Rose

AC/DC were not the only Australia-based rock band that specialized in boogie-based hard rock and tales of hard living – as evidenced by the underrated Rose Tattoo. While Rose Tattoo enjoyed success in their homeland and in Europe, the group – fronted by a chrome-domed chap named Angry Anderson – barely managed to cause a blip on the rock & roll radar stateside…

Those with a just a passing interest in roots reggae are generally aware of Michael Rose's Grammy-winning group Black Uhuru, but the man himself doesn't have the same name recognition. With any luck, the grand Happiness: The Best of Michael Rose will change all that. A solo artist well before Uhuru, Michael Rose's output has equaled – and arguably topped – his work with Uhuru, and Happiness does a great job of representing. Kicking off with the original version of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" and ending with the brilliant/quirky Fat Eyes production "Rough Life," Happiness brings to mind the mighty Bob Marley Legend compilation with its filler-free track listing. Just like Legend, Happiness is only an introduction to Rose, and while the man has released too many great, fully formed albums to say this is definitive, Happiness only misses the extended 12" side of his career and covers everything else splendidly.

Southern Stars' is the fourth album by Australian hard rock band Rose Tattoo. Southern Stars , with a slick production by Vanda & Young, had the band moving in a more AOR style, but retaining their famous Rock/boogie style. The album was essentially made with Angry Anderson and Geordie Leach on bass guitar, and new members Greg Jordon (slide/lead guitar), John Meyer (guitar) and Scott Johnston (drums)…

Outside of their native Australia, Rose Tattoo aren't as well known as their countrymen AC/DC – and they haven't been together quite as long. AC/DC were formed in 1973, while Rose Tattoo's original lineup got started in 1976. But folks who really know hard rock inside and out will tell you that Rose Tattoo are a hard rock institution…

Ever wonder what Led Zeppelin might have sounded like had they added a couple members of AC/DC and a couple members of Lynyrd Skynyrd to their lineup? The answer might lie in this album. Indeed, Rose Tattoo's gritty, bluesy rock & roll certainly does feel a lot like a Southern rock take on Zep with some Australian influence thrown in…

Savage Rose keep on producing excellent albums and have done so for more than 40 years now. The band members have changed during the years, but the quality and the one of a kind lead singer Annisette has remained. They have created albums in different styles and this is a more rock oriented album than previous ones…