On A Blue Avenue- Alan Merrill
Posted: November 27, 2017 Filed under: Reviews | Tags: Alan Merrill, arranger, Arrows, Blue Avenue, blues, bluesy, CD, CD Baby, cdbaby, composer, contemporary, country, Download, fusion, I Love Rock 'n' Roll, Jon Gordon, Jonathan Gordon, Keyboard, Laura Merrill, Manhattan, MECo Records, melodic, multi-instrumentalist, New York, On A Blue Avenue, piano, R&B, Rock, Shelter Island, smooth, studio Leave a comment
Polished and radio friendly, this is grown up music with a broad appeal from the consummate composer, arranger, singer, musician, and performer Alan Merrill. He is probably best known for being the composer and original artist (with his band Arrows) of the all time classic rock track “I Love Rock n Roll” back in 1975.
On a Blue Avenue is an insanely listenable departure from Merrill’s customary bluesy guitar-based rock, and here he presents us with a rich mix of different musical flavors, from Rock n Roll, through cool and smooth R&B and country spice, to keyboard rich love ballads that will melt your heart. On this musical journey through every mood, Alan displays his abundant talents to great effect, always bringing something new and refreshing, and creating a cohesive, satisfying feast of contemporary American music.
Alan Merrill has a rare gift for creating unique and beautiful music which quickly becomes familiar, and the tunes will stay with you for a long time.
Every new release from Alan Merrill reinforces the feeling that he should be a household name at the very top table of rock music’s biggest stars and you are left with that “Where have you been all my life?” feeling as you are enfolded by that unique rich velvet voice. Dreamy and wonderful ♥
Download available now
Physical CDs available from CDBaby from early December
1. On A Blue Avenue
Jon Gordon- lead guitar (at the end of the song)
Laura Merrill- harmony vocals.
2. I’m Daydreaming
3. Breaking The Chains
Laura Merrill- backing vocals.
4. Competition
5. Forever
Laura Merrill- backing vocals
Jon Gordon- guitar solo
6. Intoxicated
Jon Gordon- slide guitar
7. Lay With Me
8. Enter The Night
9. One More Heartache
Laura Merrill- backing vocals
10. Reaching Out To You
Laura Merrill- backing vocals
11. Your Love Song
Laura Merrill- backing vocals
Jon Gordon- acoustic guitar solo
12. Written on The Wind
13. You, Love & Me
Laura Merrill- harmony vocals
Alan Merrill and Jon Gordon- dual harmony lead guitar solo
14. Can’t Live Without Love
Jon Gordon- C&W guitar
15. Still There
Jon Gordon- guitar solo
Written and Produced by Alan Merrill for MECo Records, a division of the
Merrill Entertainment Company.
Recorded at Jon Gordon Studios in the Shelter Island complex
40 West 27th St. – Manhattan, NYC.
Engineered, mixed and mastered by Jon Gordon
Website: alanmerrill.com
Album lyrics: http://www.the-aleecat.com/blue-avenue.html
Cupid Deranged Redux by Alan Merrill-CD Review
Posted: March 8, 2017 Filed under: Reviews, Rock | Tags: Alan Merrill, Arrows, blues, cdbaby, cupid, deranged, England, Granada, I Love Rock 'n' Roll, Japan, London, Merrill, music, New York, Pop, R&B, redux, remaster, remix, rerelease, review, Rock, Runner, seventies, soul, The Arrows, Tokyo, USA, Vodka Collins 2 Comments
Buy Cupid Deranged Redux by Alan Merrill at CDBaby.com
Music the way it was meant to be….
The first track is Merrill’s signature piece. Alan Merrill wrote “I Love Rock N Roll” in 1975 and performed it weekly with his band Arrows on their fondly remembered eponymous pop/rock showcase, screened by UK’s Granada Independent TV channel. It was here that Joan Jett first heard the song that she later covered as her breakthrough hit.
This relaunched album has a warm, mellow and organic feel with the new mix centered on Merrill’s rich vocal talent, which adapts so well to every style. Alan moves effortlessly from full tilt rock, blues rock, and rock n roll, to soulful rhythm n blues, pure pop and gentle ballads with dazzling ease and professional flair, but always with feeling. I think it is that feeling that comes across so powerfully in this charismatic, more personal re-imagining of Cupid Deranged. Every song is strong and the performances full of verve and character. This album is a “must-have” for the collection and I recommend it.
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