Best known as the composer and performer of the huge early-'80s dance hit "Maniac" (from the movie Flashdance), songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Michael Sembello has issued several solo albums over the years, in addition to producing, composing, and performing on other artist's recordings. Born in Philadelphia during 1954, Sembello got his start as part of Stevie Wonder's band in the early '70s, later doing session work for the likes of Sergio Mendes, the Jackson 5, Stephen Bishop, Randy Crawford, and David Sanborn, among others. But it was the soundtrack to the aforementioned 1983 movie Flashdance that brought Sembello his greatest acclaim, as the album has since gone on to be certified six times platinum…

Here's Little Milton's superstar album, finding the R&B legend performing duets with the likes of Lucinda Williams, Keb' Mo', Peter Wolf, Dave Alvin, Delbert McClinton, Gov't Mule, G. Love & Special Sauce, and Susan Tedeschi. By far the most interesting track is John Sinclair's recitation of "Mother Earth" preceding the duet between Milton and Tedeschi of it. While this collection of celebrity duets has its moments, one would definitely want to look elsewhere to start a Little Milton collection.

Excellent classic 70's Ital-prog with complex yet melodic compositions reminding me somewhat of elements of PFM, JUMBO and perhaps even BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERN0…

Reflecting a recent trend among veteran heavy metal bands, the present-day members of Finland's Amorphis decided to re-record their early work on 2010's Magic and Mayhem (Tales from the Early Years), but at least their motivation was celebrating a 20th anniversary instead of making a quick buck…

Spanish project Kant Freud Kafka is the creative vehicle of composer and musician Javi Herrera, who operates out of Barcelona. "No Tengas Miedo" is the debut album by this venture, and was self released in 2014. What we are dealing with here is an album that moves rather freely between multiple genres as a matter of fact, and where the compositions might as well have been written as classical music suites expanded to become progressive rock as they might be progressive rock excursions expanded into the realms of classical music…

Acid Mothers Temple is a completely freak out japanese neo-hippie tribe led by the guitarist Malato Kawabata (partially known for previous works published at the end of the 1970s). The band were formed in 1996 under the name Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O (Underground Freak Out). They started their career playing perpetual psychedelic jams very closed to Amon Duul II and Gong at their most gorgeous spacey rock moments…

Van Manen began his musical career as the lead singer of the symphonic rock band “Target” (1985-1991). After the breakup of “Target” Ralph started his solo career in 1993. The song “Stay Close”, that he and the brothers Robert and Tommy Riekerk performed, was a huge boost for his performances. The album has it all. From punchy rockers until smouldering ballads, all sung with grit and fire. If you like artists like Mark Williamson, Chris Eaton and Dann Huff, don’t miss this one.

One of country music s most eclectic heroes, Marty Robbins celebrated an extraordinary career as one of the genre s leading crossover artists. While Marty Robbins maintained a busy schedule throughout his life, it was without a doubt his early career that left the biggest impact on the world of country music. Johnny Cash released a version of I Couldn t Keep From Crying in 1960, while Guy Mitchell recorded versions of both Singing The Blues and Knee Deep In The Blues .

Called “a master of free verse” in the Boston Globe and “a star in the making” in the New York Post, Peter Gallway has released 20-plus albums on the Warner/Reprise and various independent labels…