June 21, 2005

THE MASTERS OF THEIR ART

After a break filled with releasing long-overdue Sandy Denny remasters, the FAIRPORT CONVENTION re-issue programme picks up the pace, and on August 1st out are three more classic albums. These three saw the band losing their heartbeat a bit after Richard Thompson left to strike first on his own and then with wife Linda – and the great Sandy coming back to the fold, if only temporarily. A wonderful addition to any collection, not only folk aficionados’, especially with bonus material.

“Nine” (1973)
– Devil In The Kitchen
– George Jackson
– Pleasure And Pain
– Six Days On The Road
“Live Convention” (1974)
– Hexhamshire Lass
– Polly On The Shore
– Bring ‘Em Down
– Far From Me
– That’ll Be The Day
“Rising For The Moon” (1975)
– Tears
– Rising For The Moon (demo)
– Stranger To Himself (demo)
– One More Chance (demo)

LISTEN TO HIS REASONING

Sometimes he might be losing the plot, but not his voice, and there are several Steve Marriott‘s rarities collections, like  "Official Receivers" or "Clear Through The Night", but a new one is tremendous. “Rainy Changes: 1973-1991” encompasses eighteen years of the great late singer’s stuff, dating from his HUMBLE PIE days to the sessions with Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and on to the Peter Frampton co-written tunes recorded in 1991, not longer Steve’s tragic flaming death. 16-page booklet written by Marriott specialist makes the package even more worthwhile.

DISENGAGED BUT PLUGGED IN

These days, singles without albums don’t usually work, but when it comes to artists like YES’ own Jon Anderson, it’s the rules that don’t work, and the “State Of Independence” CD should draw some good attention. Recorded originally on Jon & Vangelis’ “The Friends Of Mr. Cairo” LP and covered later by Donna Summer now, preceding the “Work In Progress – Tour Of The Universe” DVD, the new version is backed with previously unreleased reggae cut “You Lift Me Up” and Anderson’s take on Spike Milligan’s standard, “Ying Tong Song”. And, as it’s a computer era now, there are also a screensaver and wallpapers on the enhanced disc.

GOT THEIR TIMING RIGHT

Heading to America later in the year, QUEEN and Paul Rodgers are going to hit even bigger than at the moment with a live album and DVD titled, quite primitively yet right on the money, “Queen + Paul Rodgers Rock Live”. The release date is tentatively given as September 13th, with the lead-in single being “Fat Bottomed Girls” with “Reaching Out / Tie Your Mother Down” as a B-side.

ONCE BITTEN

July’s drawing near, and it’s the month when WHITESNAKE‘s “The Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues Show”, recorded in October 2004 at Hammersmith Apollo. was said to be released on CD and DVD. The exact date is still to be announced, but the content is reported to look like this – old stuff featured heavily:

June 21, 2005