Hand-selected by Dion, the songs of Heroes include 15 early rock classics. All of the artists he pays tribute to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Buddy Hol... more »ly, Roy Orbison, Ritchie Valens, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and the Everly Brothers. Specially packaged with a bonus DVD.« less
Hand-selected by Dion, the songs of Heroes include 15 early rock classics. All of the artists he pays tribute to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Ritchie Valens, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and the Everly Brothers. Specially packaged with a bonus DVD.
How Many Artists Get BETTER Over A Stellar Career?
Mel Smetko | US, Eh? | 09/30/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Not too many. Dion is definately one. Everything he's done since YO, FRANKIE has been pure rockin' GOLD, and this album is no exception.
Great songs, by a GREAT artist who deserves to have more people know that he is simply BETTER THAN EVER. (PLUS a terrific DVD as a bonus). Sample these songs. Buy this record. Then go back for YO,FRANKIE, DEJA NEW, the incredible NEW MASTERS, his Blues albums--BRONX IN BLUE, and SON OF SKIP JAMES, and the best Christmas album of all-time: ROCK N' ROLL CHRISTMAS.
When you're done with all that, get the DION:LIVE IN CONCERT DVD, and then find a way to see him LIVE yourself.
Yeah, I guess I like Dion. He's one of my very favorite artists, but it's not just some oldies nostalgia trip---I mean, sure--he was one of the greatest of the early rockers, no doubt. But all these albums, even the covers and re-dos of his own classics are a brand new experience that equal or surpass his early work. He's never sounded better, and he's got a hipper-than-ever, blues-laden approach that just electrifies his material. He's cool, he's honest, and he's fun."
Cosmic Nostalgia
Terry Goldman | Kents Store, VA USA | 10/14/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Dion Dimucci is rapidly entering his eigth decade as a musical artist/icon who has had the great opportunity to know other similar artists of the Rock N' Roll world.
This is a two fold purchase.You get the CD of "covers"....15 famous songs by the artists who shaped Rock AND a splendid DVD where Dion plays (superbly) and jams and reminisces about those guitar picking artists who shaped the music that would change the world.
He remembers rightly the poets....Chuck Berry ("Little Rock and Roller" is the best number on the CD followed closely by Roy Orbison's "Dream Baby" and Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line." He pays homage to the guitar veterans whose work so well defined the era, James Burton, Scotty Moore and the like. He fondly recalls time spent with these founding fathers of R & R and their "Strats, Gretch's and Martin guitars" while on tour or in NY.
A side note is the wonderful blues guitar playing that also helps to cement and define Dion as a master of the genre.A terrific CD with a more terrific DVD. I could listen to Dion recall his memories of the era till the cows come home."
Who Knew!?!
allydib | New York | 10/10/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"DION -- ??
DION -- from when I was 14 years old??
DION -- as in the BELMONTS??
DION -- like "Runaround Sue"??
Who knew (certainly not me) that this guy was
a) still alive
b) still around
c) played such a great guitar
d) had SO much history with the early stars of R&R
The CD is 5 stars --- The 45 minute DVD is "10 stars".
I could have listened to his stories for hours.
GREAT FUN !!!!"
A Gem from Dion
G. Reynolds | Warwick, United Kingdom | 11/04/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It is not easy to bring something fresh, to those of a certain age, to such familiar songs as Rave On, Jailhouse Rock, Bye Bye Love etc. The fact that Dion manages and understands what is is about the songs and the artists that originally made them says a great deal about how he approaches his own music. I thoroughly enjoyed this album, never once feeling that Dion had sullied my memories of what was to me a golden age of music. Highly recommended"
The guitar player...
HUGH H. KIRKPATRICK | COOPER CITY, FL USA | 11/20/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"...on this record (sorry, I'm old)..."CD", is a fellow named Bobby "Crow" Richardson, who has recieved far less credit for his work on this project than he deserves - my main reason for not giving 5 stars. Hopefully that will draw attention to this particular review - and the truth. Granted, Dion is a cultural and musical icon and in my opinion, gives his best performance when he is completely alone on stage with just his guitar. Dion is a great communicator, capable of touching audiences with his gift for story-telling through his songs. But when it comes to making recordings, he needs the support of backing musicians to complete a marketable and commercial product. There are an awful lot of albums of re-hashed oldies floating around, and my first reaction when I heard of this project was to dismiss it as just another one. Boy, was I surprised. First, Dion is singing better than ever...and he is pushing 70 years old. But what really knocked me out was the guitar-playing on this disc. For you guitarists, this is Telecaster Heaven. Richardson captures the essence of the masters, Scotty Moore and James Burton, and yet adds his own tasteful flair. There's not a note out of place ("shredders", go elsewhere), and the sound is wonderfully clean and crisp. I haven't heard a guitar record as fun to listen to as this since Derek and The Dominoes. The drumming and bass are rock solid. Richardson needs to get his own band and CD out ASAP."