We’re celebrating our one year anniversary this month!
MusicRamble.com is officially one year old. Time sure flies when you’re having fun and we are having a blast celebrating all of the best classic rock, blues, jazz, pop, rock ‘n roll, and new music releases.
Of course, we wouldn’t be successful without your help, so we would like to acknowledge all of your support over the past year. Here’s a big shout out to all our friends, readers and visitors who have spent time with us along the way. MusicRamble appreciates all of your great comments too. We love hearing from you, so please keep on posting your thoughts.
Thanks for a great year!
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “MusicRamble.com Celebrates First Anniversary”, url: “http://www.musicramble.com/musicramblecom-celebrates-first-anniversary/” });

Classic Studio T, a music label that works out of Shepperton Film Studios in the UK, has a cool YouTube page featuring some really great DVD packages.

‘Limited Edition Director’s Cut’ DVD of the Yes 35th Anniversary World Tour. Behind-the-scenes footage and previously unreleased live performances at the N.I.A, Birmingham and The Glastonbury Festival that didn’t make it into the original DVD of ‘Yes - The Director’s Cut.’
Steve Howe ‘Remedy Live’ DVD, a feature length “Live” concert filmed during his 2004 European Tour. Howe is one of the most amazing guitarists of our time. Video performance of “The Clap” from The Yes Album.
Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings ‘Let The Good Times Roll’ DVD features two live performances, in the studio and on the road during their European tour in 2004. The band performs jazz and rock ‘n’ roll classics from some of the greatest artists of all time including Little Richard, Nat King Cole, Nina Simmone, and Lonnie Donnegan. Performances from Bill Wyman, Albert Lee and Georgie Fame, among others. Video features the Ray Charles classic “I Got A Woman.”
Nazareth ‘Live From Classic T Stage’ DVD shows this Scottish rock band performing and recording a greatest …

When I’m in the mood to dance, the B-52’s always come to mind. Especially their dance floor classic “Love Shack.” The remix versions are always big fun at parties or clubs.
The B-52’s are back on record after sixteen years with their first album of the 21st century. “Funplex” features eleven new songs full of the band’s classic guitar hooks, driving drum beats and the unmistakable vocal style of “the world’s greatest party band.”
Yeah it’s a wild ride back into the mix of B movies, vintage rock, pop culture and dance beats. The party is still goin’ with everyone’s favorite party band from Athens, Georgia. Producer Steve Osborne brings in a new electronic edge, sometimes reminiscent of Kraftwerk, other times of New Order. But the beats keep you dancing while the grooves wrap around your brain.
Ya gotta love song titles like “Deviant Ingredient” and “Love In The Year 3000,” giving the album a futuristic quality. The video for the title track takes us back to the future and into the mall, and really puts the fun into “Funplex.”
B-52’s YouTube Video

Guitarist Keith Strickland says Funplex is “loud, sexy rock and roll, with the beat pumped …

This is an unusual bit of news about one of my favorite classic rockers, Neil Young. He’s got a new species of spider named after him.
Read the full story at http://news.yahoo.com
Iconic singer and songwriter Neil Young has had an honor bestowed upon him that is not received by many musicians — his own spider.
Young is not the first musician to have a creature named after him. A species of beetle that looks as if it is wearing a tuxedo — the whirligig beetle, or Orectochilus orbisonorum — was named earlier this year after the late rock ‘n’ roll legend Roy Orbison and his widow Barbara.
(Writing by Belinda Goldsmith, Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Neil Young Honored”, url: “http://www.musicramble.com/neil-young-honored/” });

Activision will have a new version of “Guitar Hero” this summer.
The popular video game will feature Aerosmith, in the new version called “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.” It will feature about 30 Aerosmith songs, along with tracks from various opening acts for the classic rock band. Activision says the 30 songs will cover the 30 years the band has been around, reaching all the way back from high school up to today’s rock star status. The company has not said if they will offer a new controller or not, but they are working with the band on the new title.
Kai Huang, head of Activision’s RedOctane unit, which guides development of the franchise, told Reuters in an interview…
To recreate the sense of attending an Aerosmith concert, developers held motion-capture sessions with band members, including frontman Steven Tyler and lead guitarist Joe Perry. “As you play,” Huang said, “you’re going to be seeing Joe and Steven doing their moves onstage.”
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Guitar Hero Aerosmith this summer”, url: “http://www.musicramble.com/guitar-hero-aerosmith-this-summer/” });

The Eagles really have had an amazing career. I’ve been a fan of the band ever since hearing their first album and soaring harmonies of Don Henley and Glenn Frey. Then they merged rock and roll with that cool southern California progressive country sound on their Desperado album, which is one of my favorites still today. Hotel California is the other album that just had one great song after another, plus it featured their new band member Joe Walsh.
Then as all great bands do, they had problems and disbanded. The record company issued the usual greatest hits albums, volumes one and two. And as most classic rock bands go, they also reformed after a long absence, did the usual tour, recorded a live album of mostly old material with a few new songs, and then hell froze over. A DVD followed. We all heard…”Thank you, and goodbye.”
Then we got the farewell tour, followed by another DVD. Sometime later the record company decided another generation needed to hear about the group, and we got selected works in a box set. More of the same ‘ol …

I’m so glad to see two of my favorite sixties bands nominated for induction into this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Dave Clark Five with Dave Clark on Drums, Mike Smith Lead Vocals & Keyboards, Lenny Davidson Lead Guitar, Rick Huxley Bass Guitar, and Denny Payton on Alto & Baritone Saxophone, Harmonica & Guitar. They were the first band to knock the Beatles out of a number one UK chart position in 1964 with their first hit song “Glad All Over.” I wore out my copy of their American Tour album from 1965!
And The Ventures (co-founders in 1958) Don Wilson (Rhythm Guitar) and Bob Bogle (Lead & Bass Guitar,) Nokie Edwards and Gerry McGee (both on Lead Guitar) and Mel Taylor on Drums. My first favorite surf group before The Beach Boys, The Ventures were right up there with Jan & Dean and The Surfaris.
Another of my favorite artists, John Mellencamp was also nominated. The official ceremony is March 10th at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame also announced the induction of harp legend Little Walter in its sideman …

We’ve got lots of great things to look forward to in the new year on MusicRamble.
We have always tried to keep a major part of our blogging on the origins of Classic Rock and Roll. And in keeping with that tradition we will now be covering Rock and Roll 40 Years Ago
Who were the noisemakers and news breakers in 1968?
Those classic rock anniversaries are something we’re going to celebrate, as we revisit these historic albums, concerts and TV shows, during this pivotal year in our pop culture and musical history.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “A Great 08″, url: “http://www.musicramble.com/a-great-08/” });

Who says classic rock is dead?
2007 was a big year for classic rock band reunions, with some really big tours (like Genesis) and special shows (like Spinal Tap appearing at Live Earth and the recent Led Zeppelin benefit concert.)
Musicians, singers & songwriters who turned 60 this year:
Gregg Allman (Allman Brothers Band) Dec. 8
Bob Weir (Grateful Dead) Oct. 16
Meat Loaf (”Bat Out Of Hell”) Sept. 27
Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) August 10
Don Henley (The Eagles) July 22
Carlos Santana July 20
Arlo Guthrie (”Alice’s Restaurant”) July 10
Ron Wood (Small Faces & The Rolling Stones) June 1
Elton John March 25
Carole Bayer Sager (Lyricist/Songwriter “Arthur’s Theme”) March 8
David Bowie (”Space Oddity”) January 8
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Look Who Turned 60 In 2007″, url: “http://www.musicramble.com/look-who-turned-60-in-2007/” });

I really couldn’t write anything that hasn’t already been said about Led Zeppelin’s performance last Monday night. But some of what has been written is pretty good, so I’ve included links to some of my favorite posts. It’s no surprise there’s already video on YouTube, thanks to backpackdave (with over 600,000 hits in just two days!)
“Led Zeppelin Performs, World Doesn’t End”
by Dave White on classicrock.about.com
“Review of Led Zeppelin at London’s O2, December 10, 2007”
by Kevin Shirley on modernguitars.com
Led Zeppelin Roundup: Backstage & Beyond - Rolling Stone Rock & Roll Daily on rollingstone.com/rockdaily
Led Zeppelin Triumphs at London Reunion Show
by Ray Bennett, Ed Christman, Tamara Conniff & Mark Sutherland
in London on Billboard.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G_JTMuHOQk

SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Led Zeppelin Plants a new Page in rock history”, url: “http://www.musicramble.com/led-zeppelin-plants-a-new-page-in-rock-history/” });