News
February 26, 2003
TROUBLE NO MORE, BRO
Alas, ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND remain deprived of their private tapes - live performances, demos and rehearsals recorded between 1969 and 1979 - that Universal Music Group got hold of in the wake of Capricorn's, a label the band were signed to since the classic "At Fillmore East" album, 1979 bankruptcy and subsequent mergers. The Southerners filed a suit against Universal back in 2001 but lost on February 21st, when the court ruled the group waited much too long to seem it's all important to them. Alas, then, that Greg Allman and Co won't get what they could in case the recordings will be issued officially.
MANNLY DEEDS
That's a chameleon hard to pinpoint, you just can't categorize Manfred Mann. His stylistic range throughout the years spanned beat and rhythm-and-blues, hard rock and art rock, prog and reggae - the facets are many, the man is one. and there's a definitive collection to have it all - and more - in a neat package called "Evolution Of Manfred Mann", which is a double-CD and a DVD set including the hits as well as previously unreleased performances and cuts recorded especially for this issue, like acoustic verison of "Nothing Ever Happens" by Manfred and Chris Thompson.
CD 1 - Manfred Mann:
1. 5-4-3-2-1
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CD 2 - MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND:
1. Joybringer
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Bonus DVD:
Interviews with Manfred plus
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ALL THAT GREEN IS COLD
"Reaching The Cold" is a title of the new album from Peter Green & SPLINTER GROUP, a successor to 2001's "Time Traders". Nowadays, Greeny is unlikely to zap any fan with surprise, yet equally unlikely is there anyone to rival Pete in good ole gray-haired blues, and no doubt old aficionados will delight in grabbing the initial pressing of the album that goes with a bonus EP featuring new studio versions of four classics, "Black Magic Woman", "Green Manalishi", "Albatross" and "It Takes Time".
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1. Nothing Gonna Change
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A LOVELY CHAP
This year marks a 60th birthday of unique voice owner and one of rock's most colorful characters, Roger Chapman. Once a leader of FAMILY, then STREETWALKERS and now SHORTLIST, Roger is celebrated not only with 4CD box set "Family & Friends (the tracklsting's here), freshly released on Mystic Records, but also with forthcoming DVD by Angel Air, that catches the singer and his band - featuring such luminaries as Henry Spinnetti on drums and Gary Twigg on bass - in concert at a sold-out Newcastle Opera House in the autumn of 2002.
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1. Kiss My Soul
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ONE OF THE KNIGHTS
It was a many's wish to know where Gary Pickford-Hopkins is today, the same singer who fronted Welsh band EYES OF BLUE before joining ex-TULL Glen Cornick's WILD TURKEY and then sharing vocal duties with Ashley Holt on Rick Wakeman's massive "Journey To The Centre Of The Earth" and "The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table". The artist seemed to have completely disappeared from the public eye - to emerge now with the first solo album of his, "GPH", and to immerse himself in work on a new TURKEY record.
"GPH" is not progressive though, but a solid AOR thing featuring four songs co-written with beautiful Bonnie Tyler and a new version of "Loving You Means Leaving You" with the lady's voice in it.
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1.Outlaw Blues
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February 18, 2003
NO OTHER THAN DEAD
After Gerry Garcia's death, the rest of GRATEFUL DEAD - guitarist Bob Weir, bassist Phil Lesh and drummers Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann - keen to continue playing, decided Garcia-less band could bear such a name no more and humbly chose to be called THE OTHER ONES. Now, there's another decision's made, in the wake of the audience's warm response to the ensemble's performances, and from here on they will be known as THE DEAD.
SHARP EARS ARE TUNED IN
In the beginning, JETHRO TULL had a piece called "Cristmas Song", later they came up with "Another Christmas Song", and this November should see a release of a Christmas album that still has no title, yet said to feature three altogether new songs, three traditional carols, four acoustic classical tunes, jazz-upped and blues-downed, and remakes of four Christmas-related Tull songs, two of which are mentioned.
Meanwhile, Ian Anderson doesn't waste no time and is recording another solo album, his fourth, to be out in September.
WALKIN' THIN
February 18th is the day when Yoko Ono turns 70. (Our sincere congratulations!) Possibly, to get tuned in for the anniversary, Ms Ono asked PET SHOP BOYS, Neil Tenant and Chris Lowe, to help her produce a dance version of "Walking On Thin Ice", the very same song she and John Lennon worked on before return home on tragic night of December 9th, 1980. The original version can be found on the "Double Fantasy" remastered edition.
THREE OF US
The nearer the date of "The Beatles Anthology" DVD, out on April 1st, the more details are revealed. One of the bonus material features must be very exciting, namely THE THREETLES jam session recorded when, while working on "new" songs, "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love", Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr got to play together for the first time since THE BEATLES broke up. The tracks taped at George Harrison's Oxfordshire home in 1994 are "Ain't She Sweet", "Blue Moon Of Kentucky", "Raunchy", "Thinking Of Linking" and "Baby What You Want Me To Do", all the early stuff played before the Fabs shoot to fame.
THE WORLD TONIGHT
There's a strange outing to be released soon by Sir Paul McCartney. Entitled "Back In The World" and following closely after "Back In The U.S.", it seems to feature songs recorded not on American dates of the artist's Driving Rain Tour. Traklisting differs from that of the USA album.
CD 1:
1. Hello Goodbye
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CD 2:
19. Calico Skies
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SURELY NOT HERE
Many people tend to not know what band Rick Wakeman played with outside YES, but such a band there is, THE ENGLISH ROCK ENSEMBLE, a new version of which the keyboard wiz assembled lately to record another fine album, "Out There". Judging on performers - side by side with Rick are his faithful drummer Tony Fernandez, guitarists Fraser Thorneycroft-Smith and Ant Glynne, bassist Lee Pomeroy and Damian Wilson on vocals, plus English Chamber Choir - and snippets on Wakeman's site, the album sounds deliciously.
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1. Out There
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February 16, 2003
A STRAW THAT BREAKS A BACK?
It is said, CAMEL have announced that the 2003's 30th Anniversary tour will be the band's last, and these classic proggers are to concentrate on studio work only. Perhaps, a decent Beatley thing but a pity, nevertheless.
THE PATTERN JUGGLER LIFTS HIS HAND
There's a new drummer on THE 21st CENTURY SCHIZOID BAND stool right now taking over from Michael Giles, who left to follow another route, and it's none other than Ian Wallace, the second Giles' successor in the original KING CRIMSON line-up, which this ensemble featuring Ian McDonald, Mel Collins, Peter Giles and Jakko Jakszyk basically are. The rehearsals are on at the moment, with a forthcoming tour to trek across the world, while an interview with Mr. Wallace is on DME's cards now.
WHEN BLUES COMES CALLING
It's been a three years' talk but now it's official: March 4th is the release date of long overdue acoustic album from the great late Rory Gallagher. All of the featured material never saw the light of day and is more valuable as, side by side with versions of the Irish legend's own classics, therein are Rory's collaborations with THE DUBLINERS, Martin Carthy, Lonnie Donegan and Bert Jansch.
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1. Wheels Within Wheels
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February 10, 2003
SEND ME NO MORE LETTERS
Sad to say but the Glenn Hughes Message Board at his official site has been closed down for the second time during last twelve months due to too many a visitor badmouthing the veteran musician. That's how Glenn himself feels about it:
"My board was originally intended for fans to communicate with one another, not for submitting vicious personal attacks. How dare you. who are you people? I have had a thirty-plus year career and I have the wall of gold and platinum records to back it up (seventy-five). I have had the acclaim of many of my peers, but most importantly I believe I have a great fan base for whom I am very grateful. I am not in the habit of inviting people over for dinner to my house who don't like me, so why would I have them come to my message board? Think of the board as an open house -my open house - and it has just closed. For those of you true fans: I will see you on the road or at the ghpg.net".
That may sound a bit arrogant yet everybody has the right for a self-defence. And there's one thing remains in question: if one happens to not like some artist's work why care and visit his site? Why not stay aside? Why not have some respect for one whose work is always consistent and good - greatness is another category there - and who's able to give his fans an album every year?
SOFT PARADING
THE BEATLES never reformed, and after John Lennon's death that appeared impossible, as the intergrity of the band wasn't to be recreated ever. Not the same with THE DOORS who continue to play their evil games even though Jim Morrison's long gone. To get together for the "Storytellers" night on the TV is OK but touring isn't, especially when drummer John Densmore pulled off. Now Densmore files a legal action against the group, organist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robbie Krieger, with vocalist Ian Astbury and drummer Stewart Copeland, stating there's a breach of contract and trademark infringement occured. Quite right, possibly: Lynott-less THIN LIZZY is more than enough.
FRIENDS ARE ALL ABOARD
The lovealble drum beast Ringo Starr has the new album out, called "Ringo Rama", on March 25th. Nothing to tell about music - Ringo is always Ringo - but his last works have been solid and augmented with guests Starr used to take on the road as his ALL-STARR BAND. This time though, there are heavier contributors, including old buddy Eric Clapton who Ringo co-wrote "Never Without You" with, a tribute to the great late George Harrison.
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1. Eye To Eye |
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Meanwhile, there's a release date set for "The Beatles Anthology" DVD, which hits the shelves on April 1st and consists of five discs, one being bonus and featuring extra material that didn't make it to the earlier VHS format.
AN ODE BY ANY OTHER NAME
Twelve years on since their latest studio release and extensive touring, PROCOL HARUM are ready to give a listening lot some new soul food. "The Well's On Fire" is completely fresh material written mainly by the classic creative team of Gary Brooker and Keith Reid with contributions from Matthew Fisher, the only original members in the current line-up which includes also guitarist Geoff Whitehorn, who played with HARUM before although is mostly famous for his stints with CRAWLER and Paul Rodgers, bassist Matt Pegg, who helped out his father Dave's ensemble FAIRPORT CONVENTION, and drummer Mark Brzezicki. Another masterpiece might be for those whose eyes are opened wide.
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1. An Old English Dream
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RIDING THE TRAIN TO NOWHERE
As beaten men as they are, for SAVOY BROWN's kind of blues years bring even more autheticity - if Kim Simmond's bunch ever lacked it. Not content to live in the shadows of their glorious past, the band presented them bluesheads with a new outing, "Strange Dreams", on February 4th. A groovy stuff it is, judging only by "Meat Shaking Woman" or "Shake It All Night".
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1. When It Rains |
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STRAWBERRY FIELD IS RIPE
With Dave Cousins having returned to shape and good health, 2003 must prove a good year for THE STRAWBS, ready to please the faithful with some new releases on CD and DVD, and the first of those - though, perhaps, not exactly new - are the following...
"Blue Angel", expected in April, collects most of the tracks from the Dave Cousins and Brian Willoughby long-unavailable 1994's album "The Bridge" in remixed and enhanced form and features a few surprises. A quality is guaranteed if only with players like Mick "Blue" Weaver, Tony Fernandez and Chas Cronk, and singers including Mary Hopkin and Maddy Prior.
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1. Blue Angel
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For many, nevertheless, of much more interest will be Dave Cousins' 1972's debut solo album "Two Weeks Last Summer" which is to be re-issued now. Recorded between THE STRAWBS' "Grave New World" and "Bursting At The Seams", it features such luminaries as Miller Anderson of THE KEEF HARTLEY BAND fame, COLOSSEUM leader Jon Hiseman, DEEP PURPLE's own Roger Glover and Dave's former apprentice Rick Wakeman.
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1. Two Weeks Last Summer |
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