Lovebites

 

Artist:   Lovebites

Origin:  Tokyo, Japan

Genre:  Power Metal, Heavy Metal

Original line-up:

Asami:  Lead Vocals

Midori:  Guitars, Backing Vocals

Miho:  Bass, Backing Vocals

Haruna:  Drums

Lovebites is a Japanese Power Metal Band from Tokyo, formed in 2016 by Miho (Bass Ex Destrose), and Haruna (Drums Ex Destrose), along with Asami (Lead Vocals), and Midori (Guitars).

Title:  Outstanding Power (2026)

Genre:  Power Metal, Heavy Metal

Label:  Napalm Records

Rating:   *****

Format:  CD

Tracks:

 1.  The Castaway (6:07)

 2.  Silence The Void (5:39) 

 3.  Forbidden Thirst (5:00)

 4.  Blazing Halo (3:49)

 5.  Dream Of King (6:03)

 6.  Phoenix Rises Again (4:44)

 7.  Out Of Control (4:39)

 8.  Wheels On Fire (4:29)

 9.  The Eve Of Change (5:00)

10. Reaper's Lullaby (5:34)

11. Eternally (7:20)

12. One Will Remain (5:46)

Personnel:

Asami:  Lead Vocals

Midori:  Guitars, Backing Vocals

Miyako:  Guitars, Keyboards

Fami:  Bass, Backing Vocals

Haruna:  Drums

Additional Musician:

Mao:  Keyboards, Programming

Outstanding Power is the fifth studio album by Lovebites, released on February 18, 2026 by Napalm Records.  The album reached No. 1 On Japanese Rock Albums Chart.

Westlife

 

Artist:  Westlife
Origin:  Sligo+Dublin, Ireland
Genre:  Pop, Dance Pop, Club, Dance, Contemporary Pop, Teen Pop

Originally line-up:

Kian Egan:  Vocals
Mark Feehily:  Vocals
Shane Filan:  Vocals
Nicky Byrne:   Vocals
Brian McFadden:  Vocals

Westlife are an Irish Pop Vocal Group from Sligo+Dublin, formed in 1998, consisted of Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, and Shane Filan, along with Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden.  They followed in the tradition of European Boy Bands like Take That and Boyzone.  The band have sold over 45 million studio albums ad 55 million records overall worldwide.  36 albums peaked at No. 1 globally from 1999 to 2011.  They disbanded in 2012 and reunited in 2018.

Title:  25 - The Ultimate Collection (Deluxe Edition) (2026)

Genre:  Pop, Dance Pop, Club, Dance, Contemporary Pop, Teen Pop

Label:  Sony Music

Rating:   *****

Format:  CD

Tracks:

 Disc 1:

 1.  World Of Our Own (3:31)

 2.  You Raise Me Up (4:00)

 3.  Uptown Girl (4:00)

 4.  Flying Without Wings (3:35)

 5.  If I Let You Go (3:40)

 6.  My Love (3:52)

 7.  Hello My Love (3:34)

 8.  Swear It Again (4:08)

 9.  What About Now (4:09)

10. Mandy (3:17)

11. Fool Again (3:53)

12. When You're Looking Like That (Single Remix) (3:52)

13. Queen Of My Heart (4:19)

Disc 2:

 1.  Bop Bop Baby (4:24)

 2.  What Makes A Man (4:24)

 3. I Have A Dream (Single Version) (4:13)

 4.  Home (4:13) 

 5.  Starlight (3:44)

 6.  Unbreakable (4:33)

 7.  Against All Odds (with Mariah Carey) (3:20)

 8.  Seasons In The Sun (4:06)

 9.  Chariot (3:20)

10. Your Love Amazes Me (2:51)

11. First Time Feeling (2:53)

12. Beautiful Life (2:23)

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side A:

 1.  World Of Our Own (3:31)

 2.  You Raise Me Up (4:00)

 3.  Uptown Girl (4:00)

 4.  Flying Without Wings (3:35)

 5.  If I Let You Go (3:40)

 6.  My Love (3:52)

 7.  Hello My Love (3:34)

Side B:

 1.  Swear It Again (4:08)

 2.  What About Now (4:09)

 3.  Mandy (3:17)

 4.  Fool Again (3:53)

 5.  Queen Of My Heart (4:19)

 6.  Chariot (3:20)

 7.  Your Love Amazes Me (2:51)

25 - The Ultimate Collection is a greatest hits album by Westlife, released on May 8, 2026 by Sony Music.  Celebrating 25 years of their career.  Deluxe Edition CD, featuring All Westlife Hits, plus 2 brand new songs "Chariot" and "Your Love Amazes Me". 

 

Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck

 

Artist:  Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck

Origin:   UK+USA

Genre:  Rock, Blues, Blues Rock, Classical British Rock

Original line-up:

Stevie Ray Vaughan:  Vocals, Guitar

Jeff Beck:  Guitar

Title:  Tornado Of Guitars (2026)

Genre:  Rock, Blues, Blues Rock, Classical British Rock

Label:  Rockin' Bear Records

Rating:   ****

Format:  CD

Tracks:

 1. Savoy (3:52)

 2.  Guitar Shop (5:13)

 3.  Sling Shot (4:32)

 4.  Big Block (4:27)

 5.  Behind The Veil (4:59)

 6.  Freeway Jam (4:14)

 7.  Stand On It (2:31)

 8.  The House Is Rockin' (3:00)

 9.  Tightrope (5:25)

10. Look At Little Sister (6:12)

11. Mary Had A Little Lamb (6:38)

12. Let Me Love You Baby (3:00)

13. Leave My Little Girl Alone (6:29)

14. Wall Of Denial (5:10)

Personnel:

Stevie Ray Vaughan:  Vocals, Guitar

Jeff Beck:  Guitar

Double Trouble:

Reese Wynans:  Keyboards

Tommy Shannon:  Bass
Chris Layton:  Drums

Alongside Jeff Beck's Backing Band:

Terry Bozzio:  Drums

Tony Hymas:  Keyboards

Tracks:  1-7 by Jeff Beck

Tracks:  8-14 by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Tornado Of Guitars is a live broadcast album by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Jeff Beck, released on May 15, 2026 by Rockin' Bear Records.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Artist:  Kenny Wayne Shepherd 
Birth Name:  Kenny Wayne Brost
Born:  June 12, 1977.  Shreveport, Louisiana,  USA
Genre:  Blues Rock, Blues, Rock, Hard Rock
Occupations:  Musician, Songwriter
Instruments:  Guitar, Vocals

Kenny Wayne Shepherd is an American Guitarist, Singer, and Songwriter, from Shreveport, Louisiana.  He played Blues and Blues Rock as per Icons such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Magic Sam, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, and Junior Wells.

 

Title:  Ledbetter Heights (The 30th Anniversary Sessions) (2026)

Genre:  Blues Rock, Blues, Rock, Hard Rock

Label:  Ram Records

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

LP 1:

Side A:

 1.  Born With A Broken Heart (5:56)

 2.  Deja Voodoo (6:09)

 2.  Aberdeen (4:15)

Side B:

 1.  Shame, Shame, Shame (6:05)

 2.  One Foot On The Path (3:49)

 3.  Everybody Gets The Blues (5:56)

LP 2:

Side C:

 1.  While We Cry (Live) (6:17)

 2.  I'm Leaving You (Commit A Crime) (4:16)

 3.  (Let Me Up) I've Had Enough (2:43)

Side D:

 1.  Riverside (3:46)

 2.  What's Goin' Down (5:30)

 3.  Ledbetter Heights (6:11)

Personnel:

Kenny Wayne Shepherd:  Lead Guitar

Noah Hunt:  Lead Vocals

Kevin McCormick:  Bass

Chris "Whipper" Layton:  Drums

Joe Krown:  Piano, Keyboards

Reesee Wynans:  Keyboards

Jessica Waltz:  Backing Vocals

Ledbetter Heights is the debut album by Kenny Wayne Shepherd, originally released on September 19, 1996 by Giant Records, remastered and reissued on May 8, 2026 by Ram Records.  30th Anniversary Sessions.  180 Gram Black Vinyl in 2 LP.

The Shadows

 

Artist:  The Shadows

Origin:  London, England

Genre:   Instrumental Rock, Instrumental Surf, British Invasion, Early British Pop, Early Pop, Rock & Roll

Original line-up: 

The Drifters:   (1958)

Ian Samwell:  Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Bass

Norman Mitham:  Rhythm Guitar

Ken Pavey:  Rhythm Guitar

Terry Smart:  Drums

2nd line-up:

Jet Harris:  Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Bass

Norman Mitham:  Rhythm Guitar

Ken Pavey:  Rhythm Guitar

Terry Smart:  Drums

3rd line-up:

Jet Harris:  Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Bass

Norman Mitham:  Rhythm Guitar

Ken Pavey:  Rhythm Guitar

Tony Meehan:  Drums

4th line-up:  

The Shadows  (1959): 

Jet Harris:   Bass

Hank Marvin:  Lead Guitar

Bruce Welch:  Rhythm Guitar

Tony Meeham:  Drums

5th line-up:  (1962)

Hank Marvin:  Lead Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals

Bruce Welch:  Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

Jet Harris:  Bass

Brian "Licorice" Locking:  Bass, Harmonica

Brian Bennett:  Drums

6th line-up:  (1963)

Hank Marvin:  Lead Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals

Bruce Welch:  Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

John Rostill:  Bass

Brian "Licorice" Locking:  Bass, Harmonica

Brian Bennett:  Drums

Classic line-up:

Hank Marvin:  Lead Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals

Bruce Welch:  Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

John Rostill:  Bass

Brian Bennett:  Drums

The Shadows are an English Instrumental Rock Group, originally known as The Drifters are Cliff Richard's backing Band from 1958 to 1968, later was changed to The Shadows in mid-1959 to avoid a conflict with the American R&B group to be Cliff Richard & The Shadows.  The Shadows were the first backing band to emerge as stars.  As pioneers of the four-member instrumental format, the band consisted of Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Bass and Drums.  Their range covers Pop, Rock, Surf Rock, Ballads with Jazz influence.  The band's No. 1 hits include "Apache", "Kon-Tiki", "Wonderful Land", "Foot Tapper", and "Dance On!".  The band also recorded occasional vocal numbers, and hit the UK Top Ten with the group-sung "Don't Make My Baby Blue" in 1965.

Artist:  Hank Marvin And The Shadows

Title:  60 Essential Recordings (2020)

Genre:   Instrumental Rock, Instrumental Surf, British Invasion, Early British Pop, Early Pop, Rock & Roll

Label:  Big 3

Rating:   *****

Format:  CD 

Tracks:

Disc 1:

 1.  Apache (2:56)

 2.  Man Of Mystery (2:00)

 3.  The Stranger (2:38)

 4.  F.B.I. (2:22)

 5.  Teenage Love (2:19)

 6.  Jean Dorothy (2:19)

 7.  Feelin' Fine (1:55)

 8.  Don't Be A Fool (With Love) (2:07)

 9.  Jet Black (2:28)

10. Driftin' (2:32)

11. Saturday Dance (1:42)

12. Quatermasster's Stones (2:21)

13. Bongo Blues (1:44)

14. 36-24-35 (1:40)

15. Mustang (2:39)

16. The Theme From 'Shane' (2:22)

17. Shotgun (2:08)

18. The Theme From "Giant" (2:39)

19. Back Home (2:43)

20. See You In My Drums (2:51)  

 

Disc 2:

 1.  Wonderful Land (2:07)

 2.  The Frightened City (2:24)

 3.  The Savage (2:23)

 4.  Midnight (2:31)

 5.  Shadoogie (2:24)

 6.  Blue Star (2:45)

 7.  Nivram (3:22)

 8.  Baby, My Heart (2:15)

 9.  All My Sorrows (2:59)

10. stand Up And Say That (2:12)

11. Gonzales (2:15)

12. Find Me A Golden Street (2:50)

13. Theme From A Filleted Place (2:23)

14. My Resistance Is Low (1:58)

15. Sleepwalk (2:50)

16. Big Boy (2:08)

17. Peace Pipe (2:12)

18. Stars Fell On Stockton (2:16)

19. Rumble (1:55)

20. The Bandit (2:44)

Disc 3:

 1.  Kon-Tiki (1:56)

 2.  Dance On!(2:23)

 3.  Guitar Tango (3:00)

 4. The Theme From The Boys (2:48)

 5.  The Girls (2:24)

 6.   Sweet Dreams (1:58)

 7.  The Boys (2:36)

 8.  Cosy (3:15)

 9.  1861 (2:28)

10. Perfidiam(2:12)

11. Little "B"(5:02)

12. Bo Diddley (2:06)

13. South Of The Border (3:16)

14. Spring Is Nearly Here (3:03)

15. Are They All Like You? (2:14)

16. Tales Of A Raggy Tramline (2:19)

17. Some Are Lonely (2:22)

18. Kinda Cool (2:15)

19. All Day (2:35)

20. What A Lovely Tune (2:18)

Personnel:

The Shadows:  Disc 1:  Tracks:  1-4, 11-20, Disc 2:  1-20, Disc 3:  1-20

The Five Chesternuts:  Disc 1:  Tracks:  5, 6

The Drifters:  Disc 1:  Tracks:  7-10

60 Essential Recordings is the compilation Box Set by Hank Marvin And The Shadows, released on July 31, 2020 by Big 3.  Box Set 3 CD.  For Fans of The Shadows and Music Collectors.

Nina Simone

 

Artist:   Nina Simone  

Birth Name:  Eunice Kathleen Waymon

Born:  February 21, 1933.  Tryon, North Carolina, USA

Died:  April 21, 2003 (Aged 70).  Carry-le-Rouet France

Genre:  R&B, Jazz, Blues, Folk, Soul, Classical, Gospel, Standards, Vocal Jazz

Occupation:  Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Arranger, Composer, Activist

Instruments:   Vocals, Piano

Nina Simone was an American Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Arranger and Civil Rights Activist.  Her music spanned a broad range of musical styles including Jazz, Blues, Folk, R&B, Gospel, Pop and Classical.  She recorded more than 40 albums between 1958 and 1974, making her debut with Little Girl Blue.  She had a hit single in the USA in 1958 with "I Loves You Porgy".

Title:   Sinnerman:  The Spiritual Nina Simone (Limited Edition) (2026)

Genre:  R&B, Jazz, Blues, Folk, Soul, Classical, Gospel, Standards, Vocal Jazz

Label:  New Continent

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side A:

 1.  I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl (2:44)

 2.  I Love To Love (3:23)

 3.  Love Me Or Leave Me (3:21)

 4.  Mood Indigo (4:01)

 5.  Fine And Mellow (3:28)

 6.  Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out (2:41)

 7.  Sinnerman (7:58)

Side B:

 1.  My Baby Just Cares For Me (3:36)

 2.  Can't Get Out Of This Mood (2:31)

 3.  Willow Weep For Me (3:12)

 4.  You've Been Gone Too Long (2:09)

 5.  Exactly Like You (3:10)

 6.  Work Song (2:33)

 7.  I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) (4:05)

 8.  Gin House Blues (3:02)

 9.  Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair (3:30)

Personnel:

Nina Simone:  Vocals, Piano

Tracks:  A1, A6, B7 (1962)

The Malcolm Dodds. Singers:  Vocal Choir

Ralph Burns:  Orchestra Conductor

Tracks:  A2, B6, B8 (1960-61)

Al Shackman:  Guitar

Chris White:  Bass

Bobby Hamilton:  Drums

Tracks:  A3, A4, B1 (1967)

Jimmy Bond:  Bass

Albert "Tootie" Heath:  Drums

Tracks:  A5, B5, B9 (1959)

Wilbur Ware:  Bass

Ben Riley:  Drums

Track:   A7 (1961)

Same Personnel as A2, B6,  B8 

Tracks:  B2, B3, B4 (1959)

Bob Mersey:   Orchestra Conductor

Sinnerman:  The Spiritual Nina Simone is the collection tracks album by Nina Simone, released on April 24, 2026 by New Continent.  Limited Edition 180 Gram Red Vinyl.