The Keith Reid Project-The Common Thread (2008)

Keith Reid is best known as the co-writer of one of the most famous songs of all time, "A Whiter Shade of Pale", and for writing most of the original songs for the legendary Procol Harum during the 1960s and 70s. In mid-2008, he founded The Keith Reid Project, releasing the album "The Common Thread". Reid composed and wrote all the songs, as well as producing them, and the album features a stellar lineup of musicians including John Waite (Bad English), Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann), Barry Goldberg (The Electric Flag), Terry Reid, Southside Johnny, Bernie Shanahan, Michael Saxell, Chaz Jankel, and Steve Brooker. The resulting album is an excellent collection of high-quality songs that explore the sounds of melodic soft rock with elegant, laid-back rhythms and refined arrangements, undoubtedly destined for the enjoyment of even the most discerning listeners.

Go-Go Live From Paris (1976)

Stomu Yamashta, who in the early 1970s explored avant-garde and modern classical music, performing compositions by Toru Takemitsu and Hans Werner Henzel, had a chance encounter in 1970 with drummer Morris Pert, which set Yamashta on the path of jazz and rock. He then joined Pert's band, Come to the Edge. The track "One Way" from their ambient album "Music" is a good example of Yamashta's ability to create ambient pieces. In 1972, he became involved with film scores, beginning with Robert Altman's "Images", composed by the renowned John Williams. The soundtrack was nominated for an Oscar, partly due to Yamashta's contributions and his atonal sounds scattered throughout the film. A year later, he formed East Wind with keyboardist Brian Gascoigne, a band that also included the iconic Canterbury scene bassist Hugh Hopper. From this point onward, with a style difficult to categorize, percussionist and keyboardist Stomu Yamashta left his distinctive mark on a dozen works in the 1970s, showcasing a skillful blend of smooth, atmospheric jazz and rock developments. His music was highly enjoyable, featuring vital and accessible jazz-rock elements, but also darker and more unusual soundscapes. In 1975, Stomu formed the supergroup Go, composed of Steve Winwood, Klaus Schulze, Al Di Meola, and Michael Shrieve, and recorded the albums "Go" (1976), "Go Live From Paris" (1976), and "Go Too" (1977), considered masterpieces of modern music. Like most supergroups, Go's history is short. Such a collective of talented musicians from different parts of the world, each with their own busy recording and touring schedules, can only happen when the stars align and there's a fleeting moment of opportunity. Most of the musicians involved were in a state of transition at the time, and over a period of approximately a year, they produced spectacular music together. A band formed by former members of Blind Faith, Traffic, Santana, Tangerine Dream, and Return to Forever could easily have clashed over egos and artistic differences, ending the project before it even began. However, a shared interest in a new musical experience created something that, in fact, sounds like a hybrid of all these bands. After releasing a studio album, Go reached its peak during a short tour in 1976, which produced one of the most spectacular live recordings of all time: the excellent double album "Go Live From Paris". On June 12, 1976, at a packed Palais des Sports in Paris, this supergroup performed before an euphoric audience. Their relaxed and inspired performance featured a unique blend of styles, from soul (Steve Winwood) to electronic rock (Klaus Schulze and Stomu Yamashta) and jazz fusion (Al Di Meola). Michael Shrieve, former drummer for Santana, performs as the renowned and accomplished percussionist. Also noteworthy are the brilliant vocal exchanges between Steve Winwood and Karen Friedman. The band that presented the studio album "Go" live was almost the same but expanded, with Jerome Rimson on bass, Brother James on percussion, and Pat Thrall as second guitarist. The double album consists of six tracks, longer than the original studio versions, some with a jam session feel, interspersed with spacious electronic breaks and piano interludes. Long and developed pieces like "Man Of Leo", full of rhythms and intense solos by Di Meola, instrumental improvisations like "Windspin" with a funk bass taking the lead in a sublime way, outstanding jazz rock like "Ghost Machine", or funk/soul exercises like "Time Is Here", complement an anthological performance, where Stomu Yamashta holds back on his instrumental virtues to allow the other members to shine with their instruments.

Black Stone Cherry-Folklore And Superstition (2008)

"Folklore and Superstition" is the second album by Black Stone Cherry, a band based in Edmonton, Kentucky. Released in 2008, this album by the group comprised of Chris Robertson (vocals and guitar), Ben Wells (guitar), John Lawton (bass), and John Fred Young (drums) continues to embrace their hard rock sound infused with Southern rock, but with improved production, better arrangements, and a greater commercial appeal compared to their debut album released two years prior. Hits like "Blind Man", "Reverend Wrinkle", "The Bitter End", "Ghost of Floyd Collins", and "Long Sleeves" revisit that American hard rock style, clearly influenced by boogie blues and Southern rock, while other tracks, such as the more subdued "Thing My Father Said" and "Peace Is Free", offer a more relaxed feel.

Gamma-Gamma 1 (1979)

After his time leading the band Montrose, guitarist Ronnie Montrose ventured into a solo career, releasing "Open Fire" in 1978. However, shortly after, the legendary guitarist decided to form a new band called Gamma. For this project, he recruited vocalist Davey Pattison, drummer Skip Gillette, bassist Alan Fitzgerald, and keyboardist Jim Alcivar. Due to his growing popularity as a guitarist, they soon secured a contract with Elektra Records, with whom they released their debut album, "Gamma 1" in 1979 a solid work of American hard rock with blues influences and melodic rock sounds. With a basic formula of Alcívar's compelling keyboards and synthesizers, backed by Montrose's magnificent guitar work, along with the excellent vocals of Davey Pattison, it was clear that Ronnie Montrose had made the right choice in selecting this new vocalist, replacing his previous frontman, Sammy Hagar. Heavy hard rock tracks like the crackling "Thunder & Lightning", the rocking feel of "Fight to the Finish" and the exhilarating "Ready for Action", the appealing AOR tracks "I'm Alive" and "No Tears", the bluesy "Wish I Was", and the semi-progressive "Solar Heat" complete an elegant album and another of Ronnie Montrose's great contributions to the world of rock.

The Quireboys-Homewreckers & Heartbreakers (2008)

The Quireboys are one of the bands most faithful to their honest style, showcasing from their beginnings a rock sound brimming with catchy melodies that are both intense and powerful. They started by breaking into the charts with their debut album, "A Bit Of What You Fancy" (1990), a record that propelled them to an incredible number two on the British charts thanks to its rich influences from 70s rock bands like The Faces and the Rolling Stones. In the following years, they released several impressive albums, including the fantastic "Bitter Sweet & Twisted" (1993) and "This Is Rock 'n' Roll" (2001). By the time they released their fifth album, "Homewreckers and Heartbreakers", only two of the original members remained in the band: frontman and singer Spike, and guitarist Guy Griffin. The rest of the lineup consisted of bassist Jimi Crutchley, drummer Pip Mailing, keyboardist Keith Weir, and rhythm guitarist Paul Guerin. Touches of American roots rock and their basic British rock and roll are present in tracks like "Take A Look At Yourself", the honky-tonk "Louder", the energetic "Love This Dirty Town", and the exuberant "Hall of Shame". Without a doubt, this is another stimulating work from one of the most respected bands on the rock scene of the last 35 years.

Rick Derringer-Knighted By The Blues (2009)

This is the second album from the tireless rock and blues artist Rick Derringer to appear on this blog; the first was the seminal "All American Boy", his 1973 debut. This time, we bring you his thirteenth album, "Knighted By The Blues", which, as the name suggests, is oriented towards blues rock. This work contains an inspired repertoire of tracks that showcase the virtuosity, blues feeling, and talent of this phenomenal guitarist. Tracks like the boogie-blues version of Ray Charles' "Mess Around", the powerful blues-rock numbers "Sometimes" and "If 6 Was 9", the jazzy "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof", and the slow, atmospheric blues numbers "My Gal's Kinda Crazy" and "Knighted By The Blues" place this album among Rick Derringer's most outstanding. Sadly, Derringer passed away in 2025, at the age of 77, due to serious heart problems.