There’s a strong need to say sorry for the lack of the news on the site this month, but the Reviews sections have been updated a few times while the rest of the time has been taken by other work, including writing liner notes for the forthcoming releases on Angel Air. So see you soon.
DME
NO MORE GREEN IN THE DESERT?
Seems like a psychodrama called OASIS finally called it quits. Or, to be precise, it was Noel Gallagher who announced his leaving the band he’s been a mastermind of for many years. It’s not the first time the guitarist parts company with his own creation because of the constant quarrels with brother Liam, but this time the singer crossed all the red lines by smashing the older sibling’s instrument shortly before the Mancunians were to take the Paris stage on August 28th, and it was the second concert the Britpop kings’ cancelled over the week’s course. The rift between the Gallaghers has a long back story yet it was the younger bro’s behavior that ruined the somewhat working situation with what looks like no way back. Without any of the two, there can be no OASIS so we may expect two new bands to emerge any day soon – one driven by talent and the other by hubris. Still, Noel and Liam remain brothers and, like THE KINKS, their music relation can be restored.
STANDING ABREAST AT THE BACK OF THE WOOD
With a plethora of live recordings, both aural and visual, made in the ’70s, there’s not a lot of these that JETHRO TULL offered the fans over the years. The situation is to be addressed on September 21st with the release of “Live At Madison Square Garden”, the DVD and CD bundle which captures the band in 1978, during the tour promoting then-current “Bursting Out” concert album. The audio part of the new collection is longer than the video which seems to not include the encores, but there’s hoping there’ll be some extras on the DVD.
CD:1. Bagpipe Intro
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DVD:1. Sweet Dream |
FROM MOONSHADOW TO MOONWALKER
It’s hard to see the common ground between Yusuf Islam and Michael Jackson save for the latter reportingly sharing the religion with the former, but each is considered a music genius, so ex-Cat Stevens felt moved enough by his colleague’s untimely passing to write a song, “He’s Gone”. It can be listened to in the “Redroom” section of Islam’s site – one can be registered there for free – and is promised to be given away for download to the members. The song features Cat’s great sidekick Alun Davies on guitar so there’s a lot to enjoy and mourn the death of one great artiste.
CHAMELEON’S TRUE COLORS
“From Lizard Rock” is the first-ever live solo record from the great singer and guitarist Miller Anderson. Taped in Germany 2008 around the time of the release of“Chameleon”, it features song from this album as well as other Anderson’s gems, plus songs from his time with KEEF HARTLEY BAND, and classics such as Tony Joe White’s “As The Crow Flies” and “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”. Of special note is “Memories Of Woodstock” as Miller played there.
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CD 1:1. City Blues |
CD 2:1. High Tide And High Water |
YES, THE RIVER KNOWS
She was one of the greatest songwriters of all time and one of the Brill Building’s Jewish stalwarts, but the works of Ellie Greenwich know even those who don’t care for that classic era, because her songs found the way into the catalogues of the likes of DEEP PURPLE: the heavy metal pioneers recorded Greenwish-penned “River Deep – Mountain High”, as performed previously by Ike and Tina Turner, and “Kentucky Woman” that she originally produced for her discovery, Neil Diamond. With the husband, Jeff Barry, Ellie wrote, among others, “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” which is still performed by Manfred Mann‘s band, and, with Phil Spector joining the company, “Be My Baby” for THE RONETTES and “Da Doo Ron Ron” for now-forgotten THE CRYSTALS. There were many more hits, from the ’60s to the ’80s, there even was “Leader Of The Pack”, a musical based on her life and music, but sadly, on August 26th the great dame of pop died, aged of 68. Blessed be her memory!
KINDA FEELING FINE
How can a band mark their 40th anniversary if they had a new album, the ensemble’s first in a decade, only last year, and there’s a lot of live recordings around? Staging a special show? URIAH HEEP have done it before – several times. Likewise, they already re-recorded the band’s classics in a studio, but that collection seems to have been deleted. So here’s a new attempt to walk the minefield: “Celebration”, due out on September 9th, features, alongside time-tested gems, two fresh songs penned by Mick Box and Phil Lanzon. This will be a Standard edition; yet there’s two other versions for the fans to grab: a Deluxe one, with a DVD recorded recently at Sweden Rock Festival, and a Collector’s one, strictly limited, with a 7″ vinyl containing two exclusive bonus cuts and – looks like – no DVD. Still, collectors would like to get a hold of all three formats.
CD:1. Only Human (new) |
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DVD
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WHAT’S IT ALL SUPPOSED TO MEAN
While one might think that the SLADE‘s barrell has been scrapped to the very bottom, what with the Salvo Records‘ re-issue programme and all the extras such as box sets and rarities collections, the label has one more surprise in store. Or in stores where “Live At The BBC” will appear on September 28th. A cursor glance at the tracklist reveals there’s a lot to be excited about, especially on the first CD, but the second disc features, among hits, gems of different kind, too – like, say, “Lady Be Good”.
Disc 1:1. Coming Home |
Disc 2:1. Introduction |
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WHAT’S BEEN LOST AND WHAT’S BEEN CAUGHT
One of this year’s highlights so far has been the PROCOL HARUM re-issue programme courtesy of Salvo Records that spans the British band’s classic discography, from 1967’s self-titled debut up to 1977’s pre-break-up “Something Magic”. All of this is covered here, and as of now there’s only three albums remain to be out soon. But, as it was with SLADE and then THE MOVE, the label’s folks don’t stop at the usual and regular. And when it came to the ensemble led by Gary Brooker, one fabulous thing is to see the light of day on September 28th, namely a box comprising three CDs and a DVD. Titled “All This And More”: The Procol Harum Compendium”, it’ll surely include many alternative versions of well-known songs and some rarities – at least in aural part, but there’s no details at the moment, while a good part of what’s on the DVD is available elsewhere. Impressive nevertheless and a must-have item.
CD 1:1. A Whiter Shade Of Pale |
CD 2:1. Your Own Choice |
CD 3:1. New Lamps For Old (Golders Green, 1974) |
DVD:Danish TV, 1974 |
