Earlier, I mentioned that it would be nice if our favourite artists and bands from the past would just continue making the music that they know, how happy it might make us if it was a constant flow. Recently, I received an email that said that The Doobie Brothers had been showcasing a "new" song ("Back to the Chateau"), which might indicate a return to the studio, The song is available on YouTube. It's not a bad song. (Thanks to

Coming up next month is the "new" album by Jimi Hendrix (Valleys of Neptune), which, I'm damn sure, will not only do well for its very existence, but also will provide us a pure collection of music from the past by a master. Cheap Trick continues to do so as do a host of others. If we seek them out, we can find them. Although we just have a few that do this, we can hope that there will be more from bands that have taken a hiatus.

On Monday, we'll have the list of Perfect Albums from the Poll. While we didn't get as many emails as we did for the Underrated Guitarist Poll, we did get a massive collection of albums. And I liked many of them, many. I hope that you'll enjoy the list when it posts as well.

Enjoy the weekend.

Tthe Poll continues until Sunday. Please participate (you'll be glad you did):

I must be crazy.  After our large-scale Underrated Guitarist Poll, I have a similar poll to begin.  But first, my backstory: I had attended my monthly LP Record meet and managed to pick up a nice copy of Mott by Mott the Hoople on vinyl.  It was something that I listened to after playing my newly acquired Houses of the Holy.  A week later and I'm still listening to it.  Every song is perfect.  

Yes, we all have more than a few absolutely pure albums that we remember fondly and that we revisit completely on a continuous basis.  By that I mean that we play every song on the album.  There's no picking favourites because they all qualify, every song.

Mott is one of mine.  Sure, I have more...but not many.  Even favourite albums by favourite bands don't always qualify because there is that one...bad...song on it.  It may not be overly bad but it's typically the one you'll skip over  or play sporadically if only to keep in touch with it.  I have lots more just like that one and those are more typical.  For this poll, I'm looking for those albums that are perfect top to bottom, first track to last.

I'm sure that I'll get inundated with emails for this Poll but this one can lead me - and you - to music I haven't heard before.  I like that.  So once again, we crank up the Poll machine to see which albums, past and current, are perfect.

Have at it by clicking through on the link for Perfect Album.

Two reviews today include my review of the recently released 2010 Remastered and Expanded trio of 2CD sets from Mute Records of the first three Buzzcocks albums, Another Kind of Music From the Kitchen, Love Bites, and A Different Kind of Tension, as well as the Robert Metcalf review (by popular demand) of the 2009 Fripp Remaster/Remix of Lizard by King Crimson. We hope that you'll enjoy these.

Roadrunner Records will release the new Ratt album called Infestation on April 20.

Katrina & the Waves ("Walking on Sunshine") will celebrate their 25th Anniversary by re-releasing a few of their classic titles, Katrina & The Waves (1985); Katrina & the Waves II (1984); Shock Horror (1983). Shock Horror will release March 29, Katrina & The Waves will release on April 12, and Katrina & The Waves II will release on April 26.

Eagle Rock Entertainment will reissue the popular Live at Knebworth album (Polydor Records - 1990) on March 23. On June 30, 1990, the best of the Brits flooded the Knebworth House in Hertsfordshire to perform a benefit concert for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy and the Brit School Of Performing Arts. Heralded as “The Best British Rock Concert Of All Time,” this aggregate of talent included Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, Elton John, Phil Collins, Genesis, Dire Straits, Tears For Fears, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, and Status Quo.  All performing free of charge to support the charities, this incredible line-up was amassed from recipients of the prestigious Nordoff-Robbins’ Silver Clef Award, which recognizes acts who make outstanding contributions to the British music industry.
 
Originally released on Polydor in 1990, this 20th anniversary re-issue will continue the tradition on giving back, as sales will raise funds for both Nordoff-Robbins (the UK’s leading independent provider of music therapy) and the Brit School of Performing Arts. 
 
Track Listing:
Disc #1:
1.) Tears For Fears – Everybody Wants To Rule The World
2.) Tears For Fears – Badman’s Song
3.) Status Quo – Dirty Water
4.) Status Quo – Whatever You Want
5.) Status Quo – Rockin’ All Over The World
6.) Cliff Richard & The Shadows – On The Beach
7.) Cliff Richard & The Shadows – Do You Wanna Dance
8.) Robert Plant – Hurting Kind
9.) Robert Plant – Liar’s Dance
10.) Robert Plant – Tall Cool One
11.) Robert Plant – Wearing And Tearing
12.) Genesis – Mama
13.) Genesis – Turn It On Again Medley: Somebody To Love / Satisfaction / Twist And Shout / Reach Out I’ll Be There / You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling / Pinball Wizard / In The Midnight House / Turn It On Again
 
Disc #2:
1.) Phil Collins – Sussudio
2.) Eric Clapton – Sunshine Of Your Love
3.) Dire Straits – Think I Love You Too Much
4.) Elton John – Sad Songs (Say So Much)
5.) Elton John – Saturday Night’s All Right (For Fighting)
6.) Paul McCartney – Coming Up
7.) Paul McCartney – Hey Jude
8.) Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb
9.) Pink Floyd – Run Like Hell

Virgin Records plan the release of the debut album from AM Taxi (Chicago). Their album will be called We Don't Stand a Chance and will be available on June 8. You can check them out at their FaceBook page and their MySpace page.

The Best of Edwin McCain is expected by Saguaro Road Records on March 30.

Motown will release a DD version of The Ultimate Collection for The Tempations on March 9.

The upcoming new album by Jeff Beck, called Emotion & Commotion, will be released on April 13 on CD, and April 17 (Record Store Day) on LP.

Sanctuary Records will release a DD version of Heavy Soul from '60s Rockers, Atomic Rooster, on March 9. Sanctuary Records will also release a DD version of Mirrors: Anthology with Sally Oldfield on the same date.

Hip-O Select plan the CD and DD release of two Rick James titles that include Fire It Up (Gordy Records - 1979), and Garden of Love (Gordy Records - 1980). Both are scheduled for May 18.