News
August 23, 2005
FIGHTING TILL THE END
As it was reported before, QUEEN + Paul Rodgers are to issue a live album on September 12th - to be followed in six weeks by a DVD. Recorded at Sheffield on May 9th, the double CD called "Return Of The Champions" omits only one song from the show, "Under Pressure", but the rest is intact... save for the Eminem intro. Hopefully, the DVD will have the former, not the latter.
Disc 1:
1. Reaching Out |
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Disc 2:
17. These Are The Days Of Our Lives |
UNCOMFORTABLY DUMB?
While PINK FLOYD's "The Wall" seemed queasy to many, it doesn't lack consistency. To turn the concept head over heels - and, possibly, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the album's reign - Billy Sherwood took the trouble to produce a tribute to the record. "Back Against The Wall", out on September 27th, gathers many of a prog rock heroes, even though some tracks have come from 2000's "Pigs And Pyramids" album - see the tracklisting. Now, it won't be boring, yet it also won't whole anymore.
CD 1:
1. In The Flesh? - Adrian Belew, Alan White & Steve Porcaro
2. The Thin Ice - Ian Anderson & Tony Levin
3. Another Brick In The Wall Part 1 - Steve Morse & Billy Sherwood
4. The Happiest Days Of Our Lives - Billy Sherwood & Vinnie Colaiuta
5. Another Brick In The Wall Part 2 - Fee Waybill, Ronnie Montrose, Mike Porcaro & Greg Bissonette
6. Mother - John Wetton, Adrian Belew & Alan White
7. Goodbye Blue Sky - Steve Howe & Billy Sherwood
8. Empty Spaces - Billy Sherwood & Robby Krieger
9. Young Lust - Glenn Hughes
10. One Of My Turns - Tommy Shaw
11. Don't Leave Me Now - Robby Krieger & Tommy Shaw
12. Another Brick In The Wall Part 3 - Steve Lukather & Tony Levin
13. Goodbye Cruel World - Billy Sherwood & Tony Levin
CD 2:
1. Hey You - John Wetton, Steve Lukather, Tommy Shaw & Alan White
2. Is There Anybody Out There? - Adrian Belew & Billy Sherwood
3. Nobody Home - Rick Wakeman
4. Vera - Tommy Shaw & Steve Howe
5. Bring The Boys Back Home - Billy Sherwood & Jay Schellen
6. Comfortably Numb - Billy Sherwood, Chris Squire & Alan White
7. The Show Must Go On - Adrian Belew & Vinnie Coliauta
8. In The Flesh - Billy Sherwood, Steve Porcaro & Vinnie Colaiuta
9. Run Like Hell - Jason Chefe, Dweezil Zappa & Tony Kaye
10. Waiting For The Worms - Billy Sherwood, Tony Levin & Vinnie Colaiuta
11. Stop - Billy Sherwood
12. The Trial - Malcolm McDowell
13. Outside The Wall - Billy Sherwood
14. Isn't This Where We Came In - Malcolm McDowell
WAKEMAN'S HABANERA
What might seem an ideology trip for MANIC STREET PREACHERS was a natural journey for Rick Wakeman who, in April 2005, followed the Ministry of Culture invitation and visited Cuba. The maestro didn't become a part of Buena Vista Social Club, of course, he set his sights on supporting the charity that sponsors a Havana hospital for children with cancer - and played some blistering shows with his ENGLISH ROCK ENSEMBLE that comprised Rick's long-time singer Ashley Holt and Lee Pomeroy on bass, plus two new members, guitarist Dave Colquhoun and drummer Ashley Soan. The biggest show was performed at the Karl Marx Theater in Havana before 5,000 rabid fans, and it was captured on camera to be released on September 5th on a Classic Pictures DVD titled "Made In Cuba" which, as a bonus material, include "The Road to Cuba" documentary and a photo gallery.
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1. Journey To The Centre Of The Earth |
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THREE OF A PERFECT THREE
Over the years, Robert Fripp's music has been interpreted many times but never as radically as by CRIMSON JAZZ TRIO led by the KING CRIMSON former drummer, a musician with an impressive CV, Ian Wallace, and featuring Jody Nardone on acoustic grand piano and Tim Landers on fretless bass. They're ready with the first album now, and in October "King Crimson Songbook. Volume One" will see the light of day. Encompassing all eras of classic CRIMSO, it contains:
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1. 21st Century Schizoid Man |
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NO MEAN PITY
Unbreakable they are, indeed! Not content to be crossed off the rock giants' list, NAZARETH still blow their bagpipe mighty. Having dusted off many early pieces not performed for a long long time, the Scottish fab four graced the Shepperton Film Studios for two days in July and played a wonderful set that is being released by Classic Pictures on the "Live from Classic T Stage" DVD on October 17th. A treat!
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1. Hit the Fan |
11. Heart's Grown Cold |
August 8th, 2005
OF THOSE WHO LENT A HAND
The long run's over: October 24th will see the appearance of the official DVD release of the legendary "Concert For Bangladesh". Now it's a double-disc package with the original 99-minute film restored and remixed in glorious 5.1 and augmented with 72 minutes of extras. These include a documentary, unnecessary contributions from Kofi Annan and Bob Geldof and something the fans have all been holding their breath for: the rehearsal footage and Bob Dylan's "Love Minus Zero / No Limit". That same track is also added to the 2CD-set, out on that same day, remixed and repackaged. The superfans, though, must invest into a deluxe, limited to 50,000 copies, version of the package housing a 64-page book and other collectibles. Those who still believe it's all a hoax might want to drop by a newly opened website.
But there's a question: where, the heck, is "Mr. Tambourine Man" from the original album?
Disc One: The Concert For Bangladesh 1971:
1. Bangla Dhun (Ravi Shankar)
2. Wah-Wah (George Harrison)
3. My Sweet Lord (George Harrison)
4. Awaiting On You All (George Harrison)
5. That’s The Way God Planned It (Billy Preston)
6. It Don’t Come Easy (Ringo Starr)
7. Beware Of Darkness (George Harrison)
8. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (George Harrison)
9. Jumpin’ Jack Flash (Leon Russell)
10. Youngblood (Leon Russell)
11. Here Comes The Sun (George Harrison)
12. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall (Bob Dylan)
13. It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry (Bob Dylan)
14. Blowin’ In The Wind (Bob Dylan)
15. Just Like A Woman (Bob Dylan)
16. Something (George Harrison)
17. Bangla Desh (George Harrison)
Disc Two: The Concert For Bangladesh 2005:
Documentary:
• The Concert For Bangladesh Revisited with George Harrison and friends
Previously Unseen Performances:
• If Not For You
• Come On In My Kitchen
• Love Minus Zero/No Limit
Mini Features:
• The Making Of The Film
• The Making Of The Album
• The Original Artwork
• Recollections - August 1st 1971
• Photo Gallery
• Take A Bow
A SOUL WHOSE INTENTIONS ARE GOOD
He's an eminent figure, and every time Eric Burdon and THE ANIMALS come up with a live recording, it's a storming experience. And "Athens Traffic Live", out on August 29th, will be such even if it's half as good as 2000's "Official Bootleg". But it's very different in content, with no old classic in sight. Well, "sight" is a fitting word, as the album is accompanied with a bonus DVD featuring Eric’s commentaries and a smattering of extra material that include never before released videos of "Once Upon A Time", "Highway 62" and "The Secret" Burdon produced on his own.
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1. Intro |
A FIRE IN WINTER'S FACE
For many years there've been debates over Steve Hackett's back catalogue. The guitar supremo couldn't retrieve the rights to his early albums, entangled in Chrysalis Records legitimate problems. It seems, everything's finally solved now though, as Hackett's manager informed, "the rights are retained by EMI/Virgin Records". Anyway, September 19th is set as a release date for four Hackett's classics, remastered this year at his own studio and supplemented with bonus material and new liner notes. The packaging's superb, and a month before the release the CDs will be available for pre-orders through the artist's webshop which guarantees they'll be signed by his hand.
"Voyage Of The Acolyte" (1975)
- Ace Of Wands (live, Drury Lane Theatre, 1979)
- Shadow Of The The Hierophant (17-minute extended playout version)
"Please Don't Touch" (1978)
- Narnia (John Perry on vocals)
- Land Of 1000 Autumns / Please Don’t Touch (live, Drury Lane Theatre, 1979)
- Narnia (alt. version, Steve Walsh's vocals)
"Spectral Mornings" (1979)
- Everyday (alt. mix)
- The Virgin And Gypsy (alt. mix)
- Tigermoth (alt. mix)
- The Ballad Of The Decomposing Man (alt. mix)
- Clocks (12" Single Version)
- Live Acoustic Set (B-side): Etude In A min., Blood On The Rooftops, Horizons, Kim
- Tigermoth (Reading Festival, 1979)
"Defector" (1980)
- Hercules Unchained (B-side)
- Sentimental Institution (live, Drury Lane Theatre, 1979)
- The Steppes (Reading Festival, 1981)
- Slogans (Reading Festival, 1981)
- Clocks (Reading Festival, 1981)
AN INQUIRING MIND
Richard Thompson may be a real revolutionary with regard to electric folk guitar playing but he's no less skilful when it comes to handling an acoustic. Surprising, then, is the fact that ex-FAIRPORTS man have never released a studio acoustic album of original material. Until now - or, to be precise, September 9th when "Front Parlour Ballads" will hit the stores. Note three song titles ending with question mark: good ol' Richard's still a philosopher.
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1. Let It Blow |
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THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS
The last time Jerry Lee Lewis was joined in a studio by a massive stellar cast was back in 1973, during the so-called London Sessions. Yet "The Pilgrim", the album to be out by the end of this year or in early 2006, will be a real killer from The Killer. Most of the 21 songs to be included are duets with equally legendary singers and duels with legendary guitarists. With exact tracklisting still to be confirmed, the cuts pencilled in for inclusion are:
1. Old Glory - with Toby Keith
2. I Saw Her Standing There - with Little Richard
3. Pink Cadillac - with Bruce Springsteen
4. Travelin' Band - with John Fogerty
5. A Couple More Years - with Willie Nelson
6. The Pilgrim - with Kris Kristofferson
7. Rock And Roll - with Jimmy Page on guitar
8. Evening Gown - with Mick Jagger and Ron Wood on guitar
9. That's What Makes An Irish Heart Sing
10. Before The Night Is Over - with B.B. King on guitar
11. Trouble In Mind - with Eric Clapton on guitar
12. What's Made Milwaukee Famous - with Rod Stewart
13. Hadacol Boogie - with Buddy Guy on guitar
14. Lost Highway - with Delaney Bramlett
15. Honky Tonk Women - with Kid Rock and Keith Richards on guitar
16. Twilight - with Robbie Robertson
17. That Kind Of Fool
18. Sweet Little Sixteen - with Ringo Starr on drums
19. Don't Be Ashamed Of Your Age - with George Jones
STEPPING IN THE RING AGAIN
1975 was arguably a peak year for Elton John - at least, in creative terms, as since then, he hardly came up with as stunning an album as "Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy" was, and the talk is music, not an amazing packaging that included two booklets. Thirty years on, Big El is all ready to celebrate his achievement - in two ways.
One is another re-issue of the record, on September 13th, embellished not only with bonus cuts as previous one - this time they are single tracks and their B-sides: "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", "One Day At A Time", "Philadelphia Freedom" and "House Of Cards" - but also a whole bonus disc with a recording of John's Wembley concert of June 21st, 1975. All songs of the performance where Reginald presented his new LP in its entirety are previously unreleased, as well as encores. The CD looks like this:
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1. Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy |
As for the second way, it is that Sir Elton is going to repeat the old trick, and to include all of the "Captain Fantastic" songs in sold-out concerts on September 16th and 17th in Boston and September 21st, 23rd and 24th at Madison Square Garden. Magnifico!
THE THUNDEROUS ROLL
This might be their last album ever, but THE ROLLING STONES's "A Bigger Bang", out on September 5th, threatens to be a real smash. The reports had it as Mick 'n' Keef worked on the songs, their first since the four tracks on 2002's compilation "Forty Licks", together like in their halcyon days. The band's last album, "Bridges To Babylon", relased in 1997, didn't disappoint, but this one should come down with a real bang - pay attention to political commentary, long-forgotten by Jagger, of "Sweet Neo Con".
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1. Rough Justice |
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