Last week was a nice week for a variety of music. A remixed Whitesnake album of “Blues songs,” which were mostly various hard rock songs from the days Doug Aldrich and John Sykes were the lead guitars in the band, was released and was the best of Whitesnake’s remix albums thus far (the others were a rock album and an album of love songs). Andra Day’s The United States vs. Billie Holiday had some nice covers and I’d recommend it for fans of old jazz and blues music, they really capture the essence of those old songs with these new recordings. Ariana Grande also released a deluxe edition of her recent album “positions” and it had four tracks I hadn’t heard before, which were all nice to listen to. We also got a new single from Smith/Kotzen, a collaborative effort between Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden fame and Richie Kotzen, who’s made a name for himself playing and singing his own music, but also had a tenure in Poison replacing CC Deville, on Tuesday night.
Here are some of the releases I’m looking forward to this week, and this will easily be the busiest week yet of the year.
Julien Baker-Little Oblivions: A new album from the Christian lesbian folk singer from Tennessee, this has had a few good songs released as singles thus far, like “Favor.” It’s nice, soothing music and also features some good emotional release. Julien Baker still has her great singer/songwriter skills that made me enjoy her when I first found her.
Alice Cooper-Detroit Stories: An album by the classic hard rock shock rocker, this will apparently feature “Don’t Give Up,” a song released last May to encourage the populace to hang in there during the pandemic, because we’re all in this together. It also features a cover of Lou Reed’s “Rock and Roll” and a good new song called “Social Debris.” I don’t know if we’ll get another song like “Feed My Frankenstein,” “Unholy War,” “Paranormal” or “Dynamite Road,” but it’s worth listening to in order to see if we do.
Steve Lukather/Joseph Williams-I Found the Sun Again/Denizen Tenant (respectively): These two releases are interconnected as both are band members of the Classic Rock band Toto (responsible for “Africa,” which was “featured” in Straight No Chaser’s 12 Days of Christmas) and they guest on each other’s albums. Joseph Williams sings on “Run To Me” on Lukather’s album, with the song also featuring Ringo Starr on drums. Steve Lukather appears a few times on Williams’ album, but none of those tracks have been featured as singles. I am interested in the cover of The Beatles’ “If I Fell” on Williams’ album that features Lukather, especially as Williams says this song is the reason he began to love harmonies.
Ally Venable-Heart of Fire: Texas Blues is alive and well with this woman, with her releasing a nice Blues album called “Texas Honey” a couple years back. A student of Stevie Ray Vaughan, this album even features a track called “Tribute to SRV.” There are also good collaborations with Devon Allman (of The Allman Betts Band, song of Gregg Allman) and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. The title track also features shades of one of Vaughan’s influence, Jimi Hendrix, in some of the licks.
Don Airey-Live in Hamburg: I’m not sure if this will be released digitally, but I am actually putting this album on my Birthday list. Don Airey is a journeyman keyboardist who has most notably worked with Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore and is currently the keyboard player in Deep Purple. This album features Rainbow, Moore and Purple tracks covered live, such as “All Night Long,” “Since You’ve Been Gone,” “Still Got The Blues” (a great way to hear a guitar cry) and “Child of Time.” It sounds great, and I’d buy it myself if I didn’t have other fun things I want to spend money on.
Lauren Daigle-Hold On To Me (single): I don’t normally cover singles, but Lauren Daigle is one of the best singers in Contemporary Christian Music these days. I first heard “You Say” at Garden Street United Methodist Church, performed by members of the congregation, and now I play it every Sunday because I like the message of though we feel weak and helpless, God makes us strong and able to conquer our problems. She recently sang a duet with Jon Foreman on his album I talked about a couple weeks ago, which was one of the highlight tracks of that album. I imagine this song is about focusing on God during times of struggle, which we need right now as most of us are struggling with the pandemic and the restrictions brought on to keep us safe.
Also, since I reached a new milestone, I figured I should show off my first 250+ "Forever Favorites" on Spotify. Hard to believe it just started with five, but there have been some good new releases and some good songs to look back on in the weeks since I last did this, and some days, I have to remind myself I don't need to add every enduring song at once. Without further ado, here's my first 250+ "Forever Favorites" on Spotify.
1.) Malibu-Miley Cyrus
2.) Crazy Train (Live 1981)-Ozzy Osbourne
3.) Don’t Call Me Angel-Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus and Lana Del Ray
4.) Achy Breaky Heart-Billy Ray Cyrus
5.) Godzilla-Bear McCreary and Serj Tankian
6.) Day Tripper-The Beatles
7.) KARATE-BabyMetal
8.) Yellow Submarine-The Beatles
9.) Godzilla Main Title-Bear McCreary
10.) Godzilla Appears-Akira Ifukube
11.) Breaking The Law (Live)-Judas Priest
12.) Iron Man (Live 2017)-Black Sabbath
13.) Black Dog-Led Zeppelin
14.) Rock and Roll (Live)-Sammy Hagar and The Circle
15.) Outshined-Soundgarden
16.) Jet City Woman-Queensryche
17.) Queen of the Monsters-Bear McCreary
18.) I Can’t Drive 55 (Live)-Sammy Hagar and The Circle
19.) Mothra’s Song-Bear McCreary
20.) I Burn-Jeff Williams and Casey Lee Williams
21.) 4th of July (Live)-Soundgarden
22.) She’s Not Him-Miley Cyrus
23.) The Crow-Black Country Communion
24.) Nothing Compares 2 U-Toni Cornell
25.) Patience-Chris Cornell
26.) Midnight Sky-Miley Cyrus
27.) Heart of Glass (Live)-Miley Cyrus
28.) I Love Rock N Roll-Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
29.) Stop-Anthony Ramos
30.) The Wonder of the Cross-Vicky Beeching
31.) Say Hello 2 Heaven-Temple of the Dog
32.) Enough is Enough-Billy Ray Cyrus
33.) The Past-Billy Ray Cyrus
34.) Free Bird (Live 2019)-Lynyrd Skynyrd
35.) Free Bird-Lynyrd Skynrd
36.) Free Bird (Live 1987)-Lynyrd Skynyrd
37.) Simple Man-Lynyrd Skynyrd
38.) Bad Memory-K.Flay
39.) Kicking and Screaming-Miley Cyrus
40.) Cold Gin-Ace Frehley feat. Mike McCready
41.) Bmblb-Jeff Williams, Casey Lee Williams
42.) Cochise-Audioslave
43.) Distortion-BabyMetal
44.) Elevator Girl (English)-BabyMetal
45.) Battle in Boston-Bear McCreary
46.) Rusty Cage (Live)-Soundgarden
47.) Nevermore (Peter Jones Remix)-Jeff Williams, Casey Lee Williams, Adrienne Cowan
48.) Protected By The Light-Rob Halford
49.) Amazing Grace-Good Shepherd Collective, Liz Vice
50.) We’re Gonna Be Alright-Switchfoot
51.) Midnight Sky (Edge of Midnight Remix)-Miley Cyrus and Stevie Nicks
52.) GNO-Miley Cyrus
53.) Starbreaker-Judas Priest
54.) Eat Me-Ozzy Osbourne
55.) Nothing Compares 2 U-Chris Cornell (No One Sings Like You Anymore Version)
56.) American Rock and Roll-Don Felder
57.) I Want You (She’s So Heavy)-The Beatles
58.) I Want You (She’s So Heavy) Trident Session-The Beatles
59.) Gettin’ Tighter-Deep Purple
60.) Happy Xmas (War Is Over)-Miley Cyrus, Mark Ronson, Sean Ono Lennon
61.) Run Rudolph Run-Billy Ray Cyrus
62.) Christmas Is-Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus
63.) Let There Be Peace-Carrie Underwood
64.) Sweet Baby Jesus-Carrie Underwood
65.) A Hand For Mrs. Claus-Idina Menzel and Ariana Grande
66.) Mary Did You Know-Carrie Underwood
67.) Away in a Manger-Carrie Underwood
68.) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-Rob Halford
69.) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Rudy Sarzo, Simon Wright
70.) Joy To The World-Rob Halford
71.) O Holy Night-Brandi Carlile
72.) The Story-Brandi Carlile
73.) Again Today-Pearl Jam
74.) If She Ever Leaves Me-The Highwomen
75.) Beware of Darkness-Sheryl Crow, Eric Clapton, Brandi Carlile and Sting
76.) Even Flow-Pearl Jam
77.) What Child Is This-The Fab Four
78.) What Child Is This-Rob Halford
79.) Thankful Heart-Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge
80.) You’ve Got A Friend-Billy Ray Cyrus and Emily Osment
81.) Ready, Set, Don’t Go-Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus
82.) You Can’t Lose Me-Billy Ray Cyrus
83.) Over the Rainbow-Billy Ray Cyrus
84.) Over the Rainbow (Live)-Ariana Grande
85.) Mistreated-Deep Purple
86.) Stormbringer-Whitesnake
87.) Zombie (Live)-Miley Cyrus
88.) Burn-Deep Purple
89.) Watching The Wheels-Chris Cornell
90.) American Reckoning-Bon Jovi
91.) Do What You Can-Bon Jovi, Jennifer Nettles
92.) Unbroken-Bon Jovi
93.) Make You Mine This Season-Tegan and Sara
94.) Away in a Manger-Rob Halford
95.) Christmas Time Is Here Again-Ringo Starr
96.) The Chipmunk Song-Tegan and Sara
97.) Black Hole Sun-Brandi Carlile
98.) Blue Suede Shoes (Live)-John Lennon
99.) Night Crawling-Miley Cyrus and Billy Idol
100.) Prisoner-Miley Cyrus and Dua Lipa
101.) My Oh My-Macklemore
102.) Same Love-Macklemore feat. Mary Lambert
103.) Blue Suede Shoes-Elvis Presley
104.) Starbreaker (Live)-Judas Priest
105.) Rainbow in the Dark (Holy Diver Live version)-Dio
106.) I Hate Myself For Loving You-Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
107.) So Lucky-Grace McKagan
108.) Righteous Days (Album Version)-The Dead Daisies
109.) Waiting on a War-Foo Fighters
110.) Holding Poison-Foo Fighters
111.) Metal Queen-Lee Aaron
112.) Lola-Ace Frehley
113.) 30 Days In The Hole-Ace Frehley with Robin Zander
114.) Softly and Tenderly-Carrie Underwood
115.) The Climb-Miley Cyrus
116.) Mama I’m Coming Home-Ozzy Osbourne
117.) Heart of Gold-Johnny Cash
118.) Why Can’t This Be Love-Sammy Hagar and The Circle
119.) Never Thought I’d Fall In Love With You-Billy Ray Cyrus
120.) BWU-Tegan and Sara
121.) Yesterday-The Beatles
122.) Oh! Darling-The Beatles
123.) Sweet Child O’ Mine-Guns N Roses
124.) Jealous Guy-John Lennon
125.) Stand By Me-John Lennon
126.) (Just Like) Starting Over-John Lennon
127.) Woman-John Lennon
128.) I Would Die For You-Miley Cyrus
129.) Adore You-Miley Cyrus
130.) Something (Live)-Paul McCartney
131.) Something-The Beatles
132.) Photograph-Ringo Starr
133.) Six O’ Clock (Extended Version)-Ringo Starr
134.) I’m Yours-Ringo Starr
135.) Anastasia (Live 2019)-Slash, Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators
136.) Good Hearted Woman-Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
137.) You Say-Lauren Daigle
138.) Give My Heart To You-Billy Ray Cyrus
139.) The Only Exception-Paramore
140.) Is This Love?-Whitesnake
141.) Fat Bottomed Girls (Live, Bohemian Rhapsody Film)-Queen
142.) See You On The Other Side-Ozzy Osbourne
143.) After All-Whitesnake
144.) Love-John Lennon
145.) Open Arms (Re-Recorded)-Journey
146.) Forever Fall-Jeff and Casey Lee Williams
147.) Don’t Let Me Down-The Beatles
148.) After Forever-Black Sabbath
149.) After Forever (Live)-Black Sabbath
150.) Neon Knights-Black Sabbath
151.) I Need You-The Beatles
152.) Ain’t Got No Money-Bob Seger
153.) My Kinda Girl (Live)-Chickenfoot
154.) Tush-Joan Jett
155.) Crimson and Clover-Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
156.) Faithfully-Journey
157.) Only God Could Stop Me Loving You-Billy Ray Cyrus
158.) Nothing Breaks Like A Heart-Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus
159.) Whole Lotta Love-Zepparella
160.) Whole Lotta Love-Led Zeppelin
161.) Whole Lotta Love-Sammy Hagar and The Circle
162.) Whole Lotta Love-Santana feat. Chris Cornell
163.) Without You-Billy Ray Cyrus
164.) Yellow-Coldplay
165.) Rock Me (Live)-Vixen
166.) Kagerou-BabyMetal
167.) Kagerou (Live)-BabyMetal
168.) Kids in ’99-Death Cab For Cutie
169.) I Love You This Much-Billy Ray Cyrus
170.) Yesterday, Today and Forever-Vicky Beeching
171.) Search Me-Vicky Beeching
172.) Above All Else-Vicky Beeching
173.) Parkland-Duff McKagan
174.) Unbroken-Joel Smallbone
175.) Like A Country Song-Billy Ray Cyrus
176.) Completely-Ledger
177.) My Arms-Ledger
178.) Guardians-Judas Priest
179.) Rising From Ruins-Judas Priest
180.) Beautiful City-Godspell
181.) Deliverer-Vicky Beeching
182.) Hope of Jesus-Hope Darst
183.) Every Mother’s Son-Lynyrd Skynyrd
184.) Limelight-Don Felder, Richie Sambora and Orianthi
185.) Good Times-RSO
186.) Old-Time Rock & Roll-Bob Seger
187.) Beautiful Drug-Bon Jovi
188.) Heroes-Sammy Hagar and The Circle
189.) Until I Left You-Joel Hoekstra’s 13
190.) The Only Way To Go-Joel Hoekstra’s 13
191.) Heart Attack-Joel Hoekstra’s 13
192.) Meant to Live-Switchfoot
193.) Ignorance-Paramore
194.) New Divide-Linkin Park
195.) Monster-Paramore
196.) I Want You To Want Me (Live, New Year’s Eve 1979, Los Angeles, CA)-Cheap Trick
197.) Be Yourself-Audioslave
198.) Dream Police (Live, New Year’s Eve 1979, Los Angeles, CA)-Cheap Trick
199.) Run For Your Life-K.Flay
200.) Sister-K.Flay
201.) Nervous-K.Flay
202.) Zen-X Ambassadors, K.Flay and grandson
203.) Luv Can-Bon Jovi
204.) Tommy’s Instrumental (Outtake)-Tommy Bolin
205.) Walk This Way-Aerosmith
206.) Walk This Way-Aerosmith/Run-DMC
207.) Come Together-Gary Clark Jr., Junkie XL
208.) Come Together-The Beatles
209.) Come Together-Aerosmith
210.) Come Together-Soundgarden
211.) Fat Bottomed Girls (Live At The Bowl)-Queen
212.) Crime of Passion-Rick Wakeman
213.) Voodoo Child (Slight Return)-Jimi Hendrix
214.) Fire-Jimi Hendrix
215.) Purple Haze-Jimi Hendrix
216.) Foxey Lady-Jimi Hendrix
217.) Bigfoot (Live)-Chickenfoot
218.) 34+35-Ariana Grande
219.) 34+35 Remix-Ariana Grande, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat
220.) Gimme What I Want-Miley Cyrus
221.) Blueberry Pie-Jamie Rossi
222.) Rain on Me-Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande
223.) My heart belongs to daddy (live)-Ariana Grande
224.) Good as Hell-Lizzo, Ariana Grande
225.) When the Levee Breaks (Live)-Sammy Hagar and the Circle
226.) When the Levee Breaks-Led Zeppelin
227.) Interstate 80-Tom Morello and Slash
228.) A Beautiful Noise-Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile
229.) Fantasy-Joel Hoekstra’s 13
230.) Last September-Duff McKagan
231.) I Ain’t The One-Lynyrd Skynyrd
232.) Call Me The Breeze-Lynyrd Skynyrd
233.) Call Me The Breeze (Live)-Lynyrd Skynyrd
234.) Get Back-The Beatles
235.) Paranoid (Live 1981)-Ozzy Osbourne
236.) Rock and Roll-Led Zeppelin
237.) Misty Mountain Hop-Led Zeppelin
238.) Outshined (Live 2013)-Soundgarden
239.) Yume no Naka e-Yuki Saitou
240.) Love Song-Tesla
241.) Rockin’ In The Free World (Live)-Pearl Jam
242.) Holy For Tonight-Ozzy Osbourne
243.) Crucify The Dead-Slash and Ozzy Osbourne
244.) Watch This-Slash, Duff McKagan and Dave Grohl
245.) Promise-Slash and Chris Cornell
246.) Judgment Day-Whitesnake
247.) Kashmir-Led Zeppelin
248.) Fool For Your Loving-Whitesnake
249.) I Won’t Back Down-Tom Petty
250.) Wildflowers-Tom Petty
251.) Wildflowers-Miley Cyrus
252.) Hands All Over-Soundgarden
253.) Godzilla Appears (Terror of MechaGodzilla)-Akira Ifukube
254.) I’m Ready-Sam Smith, Demi Lovato
255.) Party-Demi Lovato
