Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Hawthorne Heights


 




















Artist:  Hawthorne Heights

Origin:  Dayton, Ohio, USA

Genre:  Rock, EMO, Post Hardcore, Screamo, Alternative Rock, Pop Punk


Original line-up:


JT Woodruff:  Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Piano

Andy Saunders:  Lead Guitar

Jesse Blair:  Rhythm Guitar

Josh Bethel:  Bass

Andy Lazier:  Drums


Hawthorne Heights is an American Rock Band from Dayton, Ohio, formed in 2001 by JT Woodruff (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Piano), Andy Saunders (Lead Guitar), Jesse Blair (Rhythm Guitar), Josh Bethel (Bass), and Andy Lazier (Drums), originally called "A Day In The Life".  The band had commercial success with their frst two albums, The Silence In  Black And White (2004) and If Only You Were Lonely (2006), both achieving RIAA Gold Certification.  Their Second album peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Independent Album Chart and No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks Chart.















Title:  If Only You Were Lonely (2026)

Genre:  Rock, EMO, Post Hardcore, Screamo, Alternative Rock, Pop Punk

Label:  Craft Recordings

Rating:   *****


Format:  LP


Tracks:


Side A:


 1.  This Is Who We Are (3:46)

 2.  We Are So Last Year (2:58)

3.  Language Lessons (Five Words Or Less) (3:21)

4.  Pens And Needles 3:15)

 5.  Saying Sorry (3:08)

 6.  Dead In The Water (3:52)


Side B:


 1.  I Am On Your Side (4:15)

 2.  Breathing In Sequence (3:29)

 3.  Light Sleeps (3:27)

 4.  Cross Me Off Your List (3:41)

 5.  Where Can I Stab Myself In The Ears (3:42)

 6.  Decembers ( 4:46)


Personnel:


JT Woodruff:  Lead Vocals, Guitar

Micah Carli:  Lead Guitar

Casey Calvert:  Rhythm Guitar, Screamed Vocals

Matt Ridenour:  Bass, Backing Vocals

Eron Bucciarelli:  Drums


Additional Musicians:


John Bender:  Additional Backing Vocals

The Hawthorne Gang:  Additional Vocals on Tracks:  B2, 5

Sebastian Davin:  Piano on Track B6


If Only You Were Lonely is the second studio album by Hawthorne Heights, originally released on February 28, 2006 by Victory, remastered and reissued on July 17, 2026 by Craft Recordings.  The album reached No. 1 on US Independent Albums Chart ( Billboard), and No. 1 on US Top Roc Albums Chart (Billboard).















Monday, August 17, 2026

Mumford & Sons


 





















Artist:  Mumford & Sons
Origin:  London, England
Genre:  Rock, Folk, Folk Rock, Indie Folk, British Folk, Alternative Rock

Original line-up:


Marcus Mumford:  Lead Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Drums
Ben Lovett;  Vocals, Keyboards, Piano, Synthesiser
Winston Marshall:  Vocals, Electric Guitar, Banjo
Ted Dwane:  Vocals, Bass, Acoustic Bass


Mumford & Sons are a British Indie Folk Band from London, formed in 2007 by Marcus Mumford (Lead Vocals, Guitar, Drums), Ben Lovett (Vocals, Keyboards, Piano), Winston Marshall (Vocals, Guitar, Banjo) and Ted Dwane (Vocals, Bass).  The ban have won the Brit Award for Best British Album in 2011 and six overall Grammy Award nominations and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, also won the Brit Award for Best British Group in 2013.














Title:  Sign No More (2026)

Genre:  Rock, Folk, Folk Rock, Indie Folk, British Folk, Alternative Rock

Label:  Glassnote Records

Rating:   *****


Format:  LP


Tracks:


Side A:


 1.  Sigh No More (3:27)

 2.  The Cave (3:37)

 3.  Winter Winds (3:39)

 4.  Roll Away Your Stone (4:23)

 5.  White Blank Page (4:14)

 6.  II Gave You All (4:20)


Side B:


 1.  Little Lion Man (4:06)

 2.  Timshel (2:53)

 3.  Thistle & Weeds (4:49)

 4.  Awake My Soul (4:15)

 5.  Dust Bowl Dance 4:43)

 6.  After The Storm (4:03)


Personnel:


Marcus Mumford:  Lead Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Mandolin
Ben Lovett;  Vocals, Keyboards, Organ, Accordion
Winston Marshall:  Vocals, Electric Guitar, Banjo, Electric Banjo, Bass
Ted Dwane:  Vocals, Double Bass, Bass, Drums


Additional Musicians:


Nick Etwell:  Trumpet, Flugenhorn

Pete Beachill:  Trombone

Nell Catchole:  Violin, Viola

Christopher Allan:  Cello

Markus Dravs:  Additional Insrumentation

Tom Hobden:  Original String Parts on Track A5


Sign No More is the debut studio album by Mumford & Sons, original released on October 2, 2009 by Island Records, remastered and reissued on February 20, 2026 by Glassnote Records.









Sunday, August 16, 2026

B. B. King and Eric Clapton


 


















Artist:  B.B. King & Eric Clapton

Genre:  Blues, Electric Blues, Traditional Blues, Blues Rock, R&B


Original line-up:


B.B. King:  Vocals, Guitar

Eric Clapton:  Vocals, Guitar


B.B. King & Eric Clapton are the two legends by the Blues legend B.B. King and Rock Icon Eric Clapton (Guitar Ex The Roosters, The Yardbirds, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, The Immediate All-Stars, Eric Clapton & The Powerhouse, Cream, Blind Faith, The Dirty Mac, Plastic Ono Band, Delaney & Bonnie, Derek and The Domins, The Louisiana Gator Boys).  First performed together in NYC in 1967, over 30 years later, in 1999 the two longtime friends joined forces to create a collection of all new studio recordings of Blues Classics and Contemporary Songs.










Title:  Riding With The King (2026)
Origin:  USA & UK

Genre:  Blues, Electric Blues, Traditional Blues, Blues Rock, R&B

Label:  Surfdog Records
Rating:   *****

Format:  CD

Tracks:

 1.  Riding With The King (4:23)
 2.  Ten Long Years (4:40)
 3.  Key To The Highway (3:39)
 4.  Marry You (4:59)
 5.  Three O'Clock Blues (8:36)
 6.  Help The Poor (5:06)
 7.  I Wanna Be (4:45)
 8.  Worried Lfe Blues (4:25)
 9.  Days Of Old (3:00)
10. When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer (7:09)
11. Hold On, I'm Comin' (6:20)
12. Come Rain Or Come Shine (4:11)

Bonus Tracks:

13. Rollin' And Tumblin' (4:32)
14. Let Me Love You Baby (2:43)

Personnel:

B.B. King:  Co-Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar
Eric Clapton:  Co-Lead Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitars

Rhythm Sections:

Doyle Barmhall II:  Rhythm & Slide Guitar, Backing Vocals
Andy Fairweather Low:  Guitar
Jimmie Vaughan:  Guitar on Track 6

Joe Sample:  Keyboards, Acoustic Piano, Wurlitzer, Rhodes Electric Piiano
Tim Carmon:  Hammond, Organ


Nathan East:  Bass
Steve Gadd:  Drums
Jim Keltner:  Drums, Percussion
Paul Waller:  Drums, Programming

Susannah Melvoin:  Backing Vocals
Wendy Melvoin:  Backing Vocals

Riding With The King is a collaborative album by B.B.King  Eric Clapton, originally released on June 12, 2000 by Reprise, remastered and reissued On June 31, 2026 by Surfdong Records to honor B.B. King's 100th Birthday, and go on to sell over 2 million copies and win the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album.
































Saturday, August 15, 2026

John Lees' Barclay James Harvest





















Artist:  John Lees' Barclay James Harvest
Origin:  Oldham, Lancanshire, England
Genre:  Progressive Rock, Classic Rock, Symphonic Rock, Symphonic Progressive, Art Rock, Classical Crossover, Orchestral Rock  


Original line-up:

John Lees:  Vocals, Guitar
Stuart "Woody" Wolstenholme:  Keyboards, Vocals
Craig Fletcher:  Bass
Kevin Whitehead:  Drums


John Lees' Barclay James Harvest are an English Progressive Rock Band.  John Lees and Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme were founder members of Barclay James Harvest.  In 1998, it was announced that Barclay James Harvest was effectively the end of the original band and the members of the band would be pursuing solo projects, John renewed his musical friendship with Woody and they began work together with Craig Fletcher (Bass) and Kevin Whitehead (Drums) under the name Barclay James Harvest Through The Eyes Of John Lees, was released album Nexus in 1999.  Woody turned to attention to solo work and live set between 2003 and 2005.   In 2005 John Lees announced under the new name John Lees' Barclay James Harvest.













Title:  Philharmonic!:  The Orchestra Concert (2026)

Genre:  Progressive Rock, Classic Rock, Symphonic Rock, Symphonic Progressive, Art Rock, Classical Crossover, Orchestral Rock 

Label:  Esoteric Antenna

Rating:   *****


Format:   CD


Tracks:


Disc 1:


 1.  Festive Overture:  Shostakovich (6:55)

 2.  Fifties Child (4:45)

 3.  Galadriel (3:37)

 4.  In My Life (5:16)

 5.  Poor Man's Moody Blues (7:39)

 6.  North (7:45)

 7.  Summer Soldier (8:05)

 8.  The Poet (3:20)

 9.  After The Day (6:55)


Disc 2:


 1.  Hornpipe:  Handel's Water Music (3:42)

 2.  Moonwater (7:42)

 3.  Mocking Bird (8:34)

 4.  Loving Is Easy (4:33)

 5.  She Said (8:26)

 6.  Poor Wages (4:01)

 7.  Medicine Man (5:32)

 8.  Dark Now My Sky (12:14)

 9.  On Leave (9:06)

10. Hymn (4:56)


Personnel:


John Lee:  Lead Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitars

Graig Fletcher:  Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals

Jez Smith:  Keyboards, Vocals

Kevin Whitehead:  Drums, Percussion


The Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra:  Full Symphony Backing


Benjamin Ellin:  Conductor


Special Guest:


Eleanor Sanders:  Lead Vocals on Track 2/2


Philharmonic!:  The Orchestra Concert is a live album by John Lee's Barclay James Harvest, released on July 31, 2026 by Esoteric Antenna.  2 CD Edition, concert took place on September 23, 2023.















 

Friday, August 14, 2026

Shelly Manne


 




















Artist:  Shelly Manne

Birth Name:  Sheldon Manne

Born:  June 1, 1920.  New York City, New York, USA

Died:  September 26, 1984 (Aged 64).  Los Angeles, California, USA

Genre:  Jazz, Cool Jazz, Be Bop, West Coast Jazz, Mainstream Jazz, Standards, Film Score, Post Bop

Occupation:  Drummer, Percussionist, Composer,, Bandleader

Instruments: Drums, Percussion


Shelly Manne was an American Jazz Drummer from New York City.  His father Max Manne and Uncles were Drummers.  He rapidly developed his style in the clubs of 52nd Street in New York in the late 1930s and 1940s.  His first professional job with a known big band was with The Bobby Byrne Orchestra in 1940.   He recorded with Jazz Stars like Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Shavers, and Don Byas, he also worked with a number of musicians mainly associated with Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, Lawrence Brown, and Rex Stewart, and performing with Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker.  He became part of the working bands of Woody Herman and, especially, Stan Kenton.

















Title:  2-3-4 (Verve Acoustic Sounds Series) (2026)

Genre:  Jazz, Cool Jazz, Be Bop, West Coast Jazz, Mainstream Jazz, Standards, Film Score, Post Bop

Label:  Impulse!

Rating:  *****


Format:  LP


Tracks:


Side A:


 1. Take The "A" Train (7:23)

 2.  The Sicks Of Us (5:53)

 3.  Slowly (5:27)


Side B:


 1.  Lean On Me (6:18)

 2.  Cherokee (3:22)

 3.  Me And Some Drums (5:54)


Personnel:


Shelly Manne:  Drums

Coleman Hawkins:  Tenor Saxophone on Tracks:  A1,3, B1, 3, Piano on Track B3

Hank Jones:  Piano on Tracks:  A1, 3, B1, 2

Eddie Costa:  Piano on Tracks:  A2, B1-3

George Duvivier:  Bass on Tracks:  A1-3, B1, 2


2-3-4 is an album by Shelly Manne, originally released in 1962 by Impulse! remastered ad reissued on July 31, 2026 by Impulse!.  Verve Acoustic Sounds Series Edition, 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl.





Ike Quebec


 




















Artist:  Ike Quebec

Birth Name:  Ike Abrams Quebec

Born:  August 17, 1918.  Newark, New Jersey, USA

Died:  January 16, 1963 (Aged 44).  New York City, USA

Genre:  Jazz, Swing, Hard Bop, Soul Jazz, Big Band, Blues, R&B, Hard Bop, Jump Blues, Jazz Instrument, Saxophone Jazz, Early R&B

Occupation:  Musician

Instruments:  Tenor Saxophone, Piano


Ike Quebec was an American Jazz Tenor Saxophonist.  He began his career in the big band era of the 1940s, he recorded exrtensively for Blue Note Records, helped discover artists like Thelonious Monk, and launched a celecbrated Soul Jazz comeback, and he was quite consistent when it came to down-home Blues,Sexy Ballads, and Up-Tempo aggression.





















Title:  Bossa Nova Soul Samba (Blue Note Tone Poet Edition) (2026)

Genre:  Jazz, Swing, Hard Bop, Soul Jazz, Big Band, Blues, R&B,

 Jump Blues, Jazz Instrument, Saxophone Jazz, Early R&B

Label:  Blue Note
Rating:   *****

Format:  LP


Tracks:

Side One:

 1.  Loie (3:10)
 2.  Lloro Tu Despedida (3:01)
 3.  Goin' Home (5:39)
 4.  Me'N You (5:58)

Side Two:

 1. Liebestraum (3:42)
 2. Shu Shu (3:31)
 3. Blue Samba (5:18)
 4.  Favela (4:00)
 5.  Linda Flor (3:28)

Personnel:

Ike Quebec:  Tenor Saxophone
Kenny Burrell:  Guitar
Wendell Marshall:  Bass
Willie Bobo:  Drums
Garvin Masseaux:  Chekere

Bossa Nova Soul Samba is an album by Ike Quebec, originally released in 1962 by Blue Note, remastered and reissued on August 7, 2026 by Blue Note.  Blue Note Tone Poet Edition, 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl.