7515 - THE BUFFALO RUCKUS (2014)

THE BUFFALO RUCKUS
''THE BUFFALO RUCKUS''
AUGUST 23 2014
50:31

1 If It's For Love 4:07
2 High Again 4:16
3 Even On the Darker Days 3:51
4 What's a Boy To Do 5:16
5 Angilee feat. Shannon McNally 4:08
6 Moonight Rebels 3:37
7 South Georgia Angel 4:29
8 No Good, So Good 3:37
9 Don't Save Me 3:55
10 Son of a Rebel's Son 3:22
11 Far To Fall 4:06
12 Black Hearted 5:47

Michael Burgess /Group Member, Guitar (Bass)
Milo Deering /Fiddle, Pedal Steel
Christian Dorn /Drums, Group Member, Percussion
Brad Haefner /Artwork, Banjo, Group Member, Guitar, Mandolin
Matt Hubbard /Harmonica
Alex Johnson /Keyboards
Jason Lovell /Group Member, Guitar, Vocals
Shannon McNally /Featured Artist, Vocals

The Buffalo Ruckus is a compendium of roots, Americana, southern soul, psychedelic postmodern avante-garde experimental country-fried rock. Spun from the timbers of heart and soul, the Ruckus took its first musical breath in the early days of 2013. In a short amount of time, the band has spread its musical wings and taken its heavy soul-fueled sound throughout the south. The band had the good fortune to perform at Billy Bob’s, at the 2014 Larry Joe Taylor Festival, open for Foghat, Cheap Trick, and Joan Jett at the 2014 Wildflower Festival, and share the stage with many other respected Texas artists. Boot-stomping rhythms, howling vocals, and spear-in-the-back guitar leads their overall objective: Spread the Ruckus. Their debut self-titled album was produced by the band and Grammy nominee Chris Bell (has worked with the Eagles, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Erykah Badu, and U2) of Blade Studios and takes listeners on a genre-defying journey through Americana, folk, blues, country, and roots rock-n-roll. The heavier southern rock side of the album comes through in songs like Son of a Rebel’s Son, High Again and If It’s For Love which highlights the gravel soaked vocal power of lead singer Jason Lovell. The folk/Americana side of the album can be heard in Moonlight Rebels, Far to Fall and the Appalachia influenced Angilee, which also features the sultry vocals of Grammy nominated Americana artist Shannon McNally (performed with Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Vince Gill, Levon Helm, Charlie Sexton, Dr. John, Derek Trucks and many more). The songwriting is pure and soulful with stories of heritage, spirituality, redemption, love gained and love lost. Their debut album is due in stores on August 26, 2014.

OFFICIAL SITE

7514 - CYMBALS EAT GUITARS - Lose (2014)

CYMBALS EAT GUITARS
''LOSE''
AUGUST 26 2014
43:10

01 - If It's For Love 4:04
02 - High Again 4:13
03 - Even On The Darker Days 3:48
04 - What's A Boy To Do 5:14
05 - Angilee (Featuring Shannon Mcnally) 4:06
06 - Moonlight Rebels 3:34
07 - South Georgia Angel 4:26
08 - No Good, So Good 3:35
09 - Don't Save Me 3:51
10 - Son Of A Rebel's Son 3:19
11 - Far To Fall 4:03
12 - Black Hearted Woman 5:45

BIOGRAPHY (WIKIPEDIA)

7513 - BRUCE HORNSBY - Solo Concerts, Disc Two (2014)

BRUCE HORNSBY
''SOLO CONCERTS, DISC TWO''
AUGUST 25 2014
91:55

DISC ONE
1 Entrance 0:32
2 Song 3 (Hymn in Eb)
Bruce Hornsby 1:59
3 Preacher in the Ring, Pt. 1/Variation II (Webern)/Cantéares (Carter) Excerpt
Elliot Carter / Bruce Hornsby / Anton von Webern 7:10
4 Life in the Psychotropics
Chip Dematteo / Bruce Hornsby 3:37
5 Piano Concerto (Schoenberg) Excerpt
Arnold Schoenberg 1:23
6 Might as Well Be Me
Bruce Hornsby / Robert Hunter 6:13
7 Continents Drift
Chip Dematteo / Bruce Hornsby 6:21
8 The Valley Road
Bruce Hornsby / John Hornsby 5:47
9 Caténaires (Carter)
Elliot Carter 4:05
10 Where No One's Mad
Chip Dematteo / Bruce Hornsby 3:38
11 Where's the Bat
Bruce Hornsby 3:37

DISC TWO
1 Sticks and Stones
Bruce Hornsby 3:58
2 Invisible
Bruce Hornsby 4:08
3 Gavotte (Schoenberg) & Variations
Arnold Schoenberg 3:25
4 Paperboy
Chip Dematteo / Bruce Hornsby 3:04
5 20/20 Vision/Night on the Town
Joe Allison / Milton Estes / Bruce Hornsby / John Hornsby 10:43
6 Arc de Terre
Bruce Hornsby 1:48
7 La Grive Musicienne (Messiaen) Excerpt/Camp Meeting
Bruce Hornsby / Olivier Messiaen 4:49
8 Mandolin Rain
Bruce Hornsby / John Hornsby 7:00
9 Etude #5 (Ligeti)
György Ligeti 3:50
10 Here We Are Again
Bruce Hornsby 4:48

REVIEW
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Bruce Hornsby long ago left behind the heartland rock that made his name in the mid-'80s, choosing to explore many long, winding roads over the course of the next 25 years. The Solo Concerts, a 2014 double-disc compendium of highlights from an American tour that ran throughout the course of 2012 and 2013, illustrates just where his journeys took him. Hornsby doesn't ignore songs that brought him fame -- there's no "The Way It Is" but "Mandolin Rain" is given a prominent spot -- but he weighs them equally with jazz, contemporary classical pieces, boogie woogie, and excerpts from his own film work. Far from seeming like a mess, the willful eclecticism of The Solo Concerts is an asset, largely because Hornsby's execution encompasses all of these influences; a piece may be anchored in a certain style but he finds ways to expand, stretch, and invert the composition so the focus becomes his style, not the song. Similarly, he's elastic as a vocalist -- he gives "The Valley Road" a welcome elongated reading that stands in direct contrast to the 1988 hit original -- and that only underscores how Hornsby has settled into his style. He's elaborate but never fussy, sophisticated without succumbing to pretension, and this, almost more than his live records with the Noise Makers, illustrates his full range and idiosyncratic appeal.

BIOGRAPHY
by William Ruhlmann
Possessed of a breezy, nonchalant style that belies his technical gifts, pianist Bruce Hornsby writes powerful songs from the heart that touch on several distinctly American traditions: pop, jazz, bluegrass, and '60s soul. He worked for a while as a studio player and songwriter, and had his first hit in 1986 with the stirring and philosophical "The Way It Is." After that, he continued to release albums that honored his own muse rather than the marketplace, and put together various backing bands to suit the mood and style of the genres he works in. Hornsby has also maintained a close musical relationship with the remaining members of the Grateful Dead, having toured as a temporary member in the early '90s and collaborated on off-shoot recordings and live shows.

Bruce Hornsby was born in Williamsburg, Virginia, and grew up in that combination college town and tourist center, later attending the University of Miami and the Berklee School of Music. He then spent years playing in bars and sending demo tapes to record companies. In 1980, he and his brother (and songwriting partner) John Hornsby moved to Los Angeles, where they spent three years writing for 20th Century Fox. There Bruce Hornsby met Huey Lewis, who would eventually produce him and record his material. Hornsby finally signed his band, the Range, to RCA in 1985. Their debut album, The Way It Is, was released in April 1986. It eventually produced three Top 20 hits, the biggest of which was the socially conscious "The Way It Is," which featured Hornsby's characteristically melodic right-hand piano runs. The album stayed in the charts for almost a year-and-a-half and sold two million copies. Hornsby & the Range won the Best New Artist Grammy Award for 1986.

Hornsby's second album, Scenes from the Southside, was not as successful as his debut, though it sold a million copies and produced the Top Ten single "The Valley Road." Hornsby also began to make his mark as a songwriter for others: Huey Lewis had a hit with his "Jacob's Ladder," as did Don Henley with "The End of the Innocence." Hornsby's third album, A Night on the Town (1990), found him trying to break out of his signature sound into other areas. It was less successful than its predecessors but, along with the pianist's extensive session work, it signaled his determination to tackle new musical challenges. Hornsby worked extensively as a producer and sideman in the early '90s, notably doing temporary duty in the Grateful Dead after their keyboardist, Brent Mydland, died in July 1990, and producing a comeback album for Leon Russell, an idol of Hornsby's. He also became the father of twin sons.

He finally turned in his fourth album, Harbor Lights, for release in 1993. This solo album, which did not feature his backup band, the Range, went gold, and Hornsby toured the U.S. and Canada through the end of the year. He followed it with a similar effort, Hot House, in July 1995, returning three years later with the double album Spirit Trail. Here Come the Noise Makers was issued in fall 2000. Since that time, Hornsby has released a handful of albums including Big Swing Face in 2002, Halcyon Days in 2004, the jazz-oriented Camp Meeting in 2007, and Levitate in 2009. Hornsby's most impressive playing has arguably been in live settings, though, as the two-disc set Bride of the Noisemakers -- released in 2011 and featuring concert performances from Hornsby and his band the Noisemakers, recorded between 2007 and 2009, illustrates -- putting the band’s impressive ability to jam in styles ranging from rock to jazz and bluegrass on full display. A live set with Ricky Skaggs, Cluck Ol' Hen, appeared at the end of the summer in 2013.

OFFICIAL SITE

7512 - BRUCE HORNSBY - Solo Concerts, Disc One (2014)

BRUCE HORNSBY
''SOLO CONCERTS, DISC ONE''
AUGUST 25 2014
91:55

DISC ONE
1 Entrance 0:32
2 Song 3 (Hymn in Eb)
Bruce Hornsby 1:59
3 Preacher in the Ring, Pt. 1/Variation II (Webern)/Cantéares (Carter) Excerpt
Elliot Carter / Bruce Hornsby / Anton von Webern 7:10
4 Life in the Psychotropics
Chip Dematteo / Bruce Hornsby 3:37
5 Piano Concerto (Schoenberg) Excerpt
Arnold Schoenberg 1:23
6 Might as Well Be Me
Bruce Hornsby / Robert Hunter 6:13
7 Continents Drift
Chip Dematteo / Bruce Hornsby 6:21
8 The Valley Road
Bruce Hornsby / John Hornsby 5:47
9 Caténaires (Carter)
Elliot Carter 4:05
10 Where No One's Mad
Chip Dematteo / Bruce Hornsby 3:38
11 Where's the Bat
Bruce Hornsby 3:37

DISC TWO
1 Sticks and Stones
Bruce Hornsby 3:58
2 Invisible
Bruce Hornsby 4:08
3 Gavotte (Schoenberg) & Variations
Arnold Schoenberg 3:25
4 Paperboy
Chip Dematteo / Bruce Hornsby 3:04
5 20/20 Vision/Night on the Town
Joe Allison / Milton Estes / Bruce Hornsby / John Hornsby 10:43
6 Arc de Terre
Bruce Hornsby 1:48
7 La Grive Musicienne (Messiaen) Excerpt/Camp Meeting
Bruce Hornsby / Olivier Messiaen 4:49
8 Mandolin Rain
Bruce Hornsby / John Hornsby 7:00
9 Etude #5 (Ligeti)
György Ligeti 3:50
10 Here We Are Again
Bruce Hornsby 4:48

REVIEW
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Bruce Hornsby long ago left behind the heartland rock that made his name in the mid-'80s, choosing to explore many long, winding roads over the course of the next 25 years. The Solo Concerts, a 2014 double-disc compendium of highlights from an American tour that ran throughout the course of 2012 and 2013, illustrates just where his journeys took him. Hornsby doesn't ignore songs that brought him fame -- there's no "The Way It Is" but "Mandolin Rain" is given a prominent spot -- but he weighs them equally with jazz, contemporary classical pieces, boogie woogie, and excerpts from his own film work. Far from seeming like a mess, the willful eclecticism of The Solo Concerts is an asset, largely because Hornsby's execution encompasses all of these influences; a piece may be anchored in a certain style but he finds ways to expand, stretch, and invert the composition so the focus becomes his style, not the song. Similarly, he's elastic as a vocalist -- he gives "The Valley Road" a welcome elongated reading that stands in direct contrast to the 1988 hit original -- and that only underscores how Hornsby has settled into his style. He's elaborate but never fussy, sophisticated without succumbing to pretension, and this, almost more than his live records with the Noise Makers, illustrates his full range and idiosyncratic appeal.

BIOGRAPHY
by William Ruhlmann
Possessed of a breezy, nonchalant style that belies his technical gifts, pianist Bruce Hornsby writes powerful songs from the heart that touch on several distinctly American traditions: pop, jazz, bluegrass, and '60s soul. He worked for a while as a studio player and songwriter, and had his first hit in 1986 with the stirring and philosophical "The Way It Is." After that, he continued to release albums that honored his own muse rather than the marketplace, and put together various backing bands to suit the mood and style of the genres he works in. Hornsby has also maintained a close musical relationship with the remaining members of the Grateful Dead, having toured as a temporary member in the early '90s and collaborated on off-shoot recordings and live shows.

Bruce Hornsby was born in Williamsburg, Virginia, and grew up in that combination college town and tourist center, later attending the University of Miami and the Berklee School of Music. He then spent years playing in bars and sending demo tapes to record companies. In 1980, he and his brother (and songwriting partner) John Hornsby moved to Los Angeles, where they spent three years writing for 20th Century Fox. There Bruce Hornsby met Huey Lewis, who would eventually produce him and record his material. Hornsby finally signed his band, the Range, to RCA in 1985. Their debut album, The Way It Is, was released in April 1986. It eventually produced three Top 20 hits, the biggest of which was the socially conscious "The Way It Is," which featured Hornsby's characteristically melodic right-hand piano runs. The album stayed in the charts for almost a year-and-a-half and sold two million copies. Hornsby & the Range won the Best New Artist Grammy Award for 1986.

Hornsby's second album, Scenes from the Southside, was not as successful as his debut, though it sold a million copies and produced the Top Ten single "The Valley Road." Hornsby also began to make his mark as a songwriter for others: Huey Lewis had a hit with his "Jacob's Ladder," as did Don Henley with "The End of the Innocence." Hornsby's third album, A Night on the Town (1990), found him trying to break out of his signature sound into other areas. It was less successful than its predecessors but, along with the pianist's extensive session work, it signaled his determination to tackle new musical challenges. Hornsby worked extensively as a producer and sideman in the early '90s, notably doing temporary duty in the Grateful Dead after their keyboardist, Brent Mydland, died in July 1990, and producing a comeback album for Leon Russell, an idol of Hornsby's. He also became the father of twin sons.

He finally turned in his fourth album, Harbor Lights, for release in 1993. This solo album, which did not feature his backup band, the Range, went gold, and Hornsby toured the U.S. and Canada through the end of the year. He followed it with a similar effort, Hot House, in July 1995, returning three years later with the double album Spirit Trail. Here Come the Noise Makers was issued in fall 2000. Since that time, Hornsby has released a handful of albums including Big Swing Face in 2002, Halcyon Days in 2004, the jazz-oriented Camp Meeting in 2007, and Levitate in 2009. Hornsby's most impressive playing has arguably been in live settings, though, as the two-disc set Bride of the Noisemakers -- released in 2011 and featuring concert performances from Hornsby and his band the Noisemakers, recorded between 2007 and 2009, illustrates -- putting the band’s impressive ability to jam in styles ranging from rock to jazz and bluegrass on full display. A live set with Ricky Skaggs, Cluck Ol' Hen, appeared at the end of the summer in 2013.

OFFICIAL SITE

7511 - MESSENGER - Illusory Blues (2014)

MESSENGER
''ILLUSORY BLUES''
MARCH 28 2014
45:24

1 The Return 5:57
2 Piscean Tide 5:17
3 Dear Departure 7:54
4 The Perpetual Glow of The Setting Sun 5:56
5 Midnight 8:53
6 Somniloquist 5:15
7 Let the Light In 6:12

Barnaby Maddick / acoustic bass, electric bass, vocals
Khaled Lowe / acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals
Jaime Gomez Arellano / drums, percussion

OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY
MESSENGER is a musical troupe from London formed in the spring of 2012 by Khaled Lowe and Barnaby Maddick. They booked a session with producer Jaime Gomez Arellano at Orgone Studios that gave birth to their debut album, Illusory Blues: a cosmic ode to the forces of nature and the inevitable cycle of life. To cite musical influences would be futile. The musicians had made their names with bands in scenes as far apart as hardcore punk, black metal, and ambient music.

Tonally, one might recall finding oneself in the same "space" occupied by other architects of sound such as Ulver, The Beatles, Swans, or Pink Floyd. But the stream of sound that emanates from the source of Illusory Blues is a heaving mass of organic richness, brimmed with intricate sounds that acknowledge the original fathers of experimentation but look forward in creating something new and unique. They dwell equally in the earthly realm of folk music and in the celestial void of progressive psychedelia, but have chanced upon a sound and an experience that sounds like no other. Rounded off by Daniel Knight and James Leach, the lineup of MESSENGER is now complete, but the journey has just begun.


OFFICIAL SITE

7510 - WICKED GRIN - Shame On Me (2013)

WICKED GRIN
''SHAME ON ME''
DECEMBER 7 2013
50:05

1. Outta Time Train 4:17
2. Looking Down 4:21
3. Drop Down Mama 4:57
4. Cry 5:07
5. Down On Love 6:02
6. The Sister Who Will 3:37
7. Time and Space 3:49
8. Two Time Boogie 5:09
9. Your Turn to Cry 3:31
10. Shame On Me 4:33
11. Heaven 5:04

Murray Kinsley - Guitar and Lead Vocals
Originally from Western Canada Murray has toured the country in a variety of bands. His unconventional - politely put - style gives Wicked Grin performances a raw and exciting edge.
Leigh-Anne Stanton - Bass
Leigh-Anne is from the Montreal area where - rumor has it - she first started playing bass in high school - no one is really sure. Mastering the big band swing idiom has given her a love for the basics of the bass and an understanding of putting the floor in the music.
Liam Melville - Drums and percussion
While perfecting his bag pipe technique in Renfrew, Ontario, Liam became the driving, no nonsense drummer that he is. Studying music has not hurt him at all.
Rod Williams - Harp and vocals
A veteran blues man. Rod brings a wealth of talent and sheer cussedness to the band. A wicked harp and smooth vocals are his style. He also has two small dogs.

Album Notes
by cdbaby
Wicked Grin has been on the scene since 2003, honing their skills at festivals and clubs throughout Ontario and Quebec.
They are a hard hitting blues outfit who describe their music as "Blues With Bite". Their latest CD, "Shame On Me" is a collection of tunes exploring love and loss (with the odd humorous encounter). Wicked Grin is led by guitarist/singer/ songwriter Murray Kinsley. Killer guitar, a veteran harp player, raucous and wailing in all the right places, a super-tight bassist, and a hot young drummer – and you get full-tilt blues with a groove that just won’t quit.
The Ottawa Citizen describes them as: "designed for blues lovers who appreciate a high level of musicianship".
They are Ottawa's representative at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN., in January 2014.
Blues With Bite.

OFFICIAL SITE

7509 - WICKED GRIN - Down To The Corner (2011)

WICKED GRIN
''DOWN TO THE CORNER''
2011
59:41

1. Too Little Too Late 3:56
2. High Steppin' Mama 4:13
3. Caldonia 4:09
4. Boom Boom 5:33
5. The Devil Came Knockin' 7:13
6. Midnight Howl 4:34
7. Don't Turn Your Heater Down 4:28
8. Down to the Corner 3:27
9. My Baby's Got a Thing 4:17
10. Midnight in Memphis 7:29
11. Walkin' Blues 5:06
12. Rocket 88 5:52

Murray Kinsley - Guitar and Lead Vocals
Originally from Western Canada Murray has toured the country in a variety of bands. His unconventional - politely put - style gives Wicked Grin performances a raw and exciting edge.
Leigh-Anne Stanton - Bass
Leigh-Anne is from the Montreal area where - rumor has it - she first started playing bass in high school - no one is really sure. Mastering the big band swing idiom has given her a love for the basics of the bass and an understanding of putting the floor in the music.
Liam Melville - Drums and percussion
While perfecting his bag pipe technique in Renfrew, Ontario, Liam became the driving, no nonsense drummer that he is. Studying music has not hurt him at all.
Rod Williams - Harp and vocals
A veteran blues man. Rod brings a wealth of talent and sheer cussedness to the band. A wicked harp and smooth vocals are his style. He also has two small dogs.

Album Notes
by cdbaby
Wicked Grin has been together performing high energy blues since 2001. Down To The Corner fully captures their mix of originals and blues covers done the Wicked Grin way. Guitar driven and exciting. Never a dull moment.

OFFICIAL SITE

7508 - MYSTERY TRAIN - Love Lost (2001)

MYSTERY TRAIN
''LOVE LOST''
2001
57:29

1 - I Need You 6:16
2 - Your Loss Now 6:16
3 - I'm All Alone 7:06
4 - Where Were You Baby 4:43
5 - Allman Joy 5:53
6 - Hold It Right There 6:01
7 - Love Is Rough Business 8:37
8 - Come On Back To Me 5:45
9 - I'll Never Turn My Back On You 4:16
10 - Cold Wind 2:32

JIM MCCARTY - VOCALS, GUITAR
RICK STEL - VOCALS, GUITAR, PIANO, HAMMOND B3 ORGAN
WILL LEONARD - DRUMS
MARVIN CONRAD - BASS

ABOUT
What would you get if you let the former guitar player from Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, The Rockets, and Cactus put together a Blues/Rock band? Well, you would find Jim McCarty putting together what is called Mystery Train. The man, the legend, the guitar god himself did just that several years ago, and the first result is the debut album called ‘Love Lost’. So you wonder what this might sound like, you ask? Well, let me tell you.

‘Love Lost’ is not just a Blues album, and it is not just a Rock album, it is a combination of the two genres of music, with some Progressive Rock and Jazz elements added in for good measure. There is a Southern/Prog Rock element in a song such as “Allman Joy”, and there is a traditional old school R & B, jump blues feel in a song such as “Hold it Right There”. Start at the beginning of the album, and you get straight Rock/Blues in “I Need You”.

The album spans the elements of great Rock and Blues, and all of the elements that make each so wonderful. The album is a wonderful cross section of so many styles of Blues, but at the same time is fresh and new and is not a copy of anything else out there. Anyone who says good music isn’t out there anymore obviously either hasn’t been looking hard enough, or has been looking in the wrong places. The album is not only another chapter in the musical life and career of Jim McCarty, it is also a window and insight into the true talent and genius of the man. You must grab this one, in any way, shape, or form.

Album Notes
by cdbaby
From the Hills and the Mud Holes of North Louisiana, emerges one of the South’s best kept secrets.. They call themselves, SWAMP DONKY. With their own brand of “SOUTHERN FRIED ROCKIN' COUNTRY” you will find yourself stomping your feet right along with them as they take you on a real life journey of what it means to be a TRUE HARDCORE COUNTRY BOY. Their roots run deep, their family tree is strong, and their music is honest. Listen as they share their stories of the good old days, real life struggles, heartbreaking losses, and an encouraging message of truth that reminds us that anything is possible if we work hard enough, and dream big enough. Described as, ONE PART COUNTRY, ONE PART ROCK, AND ALL PARTS SOUTHERN. These boys give it their all, and they hold nothing back. From their driving new track entitled “Southern Way” to the heartfelt message of “Right Where We Belong” there seems to be something here for EVERYONE to enjoy. Swamp Donky invites you to fill up your favorite MASON JAR, and join them in a toast as they salute their fans and the exciting road ahead. If you've never heard their music or seen them live, it's way past time. You will not be disappointed. Oh, and when you do see them, give them a BIG OL- Yee Haw! They seem to like that for some reason... YEEHAW!!!

7507 - LOUISIANA SWAMP DONKY - Redneck Revival (2014)

LOUISIANA SWAMP DONKY
''REDNECK REVIVAL''
MAY 23 2014
34:18

1. Southern Way 3:09
2. Dirt Po 3:15
3. Whiskey 4:17
4. Kentucky 4:41
5. Home 4:49
6. Redneck Revival 5:57
7. Red Worm 2:57
8. It Goes On 5:16

Album Notes
by cdbaby
From the Hills and the Mud Holes of North Louisiana, emerges one of the South’s best kept secrets.. They call themselves, SWAMP DONKY. With their own brand of “SOUTHERN FRIED ROCKIN' COUNTRY” you will find yourself stomping your feet right along with them as they take you on a real life journey of what it means to be a TRUE HARDCORE COUNTRY BOY. Their roots run deep, their family tree is strong, and their music is honest. Listen as they share their stories of the good old days, real life struggles, heartbreaking losses, and an encouraging message of truth that reminds us that anything is possible if we work hard enough, and dream big enough. Described as, ONE PART COUNTRY, ONE PART ROCK, AND ALL PARTS SOUTHERN. These boys give it their all, and they hold nothing back. From their driving new track entitled “Southern Way” to the heartfelt message of “Right Where We Belong” there seems to be something here for EVERYONE to enjoy. Swamp Donky invites you to fill up your favorite MASON JAR, and join them in a toast as they salute their fans and the exciting road ahead. If you've never heard their music or seen them live, it's way past time. You will not be disappointed. Oh, and when you do see them, give them a BIG OL- Yee Haw! They seem to like that for some reason... YEEHAW!!!

7506 - GHOST RIDERS - Five (2013) (REPOST)

GHOST RIDERS
''FIVE''
2013
57:34

1.Pray for Me/4:05
2.Gettin' My Love/4:09
3.Cajun Jesus/3:55
4.Gone with the Wind/5:19
5.Own This Town/4:03
6.Long Live Southern Rock/3:20
7.Mr. Manager/4:25
8.Money Magnet/3:45
9.Fried Chicken Baby/2:46
10.My Sweet Papa/4:27
11.Won't Let You Down/4:51
12.I Pity the Fool/4:08
13.An Act of Murder/5:55
14.You're Here/3:43

Steve Grisham: Vocals, Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Acoustic Guitar
Phill Stokes: Bass,Vocals
Barry Rapp: Piano, Hammond B3, Keyboards, Vocals
Pug Baker: Drums
Jimmy Sexton: Guitar, Slide Guitar, Vocals

BIOGRAPHY
By PureSouthernRock
Ghost Riders, not to be confused with the square dance group by the same name, is Southern rock band led by ex-Outlaws member Steve Grisham, who has surrounded himself with accomplished musicians whose resumes include the likes of The Henry Paul Band, Pure Prairie League and Artimus Pyle Band.

Ghost Riders was formed in early 2003 and played their first gig in March. They are based in Tampa, Florida where Grisham runs his Mira Vista Studios, where the band recorded their debut album, Fortune Teller, that same year.

Besides producing and engineering in his own studio, Steve Grisham is also remembered from The Outlaws and for writing The Henry Paul Band hit, Keepin' Our Love Alive. Their current line-up also includes Barry Rapp, former keyboard player from The Henry Paul Band and One Eyed Jacks, Pug Baker in drums, who co-founded Ghost Riders with Steve and ex-Pure Prairie League bassist Phil Stokes.

After some troubles with their local indie label, the band signed a deal with German based Phoenix Records and has released two more albums, Back to Rock in 2007 and Fortune Teller 2.0 in 2008, which features new songs along side with few re-recorded ones from their debut. All three albums are full of Southern charm with great guitars and it is highly recommended that you check them out.

7505 - GHOST RIDERS - Back To The Rock (2007)

GHOST RIDERS
''BACK TO ROCK''
DECEMBER 12 2007
40:23

1 Back to the Rock 4:22
2 Don't Know Where I'm Bound 4:07
3 Fightin' Five 4:48
4 Love and Pain 4:25
5 Live Together 3:34
6 Missin' Dixie 4:00
7 Fortunate Man 4:07
8 Lone Star Sky 4:05
9 Hoot Owl 3:15
10 She Just Wants to Be Loved 4:02

STEVE GRISHAM - Guitars, Vocals
PHILL STOKES - Bass, Vocals
PUG BAKER - Drums
BARRY RAPP - Hammond B3, vocals, piano
JIMMY BENNETT - Guitar, Vocals

BIOGRAPHY
By PureSouthernRock
Ghost Riders, not to be confused with the square dance group by the same name, is Southern rock band led by ex-Outlaws member Steve Grisham, who has surrounded himself with accomplished musicians whose resumes include the likes of The Henry Paul Band, Pure Prairie League and Artimus Pyle Band.

Ghost Riders was formed in early 2003 and played their first gig in March. They are based in Tampa, Florida where Grisham runs his Mira Vista Studios, where the band recorded their debut album, Fortune Teller, that same year.

Besides producing and engineering in his own studio, Steve Grisham is also remembered from The Outlaws and for writing The Henry Paul Band hit, Keepin' Our Love Alive. Their current line-up also includes Barry Rapp, former keyboard player from The Henry Paul Band and One Eyed Jacks, Pug Baker in drums, who co-founded Ghost Riders with Steve and ex-Pure Prairie League bassist Phil Stokes.

After some troubles with their local indie label, the band signed a deal with German based Phoenix Records and has released two more albums, Back to Rock in 2007 and Fortune Teller 2.0 in 2008, which features new songs along side with few re-recorded ones from their debut. All three albums are full of Southern charm with great guitars and it is highly recommended that you check them out.

7504 - GATOR HEAD (2008)

GATOR HEAD
''GATOR HEAD''
2008
26:21

1 - Gator Bite 3:05
2 - Riding The Rails 4:33
3 - Second Change 6:24
4 - Soldiers Hymn 4:38
5 - Southern Style 4:10
6 - Still Roc And Roll 3:26

CA NUCKLES - VOCALS
BRIAN HUNT - RHYTHM GUITAR, VOCALS
DAVID MOORE - LEAD GUITAR
DAVID SONKIN - PIANO, VOCALS
STEVE BELL - BASS GUITAR, VOCALS
KEN CRAIG - DRUMS

OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY
In 2004, Gator Head was formed in Hampton, VA, Where Ken Craig and a group of friends from his past decided to take their jam sessions to another level. Gator Head band members currently include Ken Craig (Drums), Brian Hunt (Rhythm Guitar/ Vocals), Steve Bell (Bass Guitar/ Vocals), David Moore {Lead Guitar},CA Nuckles (Vocals), David Sonkin (Piano/Vocals).The band enjoys playing good ole music from the heart.
The band debuted their first self-titled CD “Gator Head” in 2008. The release combines a unique blend of Classic Rock and Outlaw Country Music. Their songs are about the average working man. The original songs that will get your feet stomping include “Riding the Rail”, “Gator Bite”, “Still Rock and Roll” and “Southern Style” along with others. Gator Head songwriters are continually working on new songs and is looking forward to releasing their latest songs for their fans to enjoy.
Gator Head has headlined festivals and has shared the stage with great legends that include Eddy Money, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, Sawyer Brown, Randy Travis, T. Grahram Brown, Blue Oyster Cult, and the Georgia Satellites to name a few. The band has a strong local fan base around the Hampton Roads area as well as various areas east of the Mississippi River.

OFFICIAL SITE

7503 - NILS LOFGREN - Face The Music, Disc Nine (2014)

NILS LOFGREN
''FACE THE MUSIC, DISC NINE''
AUGUST 2014
673:59

Disc One: Grin Years 1971-1973 - 73:06
1. See What A Love Can Do (5:01)
2. Everybody's Missin' The Sun (2:44)
3. Like Rain (3:39)
4. Outlaw (4:01)
5. If I Were A Song (3:10)
6. We All Sung Together (3:43)
7. Take You To The Movies Tonight (1:48)
8. White Lies (3:29)
9. Slippery Fingers (4:12)
10. Moon Tears (2:20)
11. Lost A Number (3:11)
12. Soft Fun (5:43)
13. Hi, Hello Home (2:31)
14. Love Or Else (3:41)
15. Sad Letter (3:14)
16. Ain't Love Nice (2:11)
17. She Ain't Right (3:28)
18. All Out (3:09)
19. Rusty Gun (2:20)
20. Beggar's Day (Eulogy To Danny Whitten) (4:21)
21. One More Time (5:10)
Produced by David Briggs
Nils Lofgren: vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
drums, vocals: Bob Berberich
bass, vocals: Bob Gordon
vocals: Neil Young, Danny Whitten, Ralph Molina (1, 4); Jerry Williams (1); Graham Nash (13); Kathi McDonald (17, 18);
Merry Clayton, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews (21)
guitar, vocals: Tom Lofgren (14-18, 20, 21)
percussion: Bobbye Hall (20)
17 from Grin (self-titled first album) (1971)
Originally released 1971. All rights reserved by Columbia Records,
a division of Sony Music
8-13 from Grin: 1+1 (1972)
1972 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
14-19 from Grin: All Out (1972) (Sony BMG Music Entertainment)
20-21 from Grin: Gone Crazy (1973) (A&M/Universal)

Disc Two: Solo Years 1975-1977 - 73:23
The Sun Hasn't Set On This Boy Yet
1. One More Saturday Night (3:09)
2. If I Say It, It's So (2:57)
3. Can't Buy A Break (3:18)
4. Back It Up (2:21)
5. I Don't Want to Know (Live Bootleg Version) (3:47)
6. The Sun Hasn't Set On This Boy Yet (2:47)
7. Rock And Roll Crook (2:54)
8. Two By Two (3:05)
9. Cry Tough (5:03)
10. It's Not A Crime (4:14) (Nils Lofgren & Tom Lofgren)
11. Share A Little (5:17)
12. Can't Get Closer (WCGC) (3:44)
13. Mud In Your Eye (2:43)
14. I Came To Dance (4:34)
15. Home Is Where The Hurt Is (4:12)
16. Rock Me At Home (4:36)
17. You're The Weight (Live/1977) (5:19)
18. Goin' South (Live/1977) (5:03)
19. Incidentally... It's Over (Live/1977) (4:20)
Produced by David Briggs (1-8, 11-13); Al Kooper (9, 10); Nils Lofgren and Andy Newmark (14-16); David Briggs and Nils Lofgren (17-19)
Nils Lofgren: vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
drums: Anysley Dunbar '(1-4, 6-8, 11-12); Mike Zack (5); Iim Gordon (9, 10); Andy Newmark (14-16); David Platshon (17-19)
basszwornell Iones (1-4, 6-8, 11, 12, 14-19); Scotty Ball (5, 13); Chuck Rainey (9); Paul Stallworth (Io)
keyboards: Al Kooper (5, 9, 10); Reverend Patrick Henderson (14-19)
guitar, keyboard, vocals: Torn Lofgren (5, 9, 10, 14-19)
percussion: Emil Richards (9, 1o); Holden Raphael (I3); Wornell Iones (19)
vocals: Ron Hicklin Singers (9, 10); RP. Arnold, Claudia Lennear, Buddy Miles (10); Ralph Molina, Billy Talbot (11); Patti Austin, Frank Floyd, Lani Groves, Yolanda McCullough, William Eaton, ]r., Zachary Sanders (14-16); Reverend Patrick Henderson (17-19)
arrangements: Dominic Frontiere and Al Kooper (10); William Eaton, II. (14-16)
1-4, 6-8 from Nils Lofgren (aka Fat Man) (1975) Ⓟ 1975 A&M Records
9-13 from Cry Tough (1976) Ⓟ 1975 A&M Records
14-16 from I Came to Dance (1977) 17-19 from Night After Night (1977) (A&M/Universal) Ⓟ 1977 A&M Records
5 from Authorized Bootleg (1975) (Universal / Cattle Track Road Records) Ⓟ 1975 A&M Records

Disc Three: Solo Years 1979-1983 - 76:44
Wonderland
1. No Mercy (4:07)
2. Shine Silently (3:38) (Nils Lofgren-Dick Wagner)
3. Steal Away (3:58) (Nils Lofgren-Dick Wagner)
4. I Found Her (3:33)
5. You're So Easy (6:04) (Nils & Tom Lofgren-Bob Ezrin-Dick Wagner)
6. A Fool Like Me (3:09) (Nils Lofgren-Lou Reed)
7. Night Fades Away (4:22)
8. Ancient History (4:51)
9. Sailor Boy (3:58)
10. Empty Heart (3:05)
11. Don't Touch Me (4:03)
12. I Go To Pieces (2:54) (Del Shannon) Bug Music/Mole Hole Music/Unichappell Music Inc.-BMI
13. Across The Tracks (2:55)
14. Daddy Dream (4:54)
15. Wonderland (3:31)
16. Room Without Love (3:05)
17. Confident Girl (3:05)
18. Into The Night (3:44)
19. Deadline (4:07)
20. Everybody Wants (3:41)
Produced by Bob Ezrin (I-6); Jeffrey Baxter (7-12); Nils Lofgren, Kevin McCormick, and Andy Newmark (13-20)
Nils Lofgren: vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
guitar: Tom Lofgren, Stu Daye (I-6); Ieff Baxter (7-I2); Elliott Randall (9, I2)
keyboards: Bob Ezrin (I-6); Nicky Hopkins, Greg Mathieson (7-I2)
percussion: Iody Linscott (1-6); Paulinho Da Costa (10); Jim Maelen (I5, 18, 2.0)
synthesizers: Robbie Kondor (15, 18, 20)
bass: Bob Babbitt (16); Neil Iason (7, 8, I0, 11); Neil Stubenhaus (9); David Hungate (12); Kevin McCormick (I3-20)
drums: Alan Schwartzberg (16); Ed Greene (7, 8, II, 12); Jeff Porcaro (9); Richie Hayward (to); Andy Newmark (13-2o)
saxophone: David Sanborn (6)
vocals: Tom Lofgren (1-6); Bob Ezrin (2, 4-6); Celina Phillips, Debbie Fleming (6); Del Shannon (12); Edgar Winter (13); Louise Goffin (15, 2.0)
1-6 from Nils (1979) 1979 A&M Records
7-12 from Night Fades Away (1981) 1981 Geffen Records
13-20 from Wonderland (1983) (A&M/Universal) 1933 Geffen Records

Disc Four: Solo Years 1985-1992 - 75:30
Big Tears Fall
1. Secrets In The Street (4:31)
2. Big Tears Fall (6:05)
3. Dreams Die Hard (3:34)
4. Girl In Motion (5:51)
5. Walkin' Nerve (3:54)
6. Trouble's Back (5:18)
7. Bein' Angry (5:55)
8. Valentine (6:12)
9. A Child Could Tell (4:22)
10. You (3:29)
11. Shot At You (5:47)
12. Crooked Line (4:54)
13. Someday (5:31)
14. New Kind Of Freedom (3:38)
15. Drunken Driver (6:29)
Produced by Lance Quinn and Nils Lofgren (1-3); Kevin McCormick and Nils Lofgren (4-8); Eric Ambel (9-15)
Personnel
Nils Lofgren: vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
bass, vocals: Wornell Jones (1-3); Kevin McCormick (4, 5, 7, 8); Paul “Polo” Jones (6); Andy York (9-15)
keyboards, synthesizer: T. Iavitz, Tom Mandel (1-3); Paul Griffin (3); Billy Preston (6,.7); Scott Thurston (8); Andy York (11)
guitars, vocals: Eric Ambel (9-15)
guitar: Kevin Russell (6); Neil Young (15)
saxophone: Steve Hopper Lomloardi (3); Clarence Clemons (6)
narmonica: Neil Young (10)
drums: Ringo Starr (5); Greg “Gigi" Gonaway (6); Andy Newmark (1-4, 7, 8); Frank Funaro (12); Johnny “Bee" Badanjek (9-11, 13-15)
vocals: Rick Valenti, Devereau Merriweather, Rudy Ruben (I-3); Levon Helm (6); Ringo Starr (7); Bruce Springsteen (8); Neil Young (10, 13)
1-3 from Flip (1985) (CBS/Sony) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. Under license from Sony Music Commercial Music Group, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
4-8 from Silver Lining (1991) 1991 Rykodisc, Inc.
9-15 from Crooked Line (1992)
Tracks 9-13, 15: 1992 Rykodisc, inc.
Track 14: 1991 Rykodisc, Inc.

Disc Five: Self-Released 1993-1998 - 76:17
Damaged Goods
1. Alone (6:08)
2. No Return (3:56)
3. Tender Love (8:39)
4. Dreams Come True (4:25)
5. Out Of The Grave (8:11)
6. Lion's Wake (2:14)
7. Damaged Goods (3:44)
8. Only Five Minutes (5:28)
9. Setting Sun (3:44)
10. Life (3:08) (Nils Lofgren-Lou Reed)
11. Nothin's Fallin' (5:07)
12. Little On Up (5:02)
13. Blue Skies (4:02)
14. Black Books (5:24)
15. Man In The Moon (3:19)
16. Believe (3:46)
Produced by Nils Lofgren (1-6, 12-16); Roger Greenawalt (7-II)
recorded and mixed by Billy Brady and Neal Avron (1-6)
mixed by Ron Freeland (12-16)
Nils Lofgrenz vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
drums, percussion, timpani: Andy Newmark (1-5, 7-11); Denny Fongheiser (6)
harmonica: Mark Wenner (2) (courtesy of the Nighthawks)
bass, percussion, samples: Roger Greenawalt (7-11)
keyboards, guitars: Tom Lofgren, Paul Bell (12-16)
saxophone: Branford Marsalis (8,10)
violins: Kim Miller, Teri Lazar (7-11)
cello: Marco Bothelo (7-11)
viola: Patricia Smith (7-I1)
vocals: Tom Lepson (2, 5); Bonnie Bramlett (3)
1-6 from Every Breath: The Original Motion Picture
Soundtrack (1993), 7-11 from Damaged Goods (1995),
12-16 from Acoustic Live (1998)
(Gattle Track Road Records)

Disc Six: Self-Released 1997-2001 - 74:47
I Found You
1. Delivery Night (5:04)
2. Code Of The Road (8:19)
3. New Holes In Old Shoes (5:14)
4. Puttin' Out Fires (6:25)
5. I Found You (4:37)
6. Love A Child (2:59)
7. Driftin' Man (3:06) (Nils Lofgren-Lou Reed)
8. Without You (3:44)
9. Heaven's Answer To Blue (4:18)
10. Seize Love (5:31)
11. Open Road (3:16)
12. Speed Kills (3:12)
13. I'm Buyin' (2:53)
14. The Wind (4:27)
15. We Got Guys (1:08)
16. Hard Lines (1:04)
17. Tears On Ice (4:47)
18. Misery (4:43)
Produced by Nils Lofgren and Tim Foster (1-3); Nils Lofgren (4-18)
Nils Lofgrenz vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
guitars, keyboards, vocals: Torn Lofgren, Steuart Smith, Larry Cragg (1-3)
drums: Iohnny “Bee” Badanjek (1-3, 17); Mike Botts (4., 6, 9); Timm Biery (5, 7, 8, 1), 12, 14); Andy Newmark (13, 15, 16)
bass: Womell Iones (1-3); Wade Matthews (5, 7 ,8, 10); Lee Sklar (4-6, 9); Roger Greenawalt (13); Andy York (17)
pedal steel: Ieffrey “ Skunk" Baxter (5)
harp: Christine Vivona (4, 6, 9)
vocals: Amanda Stalbaum, Juliana Marin, Chris Ryan, Kim Felten (5); Tess Lofgren, Amanda Hamlin, Michelle Fishman, Kerri Lazar (8); Tom Lofgren (10); Eric Ambel, Andy
York (17)
1-3 from Code of the Road: Greatest Hits Live! (1997)
4-11 from Break Away Angel (2001)
12-46 from Tujfstufil The Best of the All-Madden Team Band (2001)
(Cattle Track Road Records)
17 from Favorites (2001) (RykoDisc)
18 from Favorites (2001) (RykoDisc / Cattle Track Road Records)

Disc Seven: Self-Released 2002-2011 - 76:52
Dream Big
1. Like Rain (4:52)
2. The Star-Spangled Banner (2:41) (Francis Scott Key) P.D.
3. In Your Hands (3:21)
4. Mr. Hardcore (5:10)
5. Tried And True (1:58)
6. Frankie Hang On (3:41)
7. Fat Girls Dance (4:39)
8. I Am A Child (3:13) (Neil Young) Broken Arrow Music Corporation/Richie Furay Music-BMI
9. Mr. Soul (4:21) (Neil Young) Broken Arrow Music Corporation/Richie Furay Music-BMI
10. World On A String (3:18) (Neil Young) Silver Fiddle Music-ASCAP
11. Old School (3:12)
12. 60 Is The New 18 (3:03)
13. Miss You Ray (2:40)
14. Amy Joan Blues (2:44)
15. Dream Big (4:31)
16. Irish Angel (5:12) (Bruce McCabe) Ryan Cory Music-BMI
17. Ain't Too Many Of Us Left (4:42)
18. When You Were Mine (4:34)
19. Why Me (4:23)
20. Wreck On The Highway (4:37) (Bruce Springsteen) Bruce Springsteen Music-ASCAP
Produced by Nils Lofgren (1, 2, 5, 11-18, 20); Nils Lofgren and Roger Greenawalt (3, 4, 6, 7); David Briggs and Nils Lofgren (8-10); Brian Christian (19); mixed by Timm Biery (5)
Personnel
Nils Lofgren: vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
keyboards, vocals: Buck Brown (1, 2)
bass: Wade Matthews (1, 2); Kevin McCormick (3, 4, 6, 7)
drums, percussion: Timm Biery (1-7); Greg Varlotta (12); Gary Bruzzese (II, 17)
trumpet, trombone: Greg Varlotta (11, I5)
saxophone: Jerry Donato (11, I5)
violins: Robert Spates, Rickie Simpkins (3)
vocals: Wade Matthews (1); Willie Nelson (courtesy of Lost Highway Records)
Torn Lofgren, Mike Lofgren, Mark Lofgren (3); Bob Berberich (4.); Mary Ann Redmond
Tommy Lepson (4, 7); Graham Nash, David Crosby (courtesy of Sanctuary Records) (6);
Lou Gramm (11); Paul Rodgers (14); Sam Moore (courtesy of Miz Moore Music, Inc.) (17)
1, 2 from Nils Lofgren Band Live (2002), 3-7 from Sacred Weapon (2006)
8-10 from The Loner: Nils Sings Neil (2008), 11-19 from Old School (2011)
(Cattle Track Road Records)
20 from One Step Up/Two Steps Back: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen (1997)
(Capitol)

Disc Eight: Unreleased - 74:08
Some Must Dream
1. Keith Don't Go (3:34)
2. Try (3:38)
3. Sing For Happiness (3:16)
4. Duty (3:29)
5. Sweet Four Wings (3:47)
6. Just To Have You (2:18)
7. I'll Arise (2:51)
8. Some Must Dream (4:47)
9. Stay Hungry (3:41)
10. Heaven's Rain (3:37)
11. Whatever Happened To Muscatel (2:51)
12. You In My Arms (2:50)
13. Here For You (3:37)
14. Hide My Heart (4:23)
15. Love Is... (4:30)
16. Awesome Girl (3:36)
17. When You Are Loved (2:57)
18. Bullets Fever (3:07)
19. Message (11:19)
Produced by David Briggs (1-6); Nils Lofgren (7-19)
Personnel
Nils Lofgren: vocals, guitars, keyboards, drums, percussion
with
Grin on I-6:
drums, vocals: Bob Berberich
guitars, vocals: Tom Lofgren
bass, vocals: Bob Gordon
piano, vocals: Neil Young (1)
pedal steel: Ben Keith (3)
vocals: mystery girls (3, thank you); Maryland friends sing-a—long (5)
on 7-19:
drums: Andy Newmark (7-9); Timm Biery (14); Mark Brzezicki (19)
bass: Kevin McCormick (7, 8, 16); Wornell Iones (9); Steve Brzezicki (I9)
organ, synthesizers: Reverend Patrick Henderson (9); Simon Climie (19)
trombone, trumpet: Greg Varlotta (I1)
vocals: Lou Gramm (7, 8); Clive Cussler, Amy Lofgren, Mark McDowell, Carlos Mandelaveita,
Janet Cussler, Whitney Lind (11 sing-a-long); Rick Iames (16)
1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 18 recorded and mixed by Bob Dawson, Bias Studios, VA
3, 6 recorded at Wally Heider Studios, Hollywood, CA
7, 8 recorded and mixed by Ron Freeland, BurntHill, Clarksburg, MD
(others recorded in various home studios)
unreleased Cattle Track Road Records

Disc Nine: Unreleased - 73:12
Face The Music
1. Beauty And The Beast (3:43)
2. You Are The Melody (3:26)
3. Tears Inside (3:32)
4. Face The Music (4:49)
5. I Don't Stand A Chance (3:31)
6. What Is Enuf?!! (4:02)
7. London (4:05)
8. Go Away (4:10)
9. Heart Like A Hammer (4:13)
10. True Love Conquers Legends (3:41)
11. Yankee Stadium (3:04)
12. Sad Walk (5:25)
13. Dalmatian (4:07)
14. I'm Coming Back (4:01) (Tom Lofgren)
15. Mad, Mad World (3:33)
16. Jhoon Rhee Ad (0:31)
17. It's Better To Know You (2:44)
18. Last Time I Saw You (2:04)
19. Mist And Morning Rain (2:52)
20. Miss You ''C'' (2:41)
21. Oh Holy Night (2:58) (A. Adams-J. Dwight)
Produced by Nils Lofgren (1-11, 14-16, 19, 20); Richard Gottehrer (17, 18); Otto D’Agnolo (I2, 13, 21)
Personnel
Nils Lofgren: vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
drums: Andy Newmark (1, 4, 6-8); Gary Bruzzese (I1-13); Bob Berberich (17, 18); Michael Botts (21)
bass: Wornell ]ones (1); Kevin McCormick (6-8); Mike King (12, 13); George Daily (17, 18); A1 Ortiz (21)
pedal steel: Mike Smith (12, 13)
guitars, vocals: Tom Lofgren (14)
keyboards: T. Lavitz, Tommy Mandel (1)
vocals: Jeri Bocchino (1); Phoenix Boys Choir, Amy Lofgren (11); Paul Dowell (17)
violins: Iames Apperson, Michael Prokes (21)
cello: Mario Simiz (21)
Recorded and mixed by Lance Quinn, Ron Freeland, Bill Mueller (1)
Larry Alexander at Power Station NYC (6-8); Iamison Weddle (11, 20)
Bob Dawson at Bias Studios, VA (14, 16, 19)
Otto D’Agnolo at Chaton Studios, Phoenix AZ (12, 13, 21)
unreleased Cattle Track Road Records

Disc 10 - DVD - 114:54
I Came To Dance
1. Windy (Flip Combo) (2:03)
2. Dream Big (5:18)
3. Too Many Miles (7:35)
4. Keith Don’t Go (7:13)
5. Bein’ Angry (4:45)
6. Shine Silently (7:03)
7. Big Tears Fall (5:18)
8. I Found You (6:10)
9. No Mercy (4:24)
10. Gun and Run (8:03)
11. See What Love Can Do (8:03)
12. If I Were a Song (3:03)
13. Slippery Fingers (4:23)
14. Like Rain (4:12)
15. Moon Tears (5:25)
16. I Came to Dance (11:42)
17. Everybody’s Missin’ the Sun (3:29)
18. Ain’t Love Nice (2:35)
19. I’ll Arise (3:04)
20. Nils Lofgren: The Art of Adapting (8:11)

REVIEW
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Nils Lofgren has a story unlike any other in rock & roll. Something of a teenage rock & roll prodigy, he first made waves when he played on Neil Young's After the Gold Rush at the tender age of 17, just around the time his D.C.-based band Grin relocated to Los Angeles in hopes of hitting the big time. Grin never became stars, but Lofgren did. His association with Young provided a launch pad for a solo career that was acclaimed and fitfully commercially successful, with the late-'70s albums Cry Tough, I Came to Dance, and Night After Night all making waves in album rock. This run at solo stardom lasted roughly a decade, beginning with his eponymous 1975 debut and ending with 1985's Flip, the record he released after joining Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band as Steven Van Zandt's replacement in 1984. Springsteen kept Nils around once Little Steven returned to the fold and Lofgren's membership in the E-Street Band allowed him the luxury of pursuing all of his musical whims on indie labels, developing an idiosyncratic catalog known only to hardcore fans, of which there were many.

Face the Music, a massive nine-CD/single-DVD box set released in 2014, doesn't strive to convert the skeptics but its very heft suggests that Lofgren is worth consideration outside of the confines of his cult. That said, due to its very size, listening to Face the Music does require dedication. Combined, the ten discs do indeed provide a biography of Lofgren, with each disc telling a different chapter. The Grin years of 1971-1973 are on the first disc; the beginning flourishes of his solo career on the second (1975-1977), and the third disc chronicles 1979-1983, when he was collaborating with Lou Reed and Bob Ezrin while wrapping up his time on the album rock circuit. Disc four picks up the story in 1985, then ends after 1991's Silver Lining and 1992's Crooked Line, the pair of records he made for Rykodisc. The next three discs, which are a considerable chunk of the box, round up independent and self-released recordings made between 1993 and 2011; largely home-made, these recordings still sound expensive, which is one of the perks of having a day job as Springsteen's right-hand man. The final two CDs offer a clearinghouse of rarities from throughout the years, ranging from a decidedly quirky "Whatever Happened to Muscatel" co-written by author Clive Cussler to a wonderful early take on Lofgren's signature "Keith Don't Go," here performed by Grin featuring Neil Young on piano and vocals. One of the great pleasures of Face the Music is that it allows for a gem like this to be excavated, but one of the mild frustrations is that this is a decidedly personal telling of Lofgren's story, as indicated by how, apart from the live take on the DVD, this is the only version of "Keith Don't Go" here. A definitive, career-spanning box of this size should find room for such an important original recording, but the fact that Face the Music doesn't just underscores how eccentric a rocker Nils is: he follows his own path, one that sometimes touches upon familiar territory but often goes far afield, sometimes finding detours and sometimes stumbling upon dead ends, but always enjoying the journey. Perhaps it'd be better to sample this ten-disc travelog in pieces -- perhaps that's the only way to listen to a box as large as this -- but each individual installment provides its own peculiar, satisfying pleasures and, when combined, all the discs paint a deep, detailed portrait of a rocker unlike any other.

BIOGRAPHY
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
For much of his professional rock & roll career, Nils Lofgren has been known as the lead guitarist for Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band -- the guy who replaced Steven Van Zandt in 1984 and stayed on after Little Steven returned to the fold. Prior to the E-Street Band, Lofgren was a member of Neil Young's backing band Crazy Horse, and these associations have tended to dominate any mention of the guitarist's career, as any support for two legendary singer/songwriters would. But take away Bruce and Neil from Lofgren's résumé and he has an impressive, idiosyncratic cache in his own right, starting with the records he made with Grin, an acclaimed but underappreciated band from the late '60s, running through his own compositions with Crazy Horse and then on a series of solo recordings that started with 1975's eponymous debut. Anchored with "Keith Don't Go," a tribute to the Rolling Stones guitarist that stands as one of rock's great love letters, that record earned good reviews but his subsequent Cry Tough (1976), I Came to Dance (1977), and Night After Night (1977) performed better on the album rock charts, laying the foundation for a discography that stretched well into the new millennium, consisting of records made during downtime for the E-Street Band, or even when the group was in full force.

That constant activity suggests how music was always central to Nils Lofgren. Raised in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Garrett Park, Maryland, he began playing music at an early age, picking up the accordion at the age of five, spending time studying classical and jazz, then getting seduced by rock & roll as a teenager. Lofgren picked up guitar and piano at the age of 15, forming the band Grin with drummer Bob Berberich and bassist George Daly soon afterward. As the group played the local circuit, Lofgren happened to meet Neil Young. Impressed with Nils, Young invited the teenage guitarist to head out to California and Lofgren accepted the invitation, taking Grin with him. The band set up in a Laurel Canyon home rented by Young and began rehearsing while Lofgren played guitar and piano on Neil's 1970 LP After the Gold Rush. Lofgren was just 17.

Although Nils was so thoroughly within Young's orbit that he appeared on the 1971 album by Crazy Horse -- he played throughout and sang lead on his original composition "Beggar's Day" -- he remained devoted to his D.C. band. Grin landed a record contract with A&M Records in 1971. By this point, Daly had left the band and was replaced by Bob Gordon. Produced by Young's right-hand man David Briggs, Grin's eponymous debut arrived in 1971 and, soon enough, the group was earning more critical attention than sales. Grin worked steadily over the next few years, cutting three more records with Briggs: the 1972 LP 1+1, which featured Nils alone on the front cover, and All Out and Gone Crazy, both of which appeared in 1973 and also featured Nils' brother Tom on rhythm guitar. By that year, the group had begun to splinter and Young invited Lofgren to join his touring band and that tour spilled into the studio, when Young recorded Tonight's the Night in the haze of Danny Whitten's death.

By the time Tonight's the Night hit the stores in 1975, Lofgren had signed to A&M as a solo artist. Anchored by the Stones tribute "Keith Don't Go," Nils earned considerable praise upon its release -- future Springsteen manager Jon Landau praised it in Rolling Stone and it appeared on NME's Top 10 for the year; it also placed at 19 on the Village Voice's Pazz & Jop poll -- but it didn't sell particularly well, peaking at 141 on the Billboard charts. The following year's Cry Tough did much better. Building upon the word of mouth for the debut, album rock radio play, and tours, it went all the way to 32 on the Billboard charts. I Came to Dance and the live double-album Night After Night, both released in 1977, were also modest album rock hits -- they peaked at 36 and 44, respectively -- as was 1979's Nils. The latter was the fruit of Lofgren's late-'70s partnership with the Lou Reed axis, containing co-writes with Lou and Reed's guitarist Dick Wagner while being produced by Bob Ezrin; Nils also played on Lou's The Bells LP that year. Lofgren ended his streak of relatively highly charting albums when Night Fades Away squeaked into the first half of the Billboard Top 200 by reaching 99. He released one more album for Backstreet/MCA -- 1983's Wonderland, a record that failed to chart -- before parting ways with the label.

Prior to the release of Wonderland, Lofgren rekindled his collaboration with Neil Young, playing on the 1982 electro experiment Trans and appearing on its supporting tour in 1983. Despite this renewal, the allegiance that defined Nils Lofgren's '80s -- and would factor strongly for the rest of his career -- was his new partnership with Bruce Springsteen. When Steven Van Zandt left the E-Street Band in 1984 to pursue a solo career -- the first major shift in the band's lineup since 1975 -- Springsteen turned to Lofgren to replace his lieutenant. From this point on, Nils was the lead guitarist for the E-Street Band, appearing on Bruce's solo albums and also finding space when Van Zandt chose to climb back aboard in 1995. Bruce leaned on Lofgren but Nils also pursued his solo career, beginning with Flip, his star-studded debut for Columbia in 1985. The record didn't reach great heights –- it peaked at 150 -- but it eased Lofgren's transition from a "could've been" to a cult act. After Flip, he never showed up again on a major label. He moved to the CD-only independent Rykodisc in 1990. The label reissued 1975's Nils Lofgren that year and released the brand-new Silver Lining in 1991, followed by Crooked Line in 1992; the former was his last album to chart, reaching 153 in 1991.

By the early '90s, he had cultivated his own peculiar cult -- a contingent attracted to his blend of album rock and roots-rock, while also appreciating how he toured with Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band. Major labels never crossed Lofgren's radar in the next two decades. His move to Rykodisc was the first step in a process that brought him toward total independence by the early 2000s. He recorded steadily, alternating full-fledged studio albums like 1995's Damaged Goods and 2011's Old School, with interesting detours like 1997's Acoustic Live or 2008's The Loner: Nils Sings Neil. Lofgren would record when he wasn't playing guitar with others. During the extended hiatus for the E-Street Band in the '90s, he was often a gun for hire, playing on tours by Bruce's wife Patti Scialfa and Ringo Starr, popping up on Neil Young's Unplugged and also playing on several Springsteen solo albums. Once the E-Street Band returned to active duty in the 2000s, Lofgren continued to balance his Bruce duties with his own solo career.

All of Lofgren's journeys, from his early days with Grin through his long years as an independent rocker, was celebrated in the 2014 box set Face the Music, a nine-CD and one-DVD set selected by Nils himself.

7502 - NILS LOFGREN - Face The Music, Disc Eight (2014)

NILS LOFGREN
''FACE THE MUSIC, DISC EIGHT''
AUGUST 2014
673:59

Disc One: Grin Years 1971-1973 - 73:06
1. See What A Love Can Do (5:01)
2. Everybody's Missin' The Sun (2:44)
3. Like Rain (3:39)
4. Outlaw (4:01)
5. If I Were A Song (3:10)
6. We All Sung Together (3:43)
7. Take You To The Movies Tonight (1:48)
8. White Lies (3:29)
9. Slippery Fingers (4:12)
10. Moon Tears (2:20)
11. Lost A Number (3:11)
12. Soft Fun (5:43)
13. Hi, Hello Home (2:31)
14. Love Or Else (3:41)
15. Sad Letter (3:14)
16. Ain't Love Nice (2:11)
17. She Ain't Right (3:28)
18. All Out (3:09)
19. Rusty Gun (2:20)
20. Beggar's Day (Eulogy To Danny Whitten) (4:21)
21. One More Time (5:10)
Produced by David Briggs
Nils Lofgren: vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
drums, vocals: Bob Berberich
bass, vocals: Bob Gordon
vocals: Neil Young, Danny Whitten, Ralph Molina (1, 4); Jerry Williams (1); Graham Nash (13); Kathi McDonald (17, 18);
Merry Clayton, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews (21)
guitar, vocals: Tom Lofgren (14-18, 20, 21)
percussion: Bobbye Hall (20)
17 from Grin (self-titled first album) (1971)
Originally released 1971. All rights reserved by Columbia Records,
a division of Sony Music
8-13 from Grin: 1+1 (1972)
1972 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
14-19 from Grin: All Out (1972) (Sony BMG Music Entertainment)
20-21 from Grin: Gone Crazy (1973) (A&M/Universal)

Disc Two: Solo Years 1975-1977 - 73:23
The Sun Hasn't Set On This Boy Yet
1. One More Saturday Night (3:09)
2. If I Say It, It's So (2:57)
3. Can't Buy A Break (3:18)
4. Back It Up (2:21)
5. I Don't Want to Know (Live Bootleg Version) (3:47)
6. The Sun Hasn't Set On This Boy Yet (2:47)
7. Rock And Roll Crook (2:54)
8. Two By Two (3:05)
9. Cry Tough (5:03)
10. It's Not A Crime (4:14) (Nils Lofgren & Tom Lofgren)
11. Share A Little (5:17)
12. Can't Get Closer (WCGC) (3:44)
13. Mud In Your Eye (2:43)
14. I Came To Dance (4:34)
15. Home Is Where The Hurt Is (4:12)
16. Rock Me At Home (4:36)
17. You're The Weight (Live/1977) (5:19)
18. Goin' South (Live/1977) (5:03)
19. Incidentally... It's Over (Live/1977) (4:20)
Produced by David Briggs (1-8, 11-13); Al Kooper (9, 10); Nils Lofgren and Andy Newmark (14-16); David Briggs and Nils Lofgren (17-19)
Nils Lofgren: vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
drums: Anysley Dunbar '(1-4, 6-8, 11-12); Mike Zack (5); Iim Gordon (9, 10); Andy Newmark (14-16); David Platshon (17-19)
basszwornell Iones (1-4, 6-8, 11, 12, 14-19); Scotty Ball (5, 13); Chuck Rainey (9); Paul Stallworth (Io)
keyboards: Al Kooper (5, 9, 10); Reverend Patrick Henderson (14-19)
guitar, keyboard, vocals: Torn Lofgren (5, 9, 10, 14-19)
percussion: Emil Richards (9, 1o); Holden Raphael (I3); Wornell Iones (19)
vocals: Ron Hicklin Singers (9, 10); RP. Arnold, Claudia Lennear, Buddy Miles (10); Ralph Molina, Billy Talbot (11); Patti Austin, Frank Floyd, Lani Groves, Yolanda McCullough, William Eaton, ]r., Zachary Sanders (14-16); Reverend Patrick Henderson (17-19)
arrangements: Dominic Frontiere and Al Kooper (10); William Eaton, II. (14-16)
1-4, 6-8 from Nils Lofgren (aka Fat Man) (1975) Ⓟ 1975 A&M Records
9-13 from Cry Tough (1976) Ⓟ 1975 A&M Records
14-16 from I Came to Dance (1977) 17-19 from Night After Night (1977) (A&M/Universal) Ⓟ 1977 A&M Records
5 from Authorized Bootleg (1975) (Universal / Cattle Track Road Records) Ⓟ 1975 A&M Records

Disc Three: Solo Years 1979-1983 - 76:44
Wonderland
1. No Mercy (4:07)
2. Shine Silently (3:38) (Nils Lofgren-Dick Wagner)
3. Steal Away (3:58) (Nils Lofgren-Dick Wagner)
4. I Found Her (3:33)
5. You're So Easy (6:04) (Nils & Tom Lofgren-Bob Ezrin-Dick Wagner)
6. A Fool Like Me (3:09) (Nils Lofgren-Lou Reed)
7. Night Fades Away (4:22)
8. Ancient History (4:51)
9. Sailor Boy (3:58)
10. Empty Heart (3:05)
11. Don't Touch Me (4:03)
12. I Go To Pieces (2:54) (Del Shannon) Bug Music/Mole Hole Music/Unichappell Music Inc.-BMI
13. Across The Tracks (2:55)
14. Daddy Dream (4:54)
15. Wonderland (3:31)
16. Room Without Love (3:05)
17. Confident Girl (3:05)
18. Into The Night (3:44)
19. Deadline (4:07)
20. Everybody Wants (3:41)
Produced by Bob Ezrin (I-6); Jeffrey Baxter (7-12); Nils Lofgren, Kevin McCormick, and Andy Newmark (13-20)
Nils Lofgren: vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
guitar: Tom Lofgren, Stu Daye (I-6); Ieff Baxter (7-I2); Elliott Randall (9, I2)
keyboards: Bob Ezrin (I-6); Nicky Hopkins, Greg Mathieson (7-I2)
percussion: Iody Linscott (1-6); Paulinho Da Costa (10); Jim Maelen (I5, 18, 2.0)
synthesizers: Robbie Kondor (15, 18, 20)
bass: Bob Babbitt (16); Neil Iason (7, 8, I0, 11); Neil Stubenhaus (9); David Hungate (12); Kevin McCormick (I3-20)
drums: Alan Schwartzberg (16); Ed Greene (7, 8, II, 12); Jeff Porcaro (9); Richie Hayward (to); Andy Newmark (13-2o)
saxophone: David Sanborn (6)
vocals: Tom Lofgren (1-6); Bob Ezrin (2, 4-6); Celina Phillips, Debbie Fleming (6); Del Shannon (12); Edgar Winter (13); Louise Goffin (15, 2.0)
1-6 from Nils (1979) 1979 A&M Records
7-12 from Night Fades Away (1981) 1981 Geffen Records
13-20 from Wonderland (1983) (A&M/Universal) 1933 Geffen Records

Disc Four: Solo Years 1985-1992 - 75:30
Big Tears Fall
1. Secrets In The Street (4:31)
2. Big Tears Fall (6:05)
3. Dreams Die Hard (3:34)
4. Girl In Motion (5:51)
5. Walkin' Nerve (3:54)
6. Trouble's Back (5:18)
7. Bein' Angry (5:55)
8. Valentine (6:12)
9. A Child Could Tell (4:22)
10. You (3:29)
11. Shot At You (5:47)
12. Crooked Line (4:54)
13. Someday (5:31)
14. New Kind Of Freedom (3:38)
15. Drunken Driver (6:29)
Produced by Lance Quinn and Nils Lofgren (1-3); Kevin McCormick and Nils Lofgren (4-8); Eric Ambel (9-15)
Personnel
Nils Lofgren: vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
bass, vocals: Wornell Jones (1-3); Kevin McCormick (4, 5, 7, 8); Paul “Polo” Jones (6); Andy York (9-15)
keyboards, synthesizer: T. Iavitz, Tom Mandel (1-3); Paul Griffin (3); Billy Preston (6,.7); Scott Thurston (8); Andy York (11)
guitars, vocals: Eric Ambel (9-15)
guitar: Kevin Russell (6); Neil Young (15)
saxophone: Steve Hopper Lomloardi (3); Clarence Clemons (6)
narmonica: Neil Young (10)
drums: Ringo Starr (5); Greg “Gigi" Gonaway (6); Andy Newmark (1-4, 7, 8); Frank Funaro (12); Johnny “Bee" Badanjek (9-11, 13-15)
vocals: Rick Valenti, Devereau Merriweather, Rudy Ruben (I-3); Levon Helm (6); Ringo Starr (7); Bruce Springsteen (8); Neil Young (10, 13)
1-3 from Flip (1985) (CBS/Sony) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. Under license from Sony Music Commercial Music Group, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
4-8 from Silver Lining (1991) 1991 Rykodisc, Inc.
9-15 from Crooked Line (1992)
Tracks 9-13, 15: 1992 Rykodisc, inc.
Track 14: 1991 Rykodisc, Inc.

Disc Five: Self-Released 1993-1998 - 76:17
Damaged Goods
1. Alone (6:08)
2. No Return (3:56)
3. Tender Love (8:39)
4. Dreams Come True (4:25)
5. Out Of The Grave (8:11)
6. Lion's Wake (2:14)
7. Damaged Goods (3:44)
8. Only Five Minutes (5:28)
9. Setting Sun (3:44)
10. Life (3:08) (Nils Lofgren-Lou Reed)
11. Nothin's Fallin' (5:07)
12. Little On Up (5:02)
13. Blue Skies (4:02)
14. Black Books (5:24)
15. Man In The Moon (3:19)
16. Believe (3:46)
Produced by Nils Lofgren (1-6, 12-16); Roger Greenawalt (7-II)
recorded and mixed by Billy Brady and Neal Avron (1-6)
mixed by Ron Freeland (12-16)
Nils Lofgrenz vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
drums, percussion, timpani: Andy Newmark (1-5, 7-11); Denny Fongheiser (6)
harmonica: Mark Wenner (2) (courtesy of the Nighthawks)
bass, percussion, samples: Roger Greenawalt (7-11)
keyboards, guitars: Tom Lofgren, Paul Bell (12-16)
saxophone: Branford Marsalis (8,10)
violins: Kim Miller, Teri Lazar (7-11)
cello: Marco Bothelo (7-11)
viola: Patricia Smith (7-I1)
vocals: Tom Lepson (2, 5); Bonnie Bramlett (3)
1-6 from Every Breath: The Original Motion Picture
Soundtrack (1993), 7-11 from Damaged Goods (1995),
12-16 from Acoustic Live (1998)
(Gattle Track Road Records)

Disc Six: Self-Released 1997-2001 - 74:47
I Found You
1. Delivery Night (5:04)
2. Code Of The Road (8:19)
3. New Holes In Old Shoes (5:14)
4. Puttin' Out Fires (6:25)
5. I Found You (4:37)
6. Love A Child (2:59)
7. Driftin' Man (3:06) (Nils Lofgren-Lou Reed)
8. Without You (3:44)
9. Heaven's Answer To Blue (4:18)
10. Seize Love (5:31)
11. Open Road (3:16)
12. Speed Kills (3:12)
13. I'm Buyin' (2:53)
14. The Wind (4:27)
15. We Got Guys (1:08)
16. Hard Lines (1:04)
17. Tears On Ice (4:47)
18. Misery (4:43)
Produced by Nils Lofgren and Tim Foster (1-3); Nils Lofgren (4-18)
Nils Lofgrenz vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
guitars, keyboards, vocals: Torn Lofgren, Steuart Smith, Larry Cragg (1-3)
drums: Iohnny “Bee” Badanjek (1-3, 17); Mike Botts (4., 6, 9); Timm Biery (5, 7, 8, 1), 12, 14); Andy Newmark (13, 15, 16)
bass: Womell Iones (1-3); Wade Matthews (5, 7 ,8, 10); Lee Sklar (4-6, 9); Roger Greenawalt (13); Andy York (17)
pedal steel: Ieffrey “ Skunk" Baxter (5)
harp: Christine Vivona (4, 6, 9)
vocals: Amanda Stalbaum, Juliana Marin, Chris Ryan, Kim Felten (5); Tess Lofgren, Amanda Hamlin, Michelle Fishman, Kerri Lazar (8); Tom Lofgren (10); Eric Ambel, Andy
York (17)
1-3 from Code of the Road: Greatest Hits Live! (1997)
4-11 from Break Away Angel (2001)
12-46 from Tujfstufil The Best of the All-Madden Team Band (2001)
(Cattle Track Road Records)
17 from Favorites (2001) (RykoDisc)
18 from Favorites (2001) (RykoDisc / Cattle Track Road Records)

Disc Seven: Self-Released 2002-2011 - 76:52
Dream Big
1. Like Rain (4:52)
2. The Star-Spangled Banner (2:41) (Francis Scott Key) P.D.
3. In Your Hands (3:21)
4. Mr. Hardcore (5:10)
5. Tried And True (1:58)
6. Frankie Hang On (3:41)
7. Fat Girls Dance (4:39)
8. I Am A Child (3:13) (Neil Young) Broken Arrow Music Corporation/Richie Furay Music-BMI
9. Mr. Soul (4:21) (Neil Young) Broken Arrow Music Corporation/Richie Furay Music-BMI
10. World On A String (3:18) (Neil Young) Silver Fiddle Music-ASCAP
11. Old School (3:12)
12. 60 Is The New 18 (3:03)
13. Miss You Ray (2:40)
14. Amy Joan Blues (2:44)
15. Dream Big (4:31)
16. Irish Angel (5:12) (Bruce McCabe) Ryan Cory Music-BMI
17. Ain't Too Many Of Us Left (4:42)
18. When You Were Mine (4:34)
19. Why Me (4:23)
20. Wreck On The Highway (4:37) (Bruce Springsteen) Bruce Springsteen Music-ASCAP
Produced by Nils Lofgren (1, 2, 5, 11-18, 20); Nils Lofgren and Roger Greenawalt (3, 4, 6, 7); David Briggs and Nils Lofgren (8-10); Brian Christian (19); mixed by Timm Biery (5)
Personnel
Nils Lofgren: vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
keyboards, vocals: Buck Brown (1, 2)
bass: Wade Matthews (1, 2); Kevin McCormick (3, 4, 6, 7)
drums, percussion: Timm Biery (1-7); Greg Varlotta (12); Gary Bruzzese (II, 17)
trumpet, trombone: Greg Varlotta (11, I5)
saxophone: Jerry Donato (11, I5)
violins: Robert Spates, Rickie Simpkins (3)
vocals: Wade Matthews (1); Willie Nelson (courtesy of Lost Highway Records)
Torn Lofgren, Mike Lofgren, Mark Lofgren (3); Bob Berberich (4.); Mary Ann Redmond
Tommy Lepson (4, 7); Graham Nash, David Crosby (courtesy of Sanctuary Records) (6);
Lou Gramm (11); Paul Rodgers (14); Sam Moore (courtesy of Miz Moore Music, Inc.) (17)
1, 2 from Nils Lofgren Band Live (2002), 3-7 from Sacred Weapon (2006)
8-10 from The Loner: Nils Sings Neil (2008), 11-19 from Old School (2011)
(Cattle Track Road Records)
20 from One Step Up/Two Steps Back: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen (1997)
(Capitol)

Disc Eight: Unreleased - 74:08
Some Must Dream
1. Keith Don't Go (3:34)
2. Try (3:38)
3. Sing For Happiness (3:16)
4. Duty (3:29)
5. Sweet Four Wings (3:47)
6. Just To Have You (2:18)
7. I'll Arise (2:51)
8. Some Must Dream (4:47)
9. Stay Hungry (3:41)
10. Heaven's Rain (3:37)
11. Whatever Happened To Muscatel (2:51)
12. You In My Arms (2:50)
13. Here For You (3:37)
14. Hide My Heart (4:23)
15. Love Is... (4:30)
16. Awesome Girl (3:36)
17. When You Are Loved (2:57)
18. Bullets Fever (3:07)
19. Message (11:19)
Produced by David Briggs (1-6); Nils Lofgren (7-19)
Personnel
Nils Lofgren: vocals, guitars, keyboards, drums, percussion
with
Grin on I-6:
drums, vocals: Bob Berberich
guitars, vocals: Tom Lofgren
bass, vocals: Bob Gordon
piano, vocals: Neil Young (1)
pedal steel: Ben Keith (3)
vocals: mystery girls (3, thank you); Maryland friends sing-a—long (5)
on 7-19:
drums: Andy Newmark (7-9); Timm Biery (14); Mark Brzezicki (19)
bass: Kevin McCormick (7, 8, 16); Wornell Iones (9); Steve Brzezicki (I9)
organ, synthesizers: Reverend Patrick Henderson (9); Simon Climie (19)
trombone, trumpet: Greg Varlotta (I1)
vocals: Lou Gramm (7, 8); Clive Cussler, Amy Lofgren, Mark McDowell, Carlos Mandelaveita,
Janet Cussler, Whitney Lind (11 sing-a-long); Rick Iames (16)
1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 18 recorded and mixed by Bob Dawson, Bias Studios, VA
3, 6 recorded at Wally Heider Studios, Hollywood, CA
7, 8 recorded and mixed by Ron Freeland, BurntHill, Clarksburg, MD
(others recorded in various home studios)
unreleased Cattle Track Road Records

Disc Nine: Unreleased - 73:12
Face The Music
1. Beauty And The Beast (3:43)
2. You Are The Melody (3:26)
3. Tears Inside (3:32)
4. Face The Music (4:49)
5. I Don't Stand A Chance (3:31)
6. What Is Enuf?!! (4:02)
7. London (4:05)
8. Go Away (4:10)
9. Heart Like A Hammer (4:13)
10. True Love Conquers Legends (3:41)
11. Yankee Stadium (3:04)
12. Sad Walk (5:25)
13. Dalmatian (4:07)
14. I'm Coming Back (4:01) (Tom Lofgren)
15. Mad, Mad World (3:33)
16. Jhoon Rhee Ad (0:31)
17. It's Better To Know You (2:44)
18. Last Time I Saw You (2:04)
19. Mist And Morning Rain (2:52)
20. Miss You ''C'' (2:41)
21. Oh Holy Night (2:58) (A. Adams-J. Dwight)
Produced by Nils Lofgren (1-11, 14-16, 19, 20); Richard Gottehrer (17, 18); Otto D’Agnolo (I2, 13, 21)
Personnel
Nils Lofgren: vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
with
drums: Andy Newmark (1, 4, 6-8); Gary Bruzzese (I1-13); Bob Berberich (17, 18); Michael Botts (21)
bass: Wornell ]ones (1); Kevin McCormick (6-8); Mike King (12, 13); George Daily (17, 18); A1 Ortiz (21)
pedal steel: Mike Smith (12, 13)
guitars, vocals: Tom Lofgren (14)
keyboards: T. Lavitz, Tommy Mandel (1)
vocals: Jeri Bocchino (1); Phoenix Boys Choir, Amy Lofgren (11); Paul Dowell (17)
violins: Iames Apperson, Michael Prokes (21)
cello: Mario Simiz (21)
Recorded and mixed by Lance Quinn, Ron Freeland, Bill Mueller (1)
Larry Alexander at Power Station NYC (6-8); Iamison Weddle (11, 20)
Bob Dawson at Bias Studios, VA (14, 16, 19)
Otto D’Agnolo at Chaton Studios, Phoenix AZ (12, 13, 21)
unreleased Cattle Track Road Records

Disc 10 - DVD - 114:54
I Came To Dance
1. Windy (Flip Combo) (2:03)
2. Dream Big (5:18)
3. Too Many Miles (7:35)
4. Keith Don’t Go (7:13)
5. Bein’ Angry (4:45)
6. Shine Silently (7:03)
7. Big Tears Fall (5:18)
8. I Found You (6:10)
9. No Mercy (4:24)
10. Gun and Run (8:03)
11. See What Love Can Do (8:03)
12. If I Were a Song (3:03)
13. Slippery Fingers (4:23)
14. Like Rain (4:12)
15. Moon Tears (5:25)
16. I Came to Dance (11:42)
17. Everybody’s Missin’ the Sun (3:29)
18. Ain’t Love Nice (2:35)
19. I’ll Arise (3:04)
20. Nils Lofgren: The Art of Adapting (8:11)

REVIEW
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Nils Lofgren has a story unlike any other in rock & roll. Something of a teenage rock & roll prodigy, he first made waves when he played on Neil Young's After the Gold Rush at the tender age of 17, just around the time his D.C.-based band Grin relocated to Los Angeles in hopes of hitting the big time. Grin never became stars, but Lofgren did. His association with Young provided a launch pad for a solo career that was acclaimed and fitfully commercially successful, with the late-'70s albums Cry Tough, I Came to Dance, and Night After Night all making waves in album rock. This run at solo stardom lasted roughly a decade, beginning with his eponymous 1975 debut and ending with 1985's Flip, the record he released after joining Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band as Steven Van Zandt's replacement in 1984. Springsteen kept Nils around once Little Steven returned to the fold and Lofgren's membership in the E-Street Band allowed him the luxury of pursuing all of his musical whims on indie labels, developing an idiosyncratic catalog known only to hardcore fans, of which there were many.

Face the Music, a massive nine-CD/single-DVD box set released in 2014, doesn't strive to convert the skeptics but its very heft suggests that Lofgren is worth consideration outside of the confines of his cult. That said, due to its very size, listening to Face the Music does require dedication. Combined, the ten discs do indeed provide a biography of Lofgren, with each disc telling a different chapter. The Grin years of 1971-1973 are on the first disc; the beginning flourishes of his solo career on the second (1975-1977), and the third disc chronicles 1979-1983, when he was collaborating with Lou Reed and Bob Ezrin while wrapping up his time on the album rock circuit. Disc four picks up the story in 1985, then ends after 1991's Silver Lining and 1992's Crooked Line, the pair of records he made for Rykodisc. The next three discs, which are a considerable chunk of the box, round up independent and self-released recordings made between 1993 and 2011; largely home-made, these recordings still sound expensive, which is one of the perks of having a day job as Springsteen's right-hand man. The final two CDs offer a clearinghouse of rarities from throughout the years, ranging from a decidedly quirky "Whatever Happened to Muscatel" co-written by author Clive Cussler to a wonderful early take on Lofgren's signature "Keith Don't Go," here performed by Grin featuring Neil Young on piano and vocals. One of the great pleasures of Face the Music is that it allows for a gem like this to be excavated, but one of the mild frustrations is that this is a decidedly personal telling of Lofgren's story, as indicated by how, apart from the live take on the DVD, this is the only version of "Keith Don't Go" here. A definitive, career-spanning box of this size should find room for such an important original recording, but the fact that Face the Music doesn't just underscores how eccentric a rocker Nils is: he follows his own path, one that sometimes touches upon familiar territory but often goes far afield, sometimes finding detours and sometimes stumbling upon dead ends, but always enjoying the journey. Perhaps it'd be better to sample this ten-disc travelog in pieces -- perhaps that's the only way to listen to a box as large as this -- but each individual installment provides its own peculiar, satisfying pleasures and, when combined, all the discs paint a deep, detailed portrait of a rocker unlike any other.

BIOGRAPHY
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
For much of his professional rock & roll career, Nils Lofgren has been known as the lead guitarist for Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band -- the guy who replaced Steven Van Zandt in 1984 and stayed on after Little Steven returned to the fold. Prior to the E-Street Band, Lofgren was a member of Neil Young's backing band Crazy Horse, and these associations have tended to dominate any mention of the guitarist's career, as any support for two legendary singer/songwriters would. But take away Bruce and Neil from Lofgren's résumé and he has an impressive, idiosyncratic cache in his own right, starting with the records he made with Grin, an acclaimed but underappreciated band from the late '60s, running through his own compositions with Crazy Horse and then on a series of solo recordings that started with 1975's eponymous debut. Anchored with "Keith Don't Go," a tribute to the Rolling Stones guitarist that stands as one of rock's great love letters, that record earned good reviews but his subsequent Cry Tough (1976), I Came to Dance (1977), and Night After Night (1977) performed better on the album rock charts, laying the foundation for a discography that stretched well into the new millennium, consisting of records made during downtime for the E-Street Band, or even when the group was in full force.

That constant activity suggests how music was always central to Nils Lofgren. Raised in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Garrett Park, Maryland, he began playing music at an early age, picking up the accordion at the age of five, spending time studying classical and jazz, then getting seduced by rock & roll as a teenager. Lofgren picked up guitar and piano at the age of 15, forming the band Grin with drummer Bob Berberich and bassist George Daly soon afterward. As the group played the local circuit, Lofgren happened to meet Neil Young. Impressed with Nils, Young invited the teenage guitarist to head out to California and Lofgren accepted the invitation, taking Grin with him. The band set up in a Laurel Canyon home rented by Young and began rehearsing while Lofgren played guitar and piano on Neil's 1970 LP After the Gold Rush. Lofgren was just 17.

Although Nils was so thoroughly within Young's orbit that he appeared on the 1971 album by Crazy Horse -- he played throughout and sang lead on his original composition "Beggar's Day" -- he remained devoted to his D.C. band. Grin landed a record contract with A&M Records in 1971. By this point, Daly had left the band and was replaced by Bob Gordon. Produced by Young's right-hand man David Briggs, Grin's eponymous debut arrived in 1971 and, soon enough, the group was earning more critical attention than sales. Grin worked steadily over the next few years, cutting three more records with Briggs: the 1972 LP 1+1, which featured Nils alone on the front cover, and All Out and Gone Crazy, both of which appeared in 1973 and also featured Nils' brother Tom on rhythm guitar. By that year, the group had begun to splinter and Young invited Lofgren to join his touring band and that tour spilled into the studio, when Young recorded Tonight's the Night in the haze of Danny Whitten's death.

By the time Tonight's the Night hit the stores in 1975, Lofgren had signed to A&M as a solo artist. Anchored by the Stones tribute "Keith Don't Go," Nils earned considerable praise upon its release -- future Springsteen manager Jon Landau praised it in Rolling Stone and it appeared on NME's Top 10 for the year; it also placed at 19 on the Village Voice's Pazz & Jop poll -- but it didn't sell particularly well, peaking at 141 on the Billboard charts. The following year's Cry Tough did much better. Building upon the word of mouth for the debut, album rock radio play, and tours, it went all the way to 32 on the Billboard charts. I Came to Dance and the live double-album Night After Night, both released in 1977, were also modest album rock hits -- they peaked at 36 and 44, respectively -- as was 1979's Nils. The latter was the fruit of Lofgren's late-'70s partnership with the Lou Reed axis, containing co-writes with Lou and Reed's guitarist Dick Wagner while being produced by Bob Ezrin; Nils also played on Lou's The Bells LP that year. Lofgren ended his streak of relatively highly charting albums when Night Fades Away squeaked into the first half of the Billboard Top 200 by reaching 99. He released one more album for Backstreet/MCA -- 1983's Wonderland, a record that failed to chart -- before parting ways with the label.

Prior to the release of Wonderland, Lofgren rekindled his collaboration with Neil Young, playing on the 1982 electro experiment Trans and appearing on its supporting tour in 1983. Despite this renewal, the allegiance that defined Nils Lofgren's '80s -- and would factor strongly for the rest of his career -- was his new partnership with Bruce Springsteen. When Steven Van Zandt left the E-Street Band in 1984 to pursue a solo career -- the first major shift in the band's lineup since 1975 -- Springsteen turned to Lofgren to replace his lieutenant. From this point on, Nils was the lead guitarist for the E-Street Band, appearing on Bruce's solo albums and also finding space when Van Zandt chose to climb back aboard in 1995. Bruce leaned on Lofgren but Nils also pursued his solo career, beginning with Flip, his star-studded debut for Columbia in 1985. The record didn't reach great heights –- it peaked at 150 -- but it eased Lofgren's transition from a "could've been" to a cult act. After Flip, he never showed up again on a major label. He moved to the CD-only independent Rykodisc in 1990. The label reissued 1975's Nils Lofgren that year and released the brand-new Silver Lining in 1991, followed by Crooked Line in 1992; the former was his last album to chart, reaching 153 in 1991.

By the early '90s, he had cultivated his own peculiar cult -- a contingent attracted to his blend of album rock and roots-rock, while also appreciating how he toured with Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band. Major labels never crossed Lofgren's radar in the next two decades. His move to Rykodisc was the first step in a process that brought him toward total independence by the early 2000s. He recorded steadily, alternating full-fledged studio albums like 1995's Damaged Goods and 2011's Old School, with interesting detours like 1997's Acoustic Live or 2008's The Loner: Nils Sings Neil. Lofgren would record when he wasn't playing guitar with others. During the extended hiatus for the E-Street Band in the '90s, he was often a gun for hire, playing on tours by Bruce's wife Patti Scialfa and Ringo Starr, popping up on Neil Young's Unplugged and also playing on several Springsteen solo albums. Once the E-Street Band returned to active duty in the 2000s, Lofgren continued to balance his Bruce duties with his own solo career.

All of Lofgren's journeys, from his early days with Grin through his long years as an independent rocker, was celebrated in the 2014 box set Face the Music, a nine-CD and one-DVD set selected by Nils himself.