THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 311 of 491)

FRANKIE & THE KNOCKOUTS – Below The Belt

March 28, 2022 /

This is an obscure piece of melodic AOR from ’82. Hailing from New Jersey, and led by frontman Frankie Previte, they had a knack for writing some catchy pop/rock tunes. They only released three albums from ’81 to ’84, and they were gone. They had some chart success as they had a top ten hit with the song Sweetheart from the first album, and the ballad Without You from this album.

Opening track, Never Had It Better, is pure American radio rock and a great little tune, as is Keep On Fighting, which has a great chorus and superb harmonies. After the band broke up they released original versions of two songs, Hungry Eyes and I’ve Had The Time Of My Life – both featured in the movie Dirty Dancing and they won Frankie Previte an academy award.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SCORPIONS – Virgin Killer

March 28, 2022 /

Ah…The Scorpions – kings of dodgy album covers, strange lyrics, and suspect album titles. Someone obviously thought this was a sure fire way to gain publicity.

This album came out in ’76 and this version is the Audio Fidelity remastered edition – I have to say it sounds pretty good. I’m a big Uli Roth fan and it was because of Uli that I got into the band – I think it was on this tour that I first saw the band. Other than Klaus’ vocals, you would be hard pushed to recognize the band from what they are today.

The songs are decent enough and they played a lot of them live (just listen to Tokyo Tapes), but it’s Uli that steals the show. His solos are sharp, concise, and to the point, and he plays with so much feel. The title track is the best on the album, it’s a great rocking tune with killer guitar. The intro to Hell Cat is superb – a very Hendrix inspired sound and groove – the only thing wrong is they let Uli sing. His voice isn’t the best that’s for sure, but I can let that slide with playing that good. They actually let him sing in two tracks as Polar Nights has his vocal, and he is in full on Hendrix mode. Superb playing!

I love this period of the band so I’m a bit biased.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

RIVAL SONS – Feral Roots

March 26, 2022 /

It’s hard to believe it, but these original retro rockers released their first album in 2009, and this is album number six. They seem to hit the right spot between blues, rock, and groove for me that sets them above the rest of the copyists – and in Jay Buchanan they have one hell of a frontman with a great set of pipes.

The lead off track, Do Your Worst, was released as the first single and is a total banger. Sugar On The Bone has an old school blues swagger vibe with a killer vocal and really grooves along. The title track is an epic slow piece that reminds me of all the bands from the southern US in the seventies – it has such a great vibe. Too Bad is my favourite track on the record and one of their best – it has so much feeling and is such a powerful piece. Stood By Me has that Sticky Fingers feel with the groove and the vocal is epic. Imperial Joy is old school rocked up R&B. The big surprise for me on the album is The End Of Forever with the electronic intro before the most monster of riffs takes over. This track really swings. This band just get better and better.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

ALDO NOVA – Twitch

March 26, 2022 /

This is the third album by guitarist/songwriter/producer Aldo Nova , and was released in ’85. After having scored major success with his first album (and the hit single from it, Fantasy), the follow up album, Subject, didn’t do quite as well (even though I think it’s the best). So when it came to this album, the record company interfered big time and old Aldo was not pleased. There were two singles off the album that did ok, Rumours Of You, and Tonite, but Aldo would disappear after this for 6 years until his contact ended.

This album is very AOR and relies too heavily on syrupy ballads, but there are still rockin’ moments like on If Looks Could Kill, which has a great riff and cool chorus, Fallen Angel, which reminds me of Fantasy from the first album, and the Def Leppard sounding track Lay Your Love On Me. There are moments when Aldo shows what a great player he is, and the title track is a quirky electronic piece with him ripping over the top.

It’s not a bad album and it some great moments, but if the record company hadn’t interfered it would have been a whole lot better.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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