Hard Rock Music Time Machine – 4/5/18

Each Thursday, Hard Rock Music Time Machine takes a journey back in time to feature a variety of songs that date back as far as the late ’60s.

In addition to appearing on the embedded YouTube playlist below, all songs featured on Hard Rock Music Time Machine can be listened to individually by clicking on the hyper-linked song titles above each review.

 

 

ADAM WALDMAN – (Publisher, Hard Rock Daddy)

BON JOVI (f. JENNIFER NETTLES) – “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” (2005)
When Bon Jovi (with Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles) released “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” in 2005, it didn’t have much of an impact on me.  It wasn’t until around five years later that the song became one that could almost move me to tears.  The power of a song is that its shelf life lives on long after its initial relevance has passed.  You never know when life’s circumstances will connect you to a lyric in a visceral way.

It wasn’t long after moving to Texas with my family (to pursue some opportunities that never panned out), that homesickness for New York kicked in for my wife and me.  Although I waited a few months to admit my feelings to my wife, it was a great relief when we decided together to go back home.

Although New York and New Jersey are somewhat different, the attitudes of those in close proximity to New York City are fairly similar.  For that reason, Bon Jovi singing the lyrics to this song made it feel like a direct correlation to the situation that we found ourselves in.  The message of the entire song resonated with both of us, but certain lyrics particularly made the longing for home more emotionally raw…

“I was looking for something I couldn’t replace…I was running away from the only thing I’ve ever known.”

{Our move was made during the time of the financial crisis, and the walls seemed to be crumbling around us.  In retrospect, we were running away from the known, not towards the unknown.}

 
“Who says you can’t go home…there’s only one place they call me one of their own.”  

{If we had come from a place with less of a definitive identity, or moved to place that wasn’t so filled with pride, maybe things would have worked out differently.  However, the clashing of New York pride with Texas pride was something that just didn’t sit well with either one of us for the long haul.}

 
“You can take the home from the boy, but not the boy from his home…These are my streets, the only life I’ve ever known.”

“It doesn’t matter where you are…it doesn’t matter where you go…If it’s a million miles away, or just a mile up the road…Take it in, take it with you when you go.”

{These two verses, in particular, hit very close to home, especially because circumstances dictated that we couldn’t just pack our bags and go home once we made the decision to do so.  The move back home didn’t happen for over a year.  During that time, I would often listen to this song with bittersweet emotions.}

 
“Who Says You Can’t Go Home” has become one of my favorite Bon Jovi songs of all-time because of the meaning that it had at a fragile time in life.  Maybe it’s because it’s the first version that I heard, or maybe it’s because I’ve always had a tremendous appreciation for duets, but I strongly favor the version with Nettles over the version with just Bon Jovi singing.

Although my family and I have been back in New York for much longer than we ever lived in Texas, hearing this song to this day stirs up the same emotions that I felt during our time in limbo.  Still, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” is the kind of song that I can listen to over and over again and never tire of it.
 

 

RICHIE SAMBORA & ORIANTHI – “Livin’ On A Prayer” (2014)

As I mentioned above, I love duets.  There’s something about the contrast between male and female singers that gives songs greater depth.  Because Jon Bon Jovi is the primary voice of Bon Jovi, it’s easy to forget just how good Richie Sambora is when he sings lead.

On this duet with Australia’s Orianthi, Sambora showcases his soulful voice.  The beautiful vulnerability of Orianthi’s vocals complement Sambora perfectly.  This acoustic interpretation of “Livin’ On A Prayer” is more soulful and bluesy than the original, taking the song from an uplifting arena rock anthem to a stirring ballad with a touch of melancholy.  It’s amazing how the same lyrics can take on an entirely different meaning through interpretation.

It’s hard to say whether Sambora will ever return as permanent member of Bon Jovi, but maybe the time away performing with (his girlfriend) Orianthi will create a chance for wounds to be healed.  Maybe not.  Either way, Sambora will be reuniting with the original members of Bon Jovi for a couple of songs when the band is inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame next weekend.

Who says you can’t go home?
 

 

 

SUZANNE BRACKEN – HRD Music Scout

ANTHRAX – “London” (1993)

Many music fans are initially interested in a band because of the lead vocalist, getting drawn in by expressive vocals and lyrics that keep you wanting more.  If the vocals are not captivating though, they’re likely to move on to another song or another artist.

In 1993, with the departure of Joey Belladonna from Anthrax at the (then) height of their career, his replacement, John Bush (Armored Saint), had big shoes to fill as the band’s new lead singer.  Not only did he fill them, he more than delivered, knocking it out of the park with Sound Of White Noise, which continues to sound as heavy and hard as it did 25 years ago.  Bush’s vocals fit perfectly with all of the songs on this album, giving Anthrax an even tougher, darker sound.  His voice is why I return to this album more often than I do with other (equally great) Anthrax albums.

Anthrax is my favorite of “The Big Four” for a myriad of reasons, not least of which is that they are from New York.  I love their passion and honesty.  I also love the fact that they often wear their many influences on their sleeves, paying tribute to all of them regularly, both in the recording studio and in concert.

I look forward to their covers almost as much I do their new songs.  I loved their 2013 Anthem EP, which includes covers of everyone from AC/DC to Boston to Journey, putting their own unique metal stamp on classic rock songs.

I’ve found myself loving remasters over the past few years, as you get great alternative versions of originally recorded songs. On the 2001 remaster of Sound Of White Noise, you also get three great covers.  My favorite being the unexpected cover of “London” by The Smiths.  Being a huge Smiths fan, hearing Anthrax covering the heaviest song in the band’s eclectic catalogue is a dream come true.

While Johnny Marr is one of my favorite guitarists, the double guitar assault of Dan Spitz and Scott Ian (in addition to Charlie Benante’s speed drumming) provides the perfect metal update to the song.  I hope that they continue to find more great songs to cover in the future.  Not only are they fun to listen to, but they also provide important insight as to what moves them as artists.
 

 

RORY GALLAGHER – “Cradle Rock” (1973)

Irish guitar god Rory Gallagher has inspired a generation of guitarists from Slash to Edge to Glen Tipton.  He is, to many, a true icon.  Watch the YouTube videos of his performances, and you can immediately see and hear why.  His 1961 Stratocaster became his life companion, as he never married or had a family.  His life was devoted humbly and entirely to his craft.

I grew up with a group of guys who learned about Rory Gallagher from their older brothers (who worshipped him).  They already knew what many would later learn, that Gallagher was the real deal, a legend in the making.  Although he did not frequently tour the States, when he did, my friends were there absorbing it all.  Gallagher tops the long list of artists that I wish that I had seen in their prime because his live shows are revered as some of the best ever.

“Cradle Rock” is a great showcase of Gallagher’s passion and prowess. There are few words to describe it actually.  When I watch his performances, I just take it all in.

In 2015, I traveled to Bundoran in County Donegal, Ireland to attend a 60th birthday party.  It was my first visit to Ireland.  As the luck of the Irish would have it, I soon realized that we would be staying in the next town over from Gallagher’s birthplace, Ballyshannon.

My sister-in-law did not know any of his music, and only knew his name from me and my music obsession.  She was truly the best, accompanying me on a cold and rainy Irish morning in November just so I could see the statue of Gallagher in the center of one of the oldest town in Ireland (where the Rory Gallagher fest is held each June).  We also visited the painted murals, and were actually able to see the Rory Gallagher Festival Office.  It was a dream realized.  I hope to get to the actual festival in the coming years to celebrate the life and music of Gallagher with his many grateful fans from all over Ireland and the world.