen I like it just a little more. its not the 70's but this is a good reflection of past experiences. good one boys.

5 comments about Drippin' Wet.

1. Along with the Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker, Wet Willie defined Capricorn-style southern rock. The one thing that set Wet Willie apart is the phenomenal Jimmy Hall. This CD captures this Soul Man (now playing with Hank Williams, Jr.) in all his glory, blowing inspired harp and saxophone(!) besides his soulful lowdown blues singing. While Left Coast Live is a worthy substitute, the live sound of one of rock's hardest working bands is best captured on this hard to find disc. Though the curious may be leery of a "Keep On Smiling"-less CD, this CD belongs alongside "Live at the Fillmore East" as the quintessential example of Southern Rock in a live setting. Absolutely essential!!!



2. All these folks commenting cannot be wrong. What is wrong with the recording industry that they can not see a problem here? $100 for some music that we crave in remastered format. The artists don't get a penny of that 100 bucks because technically the royalties were already paid when the CDs were first sold to a retailer for 10 bucks. This is gouging that could be prevented by making more of the CD and the artists would get the royalties as well.
   
   Anyway this is a a great collection of Wet Willie's work but if you want to save some money while getting your WW fix, pick up a copy of the Left Coast Live CD for about $25 - $35 at Amazon or even ebay. Or get some of the current Jimmy Hall (Build Your Own Fire) or Rick Hirsch (Instrumentality and No Regrets) work available - it ain't Wet Willie but it's great stuff.
   
   The artist's work is 10 freeqin starz!



3. I bought this album in vinyl when it first came out, and was addicted from the opening notes of the first track. Why oh why is it not currently available in music stores? The fact that it's selling for a minimum $67.99 for a used copy should tell someone in the music business something. Re-release this classic!



4. This cd is hotter than a nymphomanic in a convent. Taken from a New Years Eve show at one of the legendary dungeons in rock history the Warehouse in New Orleans. Opening for the Allman Brothers, Wet Willie simply tore the roof off the sucker.
   
   Opening with That's All Right, the band sets out a marker-We are going to kick your butt and if you don't like it leave. This is not rock and roll for posers or the faint of heart. They do the definitive version of Taj Mahal's She Caught the Katy, and their version of I'd Rather Be Blind Than to See You Go brings gospel fervor to the roadhouse. No Good Soman Blues is the hottest shuffle I've heard to this day. Of course a man's gotta have a little Red Hot Chicken, and when he's finishsed he will always Shout Bamalama. Musicianship-outstanding. Jack Hall and Lewis Anthony lay down a great groove, Ricky Hirsch plays some tasty guitar and John Anthony puts they keys in exactly the right place. Jimmy Hall-well what can you say-arguably the greatest white soul singer ever-only Eddie Hinton and Felix Cavilere are close
   
   The only thing missing from this disc is Grits Ain't Groceries which was a staple of the Wet Willie live show. Every time I listen to this disc I realize how lucky I was to hear this band at their peak-and guys this is it! You gotta have this one



5. This is simply an exceptional live recording of one of the most underrated and most skilled bands around. If you ever get a chance to listen to Jimmy Hall live, don't miss it. If you want a facsimile of the live Jimmy Hall/Wet Willie experience, buy this CD.
   I heard this in college in 74, and this album was wonderful then. Times have changed, but the power and talent of this recording by Wet Willie hasn't. If you want to hear rock and roll as God intended it to be played, this is it.

No comments about Amorica.

5 comments about On tha Cool.

1. This is by far one of the best albums baby beesh has made.My personal fave is "Woy oy" his beats are the best and his lyrics are tight all his raps match. i know hes not known for beeing with Dope House Records and raping with spm,rasheed,low g,juan gotti,angela perez,happy P, and all those other bad a$$ rappers, but he should be and he should of stayed with Dope house Records. AND NO SPM IS NOT DEAD. THAT WAS A PUBLICITY STUNT!!! FREAKIN DUMB A$$ PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY "RIP SPM" WHEN HE REALLY IS NOT DEAD!!!just had to point that out



2. All I have to say to young Beesh is: Remember where u came from, homez... Don't be the next Master P. Keep that bay luv and bay flavor, and REP YO CITY!!!!!!!!! Northpole V-town 3C's DOWN!!!!!



3. Beesh/ Bash has put out three albums so far and personally I think this is his best one so far. Savage Dreams being his first is good, on Tha Smokin Nephew he softens up a lil bit too much, making On Tha Cool his best, combining his r&b flow and incorporating it to his music. Great lirycist, excellent production, no more needed to say.



4. If you love baby beeshs first album you will be a lil disappointed of that one. It's much slower than savage dreams but still tight. The Intro is my favourite song because it`s too cold for this world!



5. I think this album is hella tight beby beesh has graduated to a new level in his rap game. His songs have a southern stlye to them now hooking up with dopehouse records out of houston texas.I think he could of used a lil more bay area style.cruizin and partying "vallejo"?. but beesh has his own style that cannot be duplicated,with this album he raps more about lounging,relationships with breezys and ohh yeah smoking weed. The whole ablum i rated at 5 stars because of songs like ..yesterday,in motion,early in the morning....keep it on the cool....

1 comments about Casey Kasem Presents: America's Top Ten - The 70's Classic Rock's Greatest Hits.

1. This generous collection (clocking in at a disc-stuffing 76:55) is filled with the radio candy that kept ears glued to the dial throughout the 70s. It may very well represent the last great gasp of top-40 radio, wherein the experimental sounds of 60s FM progressive rock were strained through the pop sensibilities of the AM hit single machine. These twenty selections focus on the rock hits of the 70s, eschewing other movements like disco, teen pop, and singer/songwriters (some of which are covered on other volumes of this series).

   From Boston's intricately layered "More Than a Feeling" to Lynyrd Skynyrd's anthemic "Sweet Home Alabama," the electric guitar was rock radio's focal point, with outsized riffs (courtesy of Mick Ralphs, Paul Kossoff, Steve Miller, Carlos Santana, and Duane Allman, among others) topped by swaggering vocals from the likes of Paul Rodgers (Bad Company and Free) and Lou Gramm (Foreigner). The result filled arenas and summer days-on-the-green around the world.

   Even acoustic numbers like Kansas' "Dust in the Wind" and novelties like Brownsville Station's "Smokin' in the Boys Room" resound with the era's allegiance to the overboard. Covers by Santana ("Black Magic Woman," originally waxed by Fleetwood Mac) and Nazareth ("Love Hurts," originally a hit for the Everly Brothers) became amped-up icons that buried the earlier incarnations for many listeners.

   Though twenty tracks barely scratches the surface -- even in this relatively narrow swath of 70s hit music -- this is a solid hour-plus of party music that's sure to revive a few memories. It's like listening to your favorite Classic Rock station without the commercials!

5 comments about Creedence Gold.

1. This Cd has many of the best recordings of CCR and along with
   more Creedence Gold is an essential part of any fan's collection. One
   recording that is missing from this CD that should obviously be on one
   or the other is " Green River ", but these are two of the best rock and roll CDs in existence as far as I'm concerned.



2. Every one of these songs are well done and bring back (for me) memories of a happier time.
   
   I love the mix of bayou and rock that CCR did!



3. Yup, I remember walking to a store called "Budget Records and Tapes" and buying this as an LP for about $3.98, which is a lot when you make $15.00 a month delivering papers.
   
   What you can't see on the CD, and I'm sure don't actually get, it that on the LP each of the face profiles was a separete fold-out with a picture of the band member on the inside. It was very cool! In fact, I think this is one of the best "greatest hits" album covers ever.
   
   This was likely the very first of all the CCR greatest hits and anthology albums. It's dated for sure, and I'm sure you could do better for your money. But as for me, you can only ever have one "first LP" and this was it.



4. This album by Creedence Clearwater Revival contains 8 of their well known songs. I have read reviews that this title either does not have enough of their songs or that it is not worth getting. I really don't believe that, but I know that this is a good CD for someone who is just starting to discover their music (some people say that this is a starter title). The songs are excellent. From the opening track, "Proud Mary" to the closing track, "Suzie Q", these eight songs are good for the new CCR fan. I love all of the songs on this album. Their version of "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" is a wonderful track, with John Fogerty's vocals during the first 2-3 (?) minutes, and then the rest is instrumental, the entire song clocking in at barely over 11 minutes, while "Born on the Bayou" clocks in at barely over 5 minutes and the final track, "Suzie Q", clocking in at barely more than 8 1/2 minutes. This may not be a thorough album title, but it is OK for new fans to get as a sampler. For those of you who want a wider variety of their songs, go ahead and check out the Chronicle CDs, Volume 1 and/or 2.



5. Many reviewers seem unhappy that this album even exists in the CCR catalogue but they ignore the fact that LPs had limited playing time per side! Those of us raised (partially) on LPs remember Creedence Gold fondly as an opportunity to own/hear the full-length versions of 'Suzie Q' and 'Grapevine' in a greatest hits compilation alongside 'Proud Mary' and the other standards.
   
   Naturally, Chronicle I and II are more comprehensive and the CD format overcomes playing time limitations for just about any vinyl album reissued on disc.
   
   One final bit of nostalgia - the silhouettes on the original LP cover folded out individually! Try that with your little jewel box booklet!

5 comments about Double Trouble Live.

1. This album kicks booty! Molly Hatchet was the first big rock act I ever saw, opening for Riot and AC/DC (on the Highway to Hell tour! Little did I know Bon Scott would soon pass away!). Songs like Flirtin with Disaster and Beating the Odds sound great, but their version of Freebird really gets me going! Even my THIRTEEN year old daughter likes it! I cannot believe the great job they did on this song and I would definitely recommend this album to any rock fan! Funny thing is, I never knew they ever released this album until I saw it on Amazon.com!



2. Close as I can tell, the two omitted songs for space were chosen because they never did end up on a studio album; they're introduced as being new material, but didn't show up when Lightning Strikes Twice came out. Combine that with the fact that the Southern Rock era was basically over when this came out, and you get a crappy CD reissue. It must still sell well enough for Epic since it's still in print, though. So how about remastering it, putting the missing songs on and giving us some alternate tracks? One More From The Road has been reissued this way what, 3 times now on CD? Plus bonus tracks from those sessions on other compilations. Obviously it should sell enough to make some money with it. --- This isn't too hard to find on vinyl - the missing songs are good, worth the trouble if you're a fan. At least they stay true to form, unlike bands who went to that synth-pop kind of sound blend (Doc Holliday - Modern Medicine, The Outlaws - Soldiers Of Fortune, or Van-Zant's self-titled Geffen flop).



3. I can't count the number of speakers that I have blown through the years of listening to this album. It's just that good, you can't listen to it at a low volume. Just listening to the crowd explode during Freebird will give you goosebumps. Although Skynyrd will always be known for Freebird, Molly Hatchet's version will make you slam the gas pedal even further through your floorboard! Great Live album from start to finish, and great price too!



4. Molly Hatchet recieved MUCHO grief for releasing Freebird on this album.
   Riff West(bassist) was a guest speaker/consultant at a recording arts institute I attended and said this album was basically blackballed by the industry and fans alike;sales were dismal at best.This release was an embarassing moment for the good 'ol boys. Aside from that controversial point, the album is a real southern rocker. Anything with singer Danny Joe Brown is good stuff! An excellent addition to your Hatchet collection.



5. This is the best live CD from the 1980's--period. Molly Hatchet's popularity may have been waning by the mid 80's, but they were certainly going down fighting, judging from the intense performances on this CD--amazing! One great song and performance after another. The Freebird cover was awesome--Danny Joe Brown sang it perfectly! Ronnie would be proud (he was planning on producing Molly Hatchet before the Skynyrd plane crash occurred)! The guitarists are on fire throughout! Boogie No More is incredible!
   
   The sound quality (EQ'ing, specifically) is great on some songs, OK on others, and lousy on one or two. Apparently it's tough to capture a live CD from analog tapes soundwise, because Skynyrd's One More From The Road was spotty with the EQing as well. But the quality of the performances completely cancels out the weaknesses in the sound, as far as I'm concerned.
   
   This CD is a MUST HAVE for any guitar-rock enthusiast, and especially for any Southern Rock fan!

5 comments about Charlie Daniels-Super Hits.

1. At such an affordable price, it would be hard to provide a complete collection of any artist of Charlie Daniels' caliber. But, here's a sampling of original recordings of one of the greatest fiddler's/songwriters/guitarists ever to grace the stage. There were quite a few omissions when this collection came together, and possibly, some numbers that were included, could've been replaced with those that weren't! But, there's not a stinker among this compilation. I'll be the first to admit that there are much better collections out there, but for this price, you will never find a better "basic" introduction to Charlie Daniels' music....but how could they omit "Legend of Wooly Swamp"? B+



2. The Charlie Daniels Band is the musical bridge that connects straight ahead country music to southern fried rock better than anyone else. From his first hit, the classic tall tale UNEASY RIDER through his affectionate tribute THE SOUTH'S GONNA DO IT to patriotic anthems STILL IN SAIGON and IN AMERICA, the guitar and fiddle wielding North Carolina native is a charismatic favorite of practically everybody. SUPER HITS also lets rip with the barstool belter DRINKIN' MY BABY GOODBYE, line dance request BOOGIE WOOGIE FIDDLE COUNTRY BLUES (as apt a description of Daniels' style as any), and his best known kicker THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA. You even get an updated UNEASY RIDER '88, this time involving a ruckus in a (ahem) "fern bar", although I'd druther have missing older tracks WITCHITA JAIL and THE LEGEND OF WOOLEY SWAMP, both fine story songs in their own right. Overall though, SUPER HITS is a good ol' collection from a good ol' boy. RATING: FOUR FIDDLES



3. As I get older I find it more and more difficult to find record albums that I like well enough to buy, but this is one. First of all, in my opinion "Uneasy Rider" is one of the funniest tunes I ever heard. This one is an old favorite of mine from my college days, and whenever I hear it it takes me back to the Summer of '73. In fact I thought it was THE funniest tune around until I heard Uneasy Rider '88. Absolutely hilarious, and not to be missed.
   
   I liked most of the other tunes on this album very much, and now that I've listened to the album several times, I like them all. That's rare.



4. This is a great collection of songs by one of country music's legends. Charlie Daniels has proven himself time and again to be an exceptional songwriter and performer. Even when he stepped outside the box he has kept his status as one of country's greatest performers. The song list reads like a stroll down memory lane for number one hits or songs that have touched your soul. Even if you don't remember the song title you will remember the lyrics.

   The only fault I could find with this CD was that it was too short. At 10 songs (which are all very good) you can not begin to touch Charlie Daniels' greatest hits. And it was a basic re-hash of an album (Charlie Daniels Greatest Hits) that I had purchased a few years before. But these facts nothwithstanding, if you don't have the Greatest Hits album you will want to get the Super Hits CD.

   Fine performances by a legend - buy it - enjoy it.




5. This cd is awesome. you can never get tired of it. htis is a must own for all music lovers.

1 comments about Playlist Plus.

1. Universal Music just keep re-releasing the same songs these days without considering the out-takes and live stuff that linger in the vaults.
   
   This set of songs are the best from the original line up with a few other tracks from other incarnations after Duane Allman & Berry died.
   
   If you don't have any Allman Brothers CDs then get this one. If you have them all like me don't bother.