Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Eric Stewart - Do Not Bend

Strawberry Records ~224 Kbbs VBR
CD original released in 2003

In 1995 10cc released their final studio album "Mirror Mirror". The Album flops and Eric Stewart has no interest in milking the band's name any longer and goes solo. Eric took a little time to write and record (about 8 years...) and did make a return with this solo album "Do Not Bend", released in April of 2003.

This is his first solo album since 1982's "Frooty Rooties". Eric got help on background vocals but otherwise he does all the vocals and plays all the instruments.

Eric Stewart – vocals, guitar, bass, piano, synthesiser, drums and percussion, steel drums, brass / Sam Brown – backing vocals / Helen McRobbie – backing vocals / Louise Marshall – backing vocals

tracks:
You Can't Take It With You / A Friend In Need / The Gods Are Smiling / Fred and Dis-Audrey / I Will Love You Tomorrow / Sleeping With The Ghosts / Rappin' With Yves / Norman Conquest II / No No Nettie / Mr. Decadent / Do The Books / Set In Blancmange / A Human, Being / You Are Not Me



For those who downloaded Eric Stewart's GIRLS: There were two tracks missing! I've added them. Read the comments in the original post.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Herbie Armstrong
Back Against The Wall

- CD rip, 320 kbbs / Label: MMC
Released in 1983.
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Now Herbie is running a Restaurant together with his Swedish-born wife Elizabeth, in Hampshirecalled The Fountain Inn & Thai Restaurant but once Herbie was a great musician.
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Herbie's steps in music are very closely related to Van Morrison. It starts in 1964 when Herbie and Van played together in The Manhattan Showband and in Brian Rossi and the Golden Eagles. Van Morrison left to form Them, and asked Herbie to go with him, but Herbie stayed instead but they were re-united when Them stopped and Van starts making soloalbums. In the 70's and 80's Herbie plays on Van Morrison's albums. Herbie also played in Fox. They had hits in the 70's with "Only You Can", "Imagine Me, Imagine You" and "He's got Magic".
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On "Back Against The Wall" are some great musicians:
Herbie Armstrong (vocals, guitar)
Patrick O'Hearn (bass)
Pee Wee Ellis (sax)
Mark Isham (trumpet, keyboards)
Peter Van Hooke (drums)
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Tracklisting:
1 LOSING YOU - 2 HORSES OF STEAM - 3 YOU TAKE ME UP - 4 FRIDAY'S CHILD - 5 BACK AGAINST THE WALL - 6 HEAVEN ONLY KNOWS - 7 JOSIE - 8 LET IT RUN - 9 SAVE THE LAST DANCE - 10 COMING IN FROM THE RAIN
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Saturday, August 09, 2008

Micky Dolenz
Broadway Micky

Kid Rhino - R2 71676
CD-Rip 320 Kbbs
Released 1994

Micky Dolenz's follow up of his 1991's "Micky Dolenz Puts You to Sleep" album. This time more uptempo songs. This long lost album is chocked full of Broadway & Hollywood show tunes but luckely Micky doesn't copy the original versions. The songs all have new arrangements and Micky sings them if he wrote them himself (he must have learned that from his old master, Harry Nilsson).

Strangely enough most reviews tells you that Micky was not able to duplicate the wonderful spirit from "puts you to sleep" but I'm sure the reviewers haven't listen to this album once.
The songs are wonderful, the arrangements are great. Dolenz's voice is pleasant and diverse. You will love his take on these classic songs.

tracks:
01 Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (Sherman) / 02 Talk to the Animals (Bricusse) / 03 Somewhere Out There (Horner, Mann, Weil) / 04 Put on a Happy Face (Adams, Strouse) / 05 You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile (Charnin, Strouse) / 06 Never Ending Story (Forsey, Moroder) / 07 My Favorite Things (Hammerstein, Rodgers) / 08 Ease on Down the Road (Smalls) / 09 I Whistle a Happy Tune (hammerstein, Rodgers) / 10 Chim Chim Cheree (Sherman, Sherman) / 11 Me and My Arrow (Nilsson) / 12 When You Wish Upon a Star (Harline, Washington)