Michael Walsh

Collectables' Michael Bolotin / Every Day of My Life contains Michael Bolton's first two albums on one CD. During this time, Bolton was going by his given name, Bolotin, and was trying to be a hard-rocker. He may have had the voice for it - his raspy wail does sound better with louder guitars than with soft-rock synthesizers - but these records don't really work, since the material is very, very uneven (the originals are weak; the covers are good, but ill-suited for this hard rock) and the arena-rock wannabe production dates both albums badly, making them only of interest for completists. Those completists, however, should be happy with Collectables' release, even if it does omit "If I Had Your Love" from Every Day of My Life, since the disc has good sound and decent packaging.

In their second album for Willowhayne Records, Antiphon presents world premiere recordings of three choral works by Michael Walsh. Two are sacred and one secular: an unaccompanied Mass of the Holy Trinity, a full-scale Requiem Mass, and The Way of Love: a setting of five love poems by the First World War poet Rupert Brooke, scored for choir and strings. These works reflect the gentle character of the composer's style, steeped through nearly thirty years of singing in English Cathedrals.

Monte Walsh and Chet Rollins are long-time cowhands, working whatever ranch work comes their way, but "nothing they can't do from a horse." Their lives are divided between months on the range and the occasional trip into town. Monte has a long-term relationship with prostitute Martine Bernard, while Chet has fallen under the spell of the widow who owns the hardware store. Camaraderie and competition with the other cowboys fill their days, until one of the hands, Shorty Austin, loses his job and gets involved in rustling and killing. Then Monte and Chet find that their lives on the range are inexorably redirected.

Award-winning author Michael Walsh looks at twelve momentous battles that changed the course of Western history.