Tag: The Gold Needles

Happy Birthday to John Lennon!

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John Lennon’s 80th Birthday would have been on October 9th, 2020. To celebrate, a number of artists have released tributes in his honor.

John Lennon Tribute

Various Artists “Jem Records Celebrates John Lennon”

Each band is given a pair of tunes, and this first-class tribute starts with the premiere Beatlesque band The Weeklings. They add a Bo Diddley styled rhythm to this unique arrangement of The Beatles “The Word” and flesh out the bare-bones Lennon demo “What’s The New Mary Jane?” NYC-based The Midnight Callers deliver some sweet harmonies on the acoustic “Child of Nature” and bluesy lead guitar on “Jealous Guy.”

The Grip Weeds are faithful to the spirit of “You Can’t Do That” and “Strawberry Fields Forever” and the depth of sound and crisp production are impressive.  The Anderson Council’s Peter Horvath channels Lennon well on “I Found Out” with its swirling psychedelic reverb. Johnathan Pushkar and The Gold Needles also deliver the goods. Richard Barone’s speeds up the tempo in the lone mashup of  “Revolution” and “Power To The People.” It all works and is Highly Recommended.

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Timmy Sean puts a modern spin on several classics with his new EP – It’s a FREE download. Enjoy!

Reno Bo has done Beatles tributes before, but this one is new! It’s a FREE download. Enjoy!

John Lennon

John Lennon “Gimme Some Truth”

This latest ‘greatest hits’ collection is likely the best sounding mix you’ve ever heard and really does do justice to John’s compositions. Remixed by Paul Hicks (who did Imagine – The Ultimate Collection), all 36 tracks were selected by Yoko and son Sean to tell John’s post-Beatles story and illustrate his many moods. All gift-wrapped in numerous deluxe packages (the big one has a commemorative book, stickers, postcards, and extensive liner notes.)

Lennon’s searing indictment of self-serving politicians and “narrow-minded hypocritics” is even more relevant today than it was over forty years ago. The selection of songs includes his most popular work giving them new life for generations to come. Highly Recommended.

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The Gold Needles and Brad Peterson

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Gold Needles

The Gold Needles “Pearls”

The Gold Needles are a Hull UK band made up of Simon Dowson (vocals and guitar), Dave Burbage (lead guitar), Mark English (keyboards, percussion, and backing vocals), Carl Slaughter (bass and backing vocals) and Justin Davidson (drums). The chugging rhythm and mellow vocals of the title track showcase the band’s eclectic approach.

The jangling melody of “Not Tonight Josephine” lend comparisons with The Church and the psyche-pop singalong “Daydreamer’s Song” is like a lost Moody Blues tune.  The band doesn’t stick to a particular style for long, as it drifts from atmospheric folk (“Dreamscape Time,”) to rock (“Story of My Life”) and bouncy pop (“Too Much Time”) easily. With a bounty of 18 tracks, it’s easy to find several songs that will linger on your playlist. Check it out.

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Brad Peterson

Brad Peterson “The Ellipsis Album”

Chicago native Brad Peterson’s has shared the stage with Jeff Buckley and Radiohead, but stopped making music after a spinal injury left him partially paralyzed and unable to record or perform for several years. But he has returned after a long and painful rehabilitation to release this new LP. Brad has produced this entirely by himself from the songwriting and playing to the engineering and mastering.

The sophisticated opener “What The Open Heart Allows” is a soulful gem, with banjo lead. The percussive effects and tribal rhythms through the album give it a special resonance, and this works best on the album’s central theme “Unbroken.” It’s not all heavy either, as the catchy “Clap Your Hands” is purely celebratory. Peterson’s vocal is strong on “Far Off Places” with double-tracked harmonies making it another excellent single. The album gets more experimental after this, but it stays creative and the music remains compelling. Check out “All Roads Lead To Home,” “Underwear” and “Keep Calm (The Lion Sleeps Tonight).” Highly Recommended.

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