Having stopped back in 1999 for the second time, BRAND X left a big hole in a fusion field which no other band dared to fill. But that was a different format to the original one as guitarist John Goodsall and bassist Percy Jones aren’t of the kind that digs a hole in one place where nothing’s to explore. So now the team come back as a quartet again. Sure, Phil Collins wouldn’t play this time, the drummer stool is taken by another veteran, Ronnie Ciago, while the ivories are tinkled by none other than great David Sancious. No word on a studio adventure yet but they’ll tour the States in the summer to share some stages with AMBROSIA. Ex they ain’t… especially as Mark Hollis of TALK TALK expressed a wish to work with the jazzers.
RAVING RANDALL
Most famous for his playing with STEELY DAN, Elliott Randall‘s journey is continuing. Recently, the master found himself in a studio with Genya Ravan again. In 2010, the guitarist played on the lady’s “Undercover…”, and now she’s repaying the favor for her singing to sound on Randall’s forthcoming album. Something to stay tuned about, as the man himself feels.
THE WILD RIPPING HAIL
Their leftist stand aside, for the most part Amnesty International‘s activists do the right thing, and this year marks the organisation’s 50th Anniversary. A reason to celebrate is felt by many artists, some of these contributing their songs for a special 4CD box, out on February 7th. Well, not their songs but their takes on Bob Dylan’s classics. Titled “Chimes Of Freedom”, it features recordings both old, such as in Johnny Cash’s case, and new, like those by Paul Rodgers or MAROON 5. The Bard himself is also here, with the title track. Must be arresting.
Disc 1:
1. Johnny Cash feat. THE AVETT BROTHERS –
One Too Many Mornings
2. Raphael Saadiq – Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
3. Patti Smith – Drifter’s Escape
4. RISE AGAINST – Ballad Of Hollis Brown
5. Tom Morello & THE NIGHTWATCHMAN – Blind Willie McTell
6. Pete Townshend – Corrina, Corrina
7. Bettye LaVette – Most Of The Time
8. Charlie Winston – This Wheel’s On Fire
9. Diana Krall – Simple Twist Of Fate
10. Brett Dennen – You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere
11. MARIACHI EL BRONX – Love Sick
12. Ziggy Marley – Blowin’ In The Wind
13. THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM – Changing Of The Guards
14. SILVERSUN PICKUPS – Not Dark Yet
15. MY MORNING JACKET – You’re A Big Girl Now
16. THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT – Boots Of Spanish Leather
17. Sting – Girl From The North Country
18. Mark Knopfler – Restless Farewell
Disc 2
1. QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE – Outlaw Blues
2. Lenny Kravitz – Rainy Day Woman # 12 & 35
3. Steve Earle & Lucia Micarelli – One More Cup Of Coffee
4. Blake Mills feat. Danielle Haim – Heart Of Mine
5. Miley Cyrus – You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
6. Billy Bragg – Lay Down Your Weary Tune
7. Elvis Costello – License To Kill
8. Angelique Kidjo – Lay, Lady, Lay
9. Natasha Bedingfield – Ring Them Bells
10. Jackson Browne – Love Minus Zero/No Limit
11. Joan Baez – Seven Curses (live)
12. THE BELLE BRIGADE – No Time To Think
13. SUGARLAND – Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You (live)
14. JACK’S MANNEQUIN – Mr. Tambourine Man
15. Oren Lavie – 4th Time Around
16. Sussan Deyhim – All I Really Want To Do
17. Adele – Make You Feel My Love (live)
Disc 3:
1. K’Naan – With God On Our Side
2. Ximena Sarinana – I Want You
3. Neil Finn with PAJAMA CLUB – She Belongs to Me
4. Bryan Ferry – Bob Dylan’s Dream
5. Zee Avi – Tomorrow Is A Long Time
6. Carly Simon – Just Like A Woman
7. FLOGGING MOLLY – The Times They Are A-Changin’
8. FISTFUL OF MERCY – Buckets Of Rain
9. Joe Perry – Man Of Peace
10. BAD RELIGION – It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
11. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE – Desolation Row (live)
12. RedOne feat. Nabil Khayat – Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
13. Paul Rodgers & Nils Lofgren – Abandoned Love
14. Darren Criss feat. Chuck Criss – New Morning
15. CAGE THE ELEPHANT – The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
16. BAND OF SKULLS – It Ain’t Me, Babe
17. Sinead O’Connor – Property Of Jesus
18. Ed Roland and THE SWEET TEA PROJECT – Shelter From The Storm
19. Kesha – Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
20. KRONOS QUARTET – Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
Disc 4:
1. MAROON 5 – I Shall Be Released
2. CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS – Political World
3. Seal & Jeff Beck – Like A Rolling Stone
4. Taj Mahal – Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream
5. Dierks Bentley – Senor (Tales Of Yankee Power) (live)
6. Mick Hucknall – One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)
7. Thea Gilmore – I’ll Remember You
8. STATE RADIO – John Brown
9. DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – All Along the Watchtower(live)
10. Michael Franti – Subterranean Homesick Blues
11. WE ARE AUGUSTINES – Mama, You Been On My Mind
12. Lucinda Williams – Tryin’ To Get To Heaven
13. Kris Kristofferson – Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)
14. Eric Burdon – Gotta Serve Somebody
15. Evan Rachel Wood – I’d Have You Anytime
16. Marianne Faithfull – Baby Let Me Follow You Down (live)
17. Pete Seeger with THE RIVERTOWN KIDS – Forever Young
18. Bob Dylan – Chimes Of Freedom
Digital only:
1. OUTERNATIONAL – When The Ship Comes In
2. SILVERSTEIN – Song To Woody
3. Daniel Bedingfield – Man In The Long Black Coat
