VOICES FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE
That was a perfect match, with Annie Haslam‘s magnificent voice and Tony Visconti’s tremendous production immensely multiplying each other’s quality on the former RENAISSANCE singer’s 1995 album, “Blessing In Disguise”. A must-have in every house, it’s to be re-released on Annie’s own White Dove Records on July 13th featuring not only new cover artwork and booklet but two bonus tracks, co-written by Ms Haslam and Visconti back in 1992 and recorded in 2002. The songs are “High Above”, dedicted to Annie’s father, and “Paintings Last Forever”
INTO THE FIRE
There’s more fuel to the fire which Matteo Filippini’s MOONSTONE project is going to be. The already star-spangled line-up is joined by Chris Catena, whose own “Freak Out!” album had performers like Bernie Marsden and Glenn Hughes as guests. Chris will be singing on a two songs, with one, called “Fire Woman”, featuring Tony Franklin on bass and Ian Paice on drums.
More so, Catena’s up to immersing himself into two other endeavours: PAVIC by the Serbian guitar slinger Marko Pavic and a prog metal opera “Neurastasia” written by SHADRANE. No rest for the wicked!
DEAD MEN WALK ON
There have been some collaborations between Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent since THE ZOMBIES dissolution, but now the two have new songs strong enough to credit their album “As Far As I Can See” out on April 26th, to that glorious name which brought the two fame and fortune. Well, one cut isn’t that new, yet “I Don’t Believe In Miracles” underwent some significant re-working to fit in among the tracks partly featuring an orchestra. Time of the season has come!
| 1. In My Mind A Miracle 2. Memphis 3. Southside Of The Street 4. I Want To Fly 5. Time To Move 6. I Don’t Believe In Miracles 7. As Far As I Can See 8. With You Not Here 9. Wings Against The Sun 10. Together 11. Look For A Better Way |
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DARK THOUGHTS CREEP IN
Three years on since "The Seventh House", IQ are finally ready to treat their fans to another masterpiece. Called “Dark Matter”, the album – to be released officially on June 21st but to be on sale at the band’s European shows in May – has a 24-minute epic “Harvest Of Souls” in its center, something the IQ aficionados have been looking forward to for quite a long time. Something to think of, that’s for sure.
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1. Sacred Ground 2. Red Dust Shadow 3. You Never Will 4. Born Brilliant 5. Harvest of Souls |
WHAT KIND OF DEMON IS THIS?
If there’s a living artist that’s sorely missed on the music scene, it’s Cat Stevens. While he’s happy having embraced a religion, his fans are not. Everybody, then, was glad to see him in South-Africa singing at 46664 charity show, and perhaps that prompted the release of the “Majikat” DVD. The 80-minute footage captures Cat on his now legendary 1976’s North American tour, a memorable traveling circus involving live magicians, synchronised film projection and a large stage set that was to be the artist’s last shows as Cat Stevens. Next, he became Yusuf Islam.
But there’s more to the DVD, out on May 17th: it’ll include a new interview with Yusuf, the original promo video for the “Father & Son” album, several TV performances from 1971, a short animated film, a full discography and songs lyrics. Initial pressing is to come in a fold-out digipack in a slipcase with a reproduction of the 16-page Majikat tour programme.
Islam will attend special premieres of the DVD in the USA; proceeds from the events will benefit “orphans, needy families and young students in deprived countries”. Islamic, that is…
PALACE OF DELIGHTS
Oh yes, it’s long overdue, but it seems that the legendary German TV programme Rockpalast is opening its archives. A real treasure trove, there’s been some trickles leaking from it onto DVD, like Jack Bruce and Friends show, all those RAINBOW and many more performances on Brazilian disks being just pirate pressings. These are looking like the real thing.
The first “At Rockpalast” DVD comes from great late Rory Gallagher: nearly 4 hours long, this will make a nice addition to "Irish Tour 1974":
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WDR Studio L Koln, 1976: 1. Pistol Slapper Blues 2. Too Much Alcohol 3. Out On The Western Plains 4. Bankers Blues 5. Rag Mama Rag 6. Nothing But The Devil 7. Goin’ To My Hometown 8. I Take What I Want 9. Calling Card 10. Secret Agent 11. Do You Read Me 12. Bought And Sold 13. Country Mile 14. Jacknife Beat 15. Boogie |
Grugahalle Essen, 1977: 1. Messin’ With The Kid 2. I Take What I Want 3. A Garbage Man 4. Moonchild 5. Secret Agent 6. Calling Card 7. Out On The Western Plain 8. Barley And Grape Rag 9. Tattoo’d Lady 10. Souped-Up Ford 11. Bullfrog Blues 12. Bought And Sold Jam Session Wiesbaden, 1979: 1. Bullfrog Blues 2. Walkin’ The Dog 3. Sea Cruise 4. Around And Around 5. Roll Over Beethoven |
The following, running about 2 hours, is the THIN LIZZY‘s 1981 concert at Loreley featuring some songs previously unavailable in live versions:
| 1. Are You Ready 2. Genocide 3. Waiting For An Alibi 4. Jailbreak 5. Trouble Boys 6. Don’t Believe A Word 7. Memory Pain 8. Got To Give It Up 9. Chinatown 10. Hollywood |
11. Cowboy Song 12. The Boys Are Back In Town 13. Suicide 14. Black Rose 15. Sugar Blues 16. Baby Drives Me Crazy 17. Rosalie 18. Disaster 19. Emerald |
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Then, another 4-hour gem, from FAMILY gurgler Roger Chapman. Not with that band, though, and not so solo, but with two other groups of his, THE STREETWALKERS and THE SHORTLIST.
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Roger Chapman and THE SHORTLIST Markthalle Hamburg, 1979: 1. Moth To A Flame 2. Keep Forgettin’ 3. Face Of Stone 4. Midnite Child 5. Who Pulled The Night Down / Talkin’ About You 6. Shape Of Things 7. Short List 8. Burlesque 9. Can’t Get In / Bo Diddley / Hoochie Coochie Man 10. Always Gotta Pay In The End 11. Let’s Spend The Night Together 12. Hang On To A Dream 13. Can’t Turn You Loose |
Grugahalle Essen, 1981: 1. Who Pulled The Night Down 2. Keep Forgettin’ 3. Unknown Soldier 4. Ducking Down 5. I Just Want To Make Love To You 6. Killing Time 7. He Was, She Was 8. Hang On To A Dream 9. Prisoner 10. Short List 11. Hyenas Only Laugh For Fun 12. Common Touch 13. Making The Same Mistake |
14. Midnite Child 15. Stone Free 16. Goodbye Reprise 17. Blood And Sand 18. Let’s Spend The Night Together 19. Jesus And The Devil 20. Help Me 21. Prisoner THE STREETWALKERS WDR Studio Koln, 1975: 1. Crazy Charade 2. Run For Cover 3. Burlesque |
