This past week, Capitol released Ultimate Hits: Rock And Roll Never Forgets by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band.

It always debatable whether or not a compilation is ever “ultimate,” however, this 2 disc collection comes pretty close. It contains 26 remastered songs including all of Seger’s top ten hits, movie favorites from Beverly Hills Cop and Risky Business, as well as FM-radio staples and best-loved tracks from his million-selling albums.

Recent interview with Bob via WAXQ.FM Morning Show

I always wondered why Dakota never really made it “big” after releasing their self-titled debut album in 1980. Back in the day, it didn’t really sound any different to me than the more popular Purenittyamericapocoprairiegrittydoobiedirt Band, only plugged in. For for some reason the album ended up spinning its wheels on AOR playlists instead of charting on the American Top 40.

Check out a few of the cuts over on YouTube and if you figure it out, let me know.

Don’t know whether is was the fertile soil which ended up in the pots of the marijuana plants or the natural “Rocky Mountain High” at 5000 feet above sea level, but something in Boulder, Colorado in the early 70′s spawned successful recording artists like no other spot on the planet. Everybody hung out there, from the likes of Chicago and Elton John to Stephen Stills and Joe Walsh.

In between all of this “artistry”, guitarist Jock Bartley, along with ex-Flying Burrito Brother Rick Roberts, tested the waters with Firefall
in the local club scene, and before they knew it, they had a record deal. You remember them. A staple on the Adult Contemporary charts, the band scored twelve Top 50 hits between 1976 and 1983. I wore out several C-60 magnetic cassette tapes constantly listening to “You are the Woman,” “Just Remember I Love You” and “Strange Way” on my Panasonic portable.

As much as I hate to give away my age, Three Dog Night was mandatory listening material during my formative years. Founded in 1968, the band’s earliest lineup landed over twenty top-forty hits by 1974, all of which were rotated at our junior high school mixers. And I was still getting mileage out of their stuff by the time I hit college.

Lead guitarist Michael Allsup’s work laces a score of the band’s Billboard heyday tunes, among them “One,” “Never Been to Spain,” “Mama Told Me Not to Come” and “Shambala.” Whether wielding a Les Paul or a Strat, you’ll find him still playing TDN’s greatest hits to a tee live on stage with the current formation.

Incidentally, Mike’s “official web site” charts high on my fave list, pulling in 5+ stars for its Netscape nostalgia, “menus to hell” and sense of humor. Be sure to read his online tales from the rock and roll road.

Three Dog Night’s current tour schedule can be found at their decidedly more conventional site.

Mary with Joe Vitale

Joe’s been out on the road lately with the “old new” Buffalo Springfield. Founding members Stephen Stills, Neil Young and Richie Furay, along with Joe (for Dewey Martin) and Rick Rosas (for Bruce Palmer) performed a couple of days ago at the Bonnaroo Festival after doing a handful of shows in California, and Furay recently confirmed their fall tour (review @ Variety here.)

An interview with Joe is featured in the latest issue of Classic Drummer magazine. There’s also an opportunity for readers to cast their votes online for inductees into the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame. Ironically, Joe’s name is missing from the prepared online ballot, but fortunately, you can write him in.

Who knows where else Joe may turn up in the next few weeks? Stay tuned.