Date Published – 21 Dec 2012 – Classic Rock Radio (UK)
Uncle G’s FUN Music Reviews
Spotlight: 121212 – The Concert For Sandy Relief (2015 Columbia Records)
By Gary “Uncle G” Brown
GaryBrown@garyunclegbrownarchives.com
Just released is some of the audio from the almost six-hour concert recently held at Madison Square Garden (12 December 2012) in support of Hurricane Sandy survivors. Money going to The Robin Hood Relief Fund. Just after the actual concert, reports came in saying how it raised over thirty million dollars. Hopefully, this offering will add greatly to that amount. Yours truly decided to go the i-TUNES route. Burned my own CDs so I could listen to them thru the home stereo. No problem and the money went to a GREAT cause. One very dear, and true to my heart.
Musically you have some outstanding performances included. Be warned, the 24-track two-disc historical recording taken from the event is not the whole shebang. Keep in mind, these are the songs that got clearance to go out. Those folks who are online BASHING this release SHOULD try to understand that while their favorite moment may not be offered here, it’s still WORTH buying and comprehending how the money will go to survivors of the Storm of the Century. Find another favorite moment PLEASE. Sir Paul McCartney and his band performing Helter Skelter seriously WORKS for me. Whatever gets your nut. Open your wallet if at all possible, especially seeing how the cash might go to someone I knew when growing up on the Jersey Shore. Or folks I shared the streets of New York City with — the GARDEN STATE PARKWAY (Bill Murray waved to a car I was in while at a toll booth once). You get the point.
My parent’s bones are buried there. For twenty years (give or take) I lived in towns with names like; South Amboy, Wall Township, Manasquan, Middletown (I hated it there), Long Branch…fuck…you know what…I’ve been in most of the small town jails up and down the shore. Nothing I’m proud of. I drank Bill Wilson style. Long Branch cops stopped me EVERY night for a while, staggering home late at night. I didn’t drink and drive. Instead, I’d have fights with real estate signs (and win most times) while trying to make it on my way home after yet another night of too many Red Deaths (volatile mixed drink). I loved my booze. Drank enough so to go thru withdrawals and live after arriving in Space City. Nothing I’m proud of. Apologies to my first wife. The accomplishment was being able to put down the bottle and be happy. Easier said than done. I’m tell my tale of hard-core sobriety, another day. Lasted long enough for me to pull my head out of my ass. Maturity waits for no one. You either catch that train, or you don’t.
ON THIS VERY COOL TWO DISC CD (being offered for a GREAT low price) is one great song after another by one great performer(s) after the other. This was history. Not only the numerical repeat with the date. The music by the musicians involved here helps fill up a 24-hour programming day routinely, including us here at Classic Rock Radio (UK). Here’s the tracklisting. See how many favorite songs you can find.
Disc one
- “Land of Hope and Dreams” – Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
- “Wrecking Ball” – Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
- “Another Brick in the Atlantic Wall Part I, II & III” – Roger Waters
- “Us and Them” – Roger Waters
- “Comfortably Numb” – Roger Waters and Eddie Vedder
- “Hallelujah (Sandy Relief Version)” – Adam Sandler
- “It’s My Life” – Bon Jovi
- “Wanted Dead Or Alive” – Bon Jovi
- “Got to Get Better in a Little While” – Eric Clapton
- “Crossroads“– Eric Clapton
- “You Got Me Rocking” – Rolling Stones
- “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” – Rolling Stones
Disc two
- “No One“– Alicia Keys
- “Who Are You” – The Who
- “Baba O’Riley” – The Who
- “Love, Reign O’er Me” – The Who
- “Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)” – Billy Joel
- “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)” – Billy Joel
- “You May Be Right” – Billy Joel
- “Viva La Vida” – Chris Martin
- “Losing My Religion” – Chris Martin and Michael Stipe
- “Us Against the World” – Chris Martin
- “Helter Skelter” – Paul McCartney
- “Empire State of Mind” – Alicia Keys
Found on i-TUNES and or one of your favorite music retailers.
Please Note
If and should you plan on buying 121212 – The Concert For Sandy Relief, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please make it sooner rather than later. The funds are needed now more than ever. It doesn’t mean you should not buy it in the year 2015….besides these are great jams. You’ll want to hear them NOW. Those lucky to live thru Sandy hopefully will find the courage and strength to carry on. With our help a new light fixture and light bulb to help provide a light at the end of that very dark and tattered tunnel. More beautiful sunrises await all those states hit by Sandy’s wrath. One day soon I hope to go back to visit. My parent’s graves, and places I used to hang out at.
Oh…is worth saying again: THANK YOU!
End of Story
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