Tracks+bruce

Despite leaving Iron Maiden for a spell in the '90s, Bruce Dickinson's solo efforts were not that dramatically different than his albums with Maiden. In fact, quite a few tracks could have fit on such albums as Fear of the Dark with no problem. Thus, it shouldn't come as a surprise that two live sets from Dickinson's '90s solo era sound as if he's fronting Iron Maiden. In 2005, these concert sets, 1995's Alive in Studio A/Alive at the Marquee and 1999's Scream for Me Brazil, were compiled together as a three-disc set, Alive…

Willpower was really designed to be Jack Bruce's Crossroads – it followed Clapton's monumental box by a year, had similar artwork, a similar approach that blended selections from throughout his various projects, and the same remastering/production team. Thing is, Bruce didn't have the commercial success of Clapton, nor did he have the same sizable following (although his fans were indeed devoted), and critics just sorta gave up paying attention around 1970, so there wasn't much of an audience for Willpower upon its release in 1989. Nevertheless, it's a pretty terrific summary of Bruce's career, never staying too long in one particular period (even the selections from Cream lack such heavy hitters as "Sunshine of Your Love" or "I Feel Free"), and encapsulating how unpredictable and adventurous Bruce's career has been.

Bruce Hornsby's hardest-rocking album, A Night on the Town announces that he is heading into a different direction in its first few notes. John Mellencamp's producer Don Gehman gives the sound, especially John Molo's drums, a feel reminiscent of Mellencamp's best work. The material here is among Hornsby's best, and guest players include Jerry Garcia, tenor saxman Wayne Shorter, banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck, vocalist Shawn Colvin (before she was known), and jazz bass legend Charlie Haden. The arrangements still include the mix of synthesized and real percussion, and the trademark piano licks are sprinkled abundantly throughout, but the overall feel is much more rock & roll than anything before or since.

West, Bruce & Laing was an American blues rock trio/super group formed in 1972, consisting of Leslie West (guitar and vocals), Canadian Corky Laing (drums and vocals) and Scottish Jack Bruce (bass and vocals). They released three albums 1972-73. Live 'n' Kickin' is a live album by the power trio West, Bruce and Laing, released in 1974. It was the band's third and final album, as their disbanding was announced shortly before its release. Live 'n' Kickin' peaked at No. 165 on the Billboard U.S. album chart.

'Born In The U.S.A.' features some of the most radio-friendly performances in Springsteen's entire discography, which brilliantly disguise much of the emotional turmoil simmering underneath (case in point: the anthemic title track, a harrowing tale of a Vietnam veteran that Ronald Reagan attempted to co-opt for his presidential re-election campaign).