Archive for August 9, 2015

BAD COMPANY Self-Titled Album – Revisiting A Classic Rock Gem From 1974

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Music, rock albums, rock music with tags , , , , on August 9, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Bad Company - debut album cover - 1974 - promo pic - #0626MONASOAFD

I believe I once wrote about the 1974 debut and S/T studio album from BAD COMPANY before. If I did, it definitely wasn’t this detailed, as you shall see. Whatever. I did not bother to look up if I did write about it, for I love this album so much anyways. In this post, I have utilized the legitimate facts about this album from a most reliable source: Classic Rock Magazine: Bad Co. – Limited Edition Collector’s Pack. This special edition was released back in 2014 and it also came with a Bad Company DVD (an authorized 40th Anniversary Documentary). Photos of the Bad Company band members were also inserted into this Collector’s Pack too, suitable for framing! How cool is that?

Listen To Can’t Get Enough, Below! Whoa!

My does this Bad Company debut have a delectable menu of Hard Rock hits and I can NEVER get sick of them! Here they are: Can’t Get Enough, Rock Steady, Ready For Love, Bad Company, et cetera. Timeless songs all. Want an example as to why these songs are timeless? Just listen to the cover version of Bad Company by Five Finger Death Punch. Talk about an explosive and psyche-you-out-of-your-skull cover song! Heck, the FFDP cover version of Bad Company has been in the iTunes Top Ten Metal Songs Chart for what seems forever!

Recently, I told my co-workers that the FFDP cover version is better than the original! I must be insane for thinking and saying that! May the Classic Rock Gods forgive me. Still, it is an extreme rarity when I do side with a cover version of any song. Don’t get me wrong, the original Bad Company song still makes me feel like a super bad-ass too.

Bad Company - Classic Rock Magazine - Collectors Pack - 2014 - #33MMSAMBS9939OT

Above is source I referred to: Classic Rock MagazineLimited Edition Collector’s Pack (2014)

I first heard Bad Company on the FM dial and this was well before Heavy Metal changed my life for the better. I did not own this Bad Company album until I bought it on cassette; it was somewhere around the beginning of the 80’s decade when Foreigner, QueenREO Speedwagon, STYX, AC/DC, Cheap Trick, Blue Oyster Cult and KISS were the heaviest bands I knew about, listened to and purchased on an analog medium. This Bad Company album, like an endless list of others, just makes me feel so doggone good. I recommend this album to any person, young or old, that is just starting to listen to Classic Hard Rock. Bad Company should come with a required listening sticker on its CD cover, for craps sake.

As for the band, what more can I say that already has been said? Yes, supergroup. On this Bad Company album, former Free frontman Paul Rodgers, Drummer Simon Kirke (Free), guitarist Mick Ralphs (Mott the Hoople) and bassist Boz Burrell (King Crimson) come across as having that musical chemistry that cannot be bought or sold at any price. Sometimes I wonder if this band knew how incredible their sound and songs were, while recording this album! Kinda gives me the Classic Rock chills, you know?

Bad Company - debut album cover - 1974 - promo pic - #0626MONASOAFD

Here is the complete track listing for Bad Company: Can’t Get Enough, Rock Steady, Ready For Love, Don’t Let Me Down, Bad Company, The Way I Choose, Movin’ On, Seagull. It’s amazing how only 8 songs can make this album so complete! With today’s standards, 8 songs would be called an EP. I think so, anyways. Here is how popular this Bad Company album was, after its release: #3 in the UK and #1 in the USA. Jumping jolly ranchers!

Did You Know? - Banner - Metal Odyssey - 0704SLNASAMOTT

The sales of Bad Company has an impressive history like this: 5X Platinum and among the Top 50 best-selling albums of the 70’s decade! Whoa! Plus, that’s without Pro Tools. Below are some more facts about this album; some of you may find it exciting, while others may not. Those who don’t care about this stuff are members of The Ex-Lax Fan Club anyways. Enjoy:

  • Record Label: Island (UK) and Swan Song (World)
  • Swan Song was the imprint record label of the iconic Led Zeppelin.
  • A song from Paul Rodgers, Superstar Woman, was not included on this Bad Company album. This song was later included on Paul Rodgers 1982 solo studio album: Cut Loose.
  • A Free song, Easy On My Soul, was covered for the B-side to the hit single 45rpm of Can’t Get Enough. The original Easy On My Soul song is featured on the sixth and last Free studio album from 1973: Heartbreaker.
  •  Bad Company was produced by Bad Company and engineer Ron Nevison.
  • Bad Company was released back in June of 1974.
  • Bad Company was recorded during November of 1973 at Headley Grange, Hampshire.

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MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE THE ROCKIN’ LEGACY OF BAD COMPANY.

Stone.

GREY SKIES FALLEN – NYC-Area Death/Doom Act Releases “Earthwalker” Two-Song Single As Free Download; Preorders For Limited 7″ Vinyl Version Available

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal music, Music, rock music with tags , , , on August 9, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Grey Skies Fallen - Earthwalker - promo album cover pic - 2015 - #33MMILMNSASF33777

NYC-area Death/Doom quintet, GREY SKIES FALLEN, has issued the latest in their extensive roster of independently released recordings, with the Earthwalker single, via a free digital download, as the 7″ vinyl version is completed, all while the band continues to construct material for their next impending LP.

With merely two-songs, Earthwalker does an impressive job of delivering a solid new serving of GREY SKIES FALLEN‘s mammoth musical ways, with over thirteen minutes of brand new material. This is some of the final material to be recorded at Audio Playground (RIP), with additional recording handled at Suffolk Recording Studios, with the tracks recorded, mixed and mastered by Keith Moore.

The namesake track, Earthwalker dominates the A-side, its immediately massive delivery fueled by a steady pace backing a grand and epic aura, with searing, blackened scorn infiltrating the powerful layering of multiple vocal styles which take control of the track.

Side B‘s nearly seven-minute Safe Passage, with a more plodding momentum, shows each element of the five-member faction pushing to the surface; intoxicating waves of synth, pummeling bass thunder, interwoven guitar leads and that dynamic array of vocal styles culminate within one of the most inspiring epic doom tracks from the band to date.

Grey Skies Fallen - Earthwalker - promo album cover pic - 2015 - #33MMILMNSASF33777

Earthwalker is set for October release on 7″ vinyl, the pressing limited to 120 copies on grey/green swirl wax with a lyric insert, the full-color artwork throughout once again provided by Travis Smith (Death, Opeth, King Diamond) as with other prior GREY SKIES FALLEN releases. In addition, the band has graciously released the EP as a FREE digital download to their loyal fanbase.

Stream GREY SKIES FALLEN’s Earthwalker 7″ in full – with FREE downloads and vinyl preorders, via Bandcamp now at THIS LOCATION.

GREY SKIES FALLEN, with members also currently hailing from the likes of Buckshot Facelift, Brave The Waters and more, is currently immersed in the writing process for their upcoming fifth album to be recorded late this year and released in 2016.

Stand by for further info on GREY SKIES FALLEN, as their new album comes together and new live shows are confirmed throughout the area in the coming weeks.

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Source: Earsplit PR

For more info:

http://www.greyskiesfallen.bandcamp.com

http://www.facebook.com/GreySkiesFallen

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE GREY SKIES FALLEN.

Stone.

On This Day In METAL History – August 9th… From QUEEN To SYMPHONY X

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, rock music with tags , , , on August 9, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Queen - Knebworth - Festival Flyer - 08-09-86 - #33MM033S

On August 9th, 1986 – The iconic QUEEN performed (approximately) a two-hour set at Knebworth Stadium in Britain. It is QUEEN’s 658th and (unfortunately) final concert performance. The opening bands were: STATUS QUO and BIG COUNTRY.

Iron Maiden - Classic Band Logo - RWB - #33MMGMSAS31

On August 12th, 2012 – The sensational IRON MAIDEN performed at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, in  Irvine, California, USA. MAIDEN RULES!

Fear Factory - Genexus - promo album cover pic - 2015 - #062415FFSCN

On August 9th, 2015FEAR FACTORY has hit #1, on the iTunes Top 100 Heavy Metal Albums Chart, with their new studio album: Genexus.

Symphony X - Underworld - promo album cover pic - 2015 - #06193333

On August 9th, 2015SYMPHONY X have debuted with their newly released studio album, Underworld, ranked at #90, on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart. Right on!

Mudvayne - Lost And Found - promo album cover pic - 2005 - #93MMMNSA77

On August 9th, 2015MUDVAYNE have their third studio album, Lost And Found, ranked at #100, on the iTunes Top 100 Heavy Metal Albums chart. This album was released back in the Spring of 2005. Whoa.

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MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE THE ROOTS & FAMILY TREE OF METAL.

Stone.

ROCK ‘N ROLL HALL OF FAMER PAUL STANLEY ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER SOUL STATION CONCERT AT THE ROXY, SEPTEMBER 11TH

Posted in Music, rock music, soul music with tags , , , on August 9, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Paul Stanley's Soul Station - The Roxy Theatre - 0911 - debut show - promo flyer - MMMNSAILF

As reported on www.PaulStanley.com:

Soul Station is a ten piece coalition of some of today’s leading musicians paying tribute to an era of great soul music.

“When I was a boy, before I ever saw the Who or Led Zeppelin, I saw Solomon Burke and Otis Redding. I saw the Temptations. It’s tragic to think that so many people are missing out on experiencing the power of so many great bands, artists and that incredible music,” said Stanley. “That music is part of the foundation of all the music I’ve made and Soul Station is my chance to celebrate it for a night that’s real and live.”

To clarify further he adds, “I don’t play guitar in the band and we don’t do a single KISS song. That’s not what this is about,” Stanley continues. “It’s magical to hear those songs played right and we’re making magic.”

“We’re living in a time of being fed canned pre-programmed backing tracks and lip syncing in place of the electricity and passion of real live R&B,” says Stanley. “When I was a boy, before I ever saw the Who or Led Zeppelin, I saw Solomon Burke and Otis Redding. I saw the Temptations and all that music is part of the foundation of the music I’ve made. Soul Station is my chance to celebrate it for a night that’s real, live and faithfully recreates the sound with the respect it deserves. Whether it’s the Stylistics, the Dramatics, the Temptations, Smokey and the Miracles, Blue Magic and on, these songs, arrangements and sound just blow you away.” To clarify further he adds, “I don’t play guitar in the band and we don’t do a single KISS song. That’s not what this is about,” Stanley continues. “It’s magical to hear those songs played right and we’re making magic.”

September 11, Soul Station debut at Los Angeles’ legendary Roxy Theatre.

Tickets for the show went on sale beginning at 3pm ET/2pm CT/noon PT, on August 4th, at www.ticketfly.com.

Stanley’s legendary band members will include: Rafael “Hoffa” Moreira (guitar & backing vocals), Sean Hurley (bass), Alex Alessandroni (keyboards), Ely Rise (keyboards), Eric Singer (drums & backing vocals), Ramon Yslas (percussion), Nelson Beato (backing vocals), Crystal Starr (backing vocals) and Ayana Layli (backing vocals).

As co-founder of KISS, Stanley has piloted the band’s music and business through its 40-year career as one of the biggest bands in the history of rock. In addition to 100 million in world sales, their 30 U.S. gold albums make them the #1 American band for most certified gold albums. Stronger than ever, the KISS legacy continues to grow, generation after generation. In celebration of 40 years, the band released KISS 40, a 2 CD set featuring forty tracks spanning KISS’s incredible forty-year recording career. Stanley has further established his legacy when his memoir Face The Music: A Life Exposed debuted at #2 on the New York Times best seller list upon its April 2014 release.

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MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE PAUL STANLEY.

Stone.