Ken's Album of The Day - 12 / 22

[Ken]

I hope everyone has a great Christmas

Here is today's pick

Fastball - All The Pain Money Can Buy

Tony Scalzo - Lead Vocals , Bass , Keyboards

Miles Zuniga - Lead Vocals , Guitar , Keyboards

Joey Shuffield - Drums , Percussion




Released - 1998

Label - Hollywood

Produced By - Julian Raymond and Fastball

Billboard Chart Position - #29

Canadian Chart - #18


Singles released -

The Way (1998 - #4)

Fire Escape(1998 - #29)

Out of My Head (1999 - #20)

1. The Way (Scalzo) - 4:16
2. Fire Escape (Zuniga) - 3:21
3. Better Than It Was (Scalzo) - 2:48
4. Which Way to the Top? (Groves/Zuniga) - 3:50
5. Sooner or Later (Zuniga) - 2:39
6. Warm Fuzzy Feeling (Scalzo) - 1:55
7. Slow Drag (Zuniga) - 3:37
8. G.O.D. (Good Old Days) (Scalzo) - 3:31
9. Charlie, the Methadone Man (Zuniga) - 3:17
10. Out of My Head (Scalzo) - 2:32
11. Damaged Goods (Zuniga) - 3:02
12. Nowhere Road (Scalzo) - 3:25
13. Sweetwater, Texas (Zuniga) - 3:53


This was Fastball's second album and one of my faves from the 90's - a great pop/ rock / power pop record. I bought the CD after seeing the band perform live on Muchmore music - a great performance that I'm glad I taped.


The Way - This is the tune that they will be known for but as you will read the album is full of great songs. A huge hit that recieved plenty of airplay - I never got tired of it . I was so happy to hear something good on the radio for a change at that time. Apparently the tune is loosely based on a true story.


Fire Escape - The second single released from the album and a video was also made . Nice solid drumming from Joey - great harmonies.


Better Than it Was - This one jumps out of the speakers. Nice hammond organ on the intro . Another fine example of a great pop song with plenty of catchy hooks.


Which Way To The Top - Very dark lyrics and the tempo slows down a bit to a funky groove . Nice Electric piano.



Sooner or Later - Joey really beats the drums on this one.Great guitar! This song really cooks for 2:39


Warm Fuzzy Feeling - Another winner and it's only a 1:59 ! Great stuff


Slow Drag - Soid bass playing on this. Love the ringing guitars.





G.O.D. (Good Old Days) - The first time I heard this - this song reminded me of The Beatles ' Got To Get You into My Life - with it's punchy horn section. The tune flows along nicely with some great guitar and keyboards.


Charlie The Methodone Man - Doesn't sound like it would be a very cheerful tune does it? Well the lyrics really aren't but the tune is very catchy.


Out Of My Head - I remember locally this song getting quite a bit of radio play - Nice mid tempo tune with some great piano and organ to tie it all together.


Damaged Goods - A great piece of Power pop - which there were more songs like this one. Killer guitar solo love the bass and drums too!


Nowhere Road - A cool little pop song.


Sweetwater Texas - Love the acoustic guitar on this . Miles sings all the vocals and plays all the instruments.


Hope you enjoyed it

[Dawn]

Hi Ken! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Excellent review! I'm only familiar with 'The Way', which has really interesting lyrics and a nice moody sound. From your description, I think I would like quite a few of the others, especially 'G.O.D. (Good Old Days)'.

[Pete70s]

Very cool review, Ken!

I liked Fastball when they came out, I remember "The Way" got a little overplayed at the time, but was still better than 95% of the other stuff on the radio. I'm not sure if I remember "Fire Escape" or not, but I'll bet I'd remember it if I heard it! "Out Of My Head" was a good short song. When we were doing adult contemporary at the station I work at, I'd play that one when I needed to find a short song before top of the hour news.

[djdave]

Sounds great!
"The Way" is one of my 8 songs set for votes in my "Songs of 1998" poll,; should have that up shortly.
Out of My Head was cool too.
Their second album, featuring "You're an Ocean", may be the most overlooked rock album of the last 10 years.

[Ken]

DJ said:

Sounds great!
"The Way" is one of my 8 songs set for votes in my "Songs of 1998" poll,; should have that up shortly.
Out of My Head was cool too.
Their second album, featuring "You're an Ocean", may be the most overlooked rock album of the last 10 years.

I love that second CD as well Dave - I remember recieving it as a birthday gift

[KittyKat - RIP Luciano]

Great review Ken - :tree: Merry Christmas!

I used to have this cd and I really loved it at the time. In one of my many house moves I seemed to have lost it. I just might have to go out and buy a replacement though.

My favorite tracks were always:
The Way
Better Than It Was
Slow Drag
Damaged Goods

[Ken]

KittyKat said:

Great review Ken - Merry Christmas!

I used to have this cd and I really loved it at the time. In one of my many house moves I seemed to have lost it. I just might have to go out and buy a replacement though.

My favorite tracks were always:
The Way
Better Than It Was
Slow Drag
Damaged Goods

:stocking: Merry Christmas Kitty

[lora]

I'm only familiar with the singles, but I do like Fastball's sound. Very cool.

Nice review.

[SAT-I need more room!!]

Nice review Ken!

But to be honest, I don't know a THING by them! LOL!! I was listening to Classic Rock and starting a bit on country at this point.

[Ken]

SAT-Sissy's said:

Nice review Ken!

But to be honest, I don't know a THING by them! LOL!! I was listening to Classic Rock and starting a bit on country at this point.

LOL