Guitar Rock

Time-Life Music's Guitar Rock: Guitar Thunder features 12 rock radio staples, including "Show Me the Way" by Peter Frampton, "Easy Livin'" by Uriah Heep, "Rock You Like a Hurricane" by the Scorpions, "All Right Now" by Free, "American Woman" by the Guess Who, "Summertime Blues" by Blue Cheer and "Whipping Post" by the Allman Brothers Band. Some of the songs, such as "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar and "(I Know) I'm Losing You" by Rod Stewart with Faces, however, aren't exactly hard rock. These songs are available on other compilations, but this disc offers a decent collection for the casual fan.

We are very proud to announce the release of our way-kool, killer new Grooveyard Records: "Best Of" (Volume Five) (The Sound Of Guitar Rock) disc. This awesome heavy guitar rocker features 15 outstanding tracks of bad-ass Grooveyard Records riffage/mojo that represents what we are all about. Pure unadultered brain-damaging killer blues-based guitar rock excellence. Includes mega-awesome tracks by Lance Lopez, Vince Hawkins & Company Slave, Brett Ellis, Voodoo Room, Snake Head Ritual, Guitar Pete, Tony Spinner, Bandolier Kings (Budgie Tribute), Mountain Of Power, Dirty Dave Osti, Buddaheads, Craig Erickson, Super Vintage, Freerock Saints & Blindstone, tune in and find out why serious guitar rock mojo is our religion at Grooveyard Records. Welcome to the superb + classic Grooveyard Records: "Best Of" (Volume Five) (Sound Of Guitar Rock) disc.

Hank Marvin, mostly playing a Favino acoustic guitar (and, occasionally, the "Hank Marvin"-model Fender Stratocaster), turns in some delightful work on this 58-minute CD, supported by players including Ben Marvin on guitar, Ray Martinez on bass, Gary Taylor on rhythm guitar, and Ric Eastman on drums. The music ranges across the decades from the 1950s to the 1970s – the virtuosity is beyond question and the arrangements on familiar fare such as "Sunny Afternoon," "American Pie," "Ticket to Ride" and "Eleanor Rigby" bring out some unexpected attributes to the songs, as well – only "Your Song" does what one would expect in its arrangement, and that tune is so pretty that one would never want to deviate too far from the basics on it. Some of the original tunes are less than memorable melodically, but the playing is always interesting enough to hold the listener, and one of them, "A Tall-A Tall Dark Stranger" could have made a good single two or three decades ago, with its rippling double-lead guitar parts.

Rhino closes its five-volume rock instrumentals series with an 18-track outing devoted to surf guitar. This fast-paced, prickly, and frequently exciting form may not be among the most diversified structurally, but if does offer some surging playing from its practitioners. They range from founding father Dick Dale to its most popular bands, the Surfaris, Belairs, Ventures, and Chantays. While not particularly a hardcore surf collection, this disc certainly outlines its virtues, and the tunes were long enough to display guitar proficiency, but short enough to prevent self-indulgence and repetition.