Various Artists – True Blues (2013)

Various Artists
True Blues
Telarc, 2013
52 minutes

“Blues is the blueprint. It’s the foundation of all contemporary music, no matter where you go.” Corey Harris speaks the truth.

On True Blues, Telarc brings together six talented and timeless blues acts: Harris, The Taj Mahal Trio, Shemekia Copeland, Guy Davis, Alvin Youngblood Hart and Phil Wiggins. These artists attack the listener’s emotions with heartfelt songs, including the classics “Hoochie Coochie Man,” “Motherless Children Have a Hard Time,” and “Gallows Pole.” Copeland, the daughter of blues legend Johnny Clyde Copeland, delivers a heart-wrenching performance on “Bring Your Fine Self Home.” Phil Wiggins and Alvin Youngblood Hart likewise pull on the heartstrings with “Roberta.”

True Blues was recorded live at various venues throughout the United States, and a companion DVD is planned for a summer release. The compact disc is perfect for any fan of the blues, and would be a good primer for introducing younger music lovers to this genre that is, as Copeland says, “constantly evolving and growing.”

View the trailer for True Blues:

Tracklist:
1. Hoochie Coochie Man (Guy Davis, Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Phil Wiggins)
2. Motherless Children Have A Hard Time (Alvin Youngblood Hart)
3. Everybody Got To Change Sometime (Corey Harris)
4. Done Changed My Way Of Living (The Taj Mahal Trio)
5. Saturday Blues (Guy Davis)
6. Bring Your Fine Self Home (Shemekia Copeland with Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Phil Wiggins)
7. Roberta (Phil Wiggins with Alvin Youngblood Hart)
8. C.C. Pill Blues (Corey Harris)
9. Prayers and Praises (Phil Wiggins)
10. Gallows Pole (Alvin Youngblood Hart)
11. That’s No Way To Get Along (Guy Davis)
12. Mailbox Blues (The Taj Mahal Trio)
13. Ramblin’ On My Mind (Shemekia Copeland, Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Phil Wiggins)

Learn more about Telarc.

Purchase True Blues.

Fun Cards Submissions: 1984 O-Pee-Chee Joey Votto All-Star (corrected) and 1984 Nestle Joey Votto

TWJ contributor Patrick inadvertently forgot the French on his Joey Votto All-Star/étoile “fun card” yesterday, and quickly corrected it. He also included the “Nestle” version of the Topps card, sans French.

According to Wikipedia (and when has Wikipedia ever been wrong?) the Nestle cards were available as a send away premium from the confectioners, and were cut down to size in the aftermarket. Does anyone have trustworthy verification on that? I have a handful of Nestle cards, and they don’t look hand-cut to me.

Fun Cards Submissions: 1984 O-Pee-Chee Joey Votto + All-Star!

Were you beginning to wonder where TWJ contributor Patrick had gone? Computer issues had kept him from submitting anything recently, but I was very glad to open my e-mail today and see a message from him. He attached a couple of 1984 O-Pee-Chee “fun cards” of Canadian Joey Votto for our enjoyment, as well as another Red from long ago that will be posted later this week.

Above we have the 1984 O-Pee Chee regular design, which looks exactly like Topps with the exception of the brand name in the upper right hand corner. Of course, the back would include all sorts of French words that I can’t pronounce.

Below is the All-Star card for Cincinnati’s favorite first baseman since Pete Rose. (Apologies to Sean Casey and Hal Morris.) Some years, the front would include a French translation of All-Star (étoile) and the position (premier-but). I just tried to say those words out loud and I’m sure a Canadian would have laughed hysterically at me.

This is not the first time Votto has appeared on a 1984-style baseball card. In 2003, the Dayton Dragons styled their team set after the iconic Topps design. Check out Votto’s card from that set at the Ohio Cards blog.

Last year, Topps Archives included several modern players on classic designs, including 1984. Votto was in that set, but he appeared on a 1971-style card. The Reds in that set that showed up on the 1984 design were Johnny Cueto and Jay Bruce.

Thanks for another great submission, Patrick! We look forward to more!

R.I.P. Ray Manzarek

(February 12, 1939 – May 20, 2013)

Keyboardist and co-founder of The Doors, Ray Manzarek passed away today after battling bile duct cancer.

The Doors were a huge influence on me as a teenager and young twenty-something. There was a time when I listed The Doors first when rattling off my favorite bands.

JT’s Ultimate Mixtape: Mötley Crüe edition

Last year, while celebrating the release of Van Halen’s A Different Kind Of Truth, I decided to make a list of my favorite song from each VH album. It was a fun exercise, and one that I had planned to revisit with several other favorite bands…but like many other projects and ideas, it was pushed to the side and all but forgotten.

All but.

Today, I’m resurrecting that idea with another band that I love to listen to, and love to see in concert, the one and only Mötley Crüe. A few rules that I will generally try to stick to:

• Every studio album must be represented by one and only one song.
• That song does not have to be an official “single” released by the band to promote said album.
• Compilation albums can be included, but only songs that are new, previously unreleased, or remixes of songs from prior albums are eligible for the list.
• Live albums are a waste of time. There are exceptions to this rule, but not in the case of Mötley Crüe.

So without further ado, here is JT’s Ultimate Mixtape: Mötley Crüe edition…

1. “Too Fast For Love” (Too Fast for Love, 1981)
2. “Looks That Kill” (Shout at the Devil, 1983)
3. “Home Sweet Home” (Theatre of Pain, 1985)
4. “Wild Side” (Girls, Girls, Girls, 1987)
5. “Dr. Feelgood” (Dr. Feelgood, 1989)
6. “Primal Scream” (Decade of Decadence, 1991)
7. “Hooligan’s Holiday” (Mötley Crüe, 1994)
8. “Bittersuite” (Quaternary, 1994)
9. “Afraid” (Generation Swine, 1997)
10. “Bitter Pill” (Greatest Hits, 1998)
11. “New Tattoo” (New Tattoo, 2000)
12. “If I Die Tomorrow” (Red, White, & Crue, 2005)
13. “Face Down In The Dirt” (Saints of Los Angeles, 2008)

Of course, every album has to have some “bonus tracks,” right? So here are some possible “bonus tracks” for the Mötley Crüe Ultimate Mixtape:

1. Mötley Crüe “Teaser” (Stairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell, 1989)
2. The Dudes Of Wrath “Shocker” (Shocker soundtrack, 1989)
3. Vince Neil “You’re Invited (But Your Friend Can’t Come)” (Encino Man soundtrack, 1992, and Exposed, 1993)
4. The Brides Of Destruction “Only Get So Far” (Here Come the Brides, 2004)
5. Crashdïet “Alone” (The Unattractive Revolution, 2007)
6. Sixx:A.M. “Life Is Beautiful” (The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack, 2007)
7. Methods Of Mayhem “Louder” (A Public Disservice Announcement, 2010)
8. John Corabi “Loveshine” (Unplugged, 2012)

Not a bad tracklisting in my opinion. I skipped over a few of the band’s compilations, and no live music is included here; also missing some key tracks from the band’s career, but this list represents my favorite song from each album, and throws a bit of attention to the members’ side projects. How does your list differ?

The Family Doodle Book, illustrations by Melissa Averinos (2013)

The Family Doodle Book
illustrations by Melissa Averinos
Adams Media, 2013
144 pages

A nice balance between writing and drawing, The Family Doodle Book provides dozens of prompts to get children and parents sharing their ideas. Each prompt gives space on the left for the artist to write not only what is going to be drawn, but why. The right side is reserved for the art itself, and families can share that space to create something special together.

Designing trophies, drawing favorite flowers, illustrating something gross that a woman is about to step into—there are several different types of prompts to guide your doodles. This is a great project to get parents and kids to sit down and spend some time together.

Learn more about Adams Media.

Purchase The Family Doodle Book, illustrations by Melissa Averinos.

Ronnie James Dio died three years ago

It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago when we lost the heavy metal legend Ronnie James Dio. On May 16, 2010, he succumbed to stomach cancer.

Read this interview with former Dio drummer Simon Wright about Dio.

At the time of Ronnie’s passing, I was still hosting the Hard Rock Nights radio program and had the opportunity to speak with some musicians that had worked with him. You can hear those interviews below:

Rowan Robertson:

Tracy G:

Robert Sarzo:

Chuck Garric:

Finally, remember the music of Ronnie James Dio with three of my favorite songs featuring his voice…

The Sketchbook Project Journal by Steven Peterman & Shane Zucker (2013)

The Sketchbook Project Journal
by Steven Peterman & Shane Zucker
Potter Style, 2013
192 pages

Do you like to draw? Whether you are a doodler or an aspiring artist looking for inspiration, The Sketchbook Project Journal is a fun way to get your creative juices flowing. Just a few words are shown on each page, and you are expected to take that idea—that theme—and run with it. Examples include “Superheroes in Everyday Clothes,” “Friends of Friends,” and “Arrival.” Such broad themes could easily be interpreted thousands of ways, and that is exactly what will make this sketchbook so unique to each artist.

Learn more about Potter Style.

Purchase The Sketchbook Project Journal by Steven Peterman & Shane Zucker

Fun Cards: 1984 Topps Tony Cingrani

Is this guy getting any attention around the league? In 28 innings, Tony Cingrani has struck out 37 batters and boasts a 2-0 record with a 2.89 ERA. Not bad for a rookie, huh?

As I was searching for images to use on the card, I came across a couple of other very nicely done customs at the RedsZone forums. A user with the screenname “fordman” posted a 1987 Topps with an All-Star Rookie trophy and a 1981 Topps Prospects card with Billy Hamilton and Derrick Robinson. He has created several other awesome “replica” custom cards…you just have to search through the RedsZone forum to find them!

The Plot Whisperer: Book of Writing Prompts by Martha Alderson (2013)

The Plot Whisperer: Book of Writing Prompts
by Martha Alderson
Adams Media, 2013
240 pages

Sometimes you need a little push to put words down on paper (or on the computer screen). Author Martha Alderson provides 120 affirmation, plot and writing prompts to help stalled writers achieve their goals. The prompts in The Plot Whisperer: Book of Writing Prompts are designed to help the novelist, but can easily be adapted to other long-form writing as well.

If you find yourself stuck, unable to get over a particular hump in your story or screenplay, pick up a copy of The Plot Whisperer: Book of Writing Prompts to jump-start your storyline.

Learn more about Adams Media.

Purchase The Plot Whisperer: Book of Writing Prompts by Martha Alderson.

Fun Cards: 1984 Topps Josh Reddick

Requested by Coco Crisp’s Afro, here’s Oakland outfielder Josh Reddick in the 1984 Topps style.

Random Awesomeness (part 138)

• Announcing The Peter Cushing Centennial Blogathon: May 25-31, 2013 [Frankensteinia]
• When Players Had Off-Season Jobs [Bob Lemke's Blog]
• Tom Keifer – The Way Life Goes (2013) [Hard Rock Hideout]
• Random Topps Card of the Day: 1983 Topps #269 Ron Oester [bdj610's Topps Baseball Card Blog]
• 1967 Topps Tony Perez All Star MVP [Cards That Never Were]
• Tracii Guns Unveils First Video With League Of Gentlemen Project [Sleaze Roxx]
• Gas pump prank turns couple into Internet sensation [MSN Now] (JT sez: You’ve probably already seen this, because EVERYONE has posted it on Facebook already…but it’s still awesome)

Purchase Def Leppard – Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection.

Fun Cards: 1984 Topps Shin-Soo Choo

My youngest son has been after me for a few days to make a Shin-Soo Choo card for him, so I used some of my spare time this weekend and slapped the centerfielder on a 1984 Topps design, one of my favorites from the 1980s.

Free concert alert Cincinnati!

Kopecky Family Band and He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister are putting on a free show at MOTR Pub tonight in Cincinnati! If you don’t already have plans…you do now!

Check out Kopecky Family Band “Heartbeat”:

Purchase Kopecky Family Band – Kids Raising Kids.

Check out He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister “Same Old Ground”

Purchase He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister – Nobody Dances In This Town.

Fun Cards: 2013 Topps Ted Kluszewski

I’m kinda proud of this one. I took an old black and white photograph and colorized it in Photoshop. It’s not perfect, but I’m happy with it.

Ted Kluszewski doesn’t get enough respect in my opinion. The dude was a monster. In a four-year span from 1953 through 1956, Big Klu smashed 171 home runs and drove in 464 runs, all while holding a .315 batting average. He made the All-Star team those four years, and in 1954 he finished second to Willie Mays in MVP voting.

For perspective, consider some other great four-year stretches…

• Willie Mays, 1962-1965: 186 home runs / 467 RBI / .308 BA
• Albert Pujols, 2003-2006: 179 / 501 / .338
• Mickey Mantle, 1958-1961: 167 / 394 / .295
• Hank Aaron, 1960-1963: 163 / 504 / .315
• Prince Fielder, 2007-2010: 162 / 445 / .281

Of course, four years does not a Hall of Famer make. Injuries beset Kluszewski, and he finished his career with 279 home runs and 1028 RBI. Still, during that four-year stretch, he must have been fun to watch at old Crosley Field.

John Corabi – Unplugged (2012)

John Corabi
Unplugged
Rat Pak Records, 2012
65 minutes

Hard rock vocalist John Corabi has released his first solo recording, an acoustic collection of new songs and classics from his former bands. Corabi treats listeners to three songs originally recorded by The Scream (“Father, Mother, Son,” “Man In The Moon,” “I Never Loved Her Anyway”), two Mötley Crüe songs (“Hooligan’s Holiday,” “Loveshine”), and two Union tracks (“Love (I Don’t Need It Anymore),” “Everything’s Alright”) in addition to five new compositions.

Corabi’s voice has never sounded better as he attacks these songs with a vengeance, and his gritty tone sounds fantastic on top of the acoustic guitars. Joining him are D.A. Karkos (guitar), Topher Nolen (bass), Cheney Brannon (percussion), and Matt Farley (percussion). The chemistry these five musicians possess is evident in every song. Corabi’s Union bandmate and former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick also contributes his abilities to two songs on the album, but not the songs you might expect. Rather than playing lead on the Union songs, Kulick is featured on “Man In The Moon” and “Hooligan’s Holiday.”

All in all, John Corabi’s Unplugged is a fresh take on some great songs, and the new tunes fit right in with the same vibe. The best of the new tracks is “If I Had A Dime,” with “If I Never Get To Say Goodbye” a close second. It’s great to hear a few Corabi classics again as well, and the band truly shines on “Father, Mother, Son” and “I Never Loved Her Anyway.” Fans of acoustic rock and “unplugged” versions of familiar songs will love this record.

Tracklist:
1. Love (I Don’t Need It Anymore)
2. If I Never Get To Say Goodbye
3. Are You Waiting
4. Crash
5. Everything’s Alright
6. Father, Mother, Son
7. Hooligan’s Holiday
8. If I Had A Dime
9. Loveshine
10. Man In The Moon
11. Open Your Eyes
12. I Never Loved Her Anyway
13. Bonus Interview Track

Learn more about Rat Pak Records.

Purchase John Corabi – Unplugged.

Fun Cards: 2013 Topps “Nasty Boys”

There is a lot of hoopla surrounding the duo of Jonathan Broxton and Aroldis Chapman in the Reds’ bullpen, but they are not as exciting as the 1990 “Nasty Boys” bullpen featuring Norm Charlton, Rob Dibble, and Randy Myers. When the Reds traded John Franco in December ’89, I thought all was lost. But Myers’ personality was a better fit for the Cincinnati bullpen, and Lou Piniella was able to get the best out of his famous trio as the Reds went wire-to-wire and swept the Oakland A’s in the 1990 World Series.

LITA FORD Premieres Video at USA TODAY

The reigning queen of Hard Rock Lita Ford has teamed up with USA TODAY for an exclusive premiere of the new video for her single “Mother”. The song comes from Ford’s latest solo effort Living Like a Runaway that was released last summer on Steamhammer/SPV. The video was directed by former Runaway Victory Tischler-Blue. Head over to www.usatoday.com and get a first look at “Mother”.

Lita commented on the video and the song “Mother”:

Mother is my song to my beautiful sons. I know they will see the truth one day. They will always have a place in my heart, which bleeds for them through this song.

Lita will be on the road in the coming weeks, a complete list of dates can be found below.

Lita teamed up with producer Gary Hoey and lyricist Michael Dan Ehmig to work on Living Like a Runaway. Together the team invested a lot of time and effort into this kick ass project: “We worked on the lyrics intensively to really give the songs a lot of meaning and that special emotional depth. I think that these are some of the best lyrics ever, period.” Ford is referring to numbers such as ‘Devil In My Head,’ ‘Hate,’ and ‘The Asylum’ which see her bare her soul in a way which she has never done before.

LITA FORD Live:
5/23: Melbourne, Australia @ Prince of Wales Bandroom
5/25: Sydney, Australia @ Factory Theater
6/8: Vernal, UT @ Thunder Rocks @ Western Park
6/24: New York, NY @ Iridium Jazz Club (Lita Salutes Les Paul – 2 Shows)
6/29: Norfolk, NE @ Music Fest 2013 w/Bret Michaels and Vince Neil
7/13: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot w/Ratt
7/24: Gothenburg, Sweden @ Sticky Fingers
7/25: Malmo, Sweden @ KB
7/26: Rejmyre, Sweden @ Skogsrojet Festival
7/27: Jevanaker, Norway @ The Untouchables
8/7: Sturgis, SD @ Sturgis Bike Rally
8/15: Mankato, MN @ Stond Amphitheater w/Dokken, Sebastian Bach and Ratt
8/16: Moline, IL @ I Wireless Center w/Dokken, Sebastian Bach and Ratt
8/17: Chicago, IL @ Congress Theater w/Dokken, Sebastian Bach and Ratt
8/18: Kalamazoo, MI @ Wings Stadium w/ Dokken, Sebastian Bach and Ratt
8/23: Viroqua, WI @ Vernon County Fairgrounds “Jamming for the Vets”
9/14: Hinckley, MN @ Grand Casino Hinckley w/Dokken, Skid Row and Ratt

For More Information Please Visit:
litafordonline.com
facebook.com/litaofficial
twitter.com/litaford
spv.de

Purchase Lita Ford – Living Like a Runaway.

Photoset: Cincinnati Reds vs. Atlanta Braves (May 7, 2013 @ Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati OH)

An exciting game with two bottom-of-the-ninth homers from pinch hitter Devin Mesoraco and centerfielder Shin-Soo Choo giving the Reds a walk-off victory over the Atlanta Braves. We didn’t get free pizza, but we got a great game.

Homer Bailey

Photoset: Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame (May 6, 2013)

My wife and I took the short trip to Cincinnati yesterday to visit the Reds Hall of Fame and renew our annual membership. It’s a great place to visit, and the perks that the team gives members more than pays for the price of the package.

There are two very nice exhibits on display right now, one displaying autographs of almost everyone who ever wore a Reds uniform, and the second honors Joe Morgan, one of the greatest second basemen in history. Several photos can be found after the jump…