MOLLY'S FIRE - TOO GOOD TO PUT IT OUT

Molly Hatchet are still streets ahead of any Southern Rock band for me. Whilst they all incorporate a bit of blues, country, cajun, you name it, some do it far more than others. Molly Hatchet retain the "rock" element to a far greater degree the the rest, and do so in a higher percentage of their songs.

I'm thankful that Bobby Ingram has been able to keep the flag flying for so long, and grateful they were able to find a vocalist who was a dead-ringer (no pun intended) for the late Danny Joe Brown. I only have two quibbles with them really:-

1. That they omitted two (excellent) tracks from the "Double Trouble" live LP release when it went to CD, and did not bother to rectify the situation when it was re-issued.

2. That they played a storming new song called "Rock 'n' Roll Fire" on the 1984 tour but never released it on any album. A few bootlegs are the only proof of this. I have never understood why, as it's certainly stronger than a couple of the weaker "honky-tonk" style numbers they've recorded in the studio over the years.

If you want to hear what it sounds like, click here

CREED - BELIEVE THEY MADE AN EP TOO!

First things first : we are talking about the late 70s US hard rock / aor band here, not the latter day abomination that goes by the same name!

Many people rightfully rave about their self-titled debut LP. In fact, the opening track (Keep On Rockin') even got played by Neal Kay, DJ at the NWOBHM-championing Soundhouse disco in London. (Thanks to the author of this blog, actually!)

However, not many know that a few years later they released an additional 4-track EP named "Believe It". The keyboard player had left, and there was a different lead guitarist, resulting in a slightly tougher (but still melodic) sound. Steve Ingle was still there to provide classy vocals. I still live in hope of a CD release of both recordings one day.

Track 1: 2:58 Can't Face The Night Alone
Track 2: 3:37 Really Doesn't Matter
Track 3: 3:46 Wrong Time
Track 4: 2:46 I Know Better Now

If you want to hear what it sounds like, click here

"TOUCH AND GO" IF IT MADE THE ALBUM

Here is another Legs Diamond rarity. The track "Touch And Go" was recorded for "Town Bad Girl" but never made the finished album.

If you want to hear what it sounds like, click here

ZON - LIVE IN EDMONTON, ALBERTA 1981

The first of several live shows by one of the greatest AOR bands of all time. Songs from all three albums, unreleased songs, cover songs.... seriously, what more could you ask for?

How I wish they would reform, but judging by contact made with the former band members over the years, I know it's just a pipedream. Denton Young seems more interested in his non-musical concerns these days. Howard Helm seems only interested in whatever current band he is playing in. Kim Hunt seems so busy spreading himself around that I doubt he could commit to anything for more than a fleeting moment. The other two seem to have disappeared off the face of the Maple Motherland. What a shame.

01. Circus
02. Everybody Gettin' Off On Somethin' (unreleased)
03. High School
04. Tuesday At Nine (unreleased)
05. Back Down To Earth
06. Point Of View
07. Where To Spend My Dollar
08. Takin' The Easy Way Out
09. Suicide
10. Talkin' About
11. Put On The Show
12. Rock And Roll Is In Me (unreleased)
13. Hollywood
14. Time For Your Love
15. I Feel Fine (Beatles cover)
16. Astral Projector
17. Hocus Pocus (Focus cover)

If you want to hear what it sounds like, click here

TIME TO BREAK SOME ILLEGAL CHAINS

Those who bought Dokken's "Breaking The Chains" CD, after they had owned the LP for several years, were liable to experience a disappointment. Certain issues of the LP (and it does not seem either country-related or batch-specific) no longer had the track "We're Illegal". Instead, they had a re-work of the track re-named "Live To Rock (Rock To Live)". Not only were the lyrics different, but a lot of the "rifferama" of the original track had been mixed out. Here is the superior "lost" vinyl prototype.

If you want to hear what it sounds like, click here