AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: BERNARD ALLISON/LET IT GO

Bernard Allison made his recording debut on GONNA BE A LIVE ONE IN HERE TONIGHT, a 1979 live album by his father Luther Allison. Recorded live in Peoria, IL when Bernard was only 13, this set was an auspicious debut for an artist that has continued to mine the soul of the Blues for over forty years. In the early ‘80s, the young guitar slinger became a member of Koko Taylor’s band as well as continuing to work with is father. While it took another 11 years before he released his first official solo album (1990’s THE NEXT GENERATION), Bernard has certainly made each release count. He may have inherited his father’s talents but Bernard has taken the Blues in new and exciting directions. […]

By | February 2nd, 2018|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: BERNARD ALLISON/LET IT GO

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: STRANGE ANGELS/IN FLIGHT WITH ELMORE JAMES

Although he passed away 55 years ago, Blues musician Elmore James remains an influential musical force today. Often referred to as ‘The King of the Slide Guitar,’ Elmore’s music still resonates in the hearts of fans and musicians alike. While the names Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf might be more familiar to the casual music fan, James’s musical output is just as important as those esteemed musicians’ respected back catalogs. In fact, Elmore’s “Dust My Broom” is one of the most [...]

By | January 29th, 2018|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: STRANGE ANGELS/IN FLIGHT WITH ELMORE JAMES

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: JOE PERRY/SWEETZERLAND MANIFESTO

  Ever since Aerosmith’s debut album was released 45 years ago, Joe Perry has been one of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s most respected guitarists. While some may have thought of him as Steven Tyler’s trusted sideman in the Hard Rock outfit, Perry was much more than that – he was the architect of Aerosmith’s Blues-based Rock groove.  When Perry left Aerosmith for a few years in the early ‘80s, he took that distinct Perry vibe with him. […]

By | January 19th, 2018|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: JOE PERRY/SWEETZERLAND MANIFESTO

LEAVES’ EYES return with SIGN OF THE DRAGONHEAD!

  SIGN OF THE DRAGONHEAD is the seventh album from German/Norwegian Symphonic Metal band Leaves’ Eyes. It is their first full-length album to feature Finnish vocalist Elina Siirala, who replaces original vocalist Liv Kristine. Elina’s impressive live premiere in front of more than 20,000 metal heads at the Hammersonic in Jakarta / Indonesia and other subsequent live shows established Elina as a charismatic frontwoman with a powerful voice, immediately sparking euphoria among Leaves’ Eyes’ fans. […]

By | January 17th, 2018|News|Comments Off on LEAVES’ EYES return with SIGN OF THE DRAGONHEAD!

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: TONIGHT ALIVE/UNDERWORLD

  Tonight Alive hail from Sydney, Australia. As they celebrate the 10th Anniversary of their formation, the band unleashes their fourth full-length platter, UNDERWORLD! The album is filled with shimmering Punk Pop anthems wrapped up in candy coated gloss –  the audio equivalent of summer romance even when it is cold and rainy outside!   […]

By | January 12th, 2018|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: TONIGHT ALIVE/UNDERWORLD

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: CINDY ALEXANDER/NOWHERE TO HIDE

For two decades,  singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Cindy Alexander has been crafting albums of emotional strength and delicate beauty. Thankfully, the string of albums that she has released over the years have not gone unnoticed. In 1998, she was named Songwriter of the Year and nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year by the Los Angeles Music Awards. Her debut album SEE RED was nominated for Independent Pop Album of the Year. Since then, she’s received many more awards and nominations including Songwriter of the Year –JPF Music, Best Female Rock Vocalist – All Access Music Awards, and Special Achievement Pop Artist – Los Angeles Music Awards. She was offered a major label recording contract thanks to her appearance on NBC’s Star Tomorrow but she chose to have more control over her career and rejected the offer. […]

By | January 5th, 2018|News|1 Comment

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: INGRAM/NIGHT STALKERS

           NIGHT STALKERS, originally released in 1984, was Ingram’s third and final album. And before you jump to conclusions, this band of Ingram siblings was not related to Grammy-winning singer/songwriter James Ingram although there is a member of this act who goes by the named James/Jim! This album features the multi-talented former basketball player Norman AKA Butch Ingram (bass and trumpet) joined by his siblings James (vocals, keyboards, sax, flute), Barbara (vocals), Billy (guitar, bass, trombone), John (lead vocals, drums, tuba), Timmy (drums, percussion, trumpet) and Francis, Edith, and Virginia (vocals).  Unlike most other family bands at that time, Ingram was a self-contained unit – writing, arranging and producing their own material. […]

By | January 2nd, 2018|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: INGRAM/NIGHT STALKERS

Two Tim Buckley titles on Rolling Stone’s ‘Best Reissues Of 2017’ list!

15 Best Reissues of 2017 […]

By | December 21st, 2017|News|Comments Off on Two Tim Buckley titles on Rolling Stone’s ‘Best Reissues Of 2017’ list!

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: BLACKTOP MOJO/BURN THE SHIPS

     Palestine, TX-based hard rock band Blacktop Mojo returns with their sophomore album BURN THE SHIPS. This blistering potpourri of power was recorded at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, TN, FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL, and Audioworx Studios in Palestine, TX. Blacktop Mojo’s blend of Metal, Southern Rock, Hard Rock and Grunge ensures that they will appeal to heavy music lovers across the board. […]

By | December 20th, 2017|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: BLACKTOP MOJO/BURN THE SHIPS

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: THE GUESS WHO/AMERICAN WOMAN (DELUXE EDITION)

 On the surface, it is slightly ironic that “American Woman,” one of Rock’s most memorable hit singles of the ‘70s, was written and recorded by a Canadian band – The Guess Who. Unbeknownst to some, “American Woman” was, according to guitarist Randy Bachman, an anti-Vietnam War protest song! Regardless, The Guess Who’s Blues-based Rock workout became a fist-pumping anthem and remains a staple on terrestrial and satellite Rock radio… and rightly so! […]

By | December 15th, 2017|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: THE GUESS WHO/AMERICAN WOMAN (DELUXE EDITION)