Hammerfall Drops The Hammer On 2020’s Top New Live Recordings List

Courtesy: Napalm Records

Live music and live music venues took a big hit this year thanks to the global COVID-19 pandemic.  That goes without saying.  Music acts and venues from the independent level all the way up to the big names were force to put their live music plans on hold indefinitely as a result of the pandemic.  However a glimmer of hope rose this week when Live Nation head Joe Berchtold was quoted by major media outlets as saying that he believed live music would return by summer 2021.  One can only hope that Mr. Berchtold is right, and that when it does return, audiences will welcome its return rather than let the germaphobes control their minds.  Until then, audiences do have lots of live music to enjoy on CD, DVD and Blu-ray that was released this year.  Hammerfall released its latest live recording Live! Against The World this year.  Dream Theater also dropped its new live recording Distant Memories: Live in London.  Metallica even celebrated the anniversary of its landmark S&M show with the release of S&M2.  These are just some of the recordings that made Phil’s Picks 2020 Top 10 New Live Recordings.  They were joined by new live material from the likes of Myrath, The Rolling Stones, and Kamelot.

As with each list from Phil’s Picks, this collection features the Top 10 new titles in the given category and five additional honorable mention titles for a total of 15 titles.  Without any further ado, here is Phil’s Picks 2020 Top 10 New Live Recordings.

PHIL’S PICKS 2020 TOP 10 NEW LIVE RECORDINGS

1. Hammerfall – Live! Against The World
2. Jimi Hendrix – Live in Maui
3. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra – A Swingin’ Sesame Street Celebration
4. Def Leppard – London to Vegas
5. The Rolling Stones – Steel Wheels Live
6. Devin Townsend – Order of Magnitude: Empath Live Volume 1
7. John Lee Hooker – Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990
8. Waylon Jennings – The Outlaw Perrformances
9. Myrath – Live in Carthage
10. Kamelot – I Am The Empire Live from the 013
11. Dream Theater – Distant Memories: Live in London
12. Metallica – S&M2
13. Delta Rae – Coming Home To Carolina
14. Bush – Live in Tampa
15. Dee Snider – For The Love of Metal

Up next from Phil’s Picks is one of the last three music categories of the year, Phil’s Picks 2020 Top 10 New Rock Albums.  After that will be the year’s top new hard rock & metal albums, and then last but not least, the year’s top new albums overall.  From there, it’ll be on to the DVDs and Blu-rays in all of their categories.  Stay tuned for all of that.

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

Eagle Rock Entertainment’s New John Lee Hooker Live Recording Is A Welcome Addition To Any Blues Lover’s Library

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Montreux Sounds

Eagle Rock Entertainment is helping audiences get their live music fix once again.  Following the releases of the latest Def Leppard and The Rolling Stones live recordings early this year, the company has teamed with Montreux Sounds to release two more live recordings from the famed Montruex Jazz Festival.  They come in the form of blues legend John Lee Hooker’s 1983 and 1990 performances alongside the Coast to Coast Blues Band.  The very presentation of the two shows together is in itself a clear positive to this presentation in its own right and will be discussed shortly.  The set lists featured in the concerts add even more to the recording’ presentation and will be discussed a little later.  The recording’s  production rounds out its most important elements and will be discussed later, too.  Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the recording’s presentation.  All things considered, they make the recording a welcome addition to any blues aficionado’s music library.

Eagle Rock Entertainment’s new John Lee Hooker live recording Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 is a presentation that will easily appeal to any blues aficionado.  That is proven in part through its very presentation.  Audiences get here not one but two separate concerts in one vinyl (and digital) presentation.  It would have been easy for Eagle Rock’s officials to split the concerts up (as they shockingly did recently with Def Leppard’s recent London To Vegas recording).  Thankfully, that did not happen here.  Instead, audiences get the two hour-long shows (the 1983 show is actually one hour, five minutes and the second is approximately one hour in length) in one complete package.  Essentially, audiences are getting two shows for the price of one, and not only on vinyl, but also on digital.  The only downside to the presentation is that it was not made available on DVD or Blu-ray, even though official video clips of the performances are streaming online.  Maybe that portion of the recording will come along in the not too distant future.  That aside, audiences who are okay with just owning the concerts’ audio recording will appreciate having the whole of both recordings at least in their existing platforms.  This is just one part of what makes the collective recording so appealing.  Its featured set lists add to its appeal.

As noted, audiences get in Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990, two separate live sets.  One clocks in at an hour in length and the other at an hour and five minutes.  That equals to a total of just over two hours.  That is the length of an average single concert for most acts.  In other words, audiences get overall content that is equal to pretty much every other single live recording here, only spanning two concerts.  Building on that, audiences get at least a healthy representation of Hooker’s catalog at the time.  There are some well-known songs, such as ‘Baby Lee,’ ‘Boom Boom,’ and ‘Boogie Chillen’ as well as covers of songs from Hooker’s blues counterparts, Howlin’ Wolf, Big Maceo, and Tommy Tucker throughout the course of the two set lists.  Hooker takes audiences all the way back to his formative days in his 1948 hit ‘Boogie Chillen’ and as recent as his 1989 album The Healer.  Along the way, songs, such as ‘Crawlin’ King Snake (from 1959’s I’m John Lee Hooker), ‘I’m In The Mood’ (a single from 1951, which was in fact inspired by The Glenn Miller Orchestra’s ‘I’m In The Mood’) and ‘It Serves Me Right To Suffer (from 1966’s It Serves You Right To Suffer) are also featured.  Some of the songs are repeated between the two sets, but audiences will note that the performances of those repeat songs are not themselves repeats.  Rather, they are their own unique performances.  To that end, what audiences get even in this case is still some originality.  When those performances are considered along with the other performances and the set lists overall, what audiences get in this element is content overall that will do just as much as the set’s presentation to keep audiences engaged and entertained.  While the overall content and presentation collectively do plenty to make this recording so appealing, they are just a portion of what makes it so enjoyable.  The recording’s overall production rounds out its most important elements.

Audiences will be pleased to know that the production of Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 is just as impressive as the recording’s content.  The audio is crystal clear, with the audience noise and music expertly balanced throughout.  Even taking into consideration just the band’s performance, each performer’s part is just as well balanced with those of his band mates.  Hooker’s own vocals are just as clear throughout the course of the concerts.  The result is that audiences will find that very rarely throughout the two hour-plus recording will they ever have to adjust the volume or even strain to hear any part of the performances.  In other words, audiences get the best seat in the house once more thanks to Eagle Rock Entertainment, and will at times feel like they are right there at the concerts because the production resulted in such clear, rich sound throughout.  Between this positive, that of the overall content, and that of the set’s presentation, what audiences get in Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 is a presentation that every blues lover will welcome in his or her music library whether digitally or on vinyl.  With any luck, fans will be rewarded with a full DVD/BD release of the concert sooner rather than later to make the experience whole.  Until such time though, audiences will still revel in the experience presented by this audio-only release of the noted concerts.

Eagle Rock Entertainment’s new John Lee Hooker double live recording Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 is a strong new offering from the company in its ongoing partnership with Montreux Sounds.  There is much to appreciate about the recording, not the least of which being that it is a double recording in one complete set.  Audiences get to own both shows in one package rather than being forced to buy them separately.  The overall content – from its set lists to their overall run time – adds even more appeal to the recording.  The recording’s  production puts the finishing touch to its presentation.  Each item noted and discussed here is important in its own way to the whole of this recording’s presentation.  All things considered, they make Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 a joy for any John Lee Hooker fan and blues aficionado alike to experience.  It is available now.

More information on John Lee Hooker Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 is available along with all of the latest John Lee Hooker news at:

Website: http://www.johnleehooker.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JohnLeeHookerOfficial

Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnleehooker

More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available at:

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

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

Eagle Rock Entertainment Announces Release Date, Specs For John Lee Hooker Concerts Set

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Montreux Sounds

Eagle Rock Entertainment will take audiences back to the famed Montreux Jazz Festival again next month.

The company is scheduled to release John Lee Hooker Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 on Nov. 6.  The presentation will release on separate 2LP, digital video & digital audio platforms.  The 1983 set features fan favorites, such as ‘Boogie Chillen,’ ‘Boom Boom,’ and ‘Worried Life Blues’ while his 1990 show featured ‘I’m In The Mood,’ ‘Baby Lee’ and ‘The Healer’ as well as another rendition of ‘Boom Boom’ and ‘Boogie Chillen.’

On a side note, Eagle Rock Entertainment’s recent live recording from The Rolling Stones, Steel Wheels Live also featured Hooker performing ‘Boogie Chillen’ alongside Mick Jagger and company.  The recording is available now.

Hooker was joined by the Coast to Coast Band for each of the featured performances.  The 1983 show saw the group’s performance of ‘Boogie Chillen’ expand to a 13-person jam session that featured performances from famed blues figures, such as guitarist Luther Allison and harmonica great Sugar Blue.

The track listing for the recording is noted below.  Pre-orders are open now.  A trailer for the recording is streaming here.

LIVE AT MONTREUX 1983 – LP 1
SIDE ONE
1. It Serves Me Right To Suffer
2. I Didn’t Know
3. Hi-Heel Sneakers
4. If You Take Care Of Me, I’ll Take Care Of You
5. Boom Boom

SIDE TWO
1. Worried Life Blues
2. I’m Jealous
3. Crawlin’ King Snake
4. Boogie Chillen

LIVE AT MONTREUX 1990 – LP 2
SIDE THREE
1. John Lee Hooker Introduction
2. Mabel
3. I’m In The Mood
4. Crawlin’ King Snake
5. Baby Lee

SIDE FOUR
1. It Serves Me Right To Suffer
2. Boom Boom
3. The Healer
4. Boogie Chillen’

More information on John Lee Hooker Live at Montreux 1983 & 1990 is available along with all of the latest John Lee Hooker news at:

 

Website: http://www.johnleehooker.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JohnLeeHookerOfficial

Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnleehooker

 

More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available at:

 

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

 

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

The Rolling Stones’ Latest Live Recording Is As Solid As Steel

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

The true greatest rock band in the world returned this week with another new archived live recording.  The band in question is The Rolling Stones and the recording in question is one of its three December 1989 concerts in Atlantic City, NJ in support of its then new album Steel Wheels.  The performance was part of the band’s “Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle” tour, which was the band’s first American tour since 1981.  The recording is another presentation that will appeal to The Rolling Stones’ fans just as much as rock fans in general just as much as the multitude of previous live recordings.  That count is almost at 20 counting (not counting this recording) if not right at said figure.  The main reason that audiences will appreciate the recording so much is its extensive set list. The list, which runs approximately two-and-a-half hours in length, will be discussed shortly.  The band’s performance thereof adds to the enjoyment in its own way.  This will be addressed a little later.  The recording’s production values round put the finishing touch to its presentation.  When it is considered along with the set list and the band’s performance, the elements collectively make the recording another welcome way to beat the live music blues this and any year.

The Rolling Stones’ latest live recording is another fully immersive, enjoyable presentation for the band’s most devoted fans and rock fans in general.  In an age when live music has been relegated to watching concerts online, this offering from the greatest rock band in the world is its own welcome offering and alternative to being glued to a computer or phone screen.  That is proven in part through the recording’s extensive set list.  The 28-song set list spans a run time of approximately two-and-a-half hours.  It takes audiences all the way back to 1965 and the band’s fourth album Out Of Our Heads and all the way up to its then most recent album, 1989’s Steel Wheels.  Given, not every album in-between is represented in the set list, but in comparison to the set lists featured in the band’s past live recordings, audiences do get some songs not featured in those presentations.  The band’s five nods to Steel Wheels are themselves works that have rarely if ever been featured in the noted previous live presentations.  The band’s cover of Bob & Earl’s ‘Harlem Shuffle’ and its performance of its own single ‘Undercover of the Night’ (from 1983) are in themselves live rarities.  So audiences have all of that to enjoy.  Along with the noted songs, audiences also get more familiar songs, such as ‘Honky Tonk Women,’ ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash,’ and ‘Tumblin’ Dice’ among others.  As if all of that is not enough, the band also pulls ‘2,000 Light Years From Home,’ ‘Happy,’ and ‘Salt of the Earth’ as some semi-rare works from its catalog.  Also making this set list so enjoyable are guest appearances from blues legend John Lee Hooker, who joins the band for a performance of his own hit song ‘Boogie Chillen’ and a guest appearance by fellow blues legend Eric Clapton on that song and ‘Little Red Rooster.’

The set list in itself does a lot to make Steel Wheels Live appealing to audiences.  The set list proves itself even more critical to the recording’s presentation in that it is the exact same in the recording’s DVD, CD, digital and vinyl platforms.  In other words, audiences get the same presentation from one platform to the next.  This is important to note because even today, there are some acts out there whose live recordings vary across platforms.  So to have the same thing from one platform to the next makes the set list that much more important to the recording.

Additionally, the set list’s sequencing plays its own part to the recording’s presentation.  From the show’s opening up until the band takes on ‘Terrifying,’ the show’s energy remains relatively high.  It is not until the noted point that the band pulls things back.  The noted relaxation lasts only momentarily.  After that song and ‘Salt of the Earth,’ which features a guest appearance by Guns N’ Roses members Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin, the show’s energy picks back up.  Their performance alongside Mick Jagger and company will be addressed a little later.  ‘Honky Tonk Women’ slows things down again, but still manages to keep the concert’s energy flowing solidly thanks to its swagger.  The same can be said of ‘Midnight Rambler,’ too.  That song comes immediately after ‘Honky Tonk Women.’  From that point on, the show’s energy rises and falls in all of the right points and ways, showing without question the amount of time and thought that went into assembling the set list.  That effort paid off, too.  When this aspect is considered along with the set list’s presentation across the recording’s platforms and its breadth and depth, those elements collectively make the set list the most important aspect of this recording.  It builds a solid foundation for the recording’s presentation on which the band’s performance rests easily.

The Rolling Stones’ performance of Steel Wheels Live’s set list is important to note because it does its own part to keep audiences engaged and entertained.  Those audiences who are familiar with the band’s live show style already has an expected standard from the band.  Those audiences will be glad to know that the band lives up to that expectation here just as much as in the band’s past performances.  Front man Mick Jagger is just as confident as ever as he struts his way across the stage and sings.  That swagger is on full display just as much.  Guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood keep the energy moving along with drummer Charlie Watts, the trio’s work just as engaging as ever in its own right.  Wood and Richards’ prowess on their instruments makes one forget the woes of the world, especially as they make their way through the blues classic ‘Little Red Rooster’ alongside Eric Clapton.  The group’s performance is just as solid as it supports Rose and Stradlin in the collective’s performance of ‘Salt of the Earth.’  On a similar note, viewers will be pleased to see that Rose shares the stage with Jagger and company in that performance rather than trying to steal the spotlight.  It shows that he knows he and Stradlin are the guests here, not the stars.  Even when he gets the spotlight in ‘Cant’ Be Seen,’ Richards shows once again, his talent as a performer and not just a guitarist.  He and the band’s longtime backing vocalists make for so much enjoyment and engagement in their own way.  Between that aspect and the rest of the presentation in the concert, the band’s performance in whole makes for a wonderful experience.  It builds on the foundation formed by the show’s set list to make the recording even more enjoyable.  When the two elements are considered together, they give audiences even more reason to take in this concert.  They are still only a portion of what makes the recording so impressive.  Its production puts the finishing touch to its presentation.

Just as with all of The Rolling Stones’ past live recordings released through Eagle Rock Entertainment, the production here gives home viewers the best seat in the house.  When the cameras go out beyond the sea of people, audiences get a full picture of just how many people attended the concert, and the sheer immensity of the band’s stage setup.  The on-stage footage immerses audiences into the performance even more as it takes viewers along for the ride up close with the band.  The transitions from shot to shot throughout and the sound enrich the experience even more.  From a more relaxed moment, such as in ‘Sympathy for the Devil to the more fiery cover of ‘Harlem Shuffle’ and everywhere else, the guitars and vocals are so well-balanced with Watts’ time keeping and the work of the band’s fellow musicians.  Each performer gets an equal share of time in the limelight.  Considering that and the smooth camera transitions, no doubt is left about the impact of the concert’s production.  When this is considered along with the band’s performance and the concert’s set list, the whole of these elements makes Steel Wheels Live a presentation that is another welcome addition to The Rolling Stones and Eagle Rock Entertainment’s ongoing series of live recordings from the band.

Eagle Rock Entertainment and The Rolling Stones’ latest live recording Steel Wheels Live is yet another welcome addition to the two sides’ ongoing series of live recordings.  That is proven in part through the recording’s expansive set list.  The set list runs 26 songs deep and spans a run time of two-and-a-half hours.  Given, it is not a career-spanning set even for its time, but does still present a relatively clear cross section of the band’s catalog up to that point.  The band’s performance of the featured set list is everything that audiences have come to expect from The Rolling Stones.  The swagger and the energy is there from beginning to end.  The concert’s production values play their own part to the recording’s presentation.  Each noted item is important in its own way to the whole of this presentation.  All things considered, they make the recording as solid as steel.  Steel Wheels Live is available now.

More information on Steel Wheels Live is available along with all of its latest news at:

 

Website: http://www.rollingstones.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/therollingstones

Twitter: http://twitter.com/RollingStones

 

Eagle Rock Entertainment’s latest news is available online at:

 

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

 

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

Craft Recordings’ JLH Box Set Is A Wonderful Tribute To Music Royalty

Courtesy: Craft Recordings/Concord Music Group

Early this past August, the music community stopped for a moment to remember John Lee Hooker. The beloved, legendary bluesman would have celebrated his 100th birthday Aug. 22. In honor of the milestone, Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, released a brand new five-disc, 100-song collection of Hooker’s songs in the form of John Lee Hooker: King of the Boogie only months later on Oct. 6. Originally scheduled for release Sept. 29, the multi-disc compilation is not the first compilation of the famed musician’s works, but it is an impressive new collection nonetheless. That is proven in part through the collection’s featured songs, which will be discussed shortly. The set’s packaging is just as important to note here as its song selection, and will be discussed later. Last but most definitely not least of note in this collection is its average price point. Each element is critical in its own way to the recording’s whole. All things considered, they make John Lee Hooker: King of the Boogie a wonderful musical tribute to a wonderful musical mind.

Craft Recordings’ recently released John Lee Hooker box set King of the Boogie is, simply put, a wonderful musical tribute to a wonderful musical mind. That is due in no small part to the 100 songs that make up the collection’s body. Those songs form the foundation of the set’s presentation. What makes them stand out is the picture that they paint of Hooker’s rich career. Though not presented in chronological order, it does paint a broad, rich picture of Hooker’s career. The collection takes audiences all the way back to Hooker’s earliest days with the likes of ‘Maudie,’ ‘Time is Marching’ and ‘I Love You Honey,’ all of which were released in 1959. It also takes audiences through Hooker’s career with songs from the 60s, 70s and beyond in the likes of ‘Goin’ Mad Blues’ (1969), ‘Unfriendly Woman’ (1977), ‘It serves Me Right’ (1980), ‘Spellbound’ (1997), and ‘When I Lay My Burden Down’ (2017) among so many others. As if the studio recordings are not enough, the set also includes a full disc dedicated solely to Hooker’s live works. That disc, the set’s fourth disc, features live recordings reaching all the way back to 1960. It also features a variety of archived live performances released as recently as 2002 alongside brand new, previously unreleased live performances released for the first time in this collection. Those live recordings add even more depth to the box set’s presentation. Simply put, the songs featured in this collection present one of the most vivid pictures of Hooker’s career that has been released to date. It is not just another random collection put out for the sake of making money. It truly is a celebration of the life and career of a music legend. The set’s featured songs do plenty to celebrate John Lee Hooker’s life and legacy in this new box set, but are not the only items, collectively that serve to celebrate the musical icon so well. The set’s overall packaging goes a long way toward celebrating Hooker and his achievements, too.

King of the Boogie‘s packaging offers audiences just as much to appreciate as its featured songs. Rather than just being a standard, bulky, square box, Craft Recordings has presented the set as a book, with each of its discs inserted safely throughout. It’s an aesthetic element, but still a positive nonetheless. The liner notes presented throughout the book, crafted by John Lee Hooker historian Jas Obrecht and Hooker’s longtime friend Mike Kappus offer their own insight and entertainment for audiences. That is thanks to the fact that the pair does not pull any punches, presenting Hooker’s highs and lows. Along with the fully engaging stories told by Kappus and Obrecht is a bevy of pictures that illustrate the pair’s stories even more both literally and figuratively. The pictures included in the book included ones of him with Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, Hooker with Bonnie Raitt, and solo studio shots of Hooker from his early days alongside other live shots from throughout his career. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then those and the set’s other pictures would certainly have plenty to say, making the set’s presentation that much richer, in turn, showing even more why the set’s packaging is so critical to its presentation. Of course the packaging is only one more of the set’s most important elements. Its average price point rounds out its most important elements.

The average price point of Craft Recordings’ new centennial celebration of John Lee Hooker is important to note because it is a relatively affordable price. Comparing prices between Amazon, Target, Best Buy and Wal-Mart, the set’s average price point sits at approximately $49. Considering the amount of material, both musical and otherwise, included in the collection, such a price is relatively affordable to the average consumer. It would have been easy for those four major outlets to push their prices higher, but they each made certain to keep the set within the average consumer’s price range. That proves even more the importance of the set’s average price point to its overall presentation. When this element is considered alongside the set’s clearly impressive packaging and its equally noteworthy sequencing, the whole of those elements makes King of the Boogie a wonderful way to pay tribute to musical royalty.

Craft Recordings’ recently released five-disc John Lee Hooker box set is a thorough new collection that is certainly a wonderful tribute to the legacy of a great musical mind. That is proven in part through the extensive, 100-song sequence that reaches back to Hooker’s earliest days and beyond. The songs paint a rich picture of Hooker’s career. The set’s packaging is just as important to its whole thanks to its liner notes and pictures. The picture that they paint makes the picture painted by the set’s featured songs all the richer and more vivid. The set’s average price point makes it easily affordable for the average consumer, too. Each element is important in its own right to the set’s presentation. All things considered, they make this set a royally wonderful tribute to one of the music industry’s great names. It is available now in stores and online. More information on this and other titles from Craft Recordings is available online now at:

Website: http://craftrecordings.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/craftrecordingsofficial

Twitter: http://twitter.com/craftrecordings

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 at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Craft Recordings Announces New John Lee Hooker Box Set Release Date, Specs

Courtesy: Craft Recordings/Concord Music Group

Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Music Group, will pay tribute to blues legend John Lee Hooker next month with a brand new box set.

King of the Boogie will be released Sept. 29 in stores and online.  The set’s 100-total songs are spread across five discs and features a number of Hooker’s greatest hits as well as lots of rarities, live recordings and previously unreleased recordings.  The collection includes a 56-page book along with the discs that features a variety of pictures of the famed bluesman at different points of his career as well as liner notes written by writer and Hooker historian Jas Obrecht and Hooker’s manager and friend Mike Kappus.

Mason Williams, who curated and produced King of the Boogie, said in a recent interview about the collection that its 100 total songs make up only a small glance of Hooker’s extensive career, but a clear view nonetheless.

“Even at 100 songs, this set is just a snapshot of John Lee Hooker’s incredible and influential career, but one that takes you on the long journey he took from his early days in Detroit to his time in Chicago recording for Vee-Jay Records and up through his later collaborations with Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt and Santana among others,” Williams said.

The set’s track listing is noted below.

JOHN LEE HOOKER – KING OF THE BOOGIE TRACK LIST:

Disc 1:

1. Boogie Chillen’ – John Lee Hooker And His Guitar

2. Sally May – John Lee Hooker And His Guitar

3. Hobo Blues – John Lee Hooker And His Guitar

4. Crawlin’ King Snake – John Lee Hooker & His Guitar

5. Black Man Blues – Texas Slim

6. Goin’ Mad Blues – Delta John

7. Who’s Been Jivin’ You – Texas Slim

8. (Miss Sadie Mae) Curl My Baby’s Hair

9. Hoogie Boogie – John Lee Hooker And His Guitar

10. Burnin’ Hell – John Lee Hooker And His Guitar

11. Weeping Willow Boogie

12. Moaning Blues – Texas Slim

13. Huckle Up Baby – John Lee Hooker And His Guitar

14. Goin’ On Highway #51 – John Lee Hooker And His Guitar

15. John L’s House Rent Boogie

16. I’m In The Mood

17. Two White Horses

18. 33 Blues

19. Sugar Mama

20. Wobbling Baby

21. Stuttering Blues – John Lee Booker

22. I’m A Boogie Man – Johnny Lee

23. Down Child

24. Odds Against Me (Backbiters And Syndicaters)

25. Shake, Holler And Run

Disc 2:

1. Unfriendly Woman [Aka Stop Now]*

2. Mambo Chillun

3. Time Is Marching

4. Dimples

5. Little Wheel

6. I Love You Honey

7. Drive Me Away

8. Maudie

9. When I Lay My Burden Down*

10. Tupelo Blues

11. Good Mornin’ Lil’ School Girl

12. I Rolled And Turned And Cried The Whole Night Long

13. No More Doggin’

14. Dusty Road

15. No Shoes

16. My First Wife Left Me

17. Crazy About That Walk – Sir John Lee Hooker

18. Want Ad Blues

19. Will The Circle Be Unbroken

20. I’m Going Upstairs

21. I Lost My Job

22. Don’t Turn Me From Your Door

23. Grinder Man

24. Meat Shakes On Her Bone*

Disc 3:

1. Boom Boom

2. Blues Before Sunrise

3. She’s Mine

4. Frisco Blues

5. Good Rockin’ Mama

6. I’m Leaving

7. Birmingham Blues

8. Don’t Look Back

9. Big Legs, Tight Skirt

10. It Serves Me Right

11. Money

12. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

13. The Motor City Is Burning

14. Mean, Mean Woman

15. Doin’ The Shout

16. Homework

17. Early One Morning

18. Rocking Chair

19. Hittin’ The Bottle Again

20. Deep Blue Sea

21. Spellbound

Disc 4: LIVE

1. Hobo Blues – Live

2. Maudie – Live

3. Shake It Baby – Live

4. Boogie Chillun – Live

5. Bottle Up And Go – Live

6. Crawlin’ King Snake – Live

7. The Mighty Fire – Live

8. You’ve Got To Walk Yourself – Live

9. I’m Bad Like Jesse James – Live

10. Boogie Everywhere I Go – Live

11.She’s Gone*- Live

12.It Serves Me Right To Suffer*- Live

13. Boom Boom* – Live

14. Hi-Heel Sneakers* – Live

15. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer* – Live

 

Disc 5: FRIENDS

1. I Got Eyes For You – With “Little” Eddie Kirkland

2. Mai Lee – With The Groundhogs

3. Peavine – With Canned Heat

4. Never Get Out Of These Blues Alive – With Van Morrison

5. Five Long Years – With Joe Cocker

6. The Healer – With Carlos Santana

7. I’m In The Mood – With Bonnie Raitt

8. Sally Mae – With George Thorogood

9. Mr. Lucky – With Robert Cray

10. Up And Down – With Warren Haynes

11. Boom Boom – With Jimmie Vaughan

12. You Shook Me – With B.B. King

13. Don’t Look Back – With Van Morrison

14. Dimples – With Los Lobos

15. Boogie Chillen’ – With Eric Clapton

King of the Boogie is being released as part of a year-long celebration of what would have been Hooker’s 100^th birthday (which would have been celebrated Aug. 22).  An exhibit of the same name is currently being presented at the Grammy Museum ® Mississippi.  It includes outfits that Hooker wore at various live shows, guitars that he played, photos, awards and his music.  The exhibit will be on display through Feb. 2018 before being moved to the Grammy Museum® L.A. Live.

Hooker’s daughter Zakiya, spoke Tuesday about the new exhibit and forthcoming box set, saying the tributes moved her and knew they would move audiences, too.

“Today, on what would have been my father’s 100^th birthday, I am so thrilled to see him celebrated—both with the exhibit as well as with the announcement of this special collection of music,” she said.  “I know his fans will be excited to hear rare performances, and to read the touching words of his longtime manager, Mike Kappus, as well as those of the wonderful Jas Obrecht.  It was a pleasure to watch this box set come together, and I can’t wait to see it shared with the world.”

More information on this and other titles from Craft Recordings and Concord Music Group is available online now at:

 

 

 

Website: http://www.concordmusicgroup.com/labels/craft-recordings

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ConcordMusicGroup

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ConcordRecords

 

 

 

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

Thorogood & Company Put On A Real Rock Party In Their First Ever Montreux Show

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment/Eagle Vision

Eagle Rock Entertainment and Montreux Sounds formed a new landmark business partnership a year or so ago.  The partnership in question allowed Eagle Rock distribution rights for a number of new and archived shows that were recorded at what is one of music’s most revered festivals.  And the recordings in question have been nothing short of impressive.  From the likes of Miles Davis, Stan Getz, and Etta James to newer acts such as The Raconteurs, the Montreux Jazz Festival has seen some of the industry’s top names take its storied stages.  Now, one more piece of the legendary festival’s history has been released to the masses in the form of George Thorogood & The Destroyers Live at Montreux 2013.  The concert, which was recorded this past July, marked the first time that Thorogood and his band mates—Jeff Simon (drums), Bill Blough (bass), Jim Suhler (guitar/vocals), and Buddy Leach (saxophone)–had ever performed at the venue.  And Thorogood himself makes note of his excitement at getting to finally perform at Montreux after more than two decades.  That excitement pored over throughout the band’s entire performance, too.  It’s one of the key factors of this recording that makes it so fun to take in.  The band’s set list is another reason that fans will enjoy this recording.  Thorogood and his band mates hit on every one of their major hit songs.  There is even a tribute to Johnny Cash thrown in for good measure.  If that isn’t enough for fans, the combination of the recording’s bonus interview and companion booklet will push the recording over the top.  They, along with the set list and the band’s performance, make this recording one more huge success from Eagle Rock Entertainment and Montreux Sounds.

George Thorogood has been making music and performing for over four decades.  So it comes as quite the surprise that 2013 marked the first time that he and his band mates played the famed Montreux Jazz Festival.  The festival, which started out mainly as a venue for the top names in jazz and blues, has grown each year to incorporate bands and artists from across the musical spectrum.  Thorogood and his band mates obviously held no ill will toward festival organizers when they took the stage at the festival.  Thorogood makes no bones concerning his excitement at finally being invited to perform at Montreux.  His positive energy isn’t confined to just that one moment, either.  From the high energy opener that is ‘Rock Party’ to hits like ‘I Drink Alone’, ‘Bad to the Bone’, and ‘Madison Blues’, the band exudes so much energy and excitement.  The audience in attendance feeds off of every bit of that excitement, too.  The mutual sharing of excitement and energy can be felt even by viewers watching this recording from the comfort of their own living rooms or bedrooms.  Home viewers may even find themselves feeding off of that excitement, dancing around and playing air guitar, etc.  That shows just how much fun Thorogood and company make their performance for all of their audiences.  Home viewers will discover this for themselves when they order or purchase the recording for themselves on DVD and Blu-ray.

The positive energy and excitement exuded by Thorogood and company is key to the overall enjoyment of this recording.  Whether one is seeing the concert for the first time or reliving the concert again, everybody can agree that the band’s stage performance alone is enough reason to take in this concert.  Just as important to the overall enjoyment of this concert recording is the set list chosen for the performance.  Fans won’t be disappointed at the set list chosen for the concert.  The veteran rockers included all of their fan favorites over the course of the near ninety-minute set.  From the likes of ‘I Drink Alone’ to the band’s now famous cover of John Lee Hooker’s ‘One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer’ to the Johnny Cash tribute in ‘Cocaine Blues’, the band leaves little if anything on the table.  Audiences will especially appreciate that in the tribute to the late country singer, Thorogood actually seems to channel him.  He actually sounds like Cash, vocally speaking, at points in the song.  The same can be said of his guitar work, too.  It is just one of so many high points offered throughout the course of the concert.  And it’s just one more part of what makes the recording as a whole so enjoyable for audiences of all ages.  It’s not the last, either.  The bonus interview and companion booklet included in with the DVD and Blu-ray put the finishing touch on this recording.

The songs chosen for this concert and the band’s performance collectively make up the most important and impressive part of this latest recording from Eagle Rock Entertainment and Montreux Sounds.  There is still one part of the overall presentation of this recording that puts it over the top.  That last part ifs the collective bonus interview and companion booklet.  The show’s bonus sit-down with Thorogood shows that the persona presented on stage was as real as it comes.  Audiences get even more insight into his excitement over playing Montreux at long last.  And through the show’s companion booklet, audiences get a brief history of Thorogood’s career leading up to his performance at Montreux.  Audiences will be interested to learn that along with George Thorogood and The Destroyers, ZZ Top was at Montreux this year, as were Prince, Sting, Ben Harper, Deep Purple, Leonard Cohen, and so many others.  It’s just a tiny piece of the whole history that audiences will enjoy learning in reading through the included literature.  And together with everything already mentioned, that history and the bonus interview make this presentation complete.  It all collectively makes this latest release one more huge success from Eagle Rock Entertainment and Montreux Sounds.  It is available now in stores and online and can be ordered direct from Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Live-At-Montreux-2013-Blu-ray/dp/B00FFLBXJQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1387537259&sr=1-1&keywords=george+thorogood+%26+the+destroyers+live+at+montreux+2013.  More information on this and other concerts in Eagle Rock’s ongoing Montreux series of concerts is available online at http://www.eaglerockent.com and http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt.  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 in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.