Running

For a virtually unknown (in the United States) Scottish guitar player, Bert Jansch has had his fair share of anthologies. 1998's Blackwater Side and 2003's Legend: The Classic Recordings focused singularly on his late-'60s heyday, while 2002's two-disc Dazzling Stranger – still the superior choice – followed his career through the turn of the millennium. Castle's Running from Home: An Introduction To attempts to balance all three by sticking with a single disc and cramming it with 21 tracks that run the gamut from 1965-2002.

Manchester band whose blend of smooth jazz, sophisticated pop, and funk topped the British charts during the 1980s and '90s. At the beginning of their career, Level 42 was squarely a jazz-funk fusion band, contemporaries of fellow Brit funk groups like Atmosfear, Light of the World, Incognito, and Beggar & Co. By the end of the '80s, however, the band – whose music was instantly recognizable from Mark King's thumb-slap bass technique and associate member Wally Badarou's synthesizer flourishes – had crossed over to the point where they were often classified as sophisti-pop and dance-rock, equally likely to be placed in the context of Sade and the Style Council as any group that made polished, upbeat, danceable pop/rock. The band's commercial peak came with 1985's World Machine, but they continued to record and tour sporadically throughout the '90s and 2000s.

Running Hot is performed and recorded very professionally and the musicians of Outside Edge possess enviable skill and deserve high praise…

Joel Hoekstra, best known to legions of rock fans as the current guitarist for Whitesnake and Trans-Siberian Orchestra (and also known for his work with Night Ranger and the Broadway show Rock of Ages), returns with his sophomore album, "Running Games" from his electrifying solo project, Joel Hoekstra’s 13. Hoekstra once again handles the bulk of the creative process, overseeing production, songwriting and arranging (music and lyrics), and crafting his vision for this powerful hard rock record. Add Chris Collier’s masterful mixing and the result is ‘70s/’80s classic hard rock with 2020’s muscle. As with the debut, “Running Games” features an all-star cast of musicians including none other than Russell Allen (vocals), Tony Franklin (bass), Vinny Appice (drums), and Derek Sherinian (keyboards). The amazing Jeff Scott Soto also lends a helping hand with background vocals.

'Running Like the Wind' is The Marshall Tucker Band's 9th studio album (including the band's 1978 compilation, Greatest Hits) with its title track, "Running Like the Wind," being one of the band's most popular songs. 'Running Like the Wind' finds the Marshall Tucker Band returning to their ever popular cowboy theme, with Toy Caldwell's strong, melodic title track, and George McCorkle's "Last of the Singing Cowboys." The music is well-produced, with some fine vocal arrangements from singer Doug Gray. Tommy Caldwell sings the only lead vocal of his career in a heartfelt love song to his wife, "Melody Ann."

On his second album for the Concord Jazz label, guitarist Robben Ford stays pretty much to the formula of Blue Moon from 2001. He concentrates on playing, singing, and covering great songs (and even writes a few) with interesting arrangements, inspired solos, and crisp, clean production that lets the song shine through the players. Much has been made of Ford's eclecticism and that is reflected in his choice of material here, though he never strays from the blues or R&B into jazz or fusion. Ford's selection of session players reflects his divergent interests as well: Edgar Winter appears on saxophone, while John Mayall and Ivan Neville guest along with horn bosses Bob Malach and Dan Fornero and Ford's road band. Opening the set with the title track, written by soul man Jackie Edwards, Ford lays out his formula immediately: a tight horn chart for tenor and baritone saxes, as well as trumpet; a crystal clear, expressive vocal delivery; and Ford's signature stinging guitar in the solo break lifts proceedings off on the up tip.

Formed in 1985 by the bassist and one of the founding members of Genesis, Mike Rutherford, Mike + The Mechanics have gone on to enjoy success the world-over. The mechanics are best known for their hit singles "Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)", "All I Need Is a Miracle", "Taken In", "Over My Shoulder", and "The Living Years". The Masters Collection delivers an introduction to the bands body of work spanning an illustrious 30 years, and includes tracks from their top 10 2017 album ‘Let Me Fly’.