I am currently working on a WordPress version of MusicTAP to replace this HTML version. There are several reasons for this. The first is the many advantages and advancements that are bulit into the Wordpress engine that I just don't have the skills for. Some of those are Polls, instant comments, etc. Not only that, but the interface will be much cleaner than my mess is. Bottom line is that we'll all benefit from the change.

The second reason is that I had been planning for some time to incorporate a change in our site. It will still have the usual ramble, the upcoming news, etc. But we're going to switch gears a bit and zero into what we all want, and that is a focus on the music that we know and a focus on the music that we might appreciate more. Most of the readers of TAP are older, more appreciative of past music. I want to focus on those of us who just can't leave music go. Hopefully, I'll achieve a better experience for all of us as we move TAP into the next step.

This change will take me awhile as I learn the ropes of WordPress but I think that you'll like it. Not too far from now, I'll post a link and you can help mold it.

Today is a fast post, largely because there is little to say (busy weekend). Other than that, we're low key today.

We'll see you back here on Wednesday!

Some more Great Album Covers: (We'll update this for Wednesday).

David C.:

and Jeff H.:

DGC Records will release the new AFI album called Crash Love on September 29. The album will issue on CD and a Deluxe 2CD Digipak.

Hollywood Records has Dear Agony coming from Breaking Benjamin on September 29.

Hip-O Records has Volume 1 of an ongoing series - Elvis Costello: The Costello Show - arriving on September 29. Volume One will be Live at the El Mocambo, a show recorded on March 6, 1978. The show was a support show for Costello's debut, My Aim Is True, released in 1977. Over 2010 (and perhaps beyond), Hip-O will release the remaining series collection.

Lost Highway Records will release The Rose Hotel from Robert Earl Keen, planning to release on CD and LP, and scheduling for September 29.

Fuel Records will release a series title for Moe Bandy (Souvenirs). This is slated for release on September 22.

Concord Music will be reissuing The Genius Hits The Road from Ray Charles on September 22. This release will come with seven bonus tracks ("Hit The Road, Jack;" : "Sentimental Journey;" "Blue Moon of Kentucky (Swing Ova);" "Rainy Night In Georgia;" "The Long and Winiding Road;" "I Was On Georgia Time;" "Take Me Home, Country Roads"), with all tracks remastered. The set will come with a booket that contains some new photos not seen as well as new liner notes by Bill Dahl.

We had mentioned before the impending release of Love In Time from Dan Fogelberg, scheduled for September 22. How this album came to be was Dan Fogelberg was compiling live cuts for a planned Live album, He stumbled across a set of demos recorded early in his career and decided to record them fully along with three newly written songs. Unfortunately, Dan Fogelberg was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. During his battle, he wrote the notes for the album, sequenced the songs, and put the finished work into a safe deposit box with instructions to release the album after he was gone. Dan Fogelberg passed away on December 16, 2007 but his legacy lives on with this extra special release.

More Christmas begins to creep in as word of The Holiday Collection by Julianne Hough is planned for release on September 22 from Mercury Records. Mercury will also release a Live album from The Kentucky Headhunters called Live/Agora Ballroom - Cleveland, Ohio May 13, 1990.

Verve Records will re-release an album for Diana Krall called Quiet Nights. This release will be a Deluxe Edition with a bonus DVD included. The set will come with two bonus cuts ("How Can You Mend a Broken Heart," "Everytime We Say Goodbye") in addition to the album's expected ten tracks. This is scheduled for September 22. The DVD features a Live Spanish TV set of eight songs taped in March.

Decca Records will release a new CD and a separately available DVD set from Rufus Wainwright called Milwaukee at Last. Both are scheduled for release on September 22.

Gregg Rolie, who has logged quality time with Santana (and Journey), starts off his latest album, Rain Dance – Live, with music sounding like he still belongs with the early Santana troupe.  The cuts on this 12-track album that includes excellent versions of “No One to Depend On,” “Evil Ways,” “Black Magic Woman,” and “Oye Como Va,” all songs that Rolie had a hand in delivering to the world via his involvement with Santana, are well done in a Live environment.

Gregg Rolie is a quality musician with high standards for his music - renditions or self-penned.  On Rain Dance – Live, we not only get to slip into a comfortable environ with Rolie as he revisits his early influences, but we get a strong album of excellent Live performances.

This is well recommended!  ****

Nettwerk Records will digitally release the 4-track EP, named Great Escape, by UK's The Rifles, whom Paul Weller of The Jam has gushed about, on July 28. Later in the year, Nettwerk will release their full-length album, which we'll be sure to cover. Three tracks found on this release will NOT be found on the band's upcoming album. Check 'em out at Facebook, and/or MySpace, and/or their official site.