Hunger was originally from Portland, OR, but moved to Los Angeles in the late '60s and began to attract some attention by being an opening act for such top bands as The Doors and The Strawberry Alarm Clock. In 1968 the band released its only album, Strictly From Hunger!, which became sought after by psychedelic collectors and established the band firmly in the California psychedelic hard rock scene. The album that was originally released for the Public label in 1969, was the second incarnation of the same album that originally featured the guitar work of Ed King, who would later play with the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Lynyard Skynyrd. This CD set contains both versions of that album with the first arrangement being titled "The Lost Album" as originally released on Bill Holm's All American Records label. The material on the album was heavy psychedelic rock, with influences from The Doors and Jefferson Airplane.
Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band that formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1983. The band originally formed in 1981 under the name Loud Fast Rules, with the original line-up consisting of Dan Murphy, Dave Pirner, Karl Mueller and Pat Morley. The latter was replaced by Grant Young in 1984. The band recorded three albums with Twin/Tone Records and two with A&M Records to little commercial success. However, in 1992, they released the triple-platinum album Grave Dancers Union, featuring their Grammy Award-winning single "Runaway Train".
This 2014 BGO two-fer pairs 1972's Blue River and Stages: The Lost Album, largely recorded in 1972 but released in 1991. It's a nice pairing, containing Andersen's acclaimed Columbia debut and the record he cut for the label immediately afterward, a record the label didn't release until two decades later. Andersen made good records before and good records after, but these two albums are arguably his peak and it's nice to have them together on a two-fer.
There's no arguing his sincerity when Trever Keith bellows "I don't want this to end!" to finalize Three Chords and a Half Truth. Face to Face started in the early '90s, opening for bands like the Offspring and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and yet they continue to go strong. After a few minor road bumps, for the 2010s they have managed to release an album every year, and for their 2013 outing the energy is still fully intact. Aside from some weightier production, there isn't much to separate the sound of the band from the early days, and that's a good thing.
Australian born Rob Tognoni is one of the most exhilarating electric guitar players around today. His repertoire is a blend of Classic Rock and Blues which he plays with invigorating zeal and incomparable attack. With influences ranging from the legendary Blues masters like BB King to hard rockers AC/DC, by way of Jimi Hendrix, Tognoni's fancy fretwork of catchy riffs, crushing chords, and explosive solos posses something that only few guitarists have; character and a very own, instantly recognizable unique sound and style. Born in Tasmania, Rob Tognoni (a.k.a. The Tasmanian Devil) first made his name with the multi award-winning Australian band The Outlaws before being discovered by fellow Australian slide guitar master Dave Hole, who brought him to Europe and to the attention of Provogue Records, where Rob released 4 albums between 1996 and 2002.