Rain of Steel

Following the success of Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot continued his success by releasing a greatest-hits compilation. A double album (now a single CD), it contained the most popular songs from his Warner Bros. years on disc two, and he re-recorded many of his early songs for side one of record one. Although not as good, perhaps, as the originals, this did bring them up to date with his current sound style. Just about all the favorites are here (except "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," which hadn't been recorded yet when this set was put together and appears on Lightfoot's second volume of Gord's Gold), making this a good general overview of a strong talent. When Warner transferred the double LP to CD, "Affair on 8th Avenue" was dropped from the program to make the set fit on a single disc. Randy Newman arranged the orchestration on "Minstrel of the Dawn," by the way.

To only a unique voice to describe the band to quote and their music: "… If Velvet STEEL, with lead singer Robert" Rob the voice "Steiner, bassist Mark" Schmeidl "abstartet Schmid and the musicians of the band with their power charged stage show, sweeping a mix of diversified," steely "rock music," velvety "ballads and bluesy tones on the stage, so that their fans are unstoppable. Do not be alarmed if the Drive immediately goes into the legs, the vocal cords vibrate and penetrates the Beat your body. The only remaining risk - one is "STEELER's" fan!

In July 2008, KISSIN' DYNAMITE's "Steel Of Swabia” was released; a debut album of teenagers with their singer just 16 years old! What puzzled everyone though was how much this "teen band" rocked; just as good as the greats: Mötley Crue, Whitesnake, AC / DC, Guns'n'Roses! No wonder this first-class debut album was released on the major label EMI! The quality of this young group was only too obvious.

My first day in China after two years away, I noticed a strange round object on the table - not only in appearance, but because it emitted musical notes, and my girlfriend literally doesn't listen to music. Ever. Further inquiry revealed it was a handmade version of a steel tongue drum, made by her uncle for her niece, in the hopes that she would not only learn about music, but learn to love it. Neither of those came to pass. But what remained was an object whose sounds I couldn't stop listening to. And couldn't stop speaking to me. That afternoon, I spent a half hour completely detached from the world while I randomly tapped its various notes, until reality called again. As it always does.

This is the long awaited acoustic album from Keith Thompson. A raw and passionate collection of songs showcasing the singer/songwriter in Keith. As the title suggests strength and weakness, the songs tackle subjects as diverse as lost love, the Mississipi floods, moral choices and political correctness. Also featuring some great slide guitar from Keith and some mean saxophone from Patsy Gamble. Keith is primarily a songwriter and a guitarist although he plays many instruments.He performs music on a professional level solo or with great musicians in The Keith Thompson Band in the genre of blues/rock.He also writes and records music, some of which have been used on TV, computer games and production company releases. You won't be interested in networking with Keith unless you are into music in a big way. Real music and thoughtful lyrics.

The second wave of reissues in Led Zeppelin‘s overhaul of their classic catalog pretty much follows the path set by the first: remastered versions of the original albums on one disc, and alternate takes and mixes (along with the occasional rare cut) on the other. The band’s self-titled 1969 debut included live tracks, but all of the others so far — including the new ‘IV’ and ‘Houses of the Holy’ — have basically replicated the original LPs with different versions of the same songs. That doesn’t give fans looking for more obscure Zeppelin tracks much to reach for, but Led Zeppelin weren’t ones to waste much. During the decade in which they recorded their eight albums, very few songs were left unreleased. Only one B-side — 1970's ‘Immigrant Song’ flip, ‘Hey Hey What Can I Do’ — even surfaced during their run. So don’t expect to hear any recently unearthed gems on the remastered deluxe editions of 1971's ’IV’ and 1973's ’Houses of the Holy.’

Gretchen Wilson set the country music charts on fire with her smash single "Redneck Woman" and her debut album, Here for the Party (2004). The track – though composed by colleague John Rich (of Big & Rich) – became an anthem for women all over America. Written especially for Wilson, it is from-the-gut, working-class feminism for the post-feminist age, straightforwardly sung with a celebratory vengeance. As a slice-of-life singer who embodied and brought to life each cut on the album, she became an "overnight sensation." Her follow-up, All Jacked Up (2005), was recorded and rushed out by Sony a year later…..