Category Archives: music
JT’s Ultimate Mixtape: Aerosmith covered edition
One of the greatest American rock bands of all time, Aerosmith raised the bar for hard rockers in the 1970s and shocked the music world with a massive comeback in the late 1980s. More than three years ago, I gave the band the “Ultimate Mixtape” treatment, picking my favorite song from each album released by the group.
Countless artists have offered up their renditions of the Bad Boys of Boston’s greatest hits. In this Ultimate Mixtape, I will attempt to collate some of the greatest and most interesting Aerosmith songs covered by other bands. I’m sticking only to officially released songs, and my personal preference is to avoid live versions. While tribute albums are fair game, only one song per tribute is allowed on this compilation. Further, no artists will be duplicated, and each song will only be represented once. So hit play on the YouTube videos below, click the links to buy some records, and rock out like you’ve never rocked out before!
JT’s Ultimate Mistape: Aerosmith covered edition
- “Walk This Way” (Run DMC, Raising)
- “Sweet Emotion” (Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon, Sixty Six Steps)
- “Dream On” (Ronnie James Dio and Yngwie Malmsteen, Not The Same Old Song & Dance)
- “Toys in the Attic” (R.E.M., Dead Letter Office)
- “Same Ol’ Song and Dance” (Black ‘n Blue, Without Love)
- “Seasons of Wither” (Tesla, Real to Reel, Vol. 2)
- “Draw the Line” (Testament, Signs of Chaos: The Best of Testament)
- “Back in the Saddle” (Sebastian Bach featuring Axl Rose, Angel Down)
- “Rock in a Hard Place (Cheshire Cat)” (Puny Human, Revenge is Easy)
- “SOS (Too Bad)” (Eric Singer Project, ESP)
- “Fever” (Garth Brooks, Fresh Horses)
- “Cryin'” (Otis Clay, Sweet Emotion: Songs of Aerosmith – Blues on Fire)
- “Living in the Fridge” (Weird Al Yankovic, Alapalooza)
Goodbye, Troy Gentry
(April 5, 1967 – September 8, 2017)
Country music singer Troy Gentry died today in a helicopter crash in New Jersey. The Montgomery-Gentry star was born in Lexington, and the duo was honored by the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2015.
We are absolutely heartbroken over the passing of #Opry Member Troy Gentry. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/sNK8rFl7UV
— Grand Ole Opry (@opry) September 8, 2017
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/Pbm60ZgUwT
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) September 8, 2017
Rest in peace, Troy Gentry. We are absolutely heartbroken 💔 https://t.co/JuGgUyd8Bg pic.twitter.com/ny8mOCBmGR
— CMT (@CMT) September 8, 2017
Sad about Don Williams but Troy Gentry was my friend. I had great times with him. I'm stunned, angry and upset at the moment. I'll miss you.
— Shooter Jennings (@ShooterJennings) September 8, 2017
This is very sad news. Troy was very kind to me and @amandashires when we met a few months back. Heartbreaking. https://t.co/YFxWfdoIni
— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) September 8, 2017
I'm in total shock and disbelief over the news that my friend Troy Gentry was just killed in a helicopter crash!!! I just saw him days ago!
— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) September 8, 2017
God bless you Troy Gentry. Heartbroken and in disbelief.
— Brad Paisley (@BradPaisley) September 8, 2017
Just heard about Troy Gentry… I literally have no words. Have known him for years and played so many shows with him and Eddie… #prayers
— ChrisYoungMusic (@ChrisYoungMusic) September 8, 2017
The world changed today. Country music lost both a Friend and a Hero. Troy Gentry and Don Williams, you both will be dearly missed..
— Lee Brice (@leebrice) September 8, 2017
So sad. I never saw @T_RoyMG that he didn't have a smile on his face. Love and prayers. #RIPTroyGentry pic.twitter.com/Q7QuQkKRaI
— Rodney Atkins (@RodneyAtkins) September 8, 2017
The band and I so sad to hear about Troy Gentry. We were just with them boys two weeks ago. God bless him and his family and band family.
— SammyKershaw (@SammyKershaw) September 8, 2017
BREAKING: Montgomery Gentry's Troy Gentry killed in a helicopter crash. https://t.co/xXVYrQ9wPm @mgunderground pic.twitter.com/C2GH8X5dTt
— Cody Alan (@cmtcody) September 8, 2017
Goodbye, Glen Campbell
(April 22, 1936 – August 8, 2017)
Country Music Hall of Famer and Grammy Award winner Glen Campbell passed away today. He suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. The iconic singer sold more than 45 million records in his career, which began in the early 1960s. His final studio recording, Adiós, was released this June.
Thank you Glen Campbell for sharing your talent with us for so many years
May you rest in peace my friend
You will never be forgotten— Charlie Daniels (@CharlieDaniels) August 8, 2017
I'm very broken up to hear about my friend Glen Campbell. An incredible musician and an even better person. I'm at a loss. Love & Mercy.
— Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) August 8, 2017
Glen Campbell… The artist. The songwriter. The musician. The man. Music will never be the same. Missing the Rhinestone Cowboy already!
— Darius Rucker (@dariusrucker) August 8, 2017
Glen Campbell was one of the greatest voices of all time. I will always love you, Glen! pic.twitter.com/LQFEWA42lF
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) August 8, 2017
Our condolences to the family of Glen Campbell, who joined us at Game 6 of the 1985 World Series for a performance of the National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/KExoz9pnv6
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 8, 2017
RIP
Glen Campbell, Singer Who Beautifully Blended Country and Pop, Dies at 81 https://t.co/6Gp2lSY0Dj via @thr— Tom Holland (@RealTomHolland) August 8, 2017
RIP my dear old friend Glen Campbell. Music has lost a giant of a man & a talent. I shall be forever grateful for everything he did for me.
— Anne Murray (@annemurray1) August 8, 2017
Dear Glen Campbell Rest In Peace As well as your incredible musical abilities you were one of the most down to earth ppl I have ever known.
— Peter Frampton (@peterframpton) August 8, 2017
Goodbye, Chester Bennington
(March 20, 1976 – July 20, 2017)
Linkin Park frontman and former Stone Temple Pilots singer Chester Bennington’s body was discovered this morning at his home in California. He died of apparent suicide by hanging. Linkin Park was set to embark on a tour beginning next week, and had just released a video for their new single, “Talking To Myself,” this morning.
JT’s Ultimate Mixtape: Pearl Jam edition
It took me a long time to warm up to Pearl Jam. Long as in about twenty years. It was not until I watched the documentary on Netflix a few years ago that I really started digging the band. I tried back in the day; I had Ten on cassette, and Vs. on CD, but never really got into them. But after watching Twenty and reviewing the band’s output since the grunge explosion, I have grown to appreciate and even like Pearl Jam, much to some of my college friends’ displeasure. With their recent Rock Hall induction, this is a perfect time to give these rockers the “Ultimate Mixtape” treatment.
If you are not familiar with the “Ultimate Mixtape” concept, here is a quick run-down of the rules:
- Every album must be represented by one and only one song.
- The selected song does not have to be a single used to promote the album.
- Live albums are fine if you want to use them, but you are not required to include them if you are satisfied with your “Ultimate Mixtape” without them. Sometimes they are a great tool to sneak in a classic song when the studio version didn’t make the cut. “Even Flow” and “Just Breathe” get the live treatment here from two PJ concert albums.
- “Greatest Hits”/ “Best of” albums are eligible only if they contain new songs, or new versions of old songs. Since “State of Love and Trust” (from the Singles soundtrack) was never released directly by the band until their first hits compilation, I decided to use it to represent rearviewmirror.
Everyone’s “Ultimate Mixtape” will be different, and I would love to know how yours differs from mine. There are no right or wrong tracklistings (as long as you follow the rules)! Are you ready to rock? Let’s check out “JT’s Ultimate Mixtape: Pearl Jam edition”…
JT’s Ultimate Mixtape: Pearl Jam edition
- “Alive” (Ten, 1991)
- “Daughter” (Vs., 1993)
- “Better Man” (Vitalogy, 1994)
- “I Got Id” (Merkin Ball EP, 1995)
- “Hail, Hail” (No Code, 1996)
- “Given To Fly” (Yield, 1998)
- “Even Flow” (Live on Two Legs, 1998)
- “Breakerfall” (Binaural, 2000)
- “Thumbing My Way” (Riot Act, 2002)
- “Yellow Ledbetter” (Lost Dogs, 2003)
- “State of Love and Trust” (rearviewmirror, 2004)
- “Severed Hand” (Pearl Jam, 2006)
- “The Fixer” (Backspacer, 2009)
- “Just Breathe” (Live on Ten Legs, 2011)
- “Black” unplugged (Pearl Jam Twenty, 2011)
- “Sirens” (Lightning Bolt, 2013)
The “Bonus tracks” are taken from soundtracks, tributes, solo projects, and collaborative works…tunes that never made it on a Pearl Jam album, but is still related in some way to the group. And man, there was a ton that I omitted here. These are some of the best Pearl Jam-related tunes out there:
Bonus tracks
- “P. C. C.” (Green River, Dry as a Bone, 1987)
- “Chole Dancer/Crown of Thorns” (Mother Love Bone, Shine, 1989)
- “Hunger Strike” (Temple of the Dog, Temple of the Dog, 1991)
- “Hey Baby (Land of the New Rising Sun” (M.A.C.C., Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix, 1993)
- “River of Deceit” (Mad Season, Above, 1995)
- “Against the 70s” (Mike Watt, Ball-Hog or Tugboat?, 1995)
- “Act of Love” (Neil Young, Mirror Ball, 1995)
- “It’s Alright” (Candlebox, Happy Pills, 1998)
- “Fever Dog” (Stillwater, Almost Famous soundtrack, 2000)
- “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” (Jack Irons, Attention Dimension, 2004)
- “Mercy Mercy Me” (The Strokes feat. Eddie Vedder & Josh Homme, “You Only Live Once” single, 2006)
- “All Along the Watchtower” (Eddie Vedder & The Million Dollar Babies, I’m Not There soundtrack, 2007)
- “Love, Reign O’er Me” (Pearl Jam, Reign Over Me soundtrack, 2007)
- “Far Behind” (Eddie Vedder, Into the Wild, 2007)
- “Ole” (Pearl Jam, non-album single, 2011)
- “Eyelid’s Mouth” (Soundgarden, King Animal, 2012)
- “Ghost Riding” (RNDM, Ghost Riding, 2016)
What did I miss? How does your Pearl Jam mix differ from mine?
Goodbye, Gregg Allman
(December 8, 1947 – May 27, 2017)
Founding member of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group, the Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman passed away today from liver cancer.
Fun Cards: 1987 Topps Chris Cornell
I’m still processing the news from last Thursday. Chris Cornell, lead singer of one of the greatest bands ever from Seattle (sit down, Nirvana, you’re not even in this conversation), allegedly took his own life after a concert in Detroit Wednesday night. Soundgarden was scheduled to play several shows through the end of this month, and was reportedly halfway through writing songs for a new album.
You never know what is going through someone’s mind, even when they are seemingly sitting on top of the world. Please, friends, take care of yourselves emotionally. If you are struggling, seek assistance. Every prescription does not affect every person the same way, and the side effects are more pronounced in some. Work closely with your doctor to get things straightened out, get on the medication (if that’s necessary) that works best for you, and don’t ignore the warnings.
Goodbye, Chris Cornell
(July 20, 1964 – May 17, 2017)
One of the most talented hard rock singers of the past few decades, Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell has passed. Police are investigating his death as an apparent suicide.
Ultimate Star Guitars: Expanded Edition by Dave Hunter (2017)
Ultimate Star Guitars: Expanded Edition
by Dave Hunter
Voyageur Press, 2017
B.B. King’s Lucille. Eric Clapton’s Blackie. Eddie Van Halen’s Frankenstrat. Keith Richards’ Micawber. Over time, guitar legends become so connected with their instruments, that it is difficult to think of one without the other. It seems strange to imagine Slash playing anything but a Les Paul, or Yngwie Malmsteen with something other than a Stratocaster (and a vintage white one, at that). In Ultimate Star Guitars: Expanded Edition, Dave Hunter explains how these musicians became so connected to their instruments of choice, often revealing how such instruments were acquired and why the artists chose them.
This book covers a variety of genres, from classic rock (Duane Allman, Clapton, Richards) to blues (King, Stevie Ray Vaughan), alternative (J Mascis, Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo) to punk (Joe Strummer, Steve Jones) to country (Waylon Jennings, Brad Paisley). You will read about Reverend Horton Heat, Ike Turner, Nels Cline, and even see a picture of Billy Gibbons sans beard. One of the best entries describes Randy Bachman’s work on a 1959 Fender Stratocaster he named “The Legend.” The leader of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive changed nearly everything he could change on “The Legend,” which was stolen years ago. Bachman said, “It would be the thrill of a lifetime to get he guitar back, but it was just a wreck, so unless someone knows what it is…But what a sound and monster it was.”
A fantastic collection of stories and photographs, Ultimate Star Guitars: Expanded Edition shows that music history is not made with pristine instruments designed to be on display in glass cases, but with beat-up, modified, and often underappreciated models.
Learn more about Voyageur Press.
Purchase Ultimate Star Guitars: Expanded Edition by Dave Hunter.
