15 great double albums

Bold statements from artists. We get them from time to time. They are double albums.

Here is a link from goliath.com about 15 great double albums.

The 15 Greatest Double Albums in  Rock History 

More on the coronavirus:

Why coronavirus is so successful

What we know keeps changing on coronavirus

forging heavy metal

Ever take a trip back to find music that help define "heavy metal"? This can be a journey that gives us memories of our days gone by and a chance to discover music that we're not all that familiar with.

I came across a post on guitarworld.com that has 20 heavy songs that may be on a playlist or two of yours. If not, you might consider adding them.

Here's the link to the post: 20 Heavy Songs Before Black Sabbath

led zeppelin history

I came across a nice history of Led Zeppelin. It is a post in rollingstone.com that gives us a view from the beginning.

Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Circa 1968.  (Getty)

Their first show was in Denmark.
Here's the link to the post: HOW LED ZEPPELIN CAME TO BE

matt carpenter music

Matt Carpenter of the Saint Louis Cardinals uses the Turnpike Troubadours song Long Hot Summer Day as his walk up tune as he goes to the plate.

Carpenter

The Turnpike Troubadours play this song and it is one of the favorites of fans everywhere. It was featured in The World Series in 2013 when the Cardinals went. The song being played by Carpenter has help grow The Troubadours fan base in the Midwest.

Long Hot Summer Day was put on the album Diamonds and Gasoline. It was their second album and was released in 2010.

Turnpike Troubadours

Here is the complete story from Saving Country Music

Let's hope that new music with roots gets discovered all the time.

Cody Jinks, Band of Heathens Join Turnpike Troubadours in Matt Carpenter Walk Up Rotation https://t.co/FHMe4lvPoa

— Saving Country Music (@KyleCoroneos) April 11, 2019

saving country music's most essential albums

Saving Country Music has released their review of 2018 albums.Saving Country Music has reviewed a record number of albums (78) in 2018. 

Here are a few of what was featured.

• Pistol Annies - Interstate Gospel 
• Cody Jinks - Lifers
• Brandi Carlile - By The Way, I Forgive You
• John Prine - The Tree Of Forgiveness

 

So enjoy. Get caught up. Explore.

 

 

 

 

The ESSENTIAL ALBUMS LIST is Saving Country Music's most expansive, in-depth, and involved look at ALL the records that deserve your attention released in the past year to make sure you don't miss anything good.https://t.co/Fy3RL1pllU

— Saving Country Music (@KyleCoroneos) December 28, 2018

def leppard: mega group

Fans and the media loved Def Leppard. Their songs just wouldn't let go.
Their album Hysteria made sure there was no escape from Def Leppard.
The arrangement of many of these songs made them classics by gripping the rock populace.

This band has created a collection of songs that keep going.
Link to the source post: Def Leppard on udiscovermusic

u.s. album sales - best selling musicians

To study the best-selling musicians of all time by album sales, it’s helpful to first take a look at the music business. That's not what it used to be.

The musical landscape is vastly different from the heydays of the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, when vinyl and CD sales peaked.

The Beatles

 

For the past 60 years, the RIAA has honored music’s best through its Gold & Platinum Awards Program.

These acts have remained popular across multiple generations.

Beginning of the slideshow

 

George Strait

15 greatest double albums

Double albums have always attracted so many. There's more music. Double albums have been big statements. Some would call them concept albums. Often, double albums, present a band's best achievements.

Electric Ladyland Cover

Double albums are (were) popular and Jonny Hughes of goliath.com put together a list of fifteen. Look this over. You may or may not agree on the order, but the list is remarkable. This is a good reference. Use this to explore and add to your own playlists.

Here's the link: The 15 Greatest Double Albums in Rock History

the 50 best selling albums in america

You might think albums are a thing of the past. Well, I suppose they are. I don't particularly like writing that but we have to face the facts. Vinyl has gained some resurgence, which may spark your curiosity as to which albums have sold well in the United States. 

This list, so far, has tested the time spectrum and is worth noting. I was particularly impressed by the variety of genres. Songs contained in them were hits that made the artist's popularity mainstream. Several of these artists are still popular.

Led Zeppelin

This list is a good reference. Use it to add songs to your personal playlists.

Phil Collins

Here's the link to the post from Newsweek: Top 50 Selling Albums in the U.S.

Matchbox 20

10 best americana albums of all time

This is quite a list.

You may or may not agree, but it's a good place to start. udiscovermusic.com has put together their list of what they think are the ten best. I like it. Do I totally agree? Well, I'm not sure. 

Look these over and see if you agree or not. 

10. Creedence Clearwater Revival: Willy And The Poor Boys (1969)

 9.  The Flying Burrito Brothers: The Gilded Palace Of Sin (1969)

 8.  Doug Sahm: Hell Of A Spell (1980)

 7. The Neville Brothers: Yellow Moon (1989)

 6. Drive-By Truckers: Alabama Ass Whuppin’ (1989)

 5. The Long Ryders: State Of Our Union (1985)

 4. Los Lobos: Kiko (1992)

 3. John Hiatt: Bring The Family (1987)

 2. Lucinda Williams: Car Wheels On A Gravel Road (1998)

 1. Steve Earle: Copperhead Road (1988)

Here's link to the story, which includes the complete soundtracks of the albums:

The 10 Best Americana Albums of All Time

Enjoy!

 

simple minds new tour

On April 23rd Simple Minds announced a new North American tour. This tour will be their most extensive since 1985.

Charlie Burchill

Simple Minds is celebrating their 40th anniversary. 

The band scored a string of hit singles, becoming best known internationally for their 1985 hit "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (UK #7, US #1, CAN #1), from the soundtrack of the film "The Breakfast Club". 

Simple Minds on Wikipedia 

Tour Dates

saving country music's essential for 2017

Saving County Music has named their essential county albums for 2017. They claim 2017 was a bumper year for country and roots artists. I agree. Saving Country Music honor roll includes 65 albums and they have put together a commendable list.

If your into country and americana music, this list is worth checking out. Do yourself a favor and look into it. You'll be glad you did.

Margo Price, who has a positive grade

Original post from Saving Country Music: Essential Albums List 2017

Saving Country' Music's 2017 Essential Albums List. https://t.co/F7o8AnDaxp 2017 was a bumper crop yer for great country and roots records. #savingcountrymusic A total of 65 albums.

— Mike Bertelsen (@mikebertelsen) December 30, 2017

npr's top 50 albums of 2017

2017: a year that kept us on edge, according to npr.org. There war music that captured our attention instantly. That's good.

nprmusic These are the 50 best albums of 2017. How many have you heard?
https://t.co/TbloSD72XV pic.twitter.com/6wvhNm5Cfi

— Mile High Company (@milehighcompany) December 23, 2017

the beatles - rubber soul

Rubber Soul was truly a complete album.

This was their sixth studio album. Nearing completion of the album, they were a couple of songs short. Fourteen tracks were slated to be on Rubber Soul, but material was absent. On November 11, 1965, The Beatles entered the studio to complete the album.

Songs recorded that day were: You Won't See Me, Girl, Wait, and I'm Looking Through You. 

On December 3, 1965, Rubber Soul was in U.K. record shops.

Picture for the album cover

The Beatles started recording Rubber Soul on October 18. This album made them into a studio band. A grueling tour schedule, for them, would become a thing of the past. Rubber Soul is truly a complete album. A new phase of The Beatles was launched with this effort. 

cheap trick: bang, zoom, crazy... hello

On April 8, 2016 Cheap Trick will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.


The album Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello is their first album since 2009, the longest break between albums. When I Wake Up Tomorrow is the second advance single. This song has been called "Bowie-esque". The similarities to David Bowie are evident, but it's not a rip-off. It's Cheap Trick genuine, and one could argue it's a tribute to Bowie. I could hear Bowie doing it.

"This song always reminds me of a sultry David Bowie song," says Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen. Click here to pre-oder the album.

The album will be supported by a tour that runs from April through September. The tour kicks off April 1st in Chicago. A good idea, since the band is from Rockford. They have been a concert favorite for many years, as they are known to play as much as 25 songs per show.

Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Daxx Nielsen, Robin Zander

The vinyl version of the album will be released on May 6th.

u2 to perform at mtv ema

U2, one of the greatest rock bands of all time, will perform at the 2014 MTV EMA this Sunday November 9 at 9pm!

nine inch nails on acl

The Public Broadcasting Corporation (PBS) has a gem in Austin City Limits. The 40th anniversary of the show started off with a performance by Nine Inch Nails.

eleven fifty two

On October 17th, 2014, Eleven Fifty Two will take the stage at Rascals Live in Moline. The band released their first EP, titled The Company in August of 2012. This was released on iTunes, Rhapsody, and Amazon.

Their new EP is Day After Day and features two songs I particularly like: Fail and Push.

Fail has slashing guitar riffs and a machine gun like motion that excites this song through every note. Push reminds me of old Metallica right off the bat with a cutting edge that's unforgettable. I'm anxious to them live.

Promote your mixtape at ReverbNation.com

sonic highways

Rock musicians, as a rule, have a terrible time explaining why certain bands or artists influenced them and why they wrote a particular song. It's not their fault because so much trial and error goes into their creativity. Inspiration comes from both without and within.

Dave Grohl is, at least, somewhat of an exception. He explains the process of why he recorded a particular song, and where his lyrics came from. When I mention "where" in this post, I mean "where", as in location.

Grohl's new HBO series Sonic Highways is partly an extension of Sound City, a tribute to where he recorded Nevermind with Nirvana.

He wanted to make a new Foo Fighters album in a new way. So much so, he forced himself to find the "new" way. Each episode of Sonic Highways follows the progress of a new song. Unique for sure.

Grohl put it this way, "You have to know your past in order to know your future." Sonic Highways gets personal and that is what makes it special.

The series begins in Chicago and episode #2 is in Washington, D.C., an integration of Dave and his growing up in suburban Virginia.

Sonic Highways debuts Friday, October 17th at 11 PM Eastern on HBO.

mars electric reunion

Rascals Live was the place on Saturday, October 4, 2014 for a spectacular evening. The Mars Electric Reunion Show took place and it was absolutely phenomenal. A super audience was on hand and the performance was excellent. Jacob Bunton was on his game along with Chris, Carl, and local favorite Matt Finn.

Jacob Bunton

Matt Finn

Carl Ray

Chris Simmons

Photos by Mark Detl