Accept - Stalingrad CD

Stalingrad CD music A devastating head-on collision between American and British rock influences -- a true supergroup that delivers a titanic rock experience greater than the sum of its supremely talented parts. The brainchild of producer Kevin Shirley, the band combines the rock lineage and forces of legendary frontman and bass guitarist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Trapeze), master blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, powerhouse drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper). Named after the industrial area in Britain where both Hughes and Bonham were born and raised, Recording information: Germano Studios, NY; Shangri-La Studios, Mailbu, CA; The Cave, Malibu, CA. Editor: Brett Diaz. Illustrator: Dennis Friel. Photographers: Christie Goodwin; Marty Temme; Rick Gould; Chris Callaway. Supergroup fever: catch it! 2009 was an especially kind year for these ego-busting entities, spawning Them Crooked Vultures (Josh Homme, John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl) and Chickenfoot (Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, and Chad Smith) in the hard rock category alone. So it was no surprise when 2010 brought us Black Country Communion (courtesy of mega-producer and matchmaker to the stars, Kevin Shirley), which blended the legendary talents of bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes, guitarist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham, and keyboardist Derek Sherinian. Not surprisingly, the quartet's eponymous debut album was generally drooled over upon delivery, but for once, the media hype was largely justified by the music, which successfully set out to modernize the vintage Deep Purple template on the strength of former Mark III member Hughes' signature power-soul voice and the necessary Hammond organ sound replicated here by Sherinian. OK, so listeners who were unaware of bluesman Bonamassa's longtime affinity for `70s rock dinosaurs of Purple's ilk (look up his debut album for a devastating cover of Jethro Tull's "A New Day Yesterday") couldn't have known how well suited he too was to the task at hand; but it goes without saying that Bonham's unimpeachable classic rock DNA would provide a perfect foundation for all this. So with all of the ingredients set, the only thing that could possibly derail this coal-burning iron horse of a band was that all-too-common supergroup affliction: no songs -- never mind enough chemistry -- for the whole to equal the sum of its parts. But Black Country Communion actually delivers the goods for much of this album, including the infectious one-two punch of "Black Country" (a threat) and "One Last Soul" (a promise), the believably desperate "Down Again" (featuring a hair-raising vocal from Hughes), and the best of many epics, "Song of Yesterday," which contrasts a soft instrumental touch against Led Zeppelin-sized bombast. Elsewhere, a cover of Trapeze's "Medusa" brings it all back to the beginning for Hughes; the overcast mid-section of "The Revolution in Me" gives Sherinian some room to roam; and Bonamassa's solos show equal doses of tasteful restraint ("The Great Divide") and boastful abandon ("Beggerman") throughout, leaving just a few songs lost in the shuffle (even though the out-of-sorts, AC/DC-gone-Sunset Strip of "Sista Jane" is impossible to ignore). In short, to the relief of fans of all four participants, Black Country Communion's debut takes the dread out of the supergroup equation, at least until 2011 mints the next strain of virulent celebrity get-togethers, once again testing the wisdom behind this recurring phenomenon. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia Personnel: Joe Bonamassa (vocals, guitar); Patrick D'Arcy (whistle, Uilleann pipe); Derek Sherinian (keyboards); Jason Bonham (drums). Audio Mixer: Kevin Shirley.

Stalingrad album for sale If you played in a hard rock band during the '70s, what were you likely to be doing circa 1978? Why, recording a live album, of course. Preferably a double vinyl set, and in Japan to boot. The Scorpions were no exception, and in fact, their Tokyo Tapes were captured only days after Cheap Trick's At Budokan in April 1978. Though hardly as inspired or successful, the Tokyo Tapes set still serves as an ideal greatest-hits collection of the Scorpions' first decade. This recording also showcases the spectacular playing (and occasionally, the dreadful singing) of guitarist Uli Jon Roth, who would soon leave the band for a misguided solo career, but displays some jaw-dropping technique here, most notably on the epic "We'll Burn the Sky." The rest of the band also puts in competent performances on such early standards as "In Trance," "Fly to the Rainbow," and "Speedy's Coming." The material on disc one is consistently strong, and though a number of pointless covers ("Houng Dog," "Long Tall Sally") and that most dreaded concert spectacle -- the drum solo -- break the flow on disc two, the band still closes strong with the crowd-pleasing Japanese folk song "Kojo No Tsuki" and frenetic versions of "Dark Lady" and "Robot Man." Ultimately, if you have any curiosity about the Scorpions' early material, Tokyo Tapes provides the perfect introduction. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia Recorded live at Sun Plaza Hall, Tokyo, Japan on April 24 & 27, 1978. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Double LP On 1 CD Personnel: Klaus Meine (vocals); Rudolf Schenker, Ulrich Roth (guitar); Herman Rarebell (drums). Recording information: Sun-Plaza Hall, Tokyo, Japan (04/24/1978/04/27/1979); Sun-Plaza-Hall, Tokyo, Japan (04/24/1978/04/27/1979). Arranger: Scorpions. Scorpions: Klaus Meine (vocals); Ulrich Roth, Rudolf Schenker (guitar); Francis Buchholz (bass); Herman Rarebell (drums).

Stalingrad buy CD music Ace Frehley's 1978 Kiss solo album is often rightfully considered the best of the bunch. Like Paul Stanley's album, it follows in the expected heavy Kiss style, but Frehley had something to prove with his album. Ace was just gaining confidence in his songwriting and singing at the time, so it served as a much-needed showcase to prove that he was as integral to Kiss as the band's main songwriters, Stanley and Gene Simmons. Ace's album was the only one of the four to spawn a true hit single, the funky rocker "New York Groove," while the rest of the album is a consistent set of guitar-fueled heavy rock. Lyrically, several of the songs deal with alcohol and drug abuse ("Snowblind," "Ozone," and "Wiped Out"), something that both Frehley and drummer Peter Criss had succumbed to (eventually leading to their dismissal from the band). Other standouts include the pretty, multi-tracked instrumental "Fractured Mirror," the vicious album-opener "Rip It Out," the Zeppelin-esque "I'm In Need of Love," as well as a pair of melodic compositions, "Speedin' Back to My Baby" and "What's on Your Mind?" Although Frehley would issue several other solo albums in the '80s, he never topped his inspired '78 Kiss solo album. Includes liner notes by Robert V. Conte. All tracks have been remastered. Recorded at the "Mansion," Sharon, Connecticut. Personnel: Ace Frehley (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, guitar synthesizer, bass guitar, background vocals); Bill Scheniman (vocals, bells); David Lasley, Larry Kelly, Susan Collins (vocals, background vocals); Anton Fig (drums, percussion); Carl Tallarico (drums). Audio Remasterer: Joseph M. Palmaccio. Liner Note Author: Robert V. Conte. Recording information: Plaza Sound, NY; The Mansion, Sharon, CT. Personnel: Ace Frehley (vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, synthesizer, bass); Will Lee (bass); Anton Fig (drums, percussion); Carl Tallarico (drums); Bill "Bear" Scheniman (bell); David Lasley, Susan Collins, Larry Kelly, Bobby McAdams (background vocals).

Stalingrad songs The last time there was a new studio album from German headbangers Accept, it was 1996, and heavy metal was quite possibly at an all-time low -- completely ignored by MTV (Headbanger's Ball was off the air), and forget about radio. But the album in question, Predator, did include longtime members Udo Dirkschneider, guitarist Wolf Hoffman, and bassist Peter Baltes. Fast forward ten years, and vintage metal was in a much healthier and happier state, with bands from the '80s experiencing an undeniable resurgence in popularity. So what better time for Accept to dust off their Flying V's and rock once more? Only one catch -- Udo declined the reunion this time around. Undeterred, Hoffman and Baltes decided to soldier on, re-enlisting former Accept guitarist Herman Frank (who left the group in 1984), drummer Stefan Schwarzmann, and former T.T. Quick singer Mark Tornillo. The "new look Accept" issued their first studio album in 14 years in 2010, Blood of the Nations, and musically, the group has created an album that certainly measures up well to their early- and mid-'80s glory days. Vocally, hearing anyone besides Udo in Accept will take some time to get used to -- especially for long-time fans -- but hang in there, and you'll discover that Tornillo is certainly a worthy replacement. "Tough and heavy" is a straight-to-the-point description of such tunes as the ass-kicking album-opener "Beat the Bastards," as well as "Teutonic Terror" and the heavy duty title track. Producer Andy Sneap (known for working with the heaviest of heavy metal bands) successfully brings Accept sonically back to the metallic roar of their glory days throughout Blood of the Nations, resulting in an impressive return of Germany's second best-known heavy metal export of all time. ~ Greg Prato Lyricists: Mark Tornillo; Peter Baltes; Wolf Hoffmann . Personnel: Mark Tornillo (vocals); Herman Frank, Wolf Hoffmann (guitar); Stefan Schwarzmann (drums). Audio Mixer: Andy Sneap. Photographer: Wolf Hoffmann .

Stalingrad album for sale Remastered by Joseph M. Palmaccio (Sterling Sound, New York, New York). Gene Simmons' 1978 Kiss solo album turned out to be the most surprising of the bunch. Primarily known as the author of Kiss's heaviest songs, Simmons had always been an avid Beatles fan. His album shows the influence of Fab Four, and also includes songs that feature orchestras and reflect the then-thriving disco scene. The album is also notable because it benefits from the contributions of many '70s rock stars, like Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Cheap Trick's Rick Nielson, Cher, Bob Seger, Donna Summer, Helen Reddy, and the Doobie Brothers' Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. Granted, some of the tracks are reminiscent of Simmons' thunder rock (such as "Radioactive" and "See You in Your Dreams"), but the majority of the tracks are more musically unpredictable. "See You Tonite," "Always Near You/Nowhere to Hide," "Man of 1,000 Faces," and "Mr. Make Believe" recall John, Paul, George, and Ringo, while "Burning Up With Fever," "Living in Sin," and "True Confessions" are flavored by dance floor sounds. The album-closing cover of the Disney classic "When You Wish Upon a Star" is not to be missed. Recorded at the Manor, Oxford, England; Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles, California; Blue Rock Studio, New York, New York. Includes liner notes by Robert V. Conte. Personnel: Gene Simmons (vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, bass); Eric Troyer (vocals, piano); Ron Frangipane (conductor); John Shane Howell (classical guitar); Elliot Randall, Steve Lacey (guitar); Richard Gerstein (piano); Neil Jason (bass); Allen Schwartzberg (drums); Sean Delaney (percussion, background vocals); Gordon Gordy, Diva Gray, Kate Sagal, Franny Eisenberg, Carolyn Ray, The Azusa Citrus College Choir (background vocals); Donna Summer, Cher, Rick Nielsen, Bob Seger, Joe Perry, Helen Reddy, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Janis Ian, Mitch Weissman, Joe Pecorino, Michael Des Barres, Ritchie Ranno.

Stalingrad CD music At first glance, Halford's entry into the crowded holiday market looks like a parody. Heavy metal and Christmas make for strange bedfellows, and WINTER SONGS' pastoral cover art -- which depicts Rob Halford staring wistfully (with a goatee and shades) into a soft, snowy pine forest -- screams Spinal Tap. That said, the Judas Priest frontman approaches yuletide standards like "We Three Kings" and "What Child Is This?" with the same conviction that he applied to Priest classics like "Electric Eye" and "Freewheel Burning" -- it probably helps that most traditional Christmas hymns tend to fall into the same brooding minor keys that serve as the foundation for most, if not all, heavy metal songs. While WINTER SONGS, like Twisted Sister's excellent 2006 TWISTED CHRISTMAS collection, may not be mainstream enough for the department store Santa kiosk, it's a surprisingly cohesive and listenable addition to the genre -- and if skillfully disguised in a Mannheim Steamroller jewel case, it could make Christmas morning truly joyful. Arrangers: Rob Halford; Ed Roth. Personnel: Rob Halford (vocals); Metal Mike Chlasciak (guitar); Ed Roth (keyboards); Bobby Jarzombek (drums). Audio Mixer: Pete Martinez .