News
February 12, 2004
BONNET'S BIZ
It's hard to say whether his stint with RAINBOW was a blessing or a curse for Graham Bonnet who, having worked with Ritchie Blackmore, gained fame and notoriety but, since then, have always been cast as a metal vocalist. There were albums with IMPELLITTERI and BLACKTHORNE, and now the singer got on-board for another Dario Mollo's project ELEKTRIC ZOO, following the path previously trodden by BLACK SABBATH's Tony Martin, a voice of THE CAGE, and Glenn Hughes, the one for VOODOO HILL. This time Dario's going not only to record an album, in summer, but also to take his enterprise on the road - in spring and autumn, which is not a shallow promise, because Mollo, Bonnet and his erstwhile cohort Don Airey already played together, in 2002.
JUICY BLUESY
Is 2004 gonna be a year of classic blues? Likely so, as at least two music legends have recorded new versions of perennial thang to release the next month.
The first to hit will be Eric Clapton's "Me & Mr. Johnson". Out on March, it's comprised of the Delta Devil Robert Johnson's cuts, and, as such, would be interesting to compare with Peter Green's 1998's "The Robert Johnson Songbook". And anyway, that's not the first time Eric does this stuff: he played "Crossroads" back in the CREAM days...
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1. When You Got A Good Friend |
Then, long-awaited "Honkin' On Bobo" from AEROSMITH, who expanded their blues to take in some gospel and puff some smoke:
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1. You Gotta Move |
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MANN-Y MENTAL MONUMENTAL
Maybe it's hard to think of Manfred Mann as of classical musician, yet the fans have always known he could do anything - and, indeed, he did, Holst's "Planets" used in some cuts the prime example. Still, genuinely classical Manfred's take on this kind of music it wasn't, and the flame sparkled some forty years ago when he saw the manuscripts for the Edward Elgar hymns being sold in West End have been burning in Mann ever since. The fire was the hotter because those pieces remained unplayed by anyone, and the rocker decided to be the first at that, so on February 16th, an Elgar collection "O Perfect Love" will see the light of day. Manfred recorded the works, written for choir and organ, with The Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea at the said chapel. The evolution of Mann continues... Expect the interview with Mann, then.
COURT IN THE ACT
They were brave Newcastle folks, LINDISFARNE. After the untimely death of the band's leader, Alan Hull, in 1995, the rest soldiered on and continued nicely, 2002's "Promenade" gathering the rave reviews. But that was their last album. On November 1st, 2003, at Newcastle Opera House, LINDISFARNE played the final concert of their long career and filmed the performance, which is now released as "Time Gentlemen Please", a DVD comprising the show in its entirety as well as "Run For Home", the TV documentary telling the band's story, all clocking in more than 3 hours. A sad glory.
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1. No Time To Lose |
15. Can't Do Right For Doing Wrong |
TUSKING TASK
With "The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions" box set that brought a dose of previously unreleased material thereon, fans of early FLEETWOOD MAC were quite satisfied, while those who prefer the female frontline of this great band weren't served as well - but are now. The bonus tracks on newly remastered reissues of three classic albums, including massive "Rumours", are really plenty and give some insight into how that music was being born.
"Fleetwood Mac"
- Jam #2
- Say You Love Me (single version)
- Rhiannon (single version)
- Over My Head (single version)
- Blue Letter (single version)
"Rumours"
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- Second Hand News |
- Oh Daddy |
"Tusk"
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- One More Time (Over And Over) |
- Song #1 (I Know I'm Not Wrong) |
AT-TRIBUTE-IVE
Some wells just can't run dry, and a new tribute album appears almost every month. The latest one of interest is a pretentiously titled "World Greatest Pink Floyd Tribute" that placed on the same CD artists as diverse as STYX's Tommy Shaw, YES' main man Chris Squire and HAWKWIND's Nik Turner. Quite curious, eh?
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1. Run Like Hell - Dweezil Zappa |
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Another one in the category, "Spin The Bottle - A Tribute To KISS", due out on April 27th, is no less star-spangled, as is any suchlike project with Bob Kulick at the helm. This is more special though, with both Bob and his brother Bruce a part of the un-masked band's history. So here they are, the singing Kissers:
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1. Detroit Rock City - Dee Snider |
That it is special can be proved with the bonus DVD which is to accompany the initial run of the CD: a 40-minute documentary of the making of the record contains performances and interviews with, among others, VANILLA FUDGE's Carmine Appice and Tim Bogert.
February 5, 2004
HEAD ON ROCK
No matter what you think of it, but rock's not a healthy way of life. Artists get older and weaker, and one of those, BUDGIE drummer Pete Boot, is eager to raise awareness of the thing. Diagnosed with Parkinson Syndrome, Pete still plays - and who'll dare say tambourine can't make one hell of a noise? To make it even bigger, Boot organises "Fill Your Head With Rock", a fundraising event for Parkinson, Multiple Sclerosis (oh, remember poor Ronnie Lane?), Motor Neurone Disease and Dystonia. To see some rock for just J5 isn't much, OK? So go for details to www.fillyourheadwithrock.com and do fill your head.
WALKING LONG
On November 29th, 2003 Cape Town witnessed a big event. Hosted by Nelson Mandela, 46664 was a grandiose concert to benefit AIDS charities, and the performers gave their all on-stage - which on April 5th will be obvious to those who wasn't there but will get hold of the 3 CD (three single discs to be purechased separately) or 2 DVD sets that include all the music which filled the air that night, all in all more than 4 hours of aural delight.
The CDs look like this:
Part 1 - African Prayer:
1. Crazy In Love (46664 version) - Beyonce
2. Speech - Bob Geldof
3. Redemption Song - Bob Geldof
4. Say It's Not True - QUEEN & Dave Stewart
5. Starry Eyed Surprise - Paul Oakenfold with Shifty Shellshock & TC
6. Ready Steady Go - Paul Oakenfold with Shifty Shellshock & TC with AMAMPONDO DRUMMERS
7. Baayo - Baaba Maal
8. Njilou - Baaba Maal
9. Africa Dream Again - Youssou N'Dour
10. Wild World - Yusuf Islam & Peter Gabriel
11. In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel, Youssou N'Dour & Angelique Kidjo
12. Biko - Peter Gabriel & Youssou N'Dour
13. American Prayer - Bono, The Edge, Beyonce & Dave Stewart
Part 2 - Long Walk To Freedom:
1. 46664 (Long Walk to Freedom) - Bono, The Edge, Dave Stewart,
2. Youssou N'Dour & Abdel Wright
3. Speech - Nelson Mandela
4. Invincible Hope / 46664 - The Call / The Show Must Go On - QUEEN
5. Afrika - Angelique Kidjo
6. Umquombothi - Yvonne Chaka Chaka
7. The Way - Bongo Maffin
8. Asimbonanga - Johnny Clegg & guests
9. People - Johnny Clegg & Jimmy Cliff
10. Many Rivers To Cross - Jimmy Cliff
11. I Can See Clearly Now - Jimmy Cliff
12. Breathless - THE CORRS
13. Toss The Feathers - THE CORRS & Roger Taylor
14. Leliungelo Elakho - Ladysmith Black Mambazo & THE CORRS
15. Homeless - Ladysmith Black Mambazo
16. Is This The World We Created? - Andrea Corr & Brian May
Part 3 - Amandla:
1. Here Comes The Rain Again - EURYTHMICS
2. 7 Seconds - EURYTHMICS & Youssou N'Dour
3. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - EURYTHMICS
4. Loose Me Now - Abdel Wright
5. Don't Throw Your Life Away - Ms Dynamite
6. Hurts So Bad - Danny K
7. The Great Song Of Indifference - Bob Geldof
8. (What So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love and Understanding - Bob Geldof
9. Indigo Girl - Watershed
10. One / Unchained Melody - Bono & The Edge
11. Amandla - Anastacia, Bono, The Edge, Dave Stewart & QUEEN
12. Bohemian Rhapsody / I Want It All / I Want To Break Free / Radio Ga Ga -
QUEEN, Zucchero & Thandiswa Mazwai
13. We Will Rock You - QUEEN, Anastacia & AMAMPONDO DRUMMERS
14. We Are The Champions - QUEEN, Anastacia & Cast
15. 46664 Chant - Soweto Gospel Choir & Cast
The 2 DVD set has the same tracks as the CDs plus "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" sung by Zucchero, QUEEN & Sharon Corr and the loadful of interviews and documentary footage.
BANG! BANG! AND NOW HE'S LIVE
Perhaps, the most underestimated singer and guitar player on the planet, Terry Reid could be a member of THE ROLLING STONES, DEEP PURPLE and LED ZEPPELIN who he recommended Robert Plant for - but the luck was hard on the artist who was willing to shoot high on his own, though his status grew mythical over the years. Since 1991's "The Driver" that included an astounding version of "The Whole Of The Moon" kicked out of the charts by THE WATERBOYS' original, Terry released nothing, yet he played and recently recorded "Alive! Are You Sure?", his first live album ever which, as an 'authorised bootleg', has been pressed up last year in a strictly limited run and now, remastered, is out on a bigger scale with a new packaging featuring exclusive interview material and rare photos and memorabilia.
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1. Secrets |
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BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?
Usually, younger brothers follow the older siblings in their trails - not so with John Hackett, who didn't become a rocker like Steve. The two toured and recorded together many times though, yet Hackett Jr. has always remained a classical artist, whose flute can do magic, and after stints with the ENGLISH FLUTE QUARTET and SYMBIOSIS teaches the insrtument and composes in South Yorkshire. Actually, John's first album was 2002's "Sketches Of Satie", but it featured Steve Hackett and, thus, had been promoted as a duo project, so on March 1st John finally goes solo officially with "Velvet Afternoon", an instrumental programme that sees that same flute combined with Sally Goodworth's piano. Something to relax to.
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1. Pastures Green |
WAITING IS A HARDEST PART
It seems, selling music in the shops is subscribed to the days past, as now - following in the wake of QUEEN and some other biggies - the entire Universal Music Group catalog of Tom Petty & THE HEARTBREAKERS is available for digital download (not for free, of course!) from all the major digital music websites including Buy Music, FYE, iTunes, Liquid Audio, MusicMatch, Napster, Rhapsody and Tower Records. The said albums are:
Damn The Torpedoes
Hard Promises
Long After Dark
Southern Accents
Pack Up The Plantation: Live!
Let Me Up (I've Had Enough)
Full Moon Fever
Into the Great Wide Open
Greatest Hits
BENT FOR LEATHER
JUDAS PRIEST fans have all the reasons to be happy. Last year the prodigal son Rob Halford got back to the fold, then an amazing DVD "Electric Eye" found its way into the sweaty hands, and on March 9th a 4CD box set called "Metalogy" will hit the shelves looking like a 7" x 7" box, wrapped in leather and surrounded by metal spikes, and including a full color 7" x 7" book with the full discography, a biographical essay, timeline, and many previously unseen photos. Primarily a compilation of well-known cuts from 1974-2002, the set has some rare tracks and - gasp! - the DVD debut of the Memphis show from 1983's Screaming For Vengeance tour.
Says Halford,
"There's a collection of live tracks that have never been released before, I mean songs that you know of, but again it's all about where they were done. I mean, "Victim Of Changes" is different every single time it's played. Even if it's been played hundreds and hundreds of times it's just there are inflections of difference on every performance. So I think that we're looking to get some live and rare kinds of cuts from the live aspect. And it's the running order, it's the sequence of presentation and everything else, and I think there will be a DVD involved, so it is a particularly unique moment to present to people. It's not going to be like the remasters, you know, it's a whole different presentation. I think that'll be kind of a unique moment in celebrating the recording history of the band from "Rocka Rolla" to "Jugulator" and "Demolition" and then putting in all the other bits and pieces that make it special".
'Nuff said - now for the jugular!
CD 1:
1. Never Satisfied |
CD 2:
1. Killing Machine |
CD 3:
1. Riding On The Wind |
CD 4:
1. Ram It Down |
SMELLING THE RAT
They could remain an obscure Hull combo, THE RATS, if not for Mick Ronson who joined their line-up in 1966 to go later to play with David Bowie and then pull with him their drummer Woody Woodmansey as another Spider From Mars. So what they were like? The anwers lies in the grooves of "The Fall and Rise - A Rat's Tale", a collection of songs recorded between 1964 and 1969 plus bonus tracks laid down in 1998. Included are the original versions of the two songs played by THE RATS at the Mick Ronson Memorial Concert on April 29th, 1994.
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1. Spoonful |
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