November Top 40 2005

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1)IAN HUNTER "Just Another Night"
2)LOU REED LIVE AT MONTREUX 2000
3)Stewkey & The Nazz
4)Ian Anderson Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull
5)Roscoe Shelton Deep In My Soul
6)Thunders Kane & Nolan YOU CAN'T PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND A MEMORY
7)Ben Taylor Another Run Around The Sun
8)Brain Surgeons
9)Tracy Bonham "Blink The Brightest"
10)Ringo Starr
11)Heaven And Earth
12) "GIVE ME THE FEAR" TOKYO DRAGONS
13)ABIGAIL Zsiga "Home Again"
14)HELLO IT'S CRAZY ME (SPECIAL EDITION) Stewkey
15)DREAMIN' OF HEAVEN Ken Selcer
16)A COMPLEX SOLUTION - A mystery by Kurt Gerstner (Book)
17)IN HER SHOES - Movie with Shirley MacLaine
18)LEGENDS LIVE AT MONTREUX 1997
19)SCHOCK FUTURES, VOL. 1
20)ST. ALBANS FIRE - A Joe Gunther Mystery by Archer Mayor
21)SCISSORMEN featuring Rob Hulsman and Ted Drozdowski "Jinx Breakers"
22)THE FRANK SINATRA SHOW "High Hopes" with Dean Martin & Bing Crosby
23)"Earthbound" Lars Eric Mattson (Lion Music, Finland)
24)TODD ROYCE "Waitin' For You"
25)ANDRE WARD "FEELIN' YOU" (Orpheus Music)
26)STEVEN MARK
27)Gays In The Military (Gulcher)
28)SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR How The First Woman On The Supreme Court
29)Milan Polak "Guitar Odyssey" Advance CD (Lion Music, Finland)
30)Memoirs Of A Moth - Jack Chalfin



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1)IAN HUNTER & The Rant Band featuring Mick Ralphs "Just Another Night"
(Music Video Distributors) Live At The Astoria, London
Tremendous new Ian Hunter video coming on the heels of STRINGS ATTACHED,
a former #1 DVD on the Joe Vig Top 40!


2)LOU REED LIVE AT MONTREUX 2000 (Eagle Vision)
Great cinematography. The Ecstasy tour in 2000 was one of Lou Reed's loudest, at
least since Rock & Roll Animal in the early 70s. At home you can turn the volume
down and watch the group - and if that sounds jaded - it isn't - though Lou Reed
is more the Professor these days, giving onstage courses in rock & roll.



What do Lou Reed and Ian Hunter have in common? Two DVDs each on two different labels - both finding their work on Sanctuary followed by Lou's Montreux disc (Eagle
Entertainment) and Ian's Live At The Astoria (Music Video Distributors).

It would be fun to see these two fellows do an impromptu tour a la Elton John &
Billy Joel - only because I hate Billy Joel and would like to see two of my
favorite artists together - not see a legend like Elton dragged down by someone who couldn't sing when he started who has now lost his voice - Joel!

3)Stewkey & The Nazz
Stewkey can still sing - and yet another DVD - NAZZ - THEN & NOW.
Psychedelia is back. Stewkey should open for Lou & Ian.

http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5xmtk6hxukrf




4)Ian Anderson Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull
This is a totally amazing re-working of Ian Anderson's work with Tull - my review on AMG should post first week of February 2006 -

Ian Anderson Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5fkvu3isanxk&writer=1

This wonderful DVD is the same 95 minute or so concert from Jethro Tull's lead vocalist/songwriter and the Frankfurt Neue Philharmonic that you'll find on the double CD audio counterpart, twenty songs beginning with the five piece band and expanding from there. The visuals are lovely, shots from above, fade ins, split screen with black and white footage superimposed on color which makes the viewing quite appealing. Quirkier material like "Up The Pool" from the {^Living In The Past} album sounds sophisticated in this ta ta setting with the aging and respectful audience politely applauding. Anderson's fans are now as old as the Aqualung figure he has projected for the past four decades or so and it is fascinating psychology to hear the music of their youth presented in such old world ambiance. Ian is quite chatty on the disc, talking up the intro to his reinvention of "We Three Kings", now titled "We Five Kings" for the rock/folk quintet employed on this gig. Ian Anderson (pretty much) unplugged succeeds on many levels and the music of Jethro Tull works wonderfully in this dress. The orchestral version of Aqualung is dramatic and sonically exciting, as one would expect. The exotic movements of so many musicians complement the tone of Anderson's voice and the authority with which he tells his many tales. Bonuses include a seven minute interview with legendary German concert promoter Fritz Rau (interpreted by a translator), nine minutes of interviews with some of the contributors and even a bit of footage from the mastering of these recordings. {^Ian Anderson Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull} superbly captures all the magic of the event and gives some unique insight into the creative mind of Tull's driving force.










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5)Roscoe Shelton Deep In My Soul
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5zri286q056a






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6)Thunders Kane & Nolan YOU CAN'T PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND A MEMORY
3/5ths of The New York Dolls with a great Thunders classic as the title track.
On DVD.

Jo-Anne Green review

http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:qc7uak5ksm3c

7)Ben Taylor Another Run Around The Sun
Son of James Taylor & Carly Simon with Peter Calo on guitar

8)Brain Surgeons
Ex Blue Oyster Cult meets ex-Bloody Virgins (well, they married each other)
and became Brain Surgeons!

9)Tracy Bonham "Blink The Brightest"






10)Ringo Starr



11)Heaven And Earth
There are a zillion albums with this title including ones by


STUART SMITH
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fgen9750krat

and ANDY PRATT

http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:m9eq97rdkrkt

along with Dave Rave & Lauren Agnelli and many, many others.

12) "GIVE ME THE FEAR" TOKYO DRAGONS
Not to be confused with Boston's TOKYO TRAMPS, who play a mixture of roots rock and pop, TOKYO DRAGONS are hard driving no-nonsense street rock with hard rock hooks that don't quit. "Do You Wanna" is three and a half minutes of driving guitar with a chorus Kiss would love to find in 2005. "Chasing The Night" is a complete about face, close to five minutes of cruising music with crisp burning guitar lines that flow and build excitement under the melody.




13)ABIGAIL Zsiga "Home Again"
Abigail was played quite a bit when I was program director of AM 1670.
She's back, using her full name (see the other Abigail on a previous chart)
Extended review to follow


14)HELLO IT'S CRAZY ME (SPECIAL EDITION) Stewkey
See DVD above. This is a full length album from Nazz lead singer Stewkey
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ulfozfd5ehpk

15)DREAMIN' OF HEAVEN Ken Selcer
11 tracks from Ken Selcer that were recorded in the 90s with politician/musician Jill Stein.
There are also 3 guitar instrumentals that are stunningly vibrant and compelling from this
veteran of the New England music scene.


16)A COMPLEX SOLUTION - A mystery by Kurt Gerstner (Book)
Kurt Gerstner appeared on Visual Radio Wed, 12 Oct 2005
http://www.visual-radio.net his website is http://www.kurtgerstner.net


17)IN HER SHOES - Movie with Shirley MacLaine
Having written for Al Aronowitz "Blacklisted Journal" - this is the first
movie review I believe I'm posting since his tragic passing.

Cameron Diaz said on national TV "This is not a chick flick". Right.
Of COURSE it's a chick flick, but Diaz had a point, that guys can sit through
this and find great substance. Jennifer Weiner appeared on Visual Radio 10/02,
three years almost to the day (two days off) from the time this film made its
debut. http://www.inhershoes.com/ Poor Toni Collette looks even more
distressed than her role in the Sixth Sense. She's made to look dreary,
though the original concept was overweight. Somehow Roseanne Barr would have
overpowered the theme here, so we'll go with dreary. Chasing after Richard Burgi
(Starship Troopers 2, Desperate Housewives, Another World; www.richardburgi.com/)
is nuts as she blows off the more warm and more appealing Mark Feuerstein.
8 years after Director Curtis Hanson brought L.A. Confidential to life he
continues to be able to juggle complex characters within the boundaries of
the time it takes for a film to roll all the way through. Having the movie
set in two different locales works too as Diaz gets to save the soul of her
misguided and emotionless vamp.

18)LEGENDS LIVE AT MONTREUX 1997
Eric Clapton blending his folky unplugged "Layla" after the saxes smoke slowly on "In A Sentimental Mood". The photography is gorgeous as ever on these Eagle Vision
releases of the Montreux material. Grade A.

19)SCHOCK FUTURES, VOL. 1
Writer/Singer Harriet Schock collects 19 songs from 19 artists she works one on
one with. Who better to do A & R than the woman who co-wrote a #1 hit for
Jeannie Kendall in 2005, and a Top 10 hit for Helen Reddy in the 1970s.

20)ST. ALBANS FIRE - A Joe Gunther Mystery by Archer Mayor
Archer Mayor is back - can you believe it is the 16th book in the series so far?
Not as violent as Mickey Spillane, this is Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys in their
adult life, and the fan base for this storyline grows exponentially.
Archer is scheduled for his FOURTH appearance on http://www.visual-radio.net
December 1.


21)SCISSORMEN featuring Rob Hulsman and Ted Drozdowski "Jinx Breakers"
A blues record entitled Jinx Breakers - think about it.
http://www.scissormen.com Ted is bringing the music of Son House to the
world, authentic recordings that overflow with sincerity.


22)THE FRANK SINATRA SHOW "High Hopes" with Dean Martin & Bing Crosby
along with Mitzi Gaynor, Jimmy Durante, The Nelson Riddle Orchestra
MVD is finding great stuff in the vaults; 60 minutes, black & white,
but great to watch.

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23)"Earthbound" Lars Eric Mattson (Lion Music, Finland)

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24)TODD ROYCE "Waitin' For You"

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25)ANDRE WARD "FEELIN' YOU" (Orpheus Music)



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26) Abigail Mi Estrella


Review by Joe Viglione

Not to be confused with the Abigail who launched in the '90s with dance covers of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and k.d. lang's "Constant Craving," this Abigail has a smooth Latin sound under the guidance of arrangers Diego Magallanes, Miguel Blanco, Miguel Angel Collado, and Walter Tesoriere. There's a bevy of backing musicians who create moods that range from simple to elaborate, as on "Amor de Locos" (loosely translated, "Love of Crazy People"). This is pure pop, a pleasant voice that may get compared to Gloria Estefan, though the music is not as uptempo as Miami Sound Machine except for a bit of the opening track, "Desde el Acantilado."

full review here:

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fpftxqlsldte

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27)Gays In The Military (Gulcher) 2005




Review by Joe Viglione

Don't let the tacky Peter Bagge cover art or the equally in-your-face band name, Gays in the Military, keep you away from this colliding mess of exciting rock & roll sounds. Imagine the latter-day New York Dolls -- after they learned how to play -- confronting Eno's Portsmouth Sinfonia in a dark alley searching for psychedelic artifacts. Destined for late-night college radio, or maybe Internet stations, there is something here inside the punk rock scratchings of "Beverly Hills Cock Part Two" as well as the ominous "A Message for the Fans (I'm Going to Kill All the Fans)." Even the poorly recorded live take of "Orgy at the Massacre" has a certain spirit and, er, charm amidst the feedback and would-be Johnny Rotten vocals.

for the full review:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520C89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB674B566ADE02CA45A0A9FCBEF5CF9D46C39389D8EDB&sql=10:o74zefrk4gfo


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28)SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR How The First WOman On The Supreme Court Became Its
Most Influential Justice by Joan Biskupic (Harper Collins)

29)Milan Polak "Guitar Odyssey" Advance CD (Lion Music, Finland)

30)Memoirs Of A Moth - Jack Chalfin
http://www.chalfinnovels.com


If there are AMG links, cut and paste into your browser if they are not "live links" on this page.
Many of the reviews of these items have yet to post.
Our main page is http://www.varulven.com Music Business Monthly

Contact:
Rock Journalist Joe Viglione
P.O. Box 2392,
Woburn, MA 01888
recordreview2001@yahoo.com

Top 40 for September

1)HAL LIFSON PRESENTS...
Music For Lonely Housewives (AudioFidelity.net)

Hollywood Records has the Desperate Housewives soundtrack which features new renditions of famous songs, even a bit of Mary Alice (Matrix 3) dialogue. But former manager of Jackie DeShannon follows up his SEX AND THE 60s (Varese Sarabande) with this delicious buffet including the rare version of "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor. Heck, the 5th Dimension did an appearance to promote the disc!

2) "You Just Don't Get Me Do You?" Single from the Jeannie Kendall album,
"All The Girls I Am"
This single went to #1 on the New Music Weekly charts - it's a co-write from
Harriet Schock and Holly Mathis - and it is superb pop. I've let it spin
hundreds of times. Real staying power.

3) "Ever Since" Lesley Gore
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520C89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB67CAB7BAAE02CA45A0A9FC8E454F4D665392DFC93&sql=10:5yf2zfd4eh6k

Fantastic new record from Lesley Gore

http://www.enginecompanyrecords.com/Engine_Company_Reviews.asp?ArtistID=11

LESLEY GORE on ARTISTLAUNCH.com
http://www.artistlaunch.com/artist.asp?artistID=9626
http://www.artistlaunch.com/cdmain_2cat.asp?cdid=1813


4)FERRON Online
http://www.ferrononline.com/discography/beautiful/

5)ANGEL CORPUS CHRISTI  "Louie Louie"
Gulcher Records has released a 12 song tribute to Lou Reed including songs
mostly written by Lou.    http://www.gulcher.gemm.com
Our #1 record for July still on our charts.

6)BAND OF GYPSYS  / Jimi Hendrix/Buddy Miles/Billy Cox
Though I've recently picked up 2 copies of the Polygram German import with the
3 bonus tracks (Stop, Foxy Lady and Hear My Train), MCA has reissued this classic
with a 24 page booklet and John McDermott essay as well as a cool psychdelic
imprint of Jimi in green and purple on the CD.  Sounds great.

7)Approaching The West Pole By Flying Dutch Shoe - Tom Abbott
Tom Abbott is a member of THE WAYOUTZ - a band I've raved about for years.
This album is just superb!

8)Dave Davies TRANSFORMATION (Angel Air)
Huge booklet, awesome disc from Dave - the quality you expect from Angel Air

9)WHACK by WHACK
It's BOBBY EUSTACE of the band PARADE! He's back! WOW.
Incredible disc. Produced by David Minehan & WHACK.

This writer was the first person to produce Bobby Eustace. The song was "Bus", and
the late Jimmy Miller brought the tune to his wife. LISTEN TO THIS he said.
"Jimmy, this is fantastic" the late Gereldine Miller said.
"You like it?" Jimmy asked?
"I LOVE it" Gere said to her husband! Did you produce this?
"You really like it?" Jimmy asked again.
"It's great - where did you get it" Gere replied.
"Oh, it's something Joe Vig produced." Jimmy said with a twinkle in his eye.
His psychotic wife who chased me down the hall with a knife in her hand said "I HATE IT."
HA!

It was fantastic - and so is this!

=================================================================

10)Steven Mark Distraction

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520E89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB670AB7EB0FD2EA45C43D4C0EA57F6D8672D5DF0&sql=10:5uzyxdyb5oly


11)Mama Kangaroos Tribute To Captain Beefheart (Genus Records)

12)No One Like You - James Chiello

13)Thaddeus Hogarth LIVE AT BOSE
What an interesting record! Recorded LIVE AT BOSE! Mountain.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520C89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB67CAB7BAAE02CA45A0A9FC8E453F9D6623D2DFC93&sql=10:8vjweae74xa7

Former songwriter/guitarist/vocalist and general power behind Boston's legendary Heavy Metal Horns, Thaddeus Hogarth brings his creative music to a unique setting on his fourth album, Live At Bose. Recorded on June 24, 2004 at the Bose Live Music Technology Division Performance Center at Bose Mountain, Framingham, Massachusetts, this funk/jazz/pop sounds like a studio recording, which was the general idea. The sonics remind one of 70s classics like George Benson's Weekend In L.A. and Jackson Browne's Running On Empty and feature Hogarth's chromatic harmonica, smooth soulful vocals and boss band, a trio which includes David Buda on bass, David Sparr on keys and drummer Joey Scrima, whose resume includes work with Connie Stevens, David Benoit and British/American singer Jules Ellison.


14)Marilyn Monroe GREATEST HITS REMIXED
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520C89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB67CAB7BAAE02CA45A0A9FC8E453F4D665392DFC93&sql=10:m9vyxdsb5ols

Review

by Joe Viglione

At any given moment one can find five to ten thousand Marilyn Monroe items on eBay, which is more than you may encounter for Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon, though thousands shy of Elvis. So it's no suprise that a dance-mix album featuring the chanteuse would emerge, and though not perfect, Marilyn Monroe Greatest Hits Remixed is a fun listening experience. The "Dreamer Remix" of "Kiss Me" would segue nicely with Esquivel and other purveyors of the space age Lounge set. Ditto for James Hardway's rendition of "Happy Birthday", perhaps the album's most experimental track, and the one that adds something unique and extra to the sparse Monroe audio catalogue. The "Swing Cats Remix" of "Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend" is opportune in that it borrows heavy percussion from Adam Ant's 1983 single "Goody Two Shoes", which itself probably lifted the horn lines from Marilyn's original version of "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" from the 1953 film Gentlement Prefer Blondes. How will it sit with the Marilyn purists? Well -these tracks are entertaining - perhaps because they attempt to balance fresh sounds with the original recordings. "I Wanna Be Loved By You" has pleasant blends of the old and the new - vintage strings encountering synths - a definitely unholy marriage, but one that does amuse. There's lots here to recommend this disc, though "You'd Be Surprised" highlights the drawbacks. The groove here is totally recreated, the effect being that of something barging in rather than playing with the original work. Marilyn gets pushed into the background and the accompaniment starts to clutter, but for the most part Danny B. Harvey, Effcee and James Hardway (nee David Harrow) find a decent balance and do add something to Diva Marilyn's recorded output. "I Wanna Be Loved By You and "A Little Girl From Little Rock" deserve to be heard by new audiences, and find interesting new settings here.

15)THE REMAINS

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520C89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB67CAB7BAAE02CA45A0A9FC9E456FFD664342DFC93&sql=10:im7zefuk4gf2

Review

by Joe Viglione

As authentic a dozen tunes any fan of The Remains could hope for find a niche in the digital grooves of Movin' On, Barry Tashian's distinctive voice picking up where he left off on the groups last full album which was, ah...1966??? Almost forty years in between releases sure beats the two years it took Sly Stone to get a new disc out during his heyday! but it's worth the wait as Vern Miller, Bill Briggs, Chip Damiani and Tashian deliver the goods. "You Never Told Me" and "Over You" could easily slip into The Eagles' repertoire, which is the dilemma for hardcore Remains fans who always wanted their heroes to sustain that launch that culminated in a tour with The Beatles and Bobby Hebb. And God knows The Eagles needed some real competition. "A Man's Best Friend Is His Automobile" showed up on Barry & Holly Tashian's 2002 release At Home and gets The Remains treatment here. Holly Tashian contributes backing vocals to the album, the group also augmented by Daniel Tashian on vocals, percussion and B-3 as well as Angelo on backing vocals, percussion and a co-write on "Don't Tell Me The Truth". Speaking of which, for those who loved "Don't Look Back", the 45 RPM which ended up on the original Nuggets before getting tagged onto the first Remains disc, opening track "Don't Tell Me The Truth" will satisfy their needs. "Listen To Me" is lots of fun as is the album closer, "Time Keeps Movin' On", resplendent in sounds towards the end of the tune that would make Lothar & The Hand People proud, but the standout and potential hit is "Hard To Find (So Easy To Lose)". "The Power Of Love" and "Ramona" both add to the legend, but it's "Hard To Love" which could open up this band to a larger and well deserved audience. As The Zombies tour, sometimes with Pete Best's collection of early Beatles music, the addition of Barry & The Remains would make a potent trio of artists from an era whose popularity will remain perpetual. TheRemains.com is how to find this music if you can't locate it in the usual places.

Bobby Hebb "I received your e mail on The Remains, it's very good. I wish them good luck on that. I'll call Barry later after I talk to you. Peace." Phone call received 9/24/05.
Bobby toured with The Remains and The Beatles - I gave Barry and Bobby each other's phone #s and they played phone tag - but saw each other in a shoe store at the Nashville Airport!

Nancy Neon writes same day, 9/24/05

it was a blast reading all your remains,etc. reviews. i know barry is pissed about the eva bootleg, but that's where i got turned on to the remains-that and "better be good"(Rat album)and a shirt Willie was wearing when I met him(a home made why do i cry? shirt)...

16)Bruce Sudano Rainy Day Soul
Very good Blue Eyed Soul album

17)That's All I Wanna Know Bobby Hebb
Bobby has recorded stacks of albums over the years, but this is only the third one he has chosen to put into
release. He is a perfectionist. I wrote the liner notes. There's my disclaimer. If I didn't write the Liner Notes
this disc would be #1 so there.

18)Livin' In The Moment John Cate
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520E89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB670AB7EB0FD2EA45C43D4C0EA52F6DD672D5DF0&sql=10:abb1z85a5yv3

19)Stacie Rose Shadow & Splendor
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520C89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB67CAB7BAAE02CA45A0A9FC9E457FFD6623A2DFC93&sql=10:k1kqoalaeij9

Review

by Joe Viglione

Three years after her sparkling debut, This Is Mine, Stacie Rose brings an elaborate package to the table that is even more expressive, providing a glimpse of artistic evolution that is most inviting. Thirteen of the fourteen tracks were composed by the singer with the cover of U2's "New Year's Day" the sole outside essay, one now colored by Rose's own special stamp. Taking music that has been overplayed and breathing something new and different into it is never an easy task, the sentiment of "New Year's Day" finding a place alongside strong material like "Unbreakable", which, if covered by anyone in the women's music movement, has the potential to be an anthem. The baker's dozen plus one collection is chock full of hooks and Rose's clever take on life. This is a composer who, in any other time, would obliterate radio with her charm and fresh approach to pop. Along with the close to fifty minutes of music there is also a video of the very k.d. Lang-ish opening tune, "Consider Me", as well as a six minute multi-media track interview with the artist. Veteran Robert L. Smith, who produced, recorded and mixed This Is Mine in 2002, is back - this time co-producing with Stacie. Shadow & Splendor has the feel of a concept album, something different offered track to track while avoiding cliche and keeping the listener's interest. The music here is parallel toTracy Bonham's intricacies, of that world, but not necessarily in it. The mantra chorus of "Knew You" follows the effervescent Indian quasi-psychedelic "Guru", novel musical passages that display sharp creativity. It's a gift Stacie Rose utilizes to full effect. Where many other singer/songwriters also have the insight, sometimes they pull back or get lazy. She avoids the self-indulgence trap by exhibiting a solid work ethic throughout this recording. Everything is well thought out without losing the entertainment factor - think the seriousness of Steely Dan while keeping the pop sensibilities intact. An artful juggling act that takes another twist with CD closer "Back To Life", a lovely melody that recalls (or updates) "Girl From Ipanema" and the gentle Bachman Turner Overdrive near-hit, "Looking Out For #1". A strong effort overflowing with potential.

20)LOU REED LIVE IN SPAIN DVD

21)DEVO DVD

22)GAYS IN THE MILITARY (Gulcher Records)
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:a02tk6dxykrf

23)THE ANIMALS GRATEFULLY DEAD 1964-1968

24)THE ZOMBIES - IN MY MIND A MIRACLE
Colin Blunstone & Rod Argent on a CD single.

25)Jimmy Webb "Twilight Of The Renegades

26)ROSCOE SHELTON DEEP IN MY SOUL
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wqjw7i25g72r


AIM Australia
This CD has 21 songs from the guy who wrote "Pain In My Heart" off
THE ROLLING STONES NOW. It's actually STRAIN ON MY HEART and
The Stones credited it to Neville

27)WHERE IS THE CHESTERFIELD KING DVD

28)The Dick Cavett Show ROCK ICONS

29)THE HUMAN LEAGUE Filmed in Concert at the Dome, Brighton (MVD)

30)BOB DYLAN NO DIRECTION HOME THE SOUNDTRACK (Columbia/Legacy)

31)Kaleidoscope U.K.
"Let The World Wash In", "Medieval Masquerade" and "I Luv Wight"
This cool mini CD 45 on ARCHIVE RECORDS comes with the Japanese re-release.

32)Bobby Womack Soul Seduction Supreme

33)DEVO Double DVD

34)Mike Rivera Mended

35)Ken Selcer Breaking The Glass

36)Jimi Hendrix/Little Richard FRIENDS FROM THE BEGINNING
The good people at AKARMA in Italy put this together. Wonderful cover.
Jimi Hendrix ain't on it! There are four sides with Jimi & Richard, and a live
concert taped by Little Walter - THAT is the real Jimi/Richard album.
BUT this has Little Richard - so check it out!




37)Roscoe Shelton Sings

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:9rb8b5b4nsqe

38)Roscoe Shelton Soul In His Music, Music In His Soul

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hk8gtq8zcu4p

39)Bobby Hebb's SUNNY
http://www.hip-oselect.com/catalogue_hebb.asp

40)Genya Ravan's Urban Desire
http://www.hip-oselect.com/catalogue_ravan.asp

41)Steven Mark Aloneaphobe

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520E89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB670AB7EB0FD2EA45C43D4C0EA57F6D8672D5DF0&sql=10:1vjveaw74xf7

Joe Vig Top 40 for May

1. MOONDOG
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jojweae74xd7

Review

by Joe Viglione

This deluxe double-disc box from Germany's Roof Music contains a collection of Louis Thomas Hardin's music recorded from 1977-1999 entitled The German Years as well as a second disc, The Last Concert, Mimi-Festival 1999. 44 pages of liner notes lovingly put the complex music into as much perspective as possible, though it is up to the listener to diligently explore this creative and unique individual's lifeswork. "High On A Rocky Ledge" could be John Cale in his sixth decade and is a highlight. It, along with "Do Your Thing", "I'm This I'm That" and "Pygmy Pig", culled from 1979's H'art Songs album, one of seven different sources utilized comprising the music on disc 1. The performances are as delightfully diverse as the titles and keeps one's attention as the parade of ideas unfold. "Heimdall Fanfare" is a completely different outing from "Fujiyama 2 (Lovesong)" while "Do Your Thing" could certainly have found some kind of commercial success had some publisher got it into a film soundtrack - or had Janis Joplin lived long enough to cover more of Moondog's compositions. The concert on disc 2 flows seamlessly from disc 1 and is so perfect it sounds like a studio recording except for the applause. Performed on August 1, 1999, five weeks before his passing on September 8th, it is an amazing "bookend" to this compilation. Berthold Klostermann's 13 page biography is combined with a chronology, six pages on the music from CD1, Moondog discussing his work as well as other essays on the pages inside making this a real treasure chest of photographs and information. The detailed liners along with the two hours plus of listening housed in a beautiful hard cardboard package make for an extraordinary work of art.

Releases

Year Type Label Catalog # 2004 CD Roof 2433221

2)Death By Fame


3)Blackasia Volume 1

4)Satch Kerans


5)Strawberry Letter #23 Johnson Brothers DVD

6)Holcombe Waller

7)Geography

8)Tokyo Tramps

9)Tommy James SWEET CHERRY WINE

http://shop.mtv.com/Hold-the-Fire-Pop_stcVVproductId5222216VVcatId421046VVviewprod.htm


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Top 40 for April

1)Prince Of Darkness - Ozzy Osborne (Epic)
"All The Young Dudes" Ozzy & Ian Hunter
(See Review below)

2)Jim Morrison - author Stephen Davis (Gotham Books)
(taped for Visual Radio April 7, 2005)

3)Ian Hunter's Strings Attached DVD (Sanctuary)
Give a listen to "23A Swan Hill"
"You ain't beautiful/and I don't fancy you".

4)Hal Lifson's Sex And The '60s
Jackie DeShannon's former manager compiles an
amazing selection of 60's music - the original 45
of Shirley Bassey's GOLDFINGER, The Bob Crewe
Generation's "Barbarella" (which is actually Moogy
Klingman's Glitterhouse in disguise!)

5)"A Natural Man" - Ron Sunshine
Ron performs in NY at The Rainbow at Rockefeller
Plaza. His rendition of Bobby Hebb's classic is
tremendous

6)This Land Is Jeffland - Jeff Mastroberti
The second spoken word CD from Jeffland.

7)Kaleidoscope: The Sidekicks Sessions 1964-1967
Alchemy Entertainment's release of Kaleidoscope's
acetates is brilliant.

8)Jimi Hendrix THE RAINBOW BRIDGE CONCERT
This double CD has been stuck in my computer -
though I have had the yellow vinyl Maui vinyl
disc from 1971 or so the concert in its entirety is
an absolute treasure.

9)Hubert Sumlin About Them Shoes

The great Rob Fraboni has produced a classic blues
album with help from Blondie "Sail On Sailor" Chaplin,
David Johansen, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards
Levon Helm and, oh yes, Hubert Sumlin! Hopefully this
disc will put Hubert in the spotlight where he
belongs.


10)Sweet Cherry Wine - Tommy James
This CD Single is Tommy James with The Kootz.
The song was in pre-production for the forthcoming
COUNT album - no kidding - because of the "war"
in Iraq. Great minds think alike - Tommy hits
a home run with one of his finest tunes.

11)Legends Of Winter Hill - Jay Atkinson (Crown Books)
This book talks about the good guys

12)Rainy Day Soul - Bruce Sudano
"Eagle In The Sky" - terrific!

Bruce Sudano was in Brooklyn Dreams who hit with
Donna Summer (his wife) on "Heaven Knows".
He also co-wrote another of my all-time favorite
Tommy James tunes - "Ball Of Fire", and was
produced by Tommy for Alive 'n' Kicking's
sublime "Tighter Tighter".
http://www.brucesudano.com



13)Steven Mark DISTRACTION
http://www.stevenmarkmusic.com Great stuff.

14)Not So Much To Be Loved As To Love -
Jonathan Richman

15)Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings - Just For A Thrill
Jimmy Miller would be proud!

-----------------------------------------------------

Title: Prince Of Darkness

Artist: Osbourne, Ozzy

Label: Epic

Catalog# E4K 92960


Reissue producer Bruce Dickinson (not to be confused
with the Bruce Dickinson who sings lead for Iron
Maiden and appeared with Godspeed on the Nativity In
Black tribute) had compiled a totally different boxed
set for {$Ozzy Osbourne}, one which debated including
the great song "Bombers" -one of two tracks the Oz
recorded for Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward's solo
disc - "Ward One Along The Way". The compilation
originally proposed also would have included Black
Sabbath material and more rarities, but they opted for
what is now known as the {^Prince Of Darkness} 4 cd
collection - a marvelous retrospective chock full of
familiar tunes from Osbourne's catalog as well as a
disc of duets and a disc of covers. For those who
already have the music from the albums Tribute,
Blizzard Of Oz, Diary Of A Madman, The Ultimate Sin,
Bark At The Moon, No More Tears, No Rest For The
Wicked and Ozzmosis there are the obligatory (and
welcome) B sides, demos and even live takes from The
Ultimate Ozzy video. That material is spread over two
discs while the third and fourth compile an amazing
amalgam of familiar tunes that have the stamp of Oz's
distinctive vocal style and sound. It is impossible
to duplicate The Crazy World of Arthur Brown's
wonderfully manic "Fire", though Brown's drummer, Carl
Palmer, gave a very sterile remake on The Return of
The Manticore boxed set from Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
Status Quo's "Picture's Of Matchstick Men" and the
Jimi Hendrix classic "Purple Haze" seem like perfect
choices for the man whose version of Crow's 1969
classic "Evil Woman" was one of the few chances fans
got to hear of Ozzy decimating Top 40 fare. Though the
duets with Miss Piggy on "Born To Be Wild" and Dweezil
Zappa on The Bee Gees' "Stayin Alive" are hokey
parodies the rendition of "All The Young Dudes" is
stunningly masterful. It demands one crank the
speakers to 11, even if you're an original Sab fan now
over 50 and not prone to dancing around the room
anymore. Ian Hunter's contributions are a sheer
delight - the perfect foil to Ozzy racing "the cat" to
bed. Simply stunning, especially the new arrangement
bringing the T Rex verse back for a reprise. And if
you thought Mississippi Queen and For What It's Worth
should be put out to pasture, Oz somehow found a way
to reinvent them
(keeping Leslie West involved with a guitar solo!)
This is Ozzy Osbourne having a blast, not being
mistaken for Mike Osborne of The Magic Lanterns -
playing their one hit- "Shame Shame", or his alleged
reincarnation (Mike's, not Ozzy's) as "Oz Osborne" of
Coven with their hit "One Tin Soldier"(or the fact
that they also recorded a track called "Black Sabbath"
about a black mass). Maybe the real Oz should've done
songs from those two bands to really confuse people -
urban legend (and eBay) continuing to perpetuate the
myth. "Sympathy For The Devil" has menacing
guitarwork, something legendary producer Jimmy Miller
would've certainly enjoyed. His wife was aghast when
she heard this writer play Brian Ferry's cover of The
Rolling Stones classic. King Crimson's "21st Century
Schizoid Man" is custom made for Ozzy, as is John
Lennon's "Working Class Hero", all superb renditions.
The production work from Ringo Starr producer Mark
Hudson (of The Hudson Brothers) is stellar, a
treatment of
The Animals' "Good Times" proving Ozzy's pop
sensibilities are perfectly on target decades after he
helped define heavy metal. Contributions from Sarah
Hudson, Mark's daughter, and engineer Dave Frangioni
are noteworthy, as is the 40 page booklet describing
all the goodies inside.

16)Essential Kerry Kearney Band

17)Jimi Hendrix Isle Of Wight DVD
This is the original release, now on DVD. The same concert you'll find on
Blue Wild Angel, but different camera angles and selections.

18)Muller & Patton "Life Preserver" Track 6
The Hudson Brothers of 2005 - this stuff is phenomenal!
Great pop music that The Rutles, Oasis, Klaatu, and others hinted at!

19)Nature - Dave's True Story
Exquisite jazz played to perfection - drove around for days with this in the
car stereo

20)Dance To The Music - Remix Sly & The Family Stone
from Club Epic: A Collection Of Classic Dance Mixes Vol. 3

21)Blackasia Volume 1

22)Mirage - John Kalishes
The late John Kalishes was known as "Little Leslie West" in the Boston Rock
scene of the 1970s. His brother, Vin, sent "Mirage", the final disc from
the lead guitarist of the band SUSAN, and music director of The Ben Orr Band.

23)Mountain - Eruption
Recorded Live in New York (Disc 1) and live in Europe (Disc 2)
2 versions of Nantucket Sleighride, Theme From An Imaginary Western,
Mississippi Queen - Leslie is back.

24)Holcombe Waller - Troubled Times

25)Ray Cepeda - The Neo Maya Experience

26)Professor Louie & The Crowmatic - Century Of The Blues

27)Tim Burgess - I Believe

28)Moondog - The German Years 1977-1999 (Trocadero Records)

29)Geography Life In B1nary
Punk Lives! http://www.pittpunk.com/punk_article-38-thread-0-0.html

30)The Many Sides of Chris Campbell
Produced by the great Jerry Ross of Keith, Bobby Hebb, Spanky & Our Gang fame

31)El Matrimonio del Sol y Luna Ray Cepeda
Ray does Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" en espanol!

32)Standing In The Shadows Of Motown

33)Joe Stump - Speed Metal Messiah - Lion Music

34)Gypsy Blood - Jimi Hendrix Tribute
Mark Doyle of Andy Pratt fame.

35)Spencer Davis Group Live In Manchester 2002 Angel Aire

36)Michael Falzarano - The King James Sessions

37)Tim Booth

38)BILLY JOEL: The Life & Times Of An Angry Young Man - Hank Bordowitz
Finally, a book that will drive you to drink and send you to detox, where you
can actually meet the star that drove you there - if he hasn't smashed into
the Bette Ford Clinic with his Porsche.

Billboard Books

39)After All - Janie Cribbs

40)Carole King - The Early Years
Picked it up on eBay - it's tremendous.


Check out this website with THE FIFTH ESTATE on it!
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/7280/lstcls6.html

March 2005 Joe Vig's Top 40

Welcome to Joe Vig's Top 40 for March 2005. This is a collection of books, music, movies and other cultural artifacts that come across my desk.



1)"Roll Away The Stone" from Strings Attached
Artist: Ian Hunter

One of my favorite Mott The Hoople tunes returns in a glorious new rendition, a superb song of resurrection, regeneration and re-birth!

2)"Consider Me" from the album Shadow & Splendor
Artist: Stacie Rose

Stacie is immense. 2002's THIS IS MINE is a hard record for anyone to top. The artist makes strategic moves and evolves with strong songs and performance. Here's my previous review of
This Is Mine

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520C89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB676AB70B0FD2EA45F43D2CBE452F8D662342DED93&sql=10:llf8zfs3eh6k~T1


3"Buy Me A Rainbow" 3:30 from the album UNADORNED 2005
Artist: Lisa Burns

Check out my review of her self-titled 1978 album
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520C89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB676AB70B0FD2EA45F43D2CBE453F9D665382DED93&sql=10:nxkmu3rgan2k~T1



4)"Love" from the album LOVE IS A VERY GOOD THING
Artist: Jules Ellison

Fabulous re-make of John Lennon's song from PLASTIC ONO BAND. Fender Rhodes with the "I Am The Walrus" riff and a tremendous reading from Jules.

5)If You Knew" from the album "It Might As Well Be Now"
Artist: Thaddeus Hogarth

5b)"Inner City Fantasy" - wonderful track - for those who miss Sly Stone's innovative vocals, check out Thaddeus.

Funky pop with crystal clear production.

6)"Here Comes Your Boyfriend" time 4:21
Artist: The Buckners Written by Luke McInnis

7)Sharon DiFronzo

8)"Continental Drift" from the album "I Know What You're Made Of"
Artist: P.J. Shapiro

9)"Light Of The Moon"
title track from "Light Of The Moon" CD Video on DVD "Light Of The Moon"

R.I.P. Jack Stock. We received his DVD for this tune "Light Of The Moon" a couple of weeks before Mr. Stock's tragic passing.

10)"Diamonds Are A Girls' Best Friend" Swing Cats Remix (Hypnotic Records)
Artist: Marilyn Monroe from the album Marilny Monroe's Greatest Hits Remixed

11)3 song Demo
Artist: Elephant House

12)"For Better or For Worse"
Artist: Averi

13)"Discovered"
Artist: Kinnie Starr

14)Are You My God
Artist: Arms Of Kismet

15) High X 3
Artist: John Cate

16) "Off My Feet" from the album INDIGO ROSE
Artist: Mary Gatchell

Produced by Peter Calo, this is a fantastic song about what someone needs in a potential life partner.

17) "Worn Around The Edges" from "All The Girls I Am"
Artist Jeannie Kendall

Jeannie Kendall records a Harriet Schock nugget, and does an excellent job with it.

18)"Troubled Times" from the CD "Troubled Times"
Artist: Holcombe Waller

19) Bound For Glory
Artist: Tokyo Tramps from the album Bound For Glory

20)"Don't You Care" from the album ALICE CLARK
Artist: Alice Clark

A classic written by Bobby Hebb, this CD is a re-release of the classic Mainstream album from the early 1970s. It is the only known version of Hebb's composition currently available. Even the publishing demos seem lost! A treasure.

21)"Back In The Day" from Cosmic Troubadour
Artist: Billy Sheehan

Check out my review of the full album from http://www.allmusic.com
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520C89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB676AB70B0FD2EA45F43D2CBE455FCD6673E2DED93&sql=10:9jbsa9lge230~T1


22)"Who Is This Guy"? from the CD Will Hunt (ex Angry Young Bees)
Artist: Will Hunt

23)"Waiting Here For You" from the CD Mended
Artist: Mike Rivera

An elegant folk tune with breathy guitar and piano and a nice vocal urgency.

24) Book: What's A Parent To Do: Straight Talk On Drugs And Alcohol
Author: Dr. Henry David Abraham

Nobel Peace Prize winner is right on in regards to keeping your kids off drugs.
Upcoming guest on http://www.visual-radio.net

25)"Hell Tonite" from the album HELL TONITE
Artist: Thundertrain

26)BOOK: Wrestle Radio U.S.A. Grapplers Speak
Authors: Ed Symkus & Vinnie Carolan

Ed Symkus is known as a rock music critic for The Boston Tab. He has a double life - having hosted a wrestling radio program Wrestle Radio U.S.A. - now in book form from
http://www.ecwpress.com

27)Book: John F. Kennedy: His Life & Legacy
Author: Shelley Sommer