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 Mann and Chris Thompson.

Bonus DVD: Interviews with Manfred plus 1. Do Wah Diddy Diddy – Manfred Mann 2. Semi Detached Suburban Mr James – Manfred Mann 3. Just Like A Woman – Manfred Mann 4. Fox On The Run – Manfred Mann 5. Blinded By The Light – MM’S EARTH BAND 6. For You – MM’s EARTH BAND 7. Nothing Ever Happens – Manfred Mann and Chris Thompson 8. Blinded By The Light – FUNKSTAR DELUXE with MM’s EARTH BAND

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”.

1. Nothing Gonna Change 2. Look Out 3. Cool Down 4. Dangerous Man 5. Needs Must 6. Must Be A Fool 7. Don’t Walk Away 8. Legal Fee Blues 9. Spiritual Thief 10. Ready 11. Smile 12. Nice Girl 13. Somebody Cares

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.

1. Kiss My Soul 2. Down Bound Train 3. Habits Of A Lifetime 4. Midnite Child 5. Blind Willie McTell 6. 18 Wheels & A Crowbar 7. X Town 8. The Weaver’s Answer 9. My Friend The Sun 10. Holding The Compass 11. Shank (Shadow On The Wall) 12. Toe Nail Draggin’ 13. Short List 14. Burlesque 15. Jesus & The Devil 16. In My Own Time bonus features: – Interview with Roger Chapman – History of Roger Chapman and “Family & Friends” – Interviews with fans at Newcastle Opera House

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.

1.Outlaw Blues 2. Faraway Friends 3. Across The Muddy River 4. Long Time Coming 5. Loving You Means Leaving You 6. You’re Gonna Get It 7. Drifting Away 8. U.B. Love 9. Take It And Shake It 10. Sinner Man 11. Holocaust bonus tracks: 11. Why (extended single version) 12. Why (narration)

February 26, 2003