Dear Readers, Well, it finally happened. The Editor forgot to put the Editorial in last month's issue! It was bound to happen sooner or later, since we're growing at such a tremendous pace. There's a lot more to things to be done as Editor/Publisher of the fastest growing, premiere, FREE Music Magazine on the Internet than there used to be. I just found out recently that we're running more album reviews than "Rolling Stone," and we're rated the #5 Music Review Site in the Net. Pretty impressive considering our lowly beginnings! Hopefully it also explains why said Editor (me) gets a bit forgetful these days - either that or said Editor is getting old! I prefer the first answer. :) Anyhow, I DID have a point to make about my subject "Who's Album Is It Anyway?" Even though my illustrious Associate Editor, Donn Jehs, shouted out about this a few months ago, I just have to re-visit the issue. I've pretty much gotten used to the fact that any project Puff Daddy is involved with, including all these young rappers he's "mentoring," have everybody and their brother on all the albums released. Then there's all the movie soundtracks and Label compilations with a different artist for every song (or just about). What a terrific way to get your name and at least ONE song in front of the public! Just sign on for a movie soundtrack. One of the bands we're reviewing this month, Screaming Cheetah Wheelies, is on the soundtrack for the latest "Chucky" movie - they even get film clips for the video! So what's my point? Well, let me explain. Obviously I don't write all the reviews in this 'zine, but I do read and edit them all. As the month's have gone by, I keep seeing more and more references to some other person BESIDES the one whose album it's supposed to be popping up as "featured" on this or that song. Like I said, the Urban groups have been doing this for a while, but now it seems like EVERYBODY is doing it. For many years, in the Country music genre, there have been duets here and there - hell, even Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond and other greats have done one or two. But when I start seeing song after song on any album, no matter what genre, with that "featuring" or "special guest" line, accompanied by another artist's name, I really have to wonder if anybody knows how to make an album all by their lonesome any more. It's nice that cross-genre is working. It's nice that people in the industry have friends willing to join up on their latest album. But can't anybody get by without a little help from their friends? I think it really hit me when I was reading the credits on Ringo Starr's latest, "Vertical Man." The reason I was reading the credits was because I was SURE I heard Tom Petty on one of the songs. So, I got out the old liner notes (after I finally found them - boy they were hidden on that album) and started to read through them. In many cases, the list of people credited for participation on the song was longer than the lyrics for said song! (Every song on this album had a list below the lyrics.) I was right! Tom Petty was on that album. So were a whole BUNCH of other people. I think the only song Ringo did by himself was the one dedicated to his wife, Barbara (Bach). There was a regular Beatles re-union going on if you took the record as a whole, but it was very carefully planned that Paul McCartney and George Harrison didn't play on the same songs. I thought I heard Steven Tyler on another song, and sure enough, he played harmonica on several tunes, and did vocals on a couple. You can't miss that Tyler whine at the end of a song, so I figured I'd find his name. And I did. Our reviewer came to pretty much the same conclusion that several others did - Ringo's album was done with a LOT of help from his friends. And all of the reviewers mentioned it too! So what's my point? Well, I guess I wonder what happened to the days when an artist could stand on their own and didn't need "guests" to make a good album. It's one thing to do a duet with somebody, especially if it's a cross-over hit, but we're talking vocals, instrumentals and everything else here. This may not be the best analogy, but it reminds me of the big get-together for the recording of "We Are The World." That was done for charity, and you couldn't ask for a bigger roster of stars to join hands, hearts and voices for a good cause. But last time I checked, all these albums, with their featured guests, are NOT being done for charity. They're being made and sold for profit. I guess Puff Daddy and Notorious B.I.G. had the right idea. Want to launch somebody new? Make them part of "The Family," put big names on their albums as guests, and POOF! Instant Hit! Babyface is doing the same thing over at LaFace Records, but on a smaller scale. But what about established artists who've been around for years? What IS the deal here? Are they afraid they can't cut it any more without some other "name" performing with them? And what happens to somebody like Ringo when he decides to tour? I kinda don't think Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Alanis Morissette, Tom Petty, Steven Tyler, etc. are going to join him! For that matter, I doubt if all those folks on a Mase album will show either. Most Urban acts don't tour very much, so it's not as big a problem for them. But they do have to worry about those special appearances. Lucky for Mase it seems he and Puff Daddy are joined at the hip. You never see one without the other! I may be in a very small minority, but when I buy somebody's/anybody's album, I'd like to listen to the artist whose album I bought - not them and all their friends! Even on the big Festival Tours you get members of other bands on the tour joining whoever the current band on the main stage is and adding their thing to the performance. I may be old-fashioned, but when I buy an album or see a band, that's what I expect - the band! The opinions expressed in this editorial are mine alone as Editor of this magazine. If you agree or disagree with anything I wrote here, I'd love to hear your comments on this trend. In the mean time, keep tuning in, and keep those letters coming. Without you, we wouldn't be the fastest growing Music E-zine on the Net! Please send your comments, questions, or anything else you can think of to ACCESS to the MUSIC ZONE at marellg@music-reviewer.com See You In Cyber Space! Mary Ellen Gustafson, Editor