deKe’s Top Spins in 2022

Here’s what I picked up which were new releases this year on Vinyl (except for one, keep reading) that got serious time on my turntable.

I used to rate these albums but I didn’t want to give myself an headache overthinking this stuff, so here’s a batch of rock that I  dug and maybe you will find something  here to check out….

‘Dirty Honey’ came out in 2021 but fell into my lap early 2022 so I tossed it into this pile of records. These guys are your straight ahead four piece that sizzles a real cool vibe of rock. No frills just get to it kind of rock. A great young band and I look forward to hearing what they have up their sleeve in 2023.

Dirty Honey tracks to check out: “The Wire”, “No Warning”, “California Dreamin'”

An album that I was surprised that I would buy on vinyl was the ‘Scorpions’ who stomped back with the stellar “Rock Believer” opus that had the boy’s digging deep into their bag of tricks. Parts of this album sound like it could have been recorded back in 1982! That my friends is a great thing.

Scorps tracks to check out: “Roots In My Boots”, “Peacemaker,” “Gas In My Tank”

‘RUSH’ released the 5 Lp “Moving Pictures” 40th Box Set. What can you say about that unreleased Toronto show from 81 that was included here? Friggin amazing is what I can tell ya! The packaging, the booklet and Peart’s drum solo from the T.O show has to be the best drum solo I have ever heard. Yeah, I just typed that.

RUSH tracks to check out: “YYZ (live)”  “Working Man Cygnus X-1 Grand Finale”(live), “2112”(live)

Tobias Forge for me is one brilliant crafty singer, songwriter producer as when he puts out his stuff as ‘Ghost’ I’m in! “Imperia” is another fine release from the man and full out credit to the slick layout of this record and booklet included.

Ghost tracks to check out: “Spillways”, “Hunters Moon”, “Twenties”

I have been waiting for a long time for an official ‘Georgia Satellites’ release and that came out this year. “Lightin’ In A Bottle”  was recorded in Cleveland back in ’88. Plain and simple this double vinyl lays down the law of barroom boogie rock! These guys were the best at doing that. All hail Dan Baird as one the all time great lyricists.

Georgia Satellites tracks to check out: “Down And Down”, “Sheila”, “Railroad Steel”

‘ZZ Top’ lose the great Dusty Hill but that didn’t stop Frank n Billy for putting out the classy recorded live off the floor “RAW” as it was basically the soundtrack to their documentary from last year.  Love how this is ZZ Nasty. Just the three amigos playing there own brand of Texas Taco Rock.

ZZ tracks to spin: “Heard It On The X”, “Thunderbird”, “Tube Snake Boogie”

Fans are a funny bunch when it comes to new music from the Ozzman. People go on about auto tune this and that. Who gives a shit what Ozzy is doing other than cooking up a stellar bunch of tracks with a bunch of buddies of his on guitar. “Patient #9” is a great rock record and now that he has turned 74, Ozzy just keeps rocking!

Ozzman tracks to check out: “Dead And Gone”, “Degradation Rules”, “Patient #9”

Give ‘Def Leppard’ credit as they were playing stadiums in 2022 and had a new album to plug as well. “Diamond Star Halos” was better than I expected. Its pretty rocking but they should have put those two Alison Krauss tracks at the end of the album. Why these guys have to try and crossover at times makes no sense. Then again they are not going to take advice from a hack like me.

Leppard tracks worth checking out: “Take What You Want”, “Kick”, “Fire It Up”

T’he Cult’ released the trippy “Under The Midnight Sun” which to be honest was not an album I was expecting from Duffy and Wolfchild. With these guys though they are always shifting gears from album to album so I do appreciate that fact as they always bring the goods. A different vibe here as if you’re looking for “Lil Devil” or “Sun King” like tracks just keep passing by. If your looking for a  deep listen and are in that kind of mood check this album out.

Cult tracks worth checking out: “Cut Inside”, “Give Me Mercy”, “Knife Through Butterfly Heart”

Snake and Bolan out of all the albums here, perhaps “The Gangs All Here” may be my favourite as I was not expecting this album to be Great! New singer Erik Gronwall has a stellar voice and these guys have put out one ass kicker of an album that doesn’t let up.

Skid Row tracks worth a crank : “Time Bomb”, “Resurrected”, “Tear It Down”

Well, well, well. Mean Gene and Starchild between the soundboard releases and this “Creatures” set took a good chunk of my change this year. To be honest I’m totally cool with it as KISS has made this stuff interesting. The “Creatures” super deluxe box set is a must own and I’m glad I got this as “Creatures of the Night” is in my top 3 all time KISS records. This box was a must buy for me even though its on the shitty format known as CD. They went all out on this set. Demos, live stuff with Vinnie Vincent, posters artwork and a killer 80 page hardcover book that is worth the price. I will add kudos to Gene and Paul for giving this album another shot of life as back upon its initial release in 82 Creatures was D.O.A on the charts. Yet in 2022 you realize how important Eric Carr was with his drumming and the sound that producer Michael James Jackson got. 103 tracks here folks!

Creatures tracks to check out: “Saint And Sinner (demo)” “Deadly Weapon”, “Keep Me Comin (live)”, “God of Thunder live (with Eric Carr drum solo)” “Rock N Roll Hell (live)”

Alex Lifeson and Andy Curran formed a new band called “Envy of None” with Alf  Annibaliani  and Maiah Wynne and released a solid album that has nothing to do with RUSH or Coney Hatch. So props for that as Andy and Alex have zero things to prove and they can do what they want. E.O.N like the “The Cult’s” latest don’t play it safe and for that you have to respect em.

E.O.N tracks to spin: “Shadow”, “Dog’s Life”, “Dumb”

Late to the Vinyl Party!

Iron Maiden: “Number of the Beast 40th Anniversary Reissue”: Harry and Bruce know how to do it up right and this triple vinyl set ticks off all the boxes. “The Number of the Beast” (studio record) is reissued with one exception that being “Gangland” is taken off and the brilliant “Total Eclipse” is added in its place. Steve Harris wrote very detailed liner notes detailing this and also gives some great backstory about the double live show included from the February ’82 Hammersmith show.  Brilliant set list and performance by the boys and its great to hear a young Bruce Dickinson chirp from the stage the Capitol/EMI suits in the crowd!

All Hail Maiden and there use of the triple gatefold!

Bruce and Harry tracks to listen to- The whole damn thing!

Big Sugar : Heated- Got this one for Xmas this year and could it really be 25 years since “Heated” came out? Beautifully coloured green double gatefold on coloured vinyl with liner notes by Warren Haynes. Gordie Johnson rocks on this album as he fuses up reggae/rock mixed with a dose of old school ZZ Top and this is a winner. Check this one out as GJ has added a few unreleased tracks and a cool cover of “Let Me Roll It” by Macca!

Heated Tracks to crank out- Better Get Used To It, The Scene, Let It Ride (featuring Warren Haynes)

Thanks folks for checking out what I rocked to in 2022. I bought a lot more records this year but they were basically records pre 2022 and what not but maybe as I already mentioned, you may  find something here to spin or stream!

Cheers…C ya in 2023!