#bobby messano

[rp-kat]

Fiona - Talk To Me

1984

[generationclash]

Retronaut Selects: Starz - Coliseum Rock (1978)

The first two albums I'm going to dive into are going to be the two albums that expanded my mind when it comes to music taste!

The first of these two albums is Starz' 1978 masterpiece, "Coliseum Rock". 

I vividly recall sitting upstairs in our music room and I remember my dad putting on his Rykodisc edition of Coliseum Rock and I just sat there in the middle of the room and I just absorbed all of it.

I had listened to rock stuff before, but I was really starting to get into albums more than just single songs at this point in my life. I recall listening to different songs by Starz, but hearing an entire album by them changed things. It was unlike anything I'd ever heard before.

I didn't realize how much of an effect it would have on me, because once I got into them, it was a whirlwind. I was in full Starz obsession mode and it was amazing.

What really gets me about Coliseum Rock is that it's a journey. You hear all these elements of life and doing what you love and what comes with it. You get this freedom, but then real life settles in too and it's a lot to make sense of.

When I was 12 getting into this stuff, they were just a band that was unlike any other to me. I didn't really think about a lot of lyrics until I was older because I was always focused the tempo of the music over the message being conveyed.

Coliseum Rock is such an adventure and it has such an accurate title because this is music that is meant to played to a stadium full of people. There's so much to this album from how musicially fantastic it is and how real it is too.

I'll leave you with one of the many fantastic lyrics from that album, "Take it all to the top with no regrets."

Essential Tracks: Take Me, Last Night I Wrote A Letter, It’s A Riot

Listen on YouTube: Coliseum Rock

[johnkatsmc5]

Bobby Messano "Bad Movie" 2017 US Blues Rock

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https://vk.com/wall312142499_6717 The #1 Billboard Blues CD "Love & Money". "Bad Movie" This CD is filled with the intensity of Love & Money and fueled by politics and relationship heartache. Bobby delivers a masterpiece in a time of personal turmoil........ Legendary Guitarist Releases “BAD MOVIE” on 180g Red Vinyl Get what will surely be a collectors item, Be One of Only 300 who will have the ability to own the Very First Pressing Ever on Vinyl from the Legendary Blues Guitarist Bobby Messano. Reserve your copy now because this will be the only time this release will be available. Bobby has decided to put his solo material on vinyl and “Bad Movie” limited edition seemed the right way to start. This album features a special tracking of songs, will be hand signed and numbered. This album has been Hitting Number One on all the blues charts and now you can get a very special release on 180g Red Vinyl . The Very First Pressing will be limited to 300 copies, numbered and signed and that is it. Future releases will be different........... It’s been said that the best story about yourself is the story that someone else writes about you. I thought I had seen just about everything, but I learned yet again, that sometimes events happen that just can’t be explained. Now, this happens to everyone, and in my case, a very tough period in my life turned into a miracle, but sometimes, no matter how hard you try to make sense of it, you never can. “BAD MOVIE” is that miracle. Every artist is excited when they put a new project out with our babies, our songs, for the world to hear. If you are a songwriter, you pour your heart and soul into your work, and then when you get in the studio to record, “you leave a pint of blood on the tracks” as they say in the UK. My fans and the record buying public have seen the great liner notes that are written about me with stories of my angst, darkness and traumas. I am a Blues Artist after all, but “BAD MOVIE” was different. These songs came from a place that I have never been and what’s amazing is that the words were written by the best lyricist I have ever known, Jon Tiven, as he watched me try to find my way out of the depths of despair. As only an outsider can see As only an outsider can see, he told the story of a man broken, and a political system broken, from the perspective of a caring, but cynical place, with a positive sheen. His words and assessment of both situations were perfect. I cried and I laughed as he handed me song after song and his therapy pushed me musically and vocally to places I had never reached. In the year since “Love & Money” went #1, I had no creative spark or the impetus to write, but In a six week period, a period that I had sunk lower than I had ever been, Jon and I wrote fourteen songs, eleven with he and I, two with the great Larry Weiss (Rhinestone Cowboy/ Bend Me Shape Me) , and one with the tremendous Steve Kalinich (Brian Wilson/Beach Boys). On top of that, one of my idols Brian May of Queen offered a song he had co-penned with Jon. In eight weeks the album was recorded and finished, thanks to my great friend Juanita Copeland at Sound Emporium, and Adam Taylor, one of the best engineers I have ever known. Ed Canova, my wing man, played the perfect bass parts on every song and Nioshi Jackson, one of my favorite drummers in the world, worked his magic throughout while Pete Gallinari lent his tremendous keyboard playing. The highlight was a duet with one of the best singers I have ever known, Alecia Elliott, and the result was the album I have wanted to make my entire life. I had been at the precipice and ready to go over the proverbial cliff but my friends and fans kept pulling me back until I was out of danger and “BAD MOVIE” is the result of their valiant efforts. I have always said that when you love someone more than life “You Never Let Them Fall”. Twice I have been unable to follow that belief through circumstances beyond my control BUT the loving folks surrounding me carried those words through for ME. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart and I present you my gift in return…“BAD MOVIE”......Bobby Messano........... Guitarist, singer and bandleader Bobby Messano has many years experience of working with rock artists like Steve Winwood and country artists like Jimmy Wayne and Rodney Atkins. Yet in his own right he is known as a contemporary blues artist, and certainly the first few tracks here point to him as an accomplished blues-rocker, with an influence from the British blues-boomers of the late 60s, and Jimi Hendrix (try ‘Why Water A Dead Rose’ for the latter). The vast majority of this album’s fifteen songs are written by Bobby and Jon Tiven together – and Jon’s name is an assurance of quality in itself these days. Elsewhere Bobby builds on the Mississippi hill country sound (‘Road To Oblivion’) and brings the Bo Diddley beat into the 21st century on ‘If The Phone Ain’t Ringing, It’s Me Not Callin’’. Contemporary country crops up with the beautiful acoustic based duet with Alecia Elliott from Muscle Shoals, an observation on the current political scene, whilst their other collaboration, ‘You Left Me No Choice’, is a reggae flavoured number. ‘The Girl That Got Away’ is moody and thoughtful, ‘We Need A Blessing’ is a pleas for a more equal society, and the set closes out optimistically with the Springsteen-esque rock anthem that is ‘American Spring’. Give it a listen!....by.....Norman Darwen.......... Bobby Messano has been up and down the scale a time or two in a lot of years of playing music. He has been music director for Steve Winwood and Lou Gramm and for county artists Jimmy Wayne and Rodney Aikens. For his own solo work, he chose to play and sing the blues and he has released seven albums. Every album seems to me to be the best, but I truly believe Bad Movie tops them all. Great blues comes from real and powerful emotion and requires an artist wiling to reveal his whole soul to his listeners. Bobby is that sort of artist. He wrote or co-wrote all but one of these songs and some of them are heartfelt political commentary, but like many musicians, life on the road has led to some romantic misadventures and they do indeed, sound like a very bad movie. And like blues men do, he weaves these bad experiences into song, often with a mix of heartbreak and humor. All of these songs are great by themselves, but Bobby has stressed to this writer that you should really listen to them in order. So let us begin with the opening track, which builds like it should be over the opening credits and then bursts into a raucous Texas-style rant (which has spawned a deeply entertaining video as well.) The next song, “Come To Your Senses,” is a soulful plea for a lover to come back. It is the only song Messano did not have a part in writing. It was written by Brian May of Queen and Jon Tivens, and it is perfect for Bobby’s voice. He then delivers a beautiful, brooding ballad, which also showcases the sensitive side of his guitar playing and gives us the first real glimpse of Bobby’s battered heart, “Why Water a Dead Rose?” This is one of my two favorite tracks. The blues then turns more country as Bobby treats us to some tasty acoustic dobro, adding a light touch to a trip down “The Road To Oblivion,” stepping momentarily away from the bad romance to broaden the scene and let us know what else is bothering him: the state of the country. He takes a catch phrase and makes it actually mean something in the rocking “Unconventional Wisdom,” a full-out cry for an explanation that actually makes sense for what’s going on.. From the “Bad Movie” point of view, this placement makes sense. Messano’s life is going through great change and so is the country. The best tools he has to make sense of anything are honesty, humor, and the blues. “Too Good To Be True” returns us to Bobby and that really bad girl, with some funky guitar and Memphis soul. Plot-wise, we are moving into bitterness here and in the cleverly titled “If The Phone Don’t Ring, It’s Me Not Calling,”he gives us enough information to understand why, with a fine cinematic twist on Bo Diddley as well. “Never Too Late To Break a Bad Habit” introduces some hard-earned wisdom in a solid rock song. “I Thought We Had This” has a slight swing and some very clever lyrics. “Water Under The Bridge” is an album highlight as Alicia Elliott joins Bobby for this acoustic ballad about what we all need to do to save the world. Taking a sharp emotional turn, Messano gives us more of his dreadful relationship with the brutally honest “You Left Me No Choice,” buffering the blatant heartache with the light reggae style. “The Girl That Got Away” is a smooth jazzy lament and testimony to despair but the listener can hear the beginning of acceptance and the start of moving on in its nostalgic tone. The last few songs turn us back to politics as Bobby addresses further what he believes, tackling the immigration issue in “we Need A Blessing” and then asking “Is It Too Late To Ask For a Miracle?” The album ends on the optimistic “American Spring,” in which Bobby gives us his answer to overcoming anything,”This boy is going to stick around and sing.” And lucky for us,too. it just proves a Bad Movie can make a brilliant album!....BY RHETTA............... *Bobby Messano : All guitars, lead and background vocals. *Ed Canova : Bass guitar, background vocals and hand claps. *Nioshi Jackson : Drums, percussion, background vocals and hand claps. *Alecia Elliott-Fisher : Duet vocal on “Water Under The Bridge”. *Jon Tiven : Saxophones on “Unconventional Wisdom” and “American Spring “. *Pete Gallinari : Organ and piano. 01. Bad Movie 04:33 02. Come To Your Senses 04:05 03. Why Water A Dead Rose 05:15 04. Road To Oblivion 03:02 05. Unconventional Wisdom 04:32 06. Too Good To Be True 03:40 07. If The Phone Ain't Ringin' It's Me Not Callin' 02:20 08. Never Too Late To Break A Bad Habit 04:05 09. Water Under The Bridge 03:55 10. You Left Me No Choice 03:57 11. The Girl That Got Away 03:39 12. I Thought We Had This 04:57 13. We Need A Blessing 03:28 14. Is It Too Much To Hope For A Miracle 04:25 15. American Spring 03:52

[bluesmagazine]

Recensie: Bobby Messano - Bad Movie

Recensie: Bobby Messano – Bad Movie

Bobby Messano – Bad Movie Format: CD / Label: The Prince Frog Record Company Releasedatum: 14 april 2017

Tekst: Peter Marinus

Bobby Messanois een Amerikaanse zanger-gitarist met een zeer divers muzikaal verleden. Zo komen we hem o.a. tegen in de sixties garage rock band The Shadows Of Knight, de hard rock band Starz en de pop band Franke & The Knockouts. Daarnaast speelde hij ook nog eens op…

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[rockthedayaway]

[seanettlesblog]

Bobby Messano’s “Love & Money” “I had a lot to write about…it’s my therapy!”

For this seasoned guitarist, singer, and songwriter it’s hard to imagine the release of a new album so soon after the Grammy nominated and critically acclaimed Welcome to Deltaville album last year. This follows a year which saw Bobby Messano being inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. To add to the commotion, the band hit the road in 2014 for an exhilarating 180 days to perform at 98 shows. That’s why Bobby Messano’s seventh solo album Love & Money, (release date April 15, 2015) is so special.

When asked the reason for the quick turnaround Messano said, “I was excited about using the touring band and I had a lot to write about…it’s my therapy!” Obviously, he does have a lot to write about. Released less than a year after Welcome to Deltaville this is an astonishing turnaround. Unlike his other albums, this latest feat is with his touring band featuring Suavek Zaniesienko on bass, Freddie Gasparini on keyboards, and Dave Hollingsworth on drums. Produced by Geoff Wilbourn, Whit Lehnberg, Bobby Messano and Adam Taylor, the album is an inward look that takes the listener on a journey to the darker side of obsession, desire, greed, and financial and professional challenges. All that dreary writing leads us to conclude Bobby Messano was dealt a rotten hand. Be that as it may, everyone gets the blues and the best way for Messano to rid himself of the blues is to write and play the blues. He puts his soul into every song, nothing is ambiguous here, and all is transparent. Messano’s songwriting is superb and leads us along the ups and downs in the life of the hardest working blues bands today. The road is a test of patience and endurance, however we find redemption through hope and reflection. Ultimately, in the case of Bobby Messano, he accepts the reprise as a “real blues boy.”

With the exception of Messano’s masterful rendition of “Had to Cry Today,” a Steve Winwood and Blind Faith classic, all the songs are original. Notable tracks include the opener, “April Showers,” co-written by long-time friend and band member Freddie Gasparini. It is a very bluesy song that sets the tone for the album with verses rolling off Messano’s raspy vocals sandwiched between bursts of electric riddled choruses. The albums title track “Love & Money” co-written by David Michael Rose is a fast paced swing, featuring a superb guitar solo with great rhythm tracks by the band. “Everything Is Gonna Be Alright,” also co-written by Freddie Gasparini, is a smooth flowing ballad with a great fiddle intro by Megan Bilodeau. Each of these tracks, as well as the rest of the album, are written with considerable skill and sensitivity.

Love & Money is a must have album for any collection! A superb piece of songwriting! A good mixture of music from bluesy improvisations all the way to Messana’s signature electrifying blues-rock. Buy it! While you’re at it, make plans to see Bobby Messano live this summer!

Author’s note: The release date of Love & Money coincides with the passing of Bobby Messano’s father, Albert Francis Messano. The album is dedicated to his Dad. Originally published for American Blues Scene: http://www.americanbluesscene.com/2015/04/bobby-messanos-love-money-i-had-a-lot-to-write-about-its-my-therapy/