Description
On December 7th, 1988 there was shocking world news from Armenia, At 11:41 a.m. local time a magnitude 6.9 earthquake shook north western Armenia and was followed four minutes later by a magnitude 5.8 aftershock. Swarms of aftershocks, some as large as magnitude 5.0, continued for months in the area around Spitak. Direct economic losses were put at $14.2 billion (U.S.) at the United Nations official exchange rate. Twenty-five thousand were killed and 15,000 were injured by the earthquake. In addition 517,000 people were made homeless. In 1989, some of the greatest musicians of the world came together to raise money for Armenia's earthquake victims with The Earthquake Album and a video entitled Rock Aid Armenia. These hard rock artists donated the proceeds from this album and video to charity. The highlight here is the exclusive new version of the Deep Purple classic Smoke On The Water. It comes out great, and no wonder, with five guitarists playing along. This 1990 version features the following musicians Bryan Adams, Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple), Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), Keith Emerson (Emerson Lake and Palmer), Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), David Gilmour (Pink Floyd!), John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Alex Lifeson (Rush), Jon Lord (Deep Purple and Whitesnake), Brian May (Queen), Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden), Paul Rodgers (Bad Company), Chris Squire (Yes) and Roger Taylor (Queen). The other music here that has been donated is more or less the biggest hits of each band. Here you find material with bands like Rainbow, Free, Starship, Iron Maiden, Mike And The Mechanics, Black Sabbath, Asia, Rush, Genesis, ELP, Yes, Whitesnake, Deep Purple and Foreigner. Sure its a good listen with lots of great songs but its the superb version of Smoke On The Water that really makes this a keeper. Track listing: 1. Rock Aid Armenia -Smoke On The Water 90 2. Free -All Right Now 3. Rush -Spirit Of Radio 4. Rainbow -Since You've Been Gone 5. Black Sabbath -Headless Cross 6. Genesis -Turn It On Again 7. Yes -Owner Of A Lonely Heart 8. ELP -Fanfare For The Common Man 9. Whitesnake -Fool For Your Loving 10. Asia -Heat Of The Moment 11. Starship -We Built This City 12. Foreigner -Jukebox Hero 13. Iron Maiden -Run To The Hills 14. Deep Purple -Black Night 15. Mike And The Mechanics -Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)