Monday, March 20, 2023

LEGENDARY ‘MOUNTAIN’ DRUMMER CORKY LAING CHATS ABOUT HIS LATEST RELEASE ‘FINNISH SESSIONS’ AND MUCH MORE ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS ROCK STARS & CELEBS!

 



CORKY LAING

LEGENDARY DRUMMER 

WITH

M O U N T A I N 

WEST, BRUCE & LAING

 NEW ALBUM

'FINNISH SESSIONS'

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

IAN HUNTER (MOTT THE HOOPLE)

AND MICHAEL MONROE (HANOI ROCKS)

 A ZOOM TV SPECIAL EVENT 

with CORKY AND TUIJA

CLICK BELOW 

TO WATCH IN ITS ENTIRETY!


While Corky Laing is best known as the powerhouse rock drummer with the group Mountain, his career has lasted well past the supergroup where he made his name. Laing left Energy in 1969, replacing drummer N.D. Smart and joining electric bass guitarist Felix Pappalardi and guitarist Leslie West in Mountain, who along with Cream and Blue Cheer, became one of the seminal power trios in modern heavy psychedelic rock music.
Mountain released three albums in two years on the independent Windfall label and produced the mega-hit "Mississippi Queen." But Pappalardi went on hiatus while Laing and West formed, West, Bruce & Laing with former Cream bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, producing two studio albums and a live release for the Epic label. Mountain re-formed in 1974, issued two more albums, and broke up again. In late 1975, Laing played congas for several tracks on Bo Diddley's all-star album The 20th Anniversary of Rock N' Roll. Mountain again reassembled in 1985 and Laing has sustained a working relationship with them.

In 2003, Laing and West produced Nantucket Sleighride & Other Mountain On-The-Road Stories, a historical overview of their time with Mountain and tales of touring. 2007 kept Laing busy, recording Stick It, an audio version of his memoirs.
 Mountain also turned out a Bob Dylan cover album Masters of War. West continued with a solo career throughout, while Laing collaborated with John Lennon, Bobby Keyes, Ten Years After, Meat Loaf, Frank Marino, and Mahogany Rush, and bassist Noel Redding, formerly of the Jimi Hendrix Experience to name a few.

In 2019, he released his autobiography, Letters to Sarah written together with Tuija Takala, PhD, who started working with Corky on Playing God: The Rock Opera in 2012, gradually became his manager and partner, and with whom Corky has since collaborated on a number of projects.

Corky's album, the Toledo Session was released on CD in late 2019 and re-released on vinyl in 2020. The album contains nine new original tracks and the excitement brought on by the new repertoire is reminiscent of the classic Mountain albums, Climbing! and Nantucket Sleighride.

Since 2015 Corky has been touring the world celebrating the musical legacy of Mountain.

Corky’s latest release is entitled FINNISH SESSIONS recorded at E-studio in Finland in April. The album features Michael Monroe (harmonica) and Ian Hunter (keyboards) as special guests.

 


PURCHASE

 THE LATEST RELEASE

BY 

CORKY LAING



FINNISH

 SESSIONS



with special guests

Ian Hunter 

and

Michael Monroe 

at amazon.com 

FINNISH SESSIONS BY CORKY LAING PROVES THAT ONLY LEGENDARY ROCKERS FROM THE 60s & 70s CAN RECAPTURE THOSE MAGICAL VIBES THAT MADE ROCK MUSIC IMMORTAL...

Ray Shasho music journalist


ALSO

PURCHASE


CORKY LAING


TOLEDO

 SESSIONS


amazon.com




AND

CORKY LAING’S

BEST SELLING

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

‘LETTERS TO SARAH’

with Tuija Takala

at amazon.com

Letters to Sarah is a rock autobiography with a difference. In addition to the exceptionally honest and endearing voice of Corky chronicling the ups and downs of his life, there are excerpts from dozens of letters (out of the c. 200) that Corky wrote to his mother, Sarah, between the years 1963 and 1997. She had saved them all. The letters were a way for Corky, away on the road for years on end, to keep in touch with his roots and also, to make sense of his life. This continues in Letters to Sarah, as Corky relives the first 50 years of his life, up until his mother’s passing in 1998.


FOR MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT

CORKY LAING

VISIT

www.corkylaingworks.com

Official website

www.facebook.com/corkylaing

Facebook

www.instagram.com/corkylaing

Instagram

https://playinggodrocks.tumblr.com/tuija_bio

Tuija Takala

 

 

2023 TOUR DATES 

Corky Laing & the Bobos (Conny Bloom, Maria Hänninen, John Vihervä & Harri Väyrynen)

5/16/2023 Odal Rock Club, Austvatn, Norway

5/17/2023 Melodybox, Stockholm, Sweden

5/18/2023 Backstage Rock Bar, Trollhättan, Sweden

5/19/2023 Bomber Bar, Motala, Sweden

5/20/2023 Rockland, Sala, Sweden

Corky Laing's Mountain

8/31-9/3/2023 Nene Valley Rock Festival, Peterborough, UK


 Discography

With Mountain

Studio albums

Climbing! (1970)

Nantucket Sleighride (1971)

Flowers of Evil (1971; partially live)

Avalanche (1974)

Go for Your Life (1985)

Man's World (1996)

Mystic Fire (2002)

Masters of War (2007)

 

Live albums

Mountain Live: The Road Goes Ever On (1972)

Eruption (2004)

Compilation albums

The Best of Mountain (1973)

Over the Top (2001)

 

West, Bruce and Laing

1972 – Why Dontcha

1973 – Whatever Turns You On

1974 – Live 'n' Kickin'

 

With Leslie West

1975 – The Great Fatsby

1976 – The Leslie West Band

2005 – Guitarded

 

With Bartholomew plus III

1965 – "She's Mine" / "You're Not There"

1967 – "When I Fall in Love"

 

With Cork

1999 – Speed of THought

2003 – Out There

 

As Corky Laing

1977 – Making It On The Streets

2019 – Toledo Sessions

Finnish Sessions (2022)

 

With Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson and Felix Pappalardi

1999 – The Secret Sessions

 

With The Mix

1980 – American Glue

 

With The Perfect Child

2013 – Playing God

 

As Corky Laing's Mountain

2017 – Live in Melle

2019 - Live At Howard's Club H


Guest appearances

1969 – David Rea – Maverick Child,

 drums

1971 – David Rea – By the Grace of God, drums

1972 – Bobby Keys – Bobby Keys, drums

1976 – Bo Diddley – 

The 20th Anniversary of Rock N' Roll, congas

1987 – Charlie Karp 

& the Name Droppers – 

Charlie Karp & the Name Droppers, percussion

1991 – Men Without Hats –

 Sideways, on "I Am the Walrus", drums


Other

2004: Jason Hartless Jr. – First Division

2012: Corky Laing and The Memory Thieves – House of Thieves

2018: Pompeii – The Secret Sessions

 

 









CORKY LAING
and TUIJA TAKALA
APPEAR WEEK OF 
MARCH 20TH 2023
ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS
WITH RAY SHASHO


ORDER NOW

 WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

RAY’S BEST-SELLING BOOK

ENTITLED

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE  

CHRONICLES,TRUTHS

 CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM 

FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS 

THAT SET US FREE!



BY MUSIC JOURNALIST ...TALK SHOW HOST...  

AUTHOR RAY SHASHO 


Order yours today on (Collector edition) Hardcover or E-book at bookbaby.com and amazon.com

Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of the greatest rock legends the world will ever know.

CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA…  JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER...  RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER...  ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY... PETE BEST

 

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

BOOK TRAILER

 

BOOK REVIEW

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS

The Rock Star Chronicles by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show. 

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan. 

Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives. 

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/   

Gold Award Winner



MORE BOOKS BY RAY SHASHO







Friday, March 17, 2023

WILLIAM BELL LEGENDARY SOUL SINGER/SONGWRITER WHO WROTE “BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN” (ALBERT KING & CREAM COVER)RELEASING NEW ALBUM ‘ONE DAY CLOSER TO HOME’ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW!

 





LEGENDARY SOUL SINGER

WILLIAM

BELL

RELEASING NEW ALBUM

'ONE DAY CLOSER TO HOME'

(APRIL 14TH)

BELL IS A PIONEER OF 

THE STAX/VOLTZ RECORDS ERA

& WROTE ONE OF THE MOST-RECORDED BLUES SONGS  OF ALL-TIME! 

"BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN"

EXCLUSIVE

 ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN IN ITS ENTIRETY


In a distinguished career as a singer, songwriter and producer, William Bell has come to define the essence of “soul.” Born in Memphis but based in Atlanta since 1970, William Bell was one of the pioneers of the classic Stax/Volt sound, joining such other illustrious musical forces at that label as Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the MG’s, Albert King, Eddie Floyd, Carla and Rufus Thomas, The Staple Singers and the Bar-Kays, among others.

William recorded his first sides as a member of the group the Del Rios. In 1961, he made his solo recording debut with the classic single, “You Don’t Miss Your Water,” which became one of the fledgling label’s first major hits.

After a two-year stint in the Armed Forces, William released his first full-length album in 1967, the classic The Soul of a Bell, which included the Top 20 hit single, “Everybody Loves a Winner.” That same year, blues great Albert King recorded what came to be his signature tune, “Born Under a Bad Sign,” also written by Bell, which has since become one of the most-recorded blues songs of all-time.

Among his other classic hits at Stax were “Any Other Way,” “Never Like This Before,” “A Tribute to a King” (William’s personal tribute to Stax legend Otis Redding), “I Forgot to be Your Lover,” his internationally acclaimed duet with Judy Clay, “Private Number,” and the perennial Christmas music favorite, “Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday.”

As a songwriter, William Bell’s compositions have also been recorded by such diverse stars as Otis Redding, Eric Clapton, Billy Idol, Lou Rawls and Rod Stewart, among many others.

In 2014 William Bell appeared in the critically acclaimed and award-winning movie “TAKE ME TO THE RIVER”, a Martin Shore Production. In connection with the film, William Bell still travels the world, attending film festivals and performing concerts.

In February 2017 William received a Grammy for his latest CD on STAX/Concord Records “This Is Where I Live” for Americana Album of the Year and performed on the live TV presentation with Gary Clark, Jr.! 

On April 14th 2023 William Bell will release an Album titled “One Day Closer To Home” with 12 NEW songs. William Bell continues to be a major force in the music industry!

PURCHASE

 THE LATEST ALBUM

BY

WILLIAM BELL

entitled

‘ONE DAY CLOSER TO HOME’

Preorder now at

https://williambellmusic.com/shop-download-music

“One Day Closer To Home” is a master class on how to put down the deepest kind of blues from a lifetime achiever. With tremendous groove, the song leans into his signature, soulful sound. Bell doesn’t waste a note, word, or bar telling this story of trying to get back to freedom and he makes you believe every bit of it. His vocal delivery is heart-wrenching, loaded with hope and despair all at once. Both the instrumentation and the track’s music video are austere and minimal, which keeps the focus on Bell, where it belongs. It’s an outstanding song that will catch you and keep you.

OFFICIAL RELEASE DATE APRIL 14TH

THE NEW SINGLE "ONE DAY CLOSER TO HOME" AVAILABLE NOW!


FOR MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT

WILLIAM BELL

VISIT

www.williambellmusic.com

Official website

www.facebook.com/TheRealWilliamBell

Facebook

www.youtube.com/@WilliamBellmusic

You Tube

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/william-bell/1198111

iTunes

 

Discography

Studio albums

Year  Album

1967  The Soul of a Bell

1969 Bound to Happen

1971  Wow ...William Bell

1972  Phases of Reality

1973  Waiting for William Bell

1974  Relating

1977  Coming Back for More

It's Time You Took Another Listen

1983  Survivor

1985  Passion

1989 On a Roll

1992 Bedtime Stories

1999 A Portrait Is Forever

2006 New Lease on Life

2016 This Is Where I Live

One Day Closer To Home (2023)

Compilation albums

The Best of William Bell (1988)

The Very Best of William Bell (2007)

Singles

1961  "You Don't Miss Your Water"

1962 "Any Other Way"

1963  "I Told You So"

"Just as I Thought"

"Somebody Mentioned Your Name"

"I'll Show You"

1964 “Who Will It Be Tomorrow"

1965  "Crying All by Myself"

1966 "Share What You Got (But Keep What You Need)"

"Never Like This Before"

1967    "Everybody Loves a Winner"

"Eloise (Hang on in There)"

"Everyday Will Be Like a Holiday"

1968   "Every Man Ought to Have a Woman”

"A Tribute to a King"

"Private Number" (with Judy Clay)

"I Forgot to Be Your Lover"

"My Baby Specializes" (with Judy Clay)

1969   "My Whole World Is Falling Down"

"Happy"

"Soul-A-Lujah" (with Johnnie Taylor, Eddie Floyd, Pervis Staples,

Carla Thomas, Mavis Staples and Cleotha Staples)

"Love's Sweet Sensation" (with Mavis Staples)

"I Can't Stop" (with Carla Thomas)

"Born Under a Bad Sign"

1970   "All I Have to Do Is Dream" (with Carla Thomas)

"Lonely Soldier"

1971   "A Penny for Your Thoughts"

"All for the Love of a Woman"

1972  "Save Us"

1973  "Lovin' on Borrowed Time"

"I've Got to Go on Without You"

1974  "Gettin' What You Want (Losin' What You Got)"

"Get It While It's Hot"

1976  "Tryin' to Love Two"

1977  "Coming Back for More"

"Easy Comin' Out (Hard Goin' In)"

1983  "Bad Time to Break Up"

"Playing Hard to Get"

1985  "Lovin' on Borrowed Time" (new version)

1986 "I Don't Want to Wake Up (Feelin' Guilty)" (with Janice Bulluck)

"Headline News"

"Passion"

"Please Come Home for Christmas"

1989 "Getting Out of Your Bed"

1990 "Need Your Love So Bad"

1992 "Bedtime Story"

1995  "Shake Hands (Come Out Lovin')"


Awards and honors

W.C. Handy Heritage Award from the Memphis Music Foundation (2003)

BMI Songwriters Award (2003)

Featured in the Stax Museum of American Soul Music (2003)

Lifetime Achievement Award from Americana Music Association (2016)

Memphis Music Hall of Fame inductee (2016)

Grammy Award win: Best Americana Album for This Is Where I Live (2017)

Grammy Award nomination: Best Traditional R&B Performance for "The Three of Me" (2017)

Four Blues Music Award nominations: Album (This Is Where I Live), Soul Blues Album (This Is Where I Live), Soul Blues Male Artist (2017) (The Blues Foundation, 2018), Best Soul Blues Male Artist (2019)

Epitome of Soul Award presented to Bell by Stevie Wonder at The Consortium MMT event at the Horseshoe Tunica (2017)

National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts (2020)





WILLIAM BELL
APPEARS WEEK OF 
MARCH 17TH 2023
ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS
WITH RAY SHASHO


ORDER NOW

 WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

RAY’S BEST-SELLING BOOK

ENTITLED

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE  

CHRONICLES,TRUTHS

 CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM 

FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS 

THAT SET US FREE!



BY MUSIC JOURNALIST ...TALK SHOW HOST...  

AUTHOR RAY SHASHO 


Order yours today on (Collector edition) Hardcover or E-book at bookbaby.com and amazon.com

Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of the greatest rock legends the world will ever know.

CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA…  JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER...  RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER...  ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY... PETE BEST

 

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

BOOK TRAILER

 

BOOK REVIEW

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS

The Rock Star Chronicles by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show. 

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan. 

Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives. 

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/   

Gold Award Winner



MORE BOOKS BY RAY SHASHO