3D Artist – August 2018

Remember when, in the 1980s, the hard rock landscape was littered heavily with Led Zeppelin impostors? The apex of this so-called movement was probably 1987 through 1989, when metalheads were treated to such popular Zep-like releases as Whitesnake's self-titled commercial breakthrough and Bonham's The Disregard of Timekeeping. But possibly tops on the "Zep disciple" list were Kingdom Come, with their debut album Kingdom Come and single "Get It On," which were big hits. Their subsequent albums failed to perform as well (guess fans realized that one Zep was enough), but Kingdom Come singer Lenny Wolf has persevered and stuck to his guns throughout the years by fronting various lineups of the band.

The 1980s new wave movement introduced a large number of stylish, artful bands from the U.K. and Europe to American audiences, but the opposite was also true, and Cock Robin were one act from the U.S. that found a larger and more loyal audience outside their homeland. While "When Your Heart Is Weak" was a modest hit in the U.S. in 1985, the single fared better overseas, and over the next five years, Cock Robin would enjoy consistent success in France, as well as in Italy, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, while attracting only a cult following in their homeland. Cock Robin was formed in 1982 by Arizona-born Peter Kingsbery, who was establishing a career as a tunesmith in Los Angeles when he relocated to San Francisco and formed the group.

2007 release from the former guitarist, singer and keyboardist for Uriah Heep. Blood On The Highway is an autobiographical album dealing Hensley's experiences during his '70s heyday. Featuring a number of special guests, the rock opera Blood on the Highway was recorded at the end of 2006 and released in May 2007. The story portrays the rise and fall of a rock'n'roll star and the eventual restart. The lead vocals role was split between Hensley himself, plus Glenn Hughes (ex-Deep Purple, Trapeze, Black Sabbath), Jorn Lande (ex-The Snakes, Masterplan), John Lawton (ex-Lucifer's Friend, Uriah Heep) and Eve Gallagher.

Curb Records does it again: beats the dead horse, that is. After releasing no less than seven previous Tim McGraw hits compilations – several just in order to keep him under contract – and only issuing Emotional Traffic, his last album for them after they lost a protracted legal battle, the label releases this compilation just as McGraw is riding a successful pre-release single in "Looking for That Girl." (They pulled the same stunt just before Two Lanes of Freedom was released, issuing the cash-in comp Tim McGraw & Friends, a collection of duets compiled from over 20 years.) Love Story contains McGraw's most well-known amorous tunes and a pair of previously unreleased tracks – "I Just Love You" and "What About You" – available exclusively through Wal-Mart.