Saul Zonana - Devolving - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Zonana grew up listening to his older brother's Beatles, Who, and Police records. These influences peek through like sun on a cloudy day via Zonana's selective use of melodies, chords, harmonies and razor-sharp, Lennon-like vocals. It's evident even at first listening (and more so after two, three or four goes) to his seventh solo BLUE MONKEY that Saul Zonana's got soul, baby. The man's a clever musician and, dollars to doughnuts, a kick-ass live performer. But let's stick with the studio albums for a moment. There are always new sounds to grab on to though the overall concept is always wrapped in the same Zonana package of unforgettable songs. This is not your run of the mill one good song and the rest filler situation here people. This is one of the few times that we're not over using the word artist. In other words Zonana, to me, was born in the wrong generation of musicians. In a perfect world we'd be thinking of this guy right along the bands that he was raised with. In 2004, the catchy song Holiday, from his 2003 WAVES CD, managed to get steady rotation on Clear Channel radio stations which launched Zonana into major regional success but nothing more. The film 'Chasin It' which features Zonana aired on PBS and Lifetime channels. The video for his song 'Bette' from the 2001 GUINEA PIGS also was heavily viewed. His music also appears in several TV drama's and feature films. The latest film being Matthew Broderick's WONDERFUL WORLD. So Zonana is clearly a full time musician. He's kept busy as a live performer touring with the likes of Adrian Belew, Crash Test Dummies, Lisa Loeb, Ace Frehely and countless others. In the studio this guy is a sound smith. A musical autodidact, Zonana is often playing most if not all of the instruments on any given track. His self produced music has him always carving out something interesting and seems to keep adding instruments t

Fans of New Orleans R&B will have much to rejoice about here with this interesting compilation. Most of the artists featured here are New Orleans all-stars such as Aaron Neville, Lee Dorsey, Ernie K-Doe and Earl King. Other artists in a similar vein such as guitarists Frankie Lee Sims and Elmore James are not New Orleans natives but their singles included here came out on New Orleans labels and were big hits in the Crescent City and fit well thematically on this compilation. If you're looking for big early R&B hits, this is a great place to start. All selections newly remastered.

First official CD reissue of Duke Jupiter's most popular album, digitally remastered by Vic Anesini from the original master tapes. Features the band's signature song InchI'll Drink To YouInch plus bonus track. Rochester rock heroes Duke Jupiter emerged in the late '70s, serving as an opening act for the era's biggest names including ZZ Top, Bob Seger, REO Speedwagon, Toto, Foreigner, Blue Öyster Cult, David Bowie, and many more. Yet the band truly hit it's stride with 1982's Duke Jupiter 1. That year, the band played a free concert in Rochester and 25,000 fans attended, more than 10 times as many as expected. MTV, then in it's infancy, frequently broadcast a live performance of Duke Jupiter 1's single InchI'll Drink To YouInch; the track also reached the Top 20 on Billboard's rock chart and became the band's first charting pop hit. Duke Jupiter remains fondly remembered not only in upstate New York but among power pop and melodic rock enthusiasts worldwide.