John Mellencamp - On the Rural Route 7609 CD

On the Rural Route 7609 album for sale After working his way through loss and chaos on the brilliant TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT (recorded in 1973, but not released until 1975), Neil Young deftly exorcised any lingering demons with 1974's ON THE BEACH. The album opens with the saunter of the aptly titled "Walk On," followed by the utterly gorgeous, Wurlitzer-tinged "See the Sky about to Rain." The set also features a trio of scathing songs--"Revolution Blues," "Vampire Blues," and "Ambulance Blues"--that address issues important to Young, both social and personal. It is good to hear Young back with such bite and vitriol, especially after the broken desperation of TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT. But while ON THE BEACH is edgy and deeply felt, it also manages to sound liberating and relaxed, with glimmers of hope and humor peeking through the spare, evocative arrangements. Inexplicably unreleased on CD until 2003, ON THE BEACH is both unflinching and resilient, and easily stands as one of Young's finest albums. Recording information: Broken Arrow Studios, San Francisco, CA; Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, CA. Photographer: Bob Seidemann. Guests:Graham Nash/Rick Danko/ David Crosby/Levon Helm Personnel: Neil Young (vocals, guitar, banjo, harmonica, Wurlitzer organ); Neil Young (Wurlitzer piano); Ben Keith (vocals, guitar, slide guitar, steel guitar, dobro, Wurlitzer piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ, drums, background vocals); Graham Nash (vocals, Wurlitzer piano, Wurlitzer organ); Ralph Molina (vocals, drums, background vocals); Tim Drummond (bass instrument, drums, percussion); Rick Danko, Billy Talbot (bass instrument); David Crosby (vocals, guitar); Rusty Kershaw (guitar, slide guitar, violin, fiddle); George Whitsell (guitar); Joe Yankee (harp, tambourine); Levon Helm (drums). Liner Note Author: Rusty Kershaw.

On the Rural Route 7609 CD music When Jon Anderson rejoined Yes after DRAMA, he was inserting himself into an unusual situation. Keyboardist Geoff Downes and longtime guitarist Steve Howe had left to form Asia with prog rock vets John Wetton (King Crimson, Roxy Music etc.) and Carl Palmer (ELP). Chris Squire and Alan White brought original Yes keysman Tony Kaye back and recruited vibrant young Australian guitarist/vocalist/composer Trevor Rabin. The quartet had already begun writing and recording, but Anderson was able to insert himself into the proceedings with such ease that the new combination sounds completely natural on 90125. Mostly, the band was concerned with trimming the musical fat to keep pace with the onslaught of the 1980s. Thus, tracks like "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and "City of Love" are full of samples, splices and almost funky beats and riffs. The unusual time changes and complex riffs of tunes like "Changes" and "Cinema" leave little doubt that this is still a Yes album, but the band succeeds in giving their sound a contemporary overhaul on 90125. Includes 6 bonus tracks. Additional Tracks Recorded at Sarm Studio, London, England. Originally released on Atco (90125). Yes: Jon Anderson (vocals); Trevor Rabin (guitar, keyboards, background vocals); Tony Kaye (keyboards); Chris Squire (bass, background vocals); Alan White (drums, percussion, background vocals). Personnel: Trevor Rabin (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Chris Squire (vocals, bass guitar); Jon Anderson (vocals); Tony Kaye (keyboards); Johnathon J. Jeczalik (keyboard programming). Audio Remasterer: Dan Hersch. Audio Remixer: Steve Lipson. Recording information: Air Studios, London, England (1983); Sarm Studios, London, England (1983); Sunpark Studios, London, England (1983). Additional personnel: Jonathan Jeczalik, Dave Lawson (programming).

On the Rural Route 7609 buy CD music Given his place in the pantheon of American rock music, Gregg Allman's solo career away from the Allman Brothers Band has been generally disappointing. Perhaps that's why it took nearly a decade between his previous album, 1997's Searching for Simplicity (its title alone indicates his frustrations) and 1988's over-produced yet underwhelming Just Before the Bullets Fly. A whopping 14 years later, Allman joins forces with roots producer to the stars T-Bone Burnett, hoping that some of the latter's mojo can rub off on a singer who is one of the great white soul and blues vocalists in rock music. For the most part it does, as the duo choose 11 relatively obscure covers from classic artists such as Bobby "Blue" Bland, Junior Wells, and B.B. King that have clearly influenced Allman's musical approach. The backing is organic but far from stripped-down with horns, multiple guitars, and even background vocalists supporting the singer's patented crusty growl. From the opening raw thump of the ominous Sleepy John Estes' "Floating Bridge" to a peppy yet intense take on Muddy Waters' "I Can't be Satisfied" and a fiery reworking of Magic Sam's "My Love Is Your Love," Allman sounds invested and inspired by this material and his musical surroundings. Veterans such as Dr. John (credited here with his real name, Mac Rebennack), Doyle Bramhall II, and Burnett's often used rhythm section of drummer Jay Bellerose and Dennis Crouch on bass keep a taut yet easygoing lock on the groove. That's particularly evident on the predominantly acoustic version of Skip James' "Devil Got My Woman." The horns that appear on five tunes never overpower the sound yet help propel Allman's soul-searing performance of Bland's "Blind Man." Ditto for Otis Rush's slow blues "Checking on My Baby," which brings the vocalist back to his "Stormy Monday"-styled beginnings. One original co-written with Allman Brothers Band guitarist Warren Haynes, "Just Another Rider," while not a terrible song, pales in comparison with the rest of the material and could have been saved for the next Brothers album, where it might make a better fit. Allman is credited with B-3 on the majority of the tunes, but his contributions are generally mixed so low as to be nearly inaudible. His organ can be heard on a low-down run-through of Amos Milburn's "Tears, Tears, Tears" that captures a sweet, jazzy noir West Coast blues. It adds up to Allman's best and surely most focused and cohesive solo release, and one where the template can hopefully be repeated in less time than it took this to appear. ~ Hal Horowitz Audio Mixer: Mike Piersante. Recording information: Village Recorder, Los Angeles, CA. Editors: Emile Kelman; Jason Wormer. Photographer: Danny Clinch.

On the Rural Route 7609 songs John Cougar and the American listening public became inseparable after this landmark album arrived in 1982. While AMERICAN FOOL wasn't John Cougar's first full-length recording, it was the one wherein he gained commercial and artistic footing, and established a formula that would become his trademark style--simple roots-rock melodies with stirring choruses, unguardedly emotional vocals, and lyrics that reflect the experiences of the common man. Album opener "Hurts So Good" is a playful rocker (with a dangerously catchy refrain) that has become part of the pop canon, and "Jack & Diane" is one of the great slice-of-life songs of the '80s. While both songs loom large, other overlooked treasures include "China Girl," with its cheeky faux-Chinese guitar riff, and the ballad "Weakest Moments," which blends transcendent acoustic-guitar changes with a gorgeous, careworn melody. Here and elsewhere on this well-written record, Cougar proves he's nobody's fool. Recording information: Cherokee (1981-1982); Criteria Studios (1981-1982). Photographer: Jürgen Vollmer. Personnel: John Cougar (vocals, guitar); Larry Crane, Mike Wanchic (guitar); George "Chocolate" Perry (bass); Ken Aronoff (drums). Personnel: John Cougar; Larry Crane , Mike Wanchic (guitar); Kenny Aronoff (drums); George "Chocolate" Perry.

On the Rural Route 7609 album for sale John Mellencamp's newest album reunites him with producer T-Bone Burnett, who helmed Mellencamp's Life Death Love and Freedom release from 2008. Recorded quickly at various musically historic spots in the south between tour dates, No Better Than This has a refreshing immediacy. Liner Note Author: T-Bone Burnett. Recording information: First African Baptist Church, Savannah; Gunter Hotel, San Antonio; Sun Studio, Memphis. Personnel: John Mellencamp (vocals, acoustic guitar); Andy York, T-Bone Burnett (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Marc Ribot (electric guitar, banjo); Miriam Sturm (violin); Jay Bellerose (drums, percussion). Producers: John Mellencamp; T-Bone Burnett.

On the Rural Route 7609 CD music A Chinese weepie about a Mainland man torn between two loves in his life. This deluxe DVD/2 CD version of their album also includes 20 rare and unreleased tracks from the band's vaults along with a DVD of music videos and live performances.