ALBUMS

• QUEEN: NEWS OF THE WORLD: 1977: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: One of the things that stick out when I think of the winter of 1977-78 is turning the radio on and We Will Rock You/ We Are The Champions is playing. Seemed like the most played song at that time. You couldn’t avoid it but it was a lot better than hearing You Light Up My Life. The reviews of this album were mixed at the time I think contemporary reviews would be kinder. The stronger songs in my opinion are on side 1- with the above mentioned songs plus Sheer Heart Attack, Spread Your Wings and All Dead, All Dead.  I think the problem with this album at the time of release was that it was out of step with the times- it was as far away from a punk album as you could get and punk was the rage.

• DWIGHT YOAKAM: HILLBILLY DELUXE: 1987: 4 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Four Top 10 country singles-Little Sister, Little Ways, Please, Please Baby and Always Late With Your Kisses. Yoakam’s second album-coming a year after the first is very good but a couple great songs short of the debut albums brilliance.

• THE PRETENDERS: LEARNING TO CRAWL: 1984: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: While I have to think their debut album is The Pretenders best album- this album is my favorite of theirs- Back On The Chain Gang ranks high on my favorite songs ever list- My City Has Gone and Middle Of The Road- both outstanding. A few weaker songs on here but overall I’ve always loved this one.