St. Paul Peterson is best known as the keyboard player that replaced Jimmy Jam for Morris Day and the time. Discovered by Prince as a teenager, Peterson is know a much in demand session player having tickled the ivories for the likes of Steve Miller, Stevie Wonder, Boy George, Lionel Richie and many others.
Category: Artists We Like
Song of the Day: The Delines Cheer Up Charley
“Cheer Up Charley” is one of the character sketches that the Delines deliver up with their latest Gem of an album, The Imperial. Charley is a day drinker trying to recover from a wife that has left him and a dead end job on the docks. Willy Vlautin really knows his way around a song. Singer Amy Boone wrings every bit of emotion out of a song that have fight right in on a Tom Waits record.
Song of the Day: Old Sea Brigade – Ode To A Friend
Nashville by way of Atlanta musician Ben Cramer under his stage name Old Sea Brigade has crafted a highly atmospheric record that has tinges of Folk and Americana in its DNA. Highly addictive stuff.
Song of the Day: Joe Jackson – Strange Land
It has been a while since we heard from Joe Jackson. It is good to see him back. The new record, Fool, comes out on January 18th. He has released three songs for your listening pleasure so far. Based on these gems the album will be a beauty.
Five Cool Ones: Five Bands we missed in 2018
As per usual, once we close the books for one year, a bunch of new records grab our attention and demand some ear time. It was an outstanding year for Rock and Roll with The Record Company, DeWolff, All Them Witches, and many more delivering the goods and then some. Here are 5 more bands that you need to know about that you may have missed.
Roxanne
Not only is Roxanne a perfect band name, their new record, Radio Silence, is pretty much a perfect album. Released 30 years after their self-titled debut look for shades of Warrant, Queen, Foreigner and Night Ranger.
Dorothy
Classy L.A. Rockers fronted by a powerhouse singer Dorothy Martin. 28 Days in the Valley is a scorcher of an album.
Station
Vintage 80’s hair metal vibing at the finest level. If you like Def Leppard, Skid Row, or Swedish darlings H.E.A.T. you will love this band.
Joyous Wolf
Having appropriately teased us with a single in 2018, Mississippi Queen/Slow hand, we can only wait and wonder what is in store for us. If their hair on fire version of the Mountain classic is any indication, we are in for a Rock and Roll treat.
The Cold Stares
One of the best Blues Rock duos in the game today. Fusing smoky Southern Blues with Alternative Rock, all systems go for this band if the new record Mountain is any indication. Just hope you make it out alive.
Five Cool Ones: Five Cool Albums That Should Have Been On Our Year End List
As happens after year, after a bit of reflection, there end up to be a lot of worthy, highly listenable records that somehow miss our top album list. This year Paul Simon, Soccer Mommy, The Tuneyards, Belle and Sebastian all could have made our list. Here are five notal records that probably should have made the cut.
Gruff Rhys – Babelsberg
The Super Furry Animals front man jumps out front and center with his first record in four years. A timeless beauty that features a 72 piece orchestra, these are all great tunes that would have fit quite nicely on your 80’s playlist right alongside Yes and The Alan Parsons Project.
Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
Somewhat a deliberate omission, that decison is beginning to feel very regreatable after a couple of post New Year spins of this one. The vibe is very different from your standard Monkey’s fare, Bowie goes to the moon. Pure dancing on the ceiling bliss.
Shame – Songs of Praise
One heck of a live band, London Post Punk rockers Shame deliver an arena-ready set of tracks that will set your hair on fire. Enter at your own risk.
Spiritualized – And Nothing Hurt
We should have known this one was going to be a cracker, all of his records are great. “Let’s Dance” and “The Morning After” are melodic stunners with a definite Brian Wilson influence.
Tracyanne & Danny – Tracyanne & Danny
Camera Obscura’s Tracyanne Cambell returns with a set of sweet sounding pop nuggets with partner Danny Coughlan. Full of lush strings and 60’s Nancy and Lee vibes, this one is a gently euphoric listen.
Song of the Day: Yola – Faraway Look
The album does not come out until February but here is another first look of what you will be hearing. With a 70’s vibe that will have you digging out your Roberta Flack records, this one is a stunner.
Live Video of the Day: Beth Hart -Baby Shot Me Down
We can’t think of a better way to get the new year cranking up than to start with Beth Hart’s scorching live version. This is from her Live at the Albert Hall release. It is very much worth checking out.
Video of the Day: All Them Witches – Diamond
All Them Witches is one of the better new Rock bands coming out of Nashville. Their new record ATW is out now.
Playlist of the Day: Putting the Muscle in Muscle Shoals
In listening to a lot of diverse styles of music it is amazing how many of the albums that are the soundtrack of your life have been recorded at 3614 Jackson Highway, Muscle Shoals, Alabama. There have been so many albums record in the iconic studio from Dylan’s Slow Train Coming, Willies, Phases and Stages, and even Paul Simon’s There Goes Rhymin’ Simon, that this playlist is probably more notable for what has not been included than for what I have selected here. I am contractually liable to keeping the playlist at the mandated 15 songs. Mixing it up a bit with the new school “Call Me” courtesy of St. Paul and the Broken Bones, the Jimmy Cliff classic “Sitting in Limbo,” and J.J. Cales “Lies” are also included. The Muscle Shoals band plays on most of these songs. “Hey, Jude” is worth the price of admission alone.
It is guaranteed that you will have many “of course it was” moments any time you find out one of your favorite tunes was recorded in Muscle Shoals.
01. Muscle Shoals Nitty Gritty – Herbie Mann
02. Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones
03. I’ll Take You There – The Staple Singers
04. Hey Jude Wilson Picket
05. What’s Your Name – Lynyrd Skynyrd
06. Call Me – St.Paul and the Broken Bones
07. Tell Mama – Etta James
08. We’ve Got Tonight – Bob Seger
09. Sitting in Limbo – Jimmy Cliff
10. Dorothy Monroe – Misty Blue
11. Lies – J.J. Cale
12. Gotta Serve Somebody – Bob Dylan
13. Take A Letter, Maria – R.B. Greaves
14. Sweet Soul Music – Arthur Conley
15. Yeah Man – Eddie Hinton
Rock Is The New Roll 