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PETER FRAMPTON Now (Framptone / 33rd St.) For his first album of new material in nine years, rock legend and guitar great Peter Frampton makes a remarkable return to form in 2003 with Now. Released on his own Framptone / 33rd Street Records, Now is bursting out with that classic Frampton late 60s sound but theres something more at play here. Frampton adds, This is a very selfish album. Its me, doing what I want to do, for the first time in nine years. A reflection of his innovative work on the first four Humble Pie studio albums as well as his '80s guitar work with David Bowie, Now starts off great and just gets better. With so many memorable tracks, album highlights include the powerhouse lead off track Verge Of A Thing, Peter's Bowie-inspired dynamic of Love Stands Alone, a faithful cover of the George Harrison classic While My Guitar Gently Weeps, the albums solo instrumental, Greens and the acoustic splendor of the quietly eloquent Not Forgotten and Mia. For Now, Frampton enlists the help of his long time associates, keyboardist Bob Mayo, John Regan (bass) and Chad Cromwell (drums). Commenting on just how tight his band sounds in 2003, Frampton adds, Were closer than weve ever been, to the point that I just cant imagine not playing with these guys. If one of them is unavailable, we dont play; its that simple. Its all of us, or none of us. That trademark guitar sound is as powerful as its ever been and the excellent new material on Now proves that Frampton has clearly rekindled the musical magic that brought him so much acclaim all those years ago. www.Frampton.com
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NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE Greendale (Reprise) Commenting on the new songs on Greendale, rock icon Neil Young states, I just let them out. I never tried to make things fit together. I just kept on going...continuity wasnt that important. Then I found out later that the continuity was golden all the way through. Based upon a family saga that tells the story of a Northern California-based clan called the Green family, Greendale, on CD, is a complex affair filled with that trademark Neil Young sound. Ushering in Youngs new concept album, the lead off track, Falling From Abovethe most accessible track herefeatures a sentimental lyric carried along by an unforgettable, childlike melody. For his Greendale epic Young enlists the long time Crazy Horse rhythm section of Ralph Molina (drums) and Billy Talbot (bass). Theres also a full length Greendale movie filmed by Young and planned for release during the Fall of 2003. Greendale is a pretty involved storyteller affair; heavy on lyrics and imaginative design, but it still is prime Neil Young. The Summer 2003 double disc release on Reprise Records features the complete ten track CD on disc one with a second disc featuring a DVD of the entire Greendale album performed solo acoustic by Young live in concert early in 2003 in Dublin, Ireland. One of Youngs most enigmatic albums yet, Greendale takes time to get into, but the trip is worth it. www.neilyoung.com
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DION New Masters (Collectables) Rock and Roll icon Dion DiMucci returned in 2000 with Deja Nuhis first new album in eight years and in 2003 he once again gets his fan base excited with another album of relatively recent new and cover material entitled New Masters. On his 2003 Collectibles CDrecorded in FloridaDion revisits some of his biggest tunes ever including the all time rock and roll classics Ruby Baby, I Wonder Why and Runaround Sue along with new material like Come Heal This Landa stunning response to the 9/11 terror attacks. A new Dion version of his late 60s protest classic Abraham, Martin and John and a round of rock and roll standards like Blue Monday, Stand By Me and Blue Suede Shoes are delivered with the usual Dion flair and are overall excellent new additions to Dions legendary catalog of pop and oldies classics. www.diondimucci.com
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CHEAP TRICK Special One (Cheap Trick Unlimited / Big 3) Its been about six years since Cheap Trick released their last studio album, the self-titled Cheap Trick, in 1997. In a concerted effort to avoid the record label fiasco that followed their 97 CD, guitarist Rick Nielsen and company have linked with a new company and they pull out all the stops on what might very well be the greatest Cheap Trick album in a career spanning four different decades. Now in 2003, abetted by Cheap Trick bandmates Robin Zander, Bun E. Carlos and Tom Petersson, Nielsen & Co. once again prove that rock and roll is best left in the hands of the experts. Kicking off with the power-chord dominated rock-radio anthem, Scent Of A Woman, Special One starts off great and just gets better from track to track. The title track, Special Oneco-produced by the esteemed Jack DouglasPop Drone, If I Could, My Obsession, and in fact, just about each and every track here stand out among the groups finest efforts. A rewarding collaboration between four musicians who are more than just on the same wave-length musically, Special One is summed up by Cheap Trick vocalist Robin Zander who adds, This time, each of us had songs and bits and pieces of songs, like a verse here, a chorus there, or a melody with no lyric. After putting it all together for this album, wed lost track of who wrote what and just decided to put all of the writers on each song equally. With further vintage archival CT titles planned, lets hope the union between the groups own Cheap Trick Unlimited and Big3 Records proves to be a beneficial venture. Discussing the CTU and Big3 merger, guitarist/songwriter Rick Nielson adds, Running our own label has been a lot of fun. One day Bun E. gets to be President and one day I get to play President, while Zander further states, Its been a little tedious and a little overwhelming at times but weve got more control over our chaos. Having once again created an album filled with memorable tracks and expert playing that perfectly suits their influential pop legacy, Cheap Trick will have very little difficulty convincing everyone that this is indeed, a special one. www.cheaptrick.com
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HEART Alive In Seattle (Image Entertainment / Epic Legacy) Looking back on the 2002 Heart concert album Alive In Seattle, guitarist Nancy Wilson says I did a Nancy Wilson tour as well as scoring music for movies, and Anns done her Ann Wilson tours, but there was something super sweet about being Heart again on a big rock stage and just turning it up really loud. It felt amazing. Released during the summer 2003 as both a live concert DVD on Image Entertainment and as a double CD set on Epic Legacy Records, Alive In Seattle features the key Heart hits along with cool covers of Led Zeppelin and Elton John along with a batch of new Heart material. Recorded live on August 8th 2002 in their hometown of Seattle, as the final stop on their Alive In America tour, Alive In Seattle features a tight band including Scott Olson (guitar) and drummer Ben Smith. Taking advantage of the latest sound technology, the double CD is being released by Legacy as a hybrid CD / SACD and 5.1 surround sound, all encoded on both CDs. Keeping it going in 2003, Heart also are just coming off their 2003 tour with a band that now features guitarist Gilby Clarke and Wondermints founder Darian Sahanaja. According to pop pundid Sahanaja, Im completely flattered that Im doing this tour. I first met Ann and Nancy at Radio City Music Hall a few years back where they so graciously offered their talents at the All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson. I was in the musical director role and Ann and Nancy were the kindest, most dignified people of the lot, incredibly sincere and extremely passionate. Evidently, alot of that Heart passion is captured forever on Alive In Seattle. www.legacyrecordings.com / www.image-entertainment.com
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