MPBrown Music Reviews

Album Review #23   Artist:   The Hooters Album:   Nervous Night Year of Release:   1985 Grade:   5 / 5   Band Members Eric Bazilian – lead vocals, guitars, bass, mandolin, saxophone Rob Hyman – lead vocals, keyboards, melodica Andy King – bass, vocals John Lilley – guitar David Uosikkinen – drums   Additional musicians: Patty Smyth – harmony vocals on “Where Do The Children Go”   Background Philadelphia based band The Hooters released an independently released album called “Amore” in 1983.   The success of this regional album led to the major label signing with Columbia Records.   Their first release under Columbia Records was “Nervous Night”.   Several videos were filmed in support of the album.     Their unique sound a cross between pop, ska, and new wave was something new to the airwaves.   The album a...

  Album Review #22   Artist:  Asia Album:   Phoenix Year of Release:   2008 Grade:   4.5 / 5   Band Members John Wetton – lead and backing vocals, bass guitar Steve Howe – electric, acoustic and steel guitars, harmony vocals on "Wish I'd Known All Along" Geoff Downes – keyboards Carl Palmer – drums, percussion   Additional Musicians: Hugh McDowell - cello   Background Asia released their monstrously successful self titled debut album, which was the biggest selling album of 1982.   Their rushed follow up album “Alpha” was released in 1983.   While it was successful, it fell far short in sales than their debut album but still went platinum.   This caused friction in the band.   MTV announced “Asia in Asia” live concert broadcast.   Singer/bassist John Wetton was booted from the band with no notice and shortly before the “Asia in Asia” promotion.   Part of the...

  Album Review #21   Artist:   The Who Album:   Who Are You Year of Release:   1978 Grade:   4.5 / 5   Band Members Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, percussion Peter Townshend – guitars, piano, synthesizer, backing vocals, lead vocals on “Sister Disco” (bridge) John Entwistle – bass, synthesizer, backing vocals, lead vocals on “905”, brass Keith Moon – drums, percussion, backing vocals   Background One of the great live bands of all time, The Who mixed hard rock, rock opera, pop, and punk music (before it became a thing).   It had one of the ultimate lead singers in Roger Daltrey, power chord master Pete Townshend, quiet but thundering bassist John Entwistle, and maniac drummer Keith Moon to form the quartet of rock’s loudest bands.   They created an original masterpiece as the rock opera “Tommy” and the classic album “Who’s Next”.   They followed that up with another (but less successful) rock opera “Qu...

  Album Review #20 Artist:  King Crimson Album:   Red Year of Release:   1974 Grade:   4.5 / 5   Band Members Robert Fripp – guitars, mellotron, Hohner Pianet John Wetton – vocals, bass guitar Bill Bruford – drums, percussion   Additional musicians: David Cross – violin, mellotron Mel Collins – soprano saxophone Ian McDonald – alto saxophone Mark Charig – cornet Robin Miller – oboe   Background King Crimson was a band formed by Robert Fripp in 1969 with Greg Lake on vocals for their first major album “In The Court Of The Crimson King”.   However, Greg Lake left the band during the recording of the second album.   After two or three other lead singers and changes of other personnel, King Crimson reformed by Fripp with a new rhythm section of John Wetton on bass and vocals (formerly of Family) and Bill Bruford on drums (formerly of Yes) and adding Jamie Muir on percussion (a complete wildman) and Davi...

  Album Review #19 Artist:  Squeeze Album:   East Side Story Year of Release:   1981 Grade:   4 / 5   Band Members Chris Difford – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on “Someone Else’s Heart” and “Heaven” Glenn Tilbrook – lead vocals, lead guitars Paul Carrack – keyboards, backing vocals, lead vocals on “Tempted” John Bentley – bass, backing vocals Gilson Lavis – drums Elvis Costello – additional vocals (“Tempted”, “There’s No Tomorrow”)   Background Squeeze is sometimes hard to pigeon hole as to the style of music.   Sometimes they are traditional pop while venturing into the “new wave” territory.   No matter the style of music, it is the songwriting quality that is Squeeze’s trademark with songwriters Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook.   Early in their careers, they were compared to Lennon and McCartney.   Most of their songs are story songs.   The original concept of Squeeze’s fourth...

Album Review #18 Artist:  Roger Daltrey Album:   McVicar (soundtrack) Year of Release:   1980 Grade:   4 / 5   Band Members Roger Daltrey – vocals Pete Townshend – guitar Ricky Hitchcock – guitar Billy Nicholls – guitar Jo Partridge – guitar John Entwistle – bass Herbie Flowers – bass Dave Markee – bass John Bundrick – keyboards Ken Freeman – keyboards Ron Aspery – flue Kenney Jones – drums Dave Mattacks – drums Stuart Elliott – drums Frank Ricotti – percussion Tony Carr - percussion   Background Roger is famous as the lead singer and founding member of The Who.   During a break from The Who, Daltrey made a movie starring himself as John McVicar, a British criminal.   Daltrey had previously recorded a song called “The Prisoner” based on the McVicar case ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McVicar ).   Daltrey had previously starring in the movie “Tommy” based on The Who’s rock album of the s...

  Album Review #17   Artist:   Queen Album:   The Game Year of Release:   1980 Grade:   4.5 / 5   Band Members Freddie Mercury – lead vocals, backing vocals, piano, synthesizer, acoustic guitar Brian May – lead vocal (Sail Away Sweet Sister), backing vocals, guitars, piano Roger Taylor – lead vocal (Rock It), drums, backing vocals, synthesizer John Deacon – bass guitar, guitar, piano, percussion   Background Queen is one of the best selling bands in the world.   This studio album was the follow up to 1978’s album “Jazz”.   Queen had magnificent streak of 4 hit albums before releasing “The Game”.   They were “Night At The Opera”, “A Day At The Races”, “News Of The World”, and then “Jazz”.   But “The Game” hit #1 in the US.   Their set at 1985’s Live Aid stole the show and reignited the band.   It is considered to be one of the greatest sets in rock history despite only being only 15 – 2...