San Antonio’s JASON KANE & THE JIVE have a new album out, as well as another on the way. Find Out For Yourself is their 4th album, and contains 8 tracks. Recorded during CoVid times, so they’ve been waiting to make these available. Find Out For Yourself is now on digital formats HERE and by ordering on CD HERE. You can also check it out at Jason’s YouTube page! It was recorded with Spencer Ramzel at Blackbuck Recording Haus. Again, dig the cool retro cover art, and the mix of funk, blues rock, soul, and hard rock. Early favorites include “Gambler” (complete with horns), the short ballad “Mother Refugee”, and “Rip Apart” (nice ’70s feel to this, cool change of pace after the solo).
There will also be a new ‘live’ album recorded at Jandro’s (Garden Patio), in San Antonio, to be released May 16. It features James Powell on bass, and Tommy Bryant on drums. Following that, the band, with Bryant and (bass player) Ace Jackson, will tour Spain in May & June (see below for dates), followed by shows in Germany and the Netherlands.
Since You Been Gone (or Since You’ve Been Gone) was a major hit for Rainbow (Ritchie Blackmore) in 1979. But the song had had a short history already and would go on to be recorded a number of times by various acts. Since You Been Gone was penned by former Argent singer/songwriter/guitarist Russ Ballard. Ballard made a huge name for himself as a songwriter, despite just the classics he wrote for Argent and his solo career, many rock fans may have heard the name for the numerous covers of his songs that have been hits for other artists – Ace Frehley, Kiss, Head East, America, Uriah Heep, Santana, Steve Windwood, Chuck Negron, Roger Daltrey, Jorn Lande, and dozens of others.
The song “Since You Been Gone” was originally recorded and released as a single in 1975, and featured on Russ Ballard’s 1976 solo album Winning – which also included the title song (which was covered numerous times). Winning also included such gems as “Halloween”, “Cuckoo”, and “Just A Dream Away” – all of which would be covered by other artists. Most recently Ballard has re-recorded the song for his upcoming double album Songs From The Warehouse and The Hits Re-Wired.
Below is a list of the rock versions of “Since You’ve Been Gone”. If there’s more, leave them in the comments. There is a few non-rock versions as well (see Michael Ball 🙂 )
Head East – 1978
Recorded by Illinois band Head East for their 1978 self-titled 4th album. Head East would be the band’s highest charting album, likely helped with there version of this song. It would be the band’s 2nd (and highest placing) charted single – in the US and Canada.
Clout – 1978
The 2nd single from the all-female South African band. The follow up to their big hit “Substitute” (The Righteous Brothers cover). They had a few other hits, including a cover of “Oohwatanite” by Canada’s April Wine.
Rainbow – 1979
The biggest hit version of this song, and one most people recognize. Great vocal from Graham Bonnet (Rainbow’s new singer at the time). Rainbow would later cover Ballard’s “I Surrender” as well.
Cherie & Marie Currie – 1979
Another really good take of this song, was a minor hit in the US. Cherie was in The Runaways and Marie was married to Steve Lukather. This was from their album Messin’ With The Boys (1980), which featured guitarists Lukather, Waddy Wachtel, (Canadian) Trevor Veitch (acoustic guitar), and other members of Toto. I like the keyboards on this version too, played by producer Jai Winding.
Taiska – 1980
From Finnish singer Taiska’s 3rd album Villi Vapaudenkaipuu. Sung in Finnish, and musically well played. The opening riff is played pretty heavier, well produced.
Alcatrazz – 1984
Another (of a few) featuring Graham Bonnet! This one from Alcatrazz’ Live Sentence (No Parole From Rock n Roll). Killer performance, and guitar from Yngwie Malmsteen.
Impellitteri – 1988
Another version sang by Graham Bonnet, this time for the debut album Stand In Line, by Impellitteri (guitarist Chris Impelliteri). The line up also featured Chuck Wright (Quiet Riot), Pat Torpey (Mr Big), and keyboard player Phil Wolfe.
Brian May Band – 1993
From Brian May’s excellent Live At Brixton Academy album. May plays this so well. The female backing singers are a nice add. His band featured Neil Murray, Spike Edney (keyboards), and Cozy Powell (the Rainbow connection). I thought May was a fine vocalist as well, a shame he didn’t continue with his own band instead of resurrecting another version of Queen.
Hi-Standard (1995)
A very different version from Japanese punk-rock trio Hi-Standard, from their 2nd full length album Growing Up.
The Company Of Snakes – 2001
From the band featuring former members of Whitesnake. This from their first release Here They Go Again, a great set of Whitesnake classics, and features the excellent vocals of Swedish singer Stefan Berggren. I imagine this was also in the set as Don Airey was in the band.
Crash Kelly – 2003
From Canadian band Crash Kelly’s debut album Penny Pills. Another cool version. Features guitarist / vocalist Sean Kelly (who went on to play with numerous Canuck acts, notably Lee Aaron and Coney Hatch). Penny Pills also includes a cover of Cheap Trick’s “Elo Kiddies”.
Pentti Hietanen – 2005
This one from Finnish singer’s album On The Rocks. This is a really good rockin’ version, good vocals, cool guitar sound, and piano. The album features covers of songs by Deep Purple, CCR, Procol Harum, Bad Company, etc…
Livesay – 2016
An ’80s influenced metal version from New York band. Kinda interesting with the added keyboard intro, and the Hammond organ in it, big guitar sound (cool solo take). From Livesay’s 4th album Frozen Hell.
Don Airey & Friends – 2017
From former Rainbow (Deep Purple) member’s 2018 release One Of A Kind. This is from the bonus live tracks Live At Fabrik, Hamburg 2017. A great version with Airey adding piano, and a band that includes Simon McBride (now of Deep Purple) and singer Carl Sentance (Nazareth).
Benji Webbe – 2020
Welsh singer who plays reggae or reggae-metal (w/ his band Skindred). This is from his collection of classic rock covers Isolation Project (Classic Rock To Rocksteady Covers). Webbe actually rewords this as “Isolation”.
Graham Bonnet & Marty Friedman – 2024
This newer version of the song was done with guitarist Marty Friedman (ex Megadeth) last year. Bonnet still sounds great!
Canadian author TIM DURLING started collecting 8-tracks well after they went out of style And print. Tim’s latest book ‘Unspooled‘ chronicles his collecting of 8-tracks years after the fact, and with a focus on this record clubs (popular in the decades before the internet) who carried 8-tracks
Unspooled will be of interest not just for the history and information on the 8-track format, but also for the nostalgia and the stories. This is a beautiful looking coffee table kinda book that you can pick up anytime, for the reading and for the cool images of hundreds of 8-track cartridges.
Unspooled isn’t just about 8-tracks, as it lists the year to year record club releases throughout the 80s, but also in here are Tim’s personal stories of the whole adventure of collecting. As a collector (mainly LPs and CDs), many of us can relate. Besides his stories, there’s contributions and interviews from fellow collectors, not just in 8-tracks, from Canadian rock writer Martin Popoff’s Forward, to legendary broadcaster Donna Halper (she who began playing Rush in the US), to various other collector’s and experts (be it in 8-tracks or rock knowledge in general!)
Version 1.0.0
At over 190 pages, full of colored images, lists, tales, antidotes, etc… Unspooled should really be worth checking out for any music collector.
+ Recently spoke with Tim Durling, watch for that interview coming here, soon.
It’s been a while, but here’s another installment of rock songs / classics that share a well known title. If there’s any other tracks titled “Dream On”, please drop them in the comments.
AEROSMITH – 1973
Aerosmith’s first single, from their first album, penned by Steven Tyler. Perhaps the band’s best loved classic.
SWEET – 1978
A ballad from the Level Headed album. Written and sang by Andy Scott. A strange choice as the lead off track on this album in some countries.
BLACKFOOT – 1980
A cool rock track from Blackfoot’s 4th album. Wasn’t the single, and not sure if this was ever played live, but solid tune on one of BF’s best albums..
NAZARETH – 1982
An excellent ballad, from 1982s 2xS album. I bought this album back then, my only Naz album for years (liked this track and “Love Leads To Madness”) Canadian band Helix did a fine cover of this in 1987.
RUSS BALLARD – 1985
A single, from The Fire Still Burns album. A good pop-rock cut, slightly reminiscent of Loverboy’s “Turn Me Loose”. Covered by American band King Kobra in ’86.
URIAH HEEP – 1995
The single and the last track from Uriah Heep’s 1995 comeback album Sea of Light. Penned by Trevor Bolder, another ballad, built around acoustic guitars and harmonies.
Latest batch of recommended new songs. These are not in any order, btw. But check them out, and check out the links added or in the song descriptions! A number of new releases to look forward to.
Erja Lyytinen – The Ring
The new single from Finland’s ‘Queen of the slide guitar’. “The Ring” is from her forthcoming album Smell The Roses (March 28), 3 years after her excellent, more blues-rock oriented Waiting For The Daylight record. https://erjalyytinen.com/
The Dead Daisies– Crossroads
The newest single from The Dead Daisies (with John Corabi, thankfully!) is a cover of the Robert Johnson classic “Crossroads”. Looking forward to the next album Lookin’ For Trouble. https://thedeaddaisies.com/crossroads/
The newest single from Sweden’s Alien, a band that’s been going since the late 80s. Their new album is titled When Yesterday Comes Around, out this week. https://www.aliensweden.com/
Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks– Roundabout (live)
A great version of the YES classic, from the new album Live – Perpetual Change. Out now. https://www.jonanderson.com/
Joe Holmes – The Deadfall
The new single from former Ozzy / Lizzy Borden / David Lee Roth guitarist. This track first appeared a few years ago, but here gets an official release. Reminds me of Robin Trower, but a bit darker. Features the vocals of Robert Locke. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083454667485
The 4th single from legendary British songwriter RUSS Ballard’s (Argent) new double album. This is one he wrote & recorded, but was soon covered by numerous acts, notable Head East , and then Rainbow (who had a huge hit with it).
Expanded edion of the 1975 album; the follow-up of the band’s international breakthrough album Moontan
Remastered from the first-generation IBC Studios master tapes
Featuring unreleased track from the Switch sessions
Featuring single edits, B-side and various previously unreleased outtakes and early versions/mixes
Including 16-page booklet with essay, memorabilia, photos
Founded in 1961 by George Kooymans and Rinus Gerritsen, Dutch rock band Golden Earring (or Golden Earrings, until 1969) started off as a beat band, experimented as a psychedelic quartet and finally became a heavy rock group. Their ninth album Moontan (1973) hit the international album charts and is the band’s most successful album in the United States, being the only Golden Earring album to be certified Gold by the RIAA. Switch is the tenth studio album by Golden Earring, released in 1975 as the follow-up of the band’s international breakthrough album Moontan. Switch actually marked a switch for Golden Earring, as it was more influenced by funk and prog than any of the band’s previous or subsequent releases. Lead single “Kill Me (Ce Soir)” perfectly demonstrates how Golden Earring experimented with a new sound.
Unreleased Golden Earring track sees the light of day
Apart from a variety of previously unreleased outtakes and rough mixes, this 50th anniversary reissue of Switch features an unreleased Golden Earring track “Action Alice & Bow-Tie Basil”. Recorded during the Switch sessions, this is the first time the band has approved a previously unreleased finished studio track for release. All tracks have been 24 bit/192 kHz remastered from the original master tapes. This expanded CD edition of Switch is the sixth instalment in a special series of remastered & expanded albums by Golden Earring, overseen by Red Bullet catalogue and band archivist Wouter Bessels.
TRACKLISTING
1. Intro Plus Minus Absurdio 2. Love Is A Rodeo 3. The Switch 4. Kill Me (Ce Soir) 5. Tons Of Time 6. Daddy’s Gonna Save My Soul 7. Troubles & Hassles 8. The Lonesome D.J.
BONUS TRACKS: 9. Lucky Number 10. Action Alice & Bow-Tie Basil 11. Kill Me (Ce Soir) (7-inch single version) 12. The Switch (7-inch single version) 13. Intro Plus Minus Absurdio (rough mix) 14. Love Is A Rodeo (rough mix) 15. The Switch (rough mix) 16. Tons Of Time (rough mix) 17. Troubles & Hassles (rough mix) 18. Love Is A Rodeo (instrumental rough mix)
Switch (remastered & expanded) is released by Red Bullet Productions on 25 April 2025 and available through all renowned worldwide music dealers and online shops, plus digital channels (Spotify, Apple Music, a.o.). A remastered vinyl edition of Switch (remastered & expanded) will be released by Music On Vinyl in late 2025.
When APRIL WINE split in 1984, following the Animal Grace album, and the One More For The Road tour across Canada, band members went off to do new things. First, there was the contractual obligation album Walking Through Fire in ’85, which was essentially a Myles Goodwyn solo project, which only featured Brian Greenway from the band’s last line-up. Soon after both Goodwyn and Greenway went off on solo ventures.
Brian Greenway’s solo album (released as GREENWAY) titled Serious Business came out in early 1988, produced by Marty Simon and Paul Northfield, and featured a number of guest players, including a few main players from Walking Through Fire (Daniel Barbe, Marty Simon). The single “In The Danger Zone” was the standout cut here, featuring Alex Lifeson performing a guitar solo, and was accompanied by a video – which wasn’t released until 6 months later!
For Serious Business, Greenway wrote (or co-wrote) every track; co-writers included Marty Simon (Mylon LeFevre, The Sharks) and Tracy Howe (Men Without Hats). There’s also a very 80s production/sound to this, with lots of keyboards played by Also Nova (this thing reminds me of Aldo’s Twitch album at times). Other favorite tracks here are “It’s Alright” and the upbeat “Right Track”, both of which would have made fine singles (if this album got more of a push). The title track is another gem here; the hardest rocker here.
Greenway went out and played live throughout Canada, In the summer of 1991 a show in Laval, Quebec was filmed and later was featured on TV in early 92 as Brian Greenway And Friends. His band, consisting of Jerry Mercer, Nanette Workman, Jeff Nystrom, Jimmy Tanaka, and Jeff Smallwood, performed songs from Serious Business, as well as a few he wrote for April Wine.
Serious Business was originally released on LP, cassette, and CD, but a remaster/reissue of it is long overdue! Could make a nice package with the original album and the live performance together (!?)
*Canadian band BEDROKK covered Greenway’s song “I Can’t Hold Back” on their 1996 album Undertow.
GREENWAY – In The Danger Zone (4:08) – Atlantic (7-89118) – Windfall Music-Roxamillion Music-Irrational Music-Sack Cymbal Music/BMI – B. Greenway-T. Howe – Producers: M. Simon-P. Northfield Former April Wine member Brian Greenway delivers a well designed and powerful cut from his Atlantic album Serious Business. Should do extremely well on AOR radio. (CashBox, 02-13-88)
RUSS BALLARD Announces New Double Album‘Songs From The Warehouse / The Hits Rewired’ Out April 25th Via Frontiers Music Srl. Pre-Order HERE
Legendary singer/songwriter RUSS BALLARD has a new double album coming out. If you don’t recognize the name, chances are you know a few of his songs that were recorded by and made hits by others throughout the 70s and 80s (Rainbow, Three Dog Night, Ace Frehley, Kiss, Santana…) . Ballard was originally a member of ARGENT in the early 70s (“Liar”, “God Gave Rock and Roll To You”), and left to pursue a solo career, although to many he made name as a songwriter.
Ballard’s new album Songs From The Warehouse/ The Hits Rewired features 1 disc of new songs and 1 disc of his best known songs that were made famous by others.
The latest single is a new track “Resurrection”. Check it out below, as well as the previous 2 videos, and tracklisting.
Track List:
CD1 1. Resurrection 2. Courageous 3. Journey Man 4. The One Who Breathes Me 5. The Wild 6. Charlatan 7. Soul Music 8. Sleepwalking 9. Last Man Standing 10. Make Believe World 11. The Family Way 12. Fearless 13. The Last Amen
CD2 1. Since You’ve Been Gone 2. Winning 3. God Gave Rock And Roll To You 4. Voices 5. New York Groove 6. You Can Do Magic 7. Liar 8. I Know There’s Something Going On 9. I Surrender 10. No More The Fool 11. So You Win Again 12. Free Me 13. On The Rebound
John Sloman’s latest album Vaudeville, is now available on CD through John. Simply drop him a request through messenger (Facebook) or email at – johnsloman@yahoo.co.uk
John is handling the CDs himself, and already hard at work on his next project.
Outsider Rock 