John the Music Nut

John the MusicNut: Latter Day Albums: The Live Cut: Rainbow – Boston 1981 with Mike Ladano and Harrison Kopp

For only the second time in history, Harrison Kopp and Mike Ladano appear together on another show!  With Rock Daydream Nation being the first to record the pair, John the Music Nut is second to know a good team when he sees one!  In the past, Harrison and Mike have only appeared separately on other programs, such as Tim’s Vinyl Confessions, bicyclelegs and of course Rock Daydream Nation.  It pleases me greatly to finally join Harrison on another show.

The Music Nut asked Harrison and I what albums we’d be interested in covering on his series, The Live Cut?  Without much deliberation, we settled upon Boston 1981, an archival live album by Rainbow.   Featuring a personal favourite lineup, it’s Ritchie Blackmore with Joe Lynn Turner, Don Airey, Bobby Rondinelli and Roger Glover.  The Difficult To Cure tour featured a number of new songs, along with a smattering of songs from the Dio and Graham Bonnet eras, with one Deep Purple cover.  We compare the album to other Rainbow live offers, and dissect the performances by each member of the band.

This is an album that, like many, I purchased, listened to, and filed away.  It was a pleasure to dig it up and listen to it intently for a few days.

My show notes are at bottom, but please watch this awesome episode on the Music Nut Channel!

 

 

 

Spotlight Kid – Straightforward version, Joe in peak voice.  Don Airey really shows why he was the guy to replace Lord in Purple, with his organ work off the top.

Love’s No Friend –  Striking version.  First Graham track and Joe handles it just fine (if not better).  Loads of solos and Airey organ.  Joe’s vocal is very bluesy and expressive.  Roger on backing vocals?  TOP Blackmore blues solo.

I Surrender – “Harpichord” intro but a straightforward version.  Blacker’s solo is slow, low and fun.

Man On the Silver Mountain – first foray into Dio – nice Don Airey organ screech at the start.  I hate when Joe sings “take my spirits hiiiiiiigh!” but it is toned down a bit on this version.  Very short version.

Catch the Rainbow – 14 minutes.  I like Joe’s vocal take on this classic.  Don also sounds very regal. Slows down for long solo section around 6 minutes.  Blackmore plays with band for a bit and then a true solo begins unaccompanied.  Goes into Greensleeves.  Band comes crashing back in for more instrumental brilliance.  Lots of pick scrapes, awesome licks, drum fills.   Joe has a long vocal workout (“Let it shine!”) at the end.

Can’t Happen Here – Another short fire cracker, a welcome break.

Lost In Hollywood – Starts with a cool Airey solo and then Blackmore brings the riff, faster and heavier than album.  The noise solo at the end is always interesting to me in a noise-art way.

Difficult to Cure – The usual.  6:45 version.  Does all the things you expect it to do.  Long Bobby Rondinelli drum solo, nothing special.

Long Live Rock N’ Roll – Feels more melodic than the older versions.  Joe really stretches out.  Lots of jamming and instrumental work.

Smoke on the Water – Includes Lazy, Woman From Tokyo.

John the MusicNut: Latter Day Albums: Steve Earle – Washington Square Serenade with Mike Ladano

A reunion was in order!  After our very fun Live Cut episode with Robert Lawson on Steve Earle’s Shut Up and Die Like an Aviator, I hooked up with John the Music Nut once again to dig into some cool country.  The topic this time is Steve Earle’s Washington Square Serenade, a different album for him that took many by surprise.  After a move to New York city, and falling in love with singer Allison Moorer, Steve shifted gears.  Working with John King of the Dust Brothers, Earle incorporated loops and electronic elements into his music for the first time.  The results were nothing short of astounding.  “Purists” may balk at the idea, but what Earle recorded here is a very special album.

Please join John and I for an in-depth episode on this album and its contents.  In his words:

 

On the latest episode of the Latter Day Albums series, our friend Mike Ladano from @GrabAStackofRocK returns to the channel as we discuss Steve Earle’s 12th album entitled Washington Square Serenade. Released on September 25, 2007, this would be the first of several releases on New West Records and would win the Grammy award for Best Contemporary Folk/Americana album in 2008. What do you think of Steve Earle’s music as well as this album? Please let us know in the comments!

 

John the MusicNut: The Live Cut: Steve Earle – Shut Up and Die Like an Aviator with Mike Ladano and Robert Lawson

I was thrilled to be asked to join my friend John the Music Nut on his channel for the first time ever!  John has been on Grab A Stack of Rock, and we’ve both been on Tim’s Vinyl Confessions and My Music Corner among other shows, but this was my debut on his channel and it was really, really cool.  John wanted to do Steve Earle’s live album Shut Up and Die Like an Aviator for his series The Live Cut.  Since that album was partly recorded in my home town of Kitchener Ontario, I immediately said yes.  And then, something cool happened.

After posting the album cover on social media, author Robert Lawson mentioned that he was at both shows recorded for the album, and numerous other Steve Earle concerts too.  It was a no-brainer to get him on too, and it’s a good thing because Robert is the star of this episode!  He brought with him tickets stubs and merch that you won’t likely see anywhere else.  He also has so much insight and relevant stories about the album and tour, that some Wikipedia articles might need some additions and corrections now.

Don’t miss this episode which will premiere Saturday, January 24.  This is what John had to say:

On the latest edition of The Live Cut, I am joined by Mike Ladano (Grab a Stack of Rock) and author Robert Lawson as we discuss Steve Earle and the Dukes’ first live album, Shut Up and Die Like an Aviator. Released on September 17, 1991, this album features performances from October 5, 1990 at Centennial Hall in London, Ontario, Canada and the following night at Centre at the Square in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, respectively. Robert attended both of these shows and shares his stories from seeing Steve during this era. What do you think of this album as well as Steve Earle and the Dukes’ music? Please let us know in the comments! 

I will be posting my text review of the album on Sunday the 25th!

 

Tim’s Vinyl Confessions Ep. 756: Thin Lizzy (CDs)

It has been 40 years since we lost Phil Lynott.  To mark the occasion, Tim Durling recruited myself and John the Music Nut to meticulously document our Thin Lizzy CD collections on video, once and for all.  While I clearly had the biggest collection (and size does indeed matter), I still need three box sets to “complete” my Lizzy CD collection.

Please join Tim, John and myself as we go through every album one by one, and discuss the history of Thin Lizzy from the beginning right to the John Sykes and Ricky Warwick eras of the band.  We have physical CDs to marks several post-Lynott lineups, and loads of compilations and box sets too.  A truly comprehensive episode, and probably the best single-episode overview on the Lizzy discography that you’ll find on YouTube.  Enjoy!

My Music Corner: Up to the Limit Episode 14 – Accept: Blind Rage (2014)

NOTE: My text review of Blind Rage by Accept will go up in the coming days.

Johnny Metal and John the Music Nut have been breaking down, in detail, every Accept studio album.  I jumped on board with Blind Rage, the third album with Mark Tornillo.  I chose this album since I had the Japanese import and I wanted the two Johns to have a chance to cover a rare bonus track on their show.

In this episode, we break down the album track by track, with a high level of agreement between us.  The Music Nut then goes through the tour in detail, discussing all the songs that were played live, and how often.  Some are still played live today.

If you want a sneak preview into my Blind Rage review, watch this episode, as I tried something new here:  reading my review aloud (not easy).  I may have even done some singing.

Check out the show, and look for my text review in a few days.

My Music Corner: Year of the Priest – Turbo (1986 – Judas Priest series)

Johnny Metal and John the Music Nut over at My Music Corner have been relentlessly going through the Judas Priest catalogue, from Rocka Rolla to Invincible Shield.  This week they tackle the 11th Priest album Turbo.  A very divisive album:  Priest go synth!  Yet also a crucial album as it garnered them some newer, younger fans.  Where do we fall on this album?  We go through the album track by track, before the Music Nut dives deep into the Fuel For Life tour.  We talk background and fallout.

Thank you to John and Johnny for having me on.  This was a blast to record.  Good memories, good music, and good guys.

On this episode of The Year of the Priest, we look at 1986’s Turbo. This was a bit of a divisive album for Priest fans! How do we look at it?

Merry Rockin’ Christmas: Our Top Five Favourite Christmas Tunes & More on Grab A Stack of Rock

A bright end to a crummy week!  Jen is a trooper once again.  She may have taken a spill again, but as always, she insists the show must go on.  If she didn’t, then we wouldn’t have had this wonderful Friday night to remember.  Thank you Jen.

I need to thank my special co-host and guests tonight.  They all brought the lists, with Roger cheating a little bit (taking a bit from the Harrison playbook) and everyone adding a unique spin.

  • Tim Durling of Tim’s Vinyl Confessions proved to be the expert on all things Bob & Doug McKenzie, which came in handy on my #5 pick.  We also took a look at Tim’s new Y&T book, Down for the Count!  Please, get yourself a copy on Amazon.ca or your local version.
  • Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation provided an Australian pick and a number of familiar favourites.  Check out Peter’s channel for an interview with Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, and many awesome videos.  He is also one of the contributor’s to Tim’s new book.
  • John Clauser of My Music Corner surprised us all with some great picks, some obscure ones, and one very special #1.  I did not see this one coming.
  • John the Music Nut, Clauser’s co-captain, also provided some brilliant and unique picks this evening.  John recently contributed to Tim’s Y&T book as well.
  • Metal Roger went outside the box on a number of picks, and also provided comedy relief for pretty much the entire night!
  • Additionally, we have some excellent lists from Harrison Kopp and Uncle Meat.  These provided some great discussion topics.

As far as physical product goes, we saw some mail-order-only Marillion and a very cool lenticular album cover that I must acquire somehow.

Merry Christmas one and all!  This is the last show before the big day, as the 22nd is a night off for Jen’s birthday.  Don’t worry though – we have a re-run scheduled, of a great show from the summer:  Arkells appreciation with Aaron and Nurse Kat.

Enjoy!

A very special Christmas to my “forever” friend @manda_runs_and_swims.  Write me!

Merry Rockin’ Christmas: Our Top Five Favourite Christmas Tunes & More on Grab A Stack of Rock

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man

Episode 44:  Our Top Five Favourite Christmas Tunes

Are you ready for Christmas?  If not, our cast of characters will provide for you the Top Five best Christmas songs that you need to play this year.  We searched far and wide for the best of the best of the best, so please welcome our crew this week:

  • Special guest co-host:  Tim Durling of Tim’s Vinyl Confessions!  We will also be unboxing his latest book, Down For the Count, all about Y&T…who never recorded a Christmas song to my knowledge!
  • Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation
  • John Clauser of My Music Corner
  • John the Music Nut, Clauser’s co-captain and first timer on Grab A Stack of Rock
  • Metal Roger

There will also be surprises afoot!

Grab your egg nog and get ready to party with us.  We’ll bring you a jolly good time tonight.

LIVE Friday Dec 15 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

My Music Corner: Album Battle – John Bush Edition – Symbol of Salvation (Armored Saint) vs. Sound of White Noise (Anthrax)

I’ve been busy!  But I’ve wanted to work with John Clauser for a long time, so when Symbol of Salvation came up in his Armored Saint series, I asked to be included.

I almost bit off more than I could chew!  In the same week I had Grab A Stack of Rock and an episode of Grant’s Rock Warehaus.  Not to mention, studying up for the Anthrax/Armored Saint battle!  After immersing myself in the music for a few days, I think we came up with an interesting and thoughtful discussion.

Praise for John Bush was universal.  Which album do you like better?

Join Johnny Metal, John the Music Nut, Roger & myself for this thrashin’ discussion!