REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: October 21, 2024

JIMMY BARNES – Freight Train Heart

Any peeps from Australia and New Zealand will be more than familiar with the voice of Jimmy Barnes, as Cold Chisel were heroes down under. Of his solo albums, this is his best effort and he is joined by an amazing bunch of muso’s to help him along. The record company gave Jimmy the big push with this one. Mike Stone produced most of the record however, Desmond Child did his thing on two tracks. Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Randy Jackson, Huey Lewis, and Joe Lynn Turner all appear, so no expense was spared.

I’m not sure if anybody has ever called Jimmy Barnes smooth, but this record is a very slick and smooth sounding record with a killer blues tone to the proceedings. There is not a bad moment on the whole record if we are being honest, but as usual it’s the more up tempo rockin’ tracks that do it for me and Lessons In Love is one of the best melodic rock tracks you will ever hear. Not only does Jimmy sing his ass off but Neal Schon lays down the perfect guitar accompaniment and has you wishing they had held back on the fade out.

So many good songs on one record should be a criminal offence, and why Barnes never reached mega status is a massive head scratcher for me. Every wannabe vocalist should listen to this to see how it’s done. Great record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

CARR JAM – 21

So, what’s this all about then? This is the fourth instalment of a series of charitable releases in tribute to the late great Eric Carr of Kiss. Most of the musicians taking part are Swedish and the production is top drawer.

The EP is all covers of Kiss released tunes. In fact, the first track Eyes Of Love has Eric himself on vocals. Killer tune with a great swing to the groove and the hook and chorus are infectious. Love Her All I Can is next up, a Paul Stanley tune and it sounds killer. Can You Feel It rolls on in and it’s a tune written by Eric and Bruce Kulick that has Wig Wam’s Age Stan Nilsen on vocals. Another Ace tune gets an airing next with Snow Blind and Dregen on the box does a good Ace impression. The EP closes out with I’ve Had Enough (Into The Fire) with Mats Levin on vocals, and I would say this is my favourite cover of the bunch.

Records like this are so often train wreck material but this is rather good with a decent production.

8/10 from The Grooveman.