Rainbow Live Re-Issue A Welcome Return For A New Generation Of Audiences

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Eagle Vision

Long live Eagle Rock Entertainment.  That’s what fans of classic rock group Rainbow will be saying after experiencing the band’s newly re-issued recording, Live in Munich 1977.  This classic concert was originally released to DVD in 2006.  Now seven years later, it’s available once again for a whole new generation of purist rock and roll fans to enjoy.  And it goes without saying that this is quite the performance.  It is available now on DVD, 2CD, digital audio and digital video, and even vinyl for older audiences with a certain sense of nostalgia. 

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Eagle Records

The classic lineup of Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple), Ronnie James Dio (Black Sabbath, Dio), Bob Daisley (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Dio, Uriah Heep)  and Cozy Powell (The Jeff Beck Group, Whitesnake, ELP, Black Sabbath, etc.) came together for what is one of the single most epic concerts of this band’s career.  It’s also the only full live show ever filmed that featured this lineup.  And what a show it was.  It is yet more evidence of everything that once was right with rock and roll.  This is not just some rock and roll concert.  Rainbow Live in Munich 1977 is a rock and roll experience.  The show’s shortest song is four minutes and forty-two seconds long.  The longest comes in at a whopping twenty-seven minutes and thirty-three seconds.  So it is not for those with short attention spans.  The songs in between are hardly short, either.  And that is perfectly fine.  The audio (CD/Digital audio) portion makes for great driving music for classic rock fans, especially with the weather having turned warm.  The video portion (DVD/Digital video) is just as enjoyable to pop into one’s DVD/Blu-ray player.  Those with home theater systems will especially appreciate the surround sound experience of this show. 

Speaking of the overall concert experience one would be remiss to ignore the overall performance presented by Rainbow in this recorded concert.  Both Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio showed why they were and are two of the most respected individuals in the music community to this day.  RJD no longer being with us, this concert serves as a testament to his vocal abilities, even though his vocals are somewhat overpowered by the rest of the band at times.  When he cuts through though, RJD really cuts through and shows why he remains one of the best singers in the rock business today.  Blackmore’s chops on the guitar are second to none throughout the show.  This is especially the case on the anthem, ‘Love Live Rock ‘n’ Roll.’  He and the rest of the band put on a virtual clinic with this song that was brand new at that point.  It’s such a simple song.  Yet somehow, Blackmore with his solos and Cozy Powell with his solid time keeping make this one of the show’s highest of highs.  On a side note, seeing Cozy Powell playing with the traditional grip is just as incredible.  When one thinks of drummers using the traditional grip, the most common association made is with jazz, not so much rock music.  There are those that did and do today.  But their numbers are few.  So for the drumming community, this, along with Powell’s solid time keeping makes the performance even more enjoyable. It’s just one of so many examples that could be pulled from the show that make it such a joy to experience whether one is hearing Rainbow for the first time or fiftieth.

Rainbow showed that it could really bring down the house with a number such as ‘Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll.’  It also showed its versatility on the equally bluesy ‘Man on the Silver Mountain.’  This sixteen-minute plus opus had its own slower jam session moment that is just as incredible as anything that any of today’s blues musicians could churn out.  It’s also one of the moments when RJD really got the opportunity to showcase his powerhouse vocals.  And did he ever?  His vocals soar on this performance.  And even after this song ended Dio showed again why he was and is one of rock’s best front men.  Here was this larger than life figure.  Yet on stage, he seemed so down to Earth and so humble.  Seeing the rapport that he had with the audience in comparison to the myth surrounding him is so eye opening and refreshing.  He shows that he was a rock star’s rock star.  He showed he didn’t have an ego and that he appreciated having the chance to do what he did; even more proof of the importance of RJD as an artist.  And the band fed off of that energy, too, making this whole concert such a joy to look back on.

The concert contained on the DVD and double-disc CD are both wonderful additions to the home library of any classic rock fan or any fan of pure, guitar driven rock music.  This latest re-issue boasts more than just a concert though.  Adding to the overall enjoyment of the performance are bonus interviews with Bob Daisley and Colin Hart, as well as an interesting recording of the band performing in Texas the year prior.  The interviews with Daisley and Hart are entertaining to say the least.  During his interview, Daisley tells an anecdote about going driving with one of the other band members.  This little story is sure to make for some laughs.  He also tells his side of how the band came to be and much more.  What else is discussed, audiences will have to find out for themselves when they pick up the DVD.  Hart’s interview is just as entertaining, and at other times candid.  This is especially the case when he is asked to share his thoughts on drummer Cozy Powell.  It’s obvious in hearing him talk that this was a difficult topic to touch on.  Fans will take away a lot from this and Hart’s other thoughts on fellow band member Ronnie James Dio, as well as his thoughts on the band’s success and other topics. 

If the bonus interviews aren’t enough for fans, then maybe the bonus promo videos and the included booklet in the DVD package will impress audiences, too.  The booklet included in the DVD outlines the history of Rainbow from its formation to the replacement of Dio, Daisley, and Stone.  It’s just one more extra piece that fills this small package with so much to appreciate.  The bonus videos included in this recording are actual full performances of the songs ‘Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll’, ‘Gates of Babylon’, and ‘L.A. Connection.’  They aren’t just little snippets of the songs.  If all of this set alongside an already impressive full live performance isn’t enough for fans, then fans that don’t appreciate everything included here either don’t have a pulse or aren’t real fans to begin with.  Keeping this in mind, this latest re-issue is one more incredibly jam packed live release that is more than worth every watch.  It is available now in stores and online and can be ordered direct online from the Eagle Rock Entertainment website at http://www.eagle-rock.com/product/EV306049/Live+in+Munich.

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Eagle Rock Closes Out National Jazz Appreciation Month In Style With Neil Cowley Trio Live

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

When the Montreux Jazz Festival started nearly forty-five years ago, it featured solely jazz artists.  But things changed during the 1970’s.  Now decades later, the Montreux Jazz Festival has come seemingly full circle with the release of the newest recording in its series with Eagle Rock Entertainment from the Neil Cowley Trio.  Neil Cowley Trio Live at Montreux has brought this world renowned festival back to its roots with its own brand of modern jazz that in its own weird way could actually lead to inadvertent comparisons to a rather non-jazz act in Ben Folds five.  Cowley leads the trio, expertly weaving stories from his fingertips as they ease their way across the piano’s keys.  And band mates Rex Horan (bass) and Evan Jenkins (drums) add in their own special spice to make this performance both a wonderful introduction to the band for first time fans, and an equally welcoming performance for those who are more familiar with the band’s sound.

The set list that fills Neil Cowley Trio Live at Montreux 2012 is taken largely from the band’s most recent full length studio album, The Face of Mount Molehill.  Though, there are some extra songs from the trio’s other LPs tossed in for good measure, too.  Something that should be noted instantly about this release is this is one of those performances that is more than just a concert.  It fully embodies the term musical experience.  Yes, there are separate songs listed in the show’s order.  But the musicianship of the trio from one song to the next makes every song meld so easily into the next.  All three musicians are so talented at their craft that by the time the show has ended, viewers won’t have even realized just how much time has passed.  This is the sign of a concert in which the performer (or in this case, the performers) has done everything right, and made a concert that is truly memorable to say the least.  And that is meant in the most complimentary fashion possible.

The song selection for this show is a big part of its success.  Audiences will also enjoy the banter between Cowley and the audience in attendance.  His wit is something of an acquired taste.  But for those who get it, they will find themselves laughing at his jokes and even his stories behind the songs.  One of the funniest of those stories is about a friend of the band who according to Cowley, looks like a greyhound, thus the title of the song, ‘Hug The Greyhound.’  It’s something that audiences have to hear for themselves.  While the story is interesting to say the least, the song in question is one of the best from the entire performance if only for that anecdote.  There are plenty of other anecdotes which Cowley shares.  But that is, again, something which viewers will have to hear for themselves when they pick up this performance.

The songs and the stories shared about them are a big part of what makes this recording so interesting and enjoyable whether one is new to the music of the Neil Cowley Trio or not.  What recording would be complete without proper audio and visual recording?  Just as has been the case with all of its previous releases, Eagle Rock Entertainment has presented to audiences yet another performance (along with Montreux Sounds) that excels in the quality of both its audio and video.  Viewed on an HDTV and Blu-ray player (and even a surround sound home theater system), it proves to be quite the viewing experience.  And combined with such an impressive set list and performance, it goes without saying that Eagle Rock has garnered itself yet another recording that will come year’s end will definitely be on the list of the year’s Top Live Recordings.  It will be available in stores and online Tuesday, April 30^th.

As of this point, the band only has one definite concert date set in support of this album.  The band is scheduled to perform at the Nerve Centre in Londonderry, U.K. on May 4^th.  For more tour dates and all the latest news from the band, fans can “Like” the band on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/neilcowleytrio.  Fans can also keep up with all the latest from the band on its official website, http://www.neilcowleytrio.

Frampton Live In Detroit Another Solid Live Release From Eagle Rock

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Eagle Vision

Eagle Rock Entertainment continues another impressive year with the release of its second live release from veteran musician Peter Frampton in as many years.  The new live DVD and Blu-ray, Frampton: Live in Detroit, is one more feather in the cap of Eagle Rock.  This live performance was originally recorded nearly fourteen years ago.  While it may be nearly fourteen years old, the music is still as fresh and impressive today as it was then.  It is of course, not the only impressive portion of this latest release.  As this recording shows, both the footage and Frampton have both stood the test of time, and quite well at that.

The show opens and closes with equal amounts of energy.  The first two songs, ‘Something’s Happening’ and ‘Lying’ got audiences in attendance that day up on their feet.  The pair is sure to do the same for at-home audiences, too.  After the high energy openers, the band slows things down somewhat with a series of more mellow pieces, including the hit, ‘Show Me The Way.’  Frampton and his band mates don’t keep things slower too long.  Frampton’s solo instrumental, ‘Penny For Your Thoughts’ allows him the chance to show off his more technical abilities.  Seeing someone of Frampton’s age able to move his fingers the way in which he does is impressive to say the least.  As short as this piece is, his abilities and accuracy make this moment one of the show’s most memorable. 

The remaining portion of this concert is just as well balanced as the show’s first half.  ‘(I’ll Give You) Money’ is a solid blues infused piece that is sure to impress any viewer.  ‘Nassau’, and Frampton’s other major hit, ‘Baby, I Love Your Way’ help ease the audience back along with ‘Can’t Take That Away’ just long enough to let them catch their breath before moving things up-tempo once more, beginning with ‘Do You Feel Like We Do.’  This fan favorite is just the start of a musical slow boil of sorts that eventually reaches its peak with the hard driving ‘I Don’t Need No Doctor.’  The band uses this song as the show’s closer.  And it’s a fitting way to close the show, too.  Whether it was intended or not, one could kind of infer that Frampton was using this song as a joke of sorts, considering his age.  It’s almost as if he was saying with the song and its up-tempo music, “I don’t need a doctor.  Look at the condition I’m in!”  And he walks that walk, too, getting the audience worked into a frenzy along with his band mates on this top notch closing number.

Whether one is a long-time fan of Peter Frampton or new to this veteran artist, this latest live release from Eagle Rock Entertainment is sure to entertain everyone.  More experienced fans will be taken back to their youth once again as they enjoy the band’s set.  For younger fans, it will be especially entertaining because it helps to dispel the belief that Frampton only plays slower, sappier music.  This performance (along with last year’s FCA!35) shows that this old dog still has plenty of tricks for audiences regardless of his age, the age of his audiences, or simply how many years have passed.

The set list chosen for this recording is impressive in itself.  But one would be remiss in ignoring the show’s production values.  Those responsible for bringing this near fourteen year old performance back to life did an impressive job in doing so.  The recording’s video and audio quality are both above par.  And when played back on a Blu-ray player and HDTV, one can really see how much the footage was cleaned up.  The clarity is outstanding.  It’s a testament to how far video editing and management in general has come through the years.  The video quality and the companion audio come together with the show’s set list to prove once more here that a show can be a fun experience even without pyrotechnics and other special effects.  Audiences can experience all of the show’s enjoyment for themselves now as it is available now on DVD and Blu-ray in stores and online.  It can be ordered online direct via the Eagle Rock Entertainment website at http://www.eagle-rock.com/product/EVB334409/Live+in+Detroit.  And those who want the chance to see Frampton live for themselves will get to see just how solid his shows still are to this day.  He will have a pair of performances in Cincinnati, OH on April 26^th and 27^th, followed by dates in Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, and Texas, among many more.  Fans can get a full rundown of tour dates and all the latest news from Peter online on the official Peter Frampton Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/PeterFrampton and the official Peter Frampton website, http://www.frampton.com. 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog, http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Re-Machined More Than Just A Tribute Record

Courtesy: Eagle Records/Eagle Rock Entertainment

Famed British hard rock band Deep Purple is set to drop its new album next month.  The album, titled Now What?! will be released in the United State Tuesday, April 30^th.  While fans wait for the release of this highly anticipated album, they have another recent release to tide them over in the form of the tribute album, Re-Machined: A Tribute to Deep Purple’s Machine Head.  It may be a tribute album, but it is still a great album for both new and long-time fans of Deep Purple.

The new honorary compilation hit stores in late 2012 as part of the 40^th anniversary of the landmark album’s original release.  It features all seven tracks from Deep Purple’s original iconic album plus a pair of bonuses.  One of those bonuses comes in the form of Metallica’s cover of ‘When A Blind Man Cries.’  As Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich notes in the compilation’s liner notes, “I have a list of songs in my head that Metallica should play before we either break up or die, and Deep Purple’s ‘When A Blind man Cries’ is one of those songs.”  The song in question is a bonus in that it actually never made the record.  Again, the liner notes shed light on this.  The notes, written by Classic Rock Magazine’s Mark Blake note that the song in question was originally a B-side to the song, ‘Never Before’ but has become a fan favorite throughout the years.  So it only made sense to have it included on this tribute record.  And it’s just one of the pieces that make this album a must not just for any Deep Purple fan but for any hard rocker, period.

‘When A Blind Man Cries’ is just one part of what makes Re-Machined such an impressive album of covers.  Going back to Ulrich, he and Metallica constitute just one of the acts brought together to record this album who openly tout Deep Purple as an influence in their own career as musicians.  Blake writes of Iron Maiden’s front man Bruce Dickinson (whose band also covers a track on the disc) that he [Dickinson] was also a “serious Purple aficionado.”  He quotes Dickinson as saying, “I cut my teeth as a kid on Deep Purple.  It’s what I grew up with.  It’s what got me out of bed in the mornings.”  Now if that isn’t a tribute in itself to the importance of Deep Purple in the music world, it’s anyone’s guess what is.  Dickinson and company ended up recording ‘Space Truckin’’ for the record, which is an absolutely outstanding piece both originally and as a cover here.  The way that it drives (no pun intended), it will have fans pumping their fists and singing along loud and proud. 

If Iron Maiden’s ‘Space Truckin’’ isn’t enough to convince fans of this compilation’s importance, then maybe the album’s opener will.  Carlos Santana (yes, that Carlos Santana) joins Papa Roach front man Jacoby Shaddix for a cover of what is arguably the band’s most famous song of all time, ‘Smoke on the Water.’  What’s really interesting about this cover is that while it is a cover, it doesn’t feel or sound like one.  Far too often, bands and artists try to take classic songs and update them.  That’s not the case here.  Shaddix and Santana have taken the classic and made it their own while still paying homage to the original.  It makes perfect sense as to why the album would open with this cover in hearing Santana’s guitar chops and the solid vocals of Shaddix.  It also serves one more purpose that at a passing glance is missed.  But in really thinking about the generational mix presented here, one sees the purer purpose of using it as the compilation’s opener.

On the surface, having a bunch of bands and artists resurrect one of rock’s most important and iconic albums is a great thing.  Having the album resurrected by a collection of rock’s greatest names past and present is even greater.  What this does is it makes it more than just a tribute album.  It makes the album a music history lesson in and of itself.  As evidenced in the opening number, young audiences will be pulled in by the inclusion of Papa Roach’s Jacoby Shaddix.  Older audiences will be pulled in from both the fact that it’s Deep Purple and that fellow veteran musician Carlos Santana is on the track.  Also because of the inclusion of Santana, those same younger audiences will potentially be introduced to the music of not just one great classic act, but two in both Deep Purple and Carlos Santana, thus preserving both acts’ legacies for a whole new generation.  The same could be said of the inclusion of Chickenfoot’s live cover of ‘Highway Star’ and Black Label Society’s cover of ‘Pictures of Home.’ 

It should be clear by everything noted here that Re-Machined is more than just a tribute to a band.  It’s a tribute, yes.  But it’s also a tribute to everything that was and still is right with rock and roll.  It’s a musical love letter to real rock and an excellent way to get a whole new generation of hard rockers and metal heads into what is without a doubt, one of mainstream rock’s greatest bands.  The album is available now in stores and online.  Audiences can get more information on this album, the band’s upcoming new full length studio release and its tour dates online at http://www.deeppurple2013 and http://www.facebook.com/officialdeeppurple. 

To keep up with more from Deep Purple and all the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Hayward “Spirits” Listeners Away On New LP

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Justin Hayward’s new solo release, Spirits of the Western Sky is a good record for any true classic rock fan.  The Moody Blues vocalist/guitarist’s new album takes listeners on a musical time travelling trip right from its opener, ‘In Your Blue Eyes.’  It’s an easy-going opus that both musically and lyrically makes for a solid opener.  Hayward obviously sings of his love and devotion to a woman in this song.  “Then I see your face appearing/And your blue eyes/I touch your skin/So soft, so tender/Touch your mouth as you let go/And then I watch/As you surrender…the stars exploding in the sky,” he sings.  He’s singing of a very intimate and tender moment.  And the music does quite the job of mirroring that positive feeling expressed through the song’s lyrics.  It’s just the start for Hayward, too.

The songs on this album follow much the same lyrical pattern as its opener, going back and forth between themes of love gained, lost, and hoped for throughout its track listing.  Though there is at least a pair of songs that strays from those themes.  Keeping this in mind, one would do well to examine the album from more of a musical angle.  The music does a good job expressing the different emotions of each song included here.  It does more than that though.  It really has its own identity from one song to the next over the course of the album’s track list.  Some songs include subtle string accompaniments.  Another includes a touch of electronics.  And then there is the album’s closer, a remix of ‘Out There Somewhere.’  Considering where the album started and where it has turned by this point that evolution of sorts in the album’s musical style makes for even more discussion about the album.  Whether or not one likes the drastically opposite sound, the very fact that it generates discussion makes the song and the album that much more worth the listen and that much more interesting. 

Spirits of the Western Sky is available now in stores and online.  Those who want to see Hayward perform live, he has a pair of dates confirmed for this Summer.  He will be performing Saturday, August 3^rd in Baltimore, Maryland and Wednesday, August 14^th in Alexandria, Virginia.  To keep up with the latest tour information and all the latest news from Justin Hayward, go to his official Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/justinhaywardmusic or his official website, http://www.justinhayward.com. 

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Eagle Rock Keeps Rolling With Miles Davis Live At Montreux 1991

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Eagle Rock Entertainment proved throughout 2012 why it is one of the leaders in live recordings.  There was not one bad recording from this company throughout the year.  Now with the start of a new year, Eagle Rock has picked right back up where it left off.  It started the year in big fashion with the release of Deep Purple Live in Paris 1975.  Now only a couple months later, Eagle Rock has released yet another top notch release in the form of Miles Davis Live at Montreux 1991.

Miles Davis’ performance at Montreux in 1991 was not the first visit that the legendary trumpet player had made to the equally legendary music festival.  It would though, be his last.  Only months after this performance, Davis sadly passed away.  Two years ago, Davis’ complete performances were culled for a complete box set also released by Eagle Rock Entertainment.  While two years may not seem like that much time, it actually is.  It is very easy for just such a box set to go out of print in that time.  As a result of that possibility, audiences now get to re-live one of the most iconic of Davis’ performances at Montreux on DVD and Blu-ray.  Considering that this concert has already been released as part of a larger box set, one is left to question what makes this single disc performance worth one’s time.  The answer is simple.  Over two decades have passed since this concert was originally recorded.  The footage recorded for that show has stood the test of time quite well.  Both the video and audio are outstanding.  And the set list chosen for the performance is just as impressive.  Together, all three make this a performance that any Miles Davis aficionado will enjoy.

This final performance by Miles Davis at the Montreux Jazz Festival featured not just Miles but also the Gil Evans Orchestra and another legend in his own right, Quincy Jones.  The control that the entire group has throughout each song really comes through so expertly thanks to the audio mixing done to give new birth to this performance.  And even at twenty-plus years old, the footage looks extraordinary, as if it hadn’t aged a day.  That is a tribute to those who worked so painstakingly to transfer the video from VHS to DVD and now Blu-ray.  While it may not have been entirely intended, one of the most interesting moments in this performance, speaking of footage, comes as Davis and company perform ‘Blues for Pablo.’  The way that the light trails off of Davis’ trumpet as he plays makes for such an incredible experience.  It makes the trumpet look almost as if it’s smoking.  And as slow as this song is, it simply makes for an incredible added element to the song.  Given, the way the light reflects and moves with Davis and his instrument was not an intended effect.  That was just the effect of the video recording equipment at the time.  But the mood of the song makes it such a fitting effect.  It adds a whole extra level to the song that can’t really be put into words.  Of course, it is just one of so many great numbers in this set.  Audiences that know Davis’ body of work will also enjoy the equally smooth ‘Summertime.’

‘Summertime’ is more up-tempo in this performance.  But it still doesn’t lose its originally bluesy feel.  Again this exemplifies the talent and professionalism of Davis, Jones, and the Gil Evans Orchestra.  It still stands out as another of the performance’s best numbers.  And it’s but one of so many that audiences will enjoy.

As if the numbers in this set list aren’t enough for viewers, audiences are also treated to an extra bonus as the now late founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival, Claude Nobs, and others get their chance to share their memories of Miles and his influence on themselves and the music world as a whole.  Audiences will laugh at Nobs’ story of how he and Davis first met and what some of Davis’ first words to Nobs were.  Also sharing in the memories are Stanley Clarke, Jean Luc Ponty, and Al Di Meola.  For those who might not know, this trio of gentlemen played a big role through the years in bringing Miles Davis’ works to the masses, re-mastering them for the numerous albums that have been re-issued to CD.  Their stories are, much like those of Nobs, both entertaining and very deep in so many ways.  And they, like the other individuals interviewed for this feature, offer so much incredible insight into who Miles Davis was, and his importance to the world of music as a whole.   They are truly a bonus and a worthwhile one to what is just one more piece to this history of one of the music industry’s most important figures.  They work with the main performance feature to make this release one that any Miles Davis aficionado will want to add to their own home library.  Miles Davis Live at Montreux 1991 is available now in stores and online.  It can be ordered online via the Eagle Rock Entertainment website at http://www.eagle-rock.com.

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Deep Purple Live Is 2013′s First Great Live Recording

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/earMusic

Eagle Rock Entertainment has picked up 2013 where it left off 2013.  It starts off the New Year as the continuing leader in live recordings.  The label has started off the year with another live release from the one and only Deep Purple.  Audiences will remember that the label released Deep Purple’s 1999 concert from Australia last year.  This time, audiences are taken even farther back in time with a recording of the band’s 1975 performance in Paris.

Everybody knows that Paris is known as the “City of Love.”  But when Deep Purple came through in 1975, it became the “City of Rock and Roll.”  This landmark concert recorded April 17^th, 1975 at the Palais de Sports in Paris would be the last time that the band’s guitarist Ritchie Blackmore would perform live with the band before leaving to form Rainbow.  The entire show starts off with a blazing performance of the band’s classic ‘Burn.’  Singer David Blackmore’s vocals were above par here and throughout the entire set.  And the rest of the band barely lets up either as the band launches into the set’s second song, ‘Stormbringer.’  This hard rocker is one more example of everything that was once great with rock and roll.  And now that Eagle Rock Entertainment and earMusic have unearthed it and the other songs that comprise this classic concert, a whole new generation of audiences can learn what true great rock and roll is all about especially in live form.

The enjoyment doesn’t end with ‘Stormbringer.’  The guitar solos and the impromptu jam session of ‘The Gypsy’ is another great moment from this classic live recording.  It’s one more example of everything that was once right with rock and roll.  The jam session that the band breaks into here is one of those moments in which audiences can simply close their eyes and really experience the song as if they are really there.  The band continues to impress after the incredible experience of ‘The Gypsy’ with the harder edged style of ‘Lady Double Dealer.’  Again [Ritchie] Blackmore shines here.  One can only wonder in listening to this song (and the recording’s other pieces) what it would have sounded like had Blackmore ever teamed up with Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.  Blackmore shows here and throughout the recording that he’s as good as Page if not better.  One can’t deny drummer Ian Paice’s expert timekeeping throughout this song and the rest of the record, either.  Considering that, one can’t help but wonder what a side by side bill with both Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin at that time would have been like.  It never hurts to dream, right?

So much more could be said of this landmark performance.  But that would take too much time and too much space.  It goes without saying that this entire concert experience will take DP’s more experienced audiences back to a better time.  And for those who might be new to the music of Deep Purple, this makes for an equally impressive first impression.  It serves as an excellent intro to the band’s history and everything that made (and makes) it great.  The music makes for a great live experience from beginning to end.  But the music would have been nothing without the concert’s expert audio mix.  In considering that this concert recording is nearly four decades old, the fact that recording equipment in 1975 could so expertly capture the recording is amazing in itself.  That the recording has stood the test of time for so many decades and re-mastered to sound just like a listener was there today makes this recording that much more impressive.  To make the recording even more impressive, Eagle Rock and earMusic have also included an interview David Coverdale, Ian Paice and Glenn Hughes with this new release.  The twenty-minute plus interview has the band members discussing how the band originally met and formed, the genesis of its songs and much more.  This is an original interview with the band members from.  It is not something new.  Bonus feature or not, it makes the record that much more worth the money.   This along with the equally impressive set list and audio mix makes this new live release the first great live release of 2013.  It is available now in stores and online.  It can be ordered online at http://www.eagle-rock.com. 

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Eagle Rock Winding Down 2012 Impressively With Patti Smith Live BD

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Eagle Vision

Eagle Rock Entertainment has led the field of companies releasing live recordings throughout 2012.  Its live recordings released through its partnership with Montreux Sounds have been especially impressive.  Now as the year winds down, the two companies still have shown that they still have some steam left in them with the release of Patti Smith Live at Montreux 2005.

Patti Smith Live at Montreux 2005  shows one of the most acclaimed vocalist and songwriters of all time at one her finest moments.  Each song performed will take viewers back to the days of fellow classic writers such as Bob Dylan.  The songs are more than just songs.  One of the best songs from this performance is the performance’s closer, ‘People Have The Power.’  In an age in which there is still so much political unrest across the nation, it serves as a reminder to today’s society that people have the power to make change happen, regardless of at what level.  It could be argued that it’s almost “Jeffersonian” in nature.  It was Jefferson after all who said, “When people fear the government, there is tyranny.  When the government fears people, there is democracy.”  It’s just one of so many highlights from this performance.  On a less political level, fans will also appreciate Smiths’ cover of the Rolling Stones’ hit, ‘Like A Rolling Stone.’  Smith’s vocal style and the song itself are a perfect fit both for her and for the performance.  And there is even the radio classic that is ‘Because The Night.’  Audiences watching from home will easily find themselves singing along to this song.

Smith’s vocals are as powerful and distinct as her song choices.  They’re raw, edgy and real.  The influence of her vocal style over other artists is so easily understood.  Her ability to vary between a distinct growl to a more raspy, almost Janis Joplin-esque style makes her that much more of an original.  Her vocal style simply put is unlike that of any other vocalist out there today and even of any vocalist of her time, period.

Audiences are offered so much in this new live release from Patti Smith.  Whether just for the song choices or for Smith’s vocals or for both combined, this is one more successful release from Eagle Rock that continues to show why this company is one of the leaders in home live entertainment.

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Lady A’s Fans Will Want To “Own” Band’s New Live Release

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Lady Antebellum is one of the biggest bands in both country music and pop music today.  The band has seen huge success among both mainstream pop audiences and purist country fans, too.  That crossing of genres has also led the band to be one of the biggest live draws out there today, too.  Now thanks to Eagle Rock Entertainment, Lady Antebellum’s fans have the chance to see this pop country band live any time they want thanks to the brand new release of the trio’s live DVD and Blu-ray, Own The Night World Tour. 

While the name of the new release is Own The Night World Tour, the show presented here was taken from the final performance of the American leg of the band’s tour last year in Little Rock, Arkansas.  The band proves with this show that it truly does “own the night” with its mix of country and mainstream pop.  All three of the band’s main members—Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, and Dave Haywood—show to be very laid back and humble, unlike so many other major acts out there today.  And that humility resonated with the audience in attendance at the show.  It translates just as well to audiences at home watching the show for themselves.  The show, which comes in at a little more than ninety minutes, features many of the band’s number one hits and more.  Among some of the favorites included in this performance are:  ‘Need You Now’, ‘American Honey’, and ‘Just a Kiss’ just to name a few.  The audience in attendance shows its appreciation for the band’s humble, down to Earth presence as every person there sang happily to every song with the band.  There’s even a sweet, emotional moment in which a young lady from the audience is brought up on stage to sing ‘American Honey’ with the band.  This is one piece that will leave a smile on anyone’s face.

The songs included in this set are just one part of what makes it an impressive piece for any Lady A fans.  Along with the songs are intermezzos featuring the band’s work in the community and its upbringing.  The segments featuring the band’s community involvement include the band holding a charity concert for the citizens of Henryville, Indiana after it had been destroyed by tornadoes earlier this year.  The concert in question raised over $200,000 for the city’s rebuilding efforts.  On a lighter note, the band also features some behind the scenes bits such as a look at its European tour and a discussion on everything that goes into putting on a live Lady A show.  The trio even offers insight on how it has gone from being a little opening act to being one of the world’s biggest pop country groups.   What audiences get in these and other discussions is more proof of just how humble the group is.  Mixed in with the band’s community efforts and its fully engaging show, Lady Antebellum is sure to solidify its current audience and earn a whole new audience base with the release of this new live DVD and Blu-ray.  It’s available now in stores, and can be ordered direct from Eagle Rock Entertainment’s online store at http://www.eagle-rock.com/product/EVB334369/Own+The+Night+World+Tour.  The band is currently touring across the country.  So fans can not only see the band live on DVD and Blu-ray, but also in person.  Fans in North Carolina will get a double bonus after picking up this new live release from Lady Antebellum.  The band will be performing live at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, December 27^th in Charlotte, North Carolina.

To get a full listing of tour dates, and all the latest news from the band, fans can always go online to the band’s official Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/ladyantebellum or its official website, http://www.ladyantebellum.com for all of that information.

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it or its companion page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Reviews/381028148587141.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Live Kisses Another Gem From McCartney

Courtesy: mpL/Eagle Rock Entertainment/Eagle Vision

Former Beatle and veteran musician Sir Paul McCartney has proven once more on his new release, Live Kisses, why he is still one of the music industry’s most respected names.  This live in-studio performance presents McCartney from Capitol Studios as he recorded the tracks for his most recent release, Kisses on the Bottom.  The recording session was recorded on February 9^th of this year.  A lot went into making Live Kisses the enjoyable in-studio performance that it was and will be for any McCartney and Beatles fan this holiday season and well into the New Year.

Live Kisses takes audiences not so much behind the scenes of the recording of Kisses from the Bottom but into the recording process as it happened.  Watching the recording process at work is just as entertaining as listening to the finished product.  The whole mood of the “performance” is set through simple factors such as lighting, the use of older style microphones, and even recording pieces of the session in black and white.  That alone really helps to elevate the nostalgic vibe of the classic standards included in the record as each is being recorded.  If that isn’t enough, the very setting of the recording room at the legendary Capitol Records adds even more to the throwback feeling of the music.  Especially those who have any knowledge of the history behind Capitol Records will appreciate the session being filmed at the company’s headquarters.  There is even a note about the space in which the recording session took place in the booklet that accompanies this recording  Along with the session’s other factors, they all come together to make a performance that will create a strong sense of nostalgia in any listener’s mind.

The setting and general effect went a long way toward making this performance something very special.  They were just part of the overall enjoyment of Live Kisses though.  While enjoying the songs performed in this session, audiences are also presented with images of his own childhood as he sings, ‘Home (When Shadows Fall).  The combination of the two adds a truly emotional moment to McCartney’s performance here.  Famed jazz musician Diana Krall’s inclusion on the piano on this song makes it that much more of a joy to experience. 

Speaking of Mrs. Krall, both she and her husband Elvis Costello play a role throughout the recording session presented on this Blu-ray disc.  Costello shares with viewers both an introduction to the performance and a transcript of the conversation between himself and McCartney in the accompanying “book” in which the disc comes.  There’s even a joke shared between the two veteran musicians about the inclusion of Krall in the performance.  Of course, the comments regarding her are nothing but positive.  Audiences can find out for themselves what the pair discuss, and can also experience this amazing performance when they pick up this brand new Blu-ray release in store or online.  Live Kisses can be ordered direct online via Eagle Rock Entertainments, website, http://www.eagle-rock.com/product/EVB334289/Live+Kisses and at McCartney’s own official website, http://store.paulmccartney.com/livekisses/usd.php. 

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it or its companion page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Reviews/381028148587141.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.