THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: vinyl records (Page 429 of 491)

ROBERT JOHNSON – Close Personal Friend

May 22, 2021 /

What we have here peeps, is a power pop masterpiece by a guy who you have probably never heard of. Robert Johnson was a big session guy in and around the Memphis scene in the seventies, and he was actually auditioned by the Rolling Stones as a replacement for Mick Taylor. He grew up listening to old RnB and rockabilly records and that comes across here, but with a heavy dose of pop.

This album is just a good fun record that’s full of energy, and really well written self penned songs. Opening track, I’ll Be Waiting, is a power pop masterpiece and shows how good Johnson is as a stand alone guitar player. Wish Upon A Star is another catchy seventies pop song with one of those earworm choruses. All you have here is just a three piece making all the noise and harmonies. It is very old school in its approach, but it works great. Responsibility has the ZZ Top Gimme All Your Loving beat as an intro (before they did it may I add), and is one of my favourites on the album. Wreck My Mind is pure Buddy Holly on speed and would give the Ramones a run for the money. Last track, Tell Me About It Slim, is another contender for best track with its fast played riff and up-tempo groove.

Apparently he released a new album in 2019 called I’m Alive, so he is still out there giving it a shot. For the fun value alone, it gets a 7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION – Champagne Jam

May 21, 2021 /

Formed back in ’71, this is a mid-period release from ’78. Not as famous as other southern rock bands, mainly because they didn’t travel much outside of the US, and they had a softer approach – compared to say the Allman’s and Skynyrd. This album includes the top ten single, Imaginary Lover.

Things start off brightly with the up-tempo Large Time, which shows off the twin guitar attack of Barry Bailey and JR Cobb. I’m Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight is slower in pace and is a decent tune. Then ballad city rolls in with Normal Love, which is super syrupy and meh. Side 1 close out track is the title track – the best track on the album. It has a great southern swagger and groove and is almost a shuffle. A soft rock gem.

Side 2 has the aforementioned single, Imaginary Lover, and it’s very Fleetwood Mac in its execution. Next up is The Ballad Of Lois Malone and is as southern sounding as it gets with that hint of country. The Great Escape and Evileen are what you would call yacht rock and end the album on a bit of a whimper.

Earlier albums had a lot more edge and groove to them. It’s an ok record and not a bad album for sure, but it does sound very dated.

6/10 from The Grooveman.

ALAN HOLDSWORTH – Road Games

May 21, 2021 /

Considered by many as the guitarist’s guitarist, Holdsworth is one of the true innovators of the instrument. Acknowledged for his use of advanced musical theory in stretching the possibilities of melody and harmony by using weird and wonderful chord progressions. Eddie Van Halen is name checked in the credits, and I’m sure it’s because of Ed that Ted Templeman is an executive producer.

This basically is an extended EP, and with only has six tracks, it clocks in under 25 minutes. This is one for the muso’s amongst you as there aren’t many real time songs, although, the title track Road Games has a normal song structure with lyrics and everything, and the track Was There (which has the amazing Jack Bruce on vocals) is the best track on the album. There is no doubt that Holdsworth was an incredible player, and his playing here is exceptional. Ably accompanied by the amazing Jeff Berlin on bass, and Chad Wackerman on drums, this album is for jazz fusion aficionados and for the curious.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

BLACK N BLUE – Nasty Nasty

May 20, 2021 /

These guys were hot for about four years – from ’84 to ’88 – and then they were gone. This was also Kiss guitarist, Tommy Thayer’s, original place of work, and Simmons did produce this album. This is the third studio album, and in my opinion, their best. The production is huge and the album sounds massive.

Opening track, Nasty Nasty, is a superb opening track, it rocks hard and everything is in your face. I Want It All (I Want It Now) should have been a single as it’s a super commercial track with a rather catchy sing-a-long chorus. Does She Or Doesn’t She follows and this is full on American party rock with a killer riff and groove. Side 1 closes out with Kiss Of Death with a great opening riff and is as metal as this album gets – a superb track.

Side 2 starts with 12 o’clock High with the huge voice of Jaime St James – it’s another anthem rocker and the guitars sound HUGE! Do What You Wanna Do is next up, and the pedal goes to the metal with this one with its big sing-a-long chorus, and a killer breakdown. These guys should have been huge! I’ll Be There For You is the only track not produced by Simmons as it’s done by Journey’s Jonathan Cain…you know what’s coming right? Ballad city! YAWN! This album is so good it didn’t need a cash in tune like this. Rules is next and thankfully we’re back to the big rock tunes. Last track is Best In The West, and its a huge stomper of a tune and reminds me of AC/DC.

It’s easy to see why Simmons wanted Tommy Thayer in Kiss as he’s tailor made for them. It’s just a shame they don’t write much with him. They lose half a mark for the ballad.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

« Older posts Newer posts »

Archives

© 2026 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑