Spin That 45

So what's a reviewer to do when you know you have to be honest, especially when what you're reviewing is of some legendary people? You write it how you see it. Or in this case how you hear it. Sometimes I wish I could just be like most of the music listeners out there in the world and just appreciate music for what it is. But, it's not to be. I recently went to see several great shows at The Washington State Fair this past month. I saw Heart, Patti LaBelle, Nile Rodgers with Chic, Duran Duran, En Vogue and Kool and the Gang! With the exception of Nile Rodgers / Chic, this would be my first time seeing these great bands and artists. The majority of the acts I saw were amazing and memorable. There was at least one, that I can honestly say I'm okay not attending another one of their shows. You can read all about it  here  at Vinyl Radio's page.

  Originally featured on Inside MusiCast With the release of  Toto  1 in 1978, I was looking forward to what was coming next. Fresh out of high school in Palm Springs, CA, getting the latest in music was difficult. We had only one FM radio station. Living there was truly like living in a bowl. In order to hear new music, one had to leave the desert, out of the bowl in order to receive any kind of radio signal, whether AM or FM. MTV was still far from us. And even that would be difficult as most homes were not equipped with cable connections. I believe "99" was the first track I had heard. Although "St. George and the Dragon" had been its first release. As a teen, I knew there was something different from the moment I heard this album. So much so, that when I bought the album, I had to also purchase an 8-track copy so I could listen as I left my record store. It doesn't even need to be said that this album is timeless. To me tho, whenever I listen to this album, ...

Synth Pop / R and B / Funk duo group; Chromeo have been in the music scene since the early 2000's. These guys are frickin' fantastic!!!!! All the music I've grown up with, it seems that they've also been raised with it and taken those styles rolled it up and added their own signature sound to create some truly funky old school music.  Maybe the credit should be given to their parents?  If so, then they raised these boys right. Especially the music of Hall and Oates, Midnight Star, George Benson, Roger and Zapp, MTume, and others. The question I have asked myself over and over these last few months is "WHERE THE HECK HAVE I BEEN??????" Dang, I'd love to see these guy tours with the funk bands of the late 70's & early 80's. On this week's Vinyl Radio , I focused on Chromeo . I figured our Vinyl Radio listeners haven't checked out this great band. Although I am about 10 years too late, no matter because these guy...

"If you could read my mind love What a tale my thoughts could tell Just like an old time movie About a ghost from a wishin' well In a castle dark or a fortress strong With chains upon my feet You know that ghost is me And I will never be set free As long as I'm a ghost, you can see" Since it's release in 1970,  I've heard this classic tune by North America's Gordon Lightfoot. How many of us listen to songs like this today and never really think twice about them? Walking through the aisles of our local grocery stores or sitting in a doctor's office, songs such as this play through the speakers filling the air with music, but no one is really listening. Or are they? I decided I'd take a walk down memory lane and listen a little closer. For the rest of the story, go to Vinyl Radio NW .

Record Store Day  is today, April 18th and for my Vinyl Radio article, I wanted to pay homage by showing off treasures from my high school days.  You can read that full article here . My vinyl set up at home. I hope you will get out and support  Record Store Day ! Click here for where to go in your local area. I, personally don't care about getting some type of limited edition vinyl that RSD is promoting. I will however, be looking for a few albums that I've been thinking about and some 45's.

If you're a huge Toto fan, you've probably read the multiple reviews by now about Toto's long awaited project; Toto XIV. The majority of those reviews touch on Toto's album history, with and without Bobby Kimball, band personnel changes, albums favorites, etc. My focus?. . . is to talk about this album. PERIOD Let me just say tho, I think there are several types of Toto fans out there. . . The Hardcore who know everything about Toto from A to Z Those that think "Toto IV" is the best Toto album and no Toto LP can compare to it The "No one will ever replace Bobby Kimball" group and the "yeah, I like some of their songs and have bought an album or two" Truth be known, I stopped listening to them after "IV." Didn't mean I didn't like them, just was into other types of music. But those 4 albums were my "go to's" when I needed a "Toto fix." And remain so. And then there are the peopl...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  January 9, 2015 Andraé Crouch Funeral Arrangements Announced (LOS ANGELES, CA) A celebration of Andraé Crouch’s life will take place on Tuesday, January 20th and Wednesday, January 21st at West Angeles Church of God In Christ, located at 3045 Crenshaw Blvd in Los Angeles, California. Both services will be open to the public. Tuesday, January 20, 2015 Viewing: 4:00pm – 6:00pm Tribute Celebration: 7:00pm Wednesday, January 21, 2015 Viewing: 10:00am – 11:00am Celebration of Life: 11:00am In lieu of flowers, please send tax-deductible donations to: Andraé Crouch Memorial Fund c/o New Christ Memorial Church 13333 Vaughn Pacoima, CA 91340 www.newchristmemorial.org Cards and letters may be sent to: New Christ Memorial Church Attn.: Mauri Jones 13333 Vaughn Pacoima, CA 91340 All media requests should be directed to Brian Mayes at Nashville Publicity Group, [email protected] or 615-771-2040. All other requests can be...