ZEP’S LAST STAND
The rock aristocracy’s list gets longer and longer, with Queen Elizabeth II dispensing Orders of the British Empire – but it’s most surprising that Jimmy Page has received his OBE not for steering LED ZEPPELIN but for his work with a Task Brazil group that provides food, clothing, shelter and medical care for children. Jim’s been involved with the charity institution since 1994 when, on his trip to Rio de Janeiro to promote the PAGE / PLANT “No Quarter” album, the guitar legend witnessed street gangs fighting.
Meanwhile, his partner in crime, Robert Plant, is honored with two Grammy nominations: “Shine It All Around” fits into Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance category and “Tin Pan Valley” is in for Best Hard Rock Performance”. Hopefully, Percy snatch the prize from the less worthy. Yet he’s much more concerned with charity activities as well, having donated $60,000 to an organization that aids nomadic people in drought-stricken West Africa. The golden warbler had already channelled that way proceeds from his latest EP, but the sales were rather poor, so he had to act differently.
The piper has surely led P&P to reason.
THE DEEPER THE NIGHT
With all the unlikely talk about the next BLACKMORE’S NIGHT album being a collection of DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW re-makes, there seems to be something to the ring, as “Village Lanterne”, out on February 6th, indeed includes “Child In Time” that Ritchie’s current band often performed live in the recent years, and “Street Of Dreams”. More so, there’s two versions of the latter on the record, the second featuring the original singer, Joe Lynn Turner duetting with Candice Night.
| 1. 25 Years 2. Olde Village Lanterne 3. I Guess It Doesn’t Matter Anymore 4. The Messenger 5. World Of Stone 6. Faerie Queen 7. St. Teresa 8. Village Dance 9. Mond Tanz / Child In Time 10. Streets Of London 11. Just Call My Name (I’ll Be There) 12. Olde Mill Inn 13. Windmills 14. Street Of Dreams 15. Once In A Garden (Japan-only bonus) 16. Street Of Dreams (feat. Joe Lynn Turner) |
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BLACK MAN’S SOUL
Hot on the heel of the last year’s “My Secret Life, Eric Burdon comes up with a new studio set. Bearing a title of “Soul Of A Man”, it features some fine blues – as usual.
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1. Soul Of A Man 2. Kingsize Jones 3. Red Cross Store 4. Como Se Llama Mama 5. Forty Days And Forty Nights 6. Feeling Blue 7. Never Give Up Blues 8. GTO 9. Forty Four 10. Slow Moving Train 11. Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down 12. Devil Run 13. I Don’t Mind 14. Circuit Rider |
THINGS WE LIKE
Recent CREAM shows on the both sides of the Atlantic reinstated Jack Bruce‘s position as the real driving force of the band – a honor many hang on Eric Clapton – and the interest in the blues giant has been deepening ever since. So there couldn’t be a better time for a great archival release that is “Jack Bruce At Rockpalast”, a fantastic double-DVD set which includes three concerts – unfortunately, not all in their entirety. The first, though, is a full show recorded with the best band Jack’s ever had – with Clem Clempson, David Sancious and Billy Cobham; this one has been out on DVD before, but it’s worth buying again for its completeness. More attractive, still, are the other two performances, the 1983 show with David Sancious and Bruce Gary, and a unique one from 1990, when there was Bruce alone, at the piano. A must-have item for a nice price.
DVD 1: |
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| Grugahalle, Essen, 1980 1. White Room 2. Post War 3. Hit And Run 4. Running Back 5. Facelift 318 6. Theme For An Imaginary Western 7. X Marks The Spot 8. Dancing On Air 9. Out To Lunch 10. Living Without You 11. Politician 12. Bird Alone 13. Sunshine Of Your Love 14. N.S.U 15. Spoonful |
Music Hall, Cologne, 1990 16. Third Degree 17. Flying 18. Doing That Scrapyard Thing 19. Theme For An Imaginary Western 20. Weird Of Hermiston 21. Tickets To Waterfalls 22. Golden Days 23. One 24. Pieces Of Mind 25. Traintime 26. The Best Is Still To Come |
DVD 2:Zeche Bochum, 1983 |
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THE DEVIL MADE HIM DO IT
With all the fuss about Bono and Sinead, there was no greater all-round musician in Ireland than Rory Gallagher who, sadly, passed away ten years ago. For all to remember the guitar wizard, out is a limited edition of “The Definitive Collection” 3 DVD box set gathering all Rory’s performances for the Rockpalast TV programme – from 1976 through to 1990. With only the first disc (released separately before) spanning almost 3 hours. there’s no need for another reason to grab the box.
DVD 1: |
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| Studio-L, Cologne, 1976 1. Pistol Slapper Blues 2. Too Much Alcohol 3. Out On The Western Plain 4. Banker’s 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, 1977 16. Messin’ With The Kid 17. I Take What I Want 18. A Garbage Man 19. Moonchild 20. Secret Agent 21. Calling Card 22. Out On The Western Plain 23. Barley And Grape Rag 24. Tattooed Lady 25. Souped Up Ford 26. Bullfrog Blues 27. Bought And Sold Jam with Frankie Miller, Wiesbaden, 1979 28. Bullfrog Blues 29. Walkin’ The Dog 30. Sea Cruise 31. Around And Around 32. Roll Over Beethoven |
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DVD 2:Loreley, 1982 |
DVD 3: |
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| Wiesbaden, 1979 1. Shin Kicker 2. Last Of The Independents 3. Off The Handle 4. Bought And Sold 5. Shadow Play 6. Million Miles Away 7. Hell Cat 8. Out On The Western Plain 9. Too Much Alcohol 10. Going To My Hometown 11. Tattooed Lady 12. Secret Agent 13. Roberta 14. Might Be |
Cologne, 1990 15. Continental Op 16. Don’t Start Me Talkin 17. Mean Disposition 18. Kid Gloves 19. Middle Name 20. King Of Zydeco 21. Out On The Western Plain 22. Empire State Express 23. The Loop 24. Garbage Man 25. My Baby She Left Me 26. Shadow Play 27. Shin Kicker 28. Born Under A Bad Sign (with Jack Bruce) 29. I’m Ready (with Jack Bruce) 30. Politician (with Jack Bruce) 31. Bullfrog Blues |
THOUGHTS THEY STAND TO DEFEND
For a band with a 40-year long lifespan, THE MOODY BLUES seem to quite underserve the fandom with concert releases, especially with those stripped bare of the orchestral backing. If fact, “Lovely to See You: Live From The Greek” double CD and the accompanying DVD is the first such album since 1969’s famed “The Moody Blues Live + 5”. Recorded lin LA on June 11th, 2005, the set features the stalwart Justin Hayward, John Lodge and Graeme Edge helped out with some good friends including keyboards maestro Paul Bliss. Fine release, classy music.
| 1. Lovely To See You 2. Tuesday Afternoon 3. Lean On Me 4. The Actor 5. Steppin’ In A Slide Zone 6. The Voice 7. Talking Out Of Turn 8. I Know You’re Out There Somewhere 9. The Story In Your Eyes 10. Forever Autumn |
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11. Your Wildest Dreams 12. Isn’t Life Strange 13. The Other Side Of Life 14. December Snow 15. Higher & Higher 16. Are You Sitting Comfortably? 17. Just A Singer (In A Rock & Roll Band) 18. Nights In White Satin 19. Question 20. Ride My See-Saw |
KINKY BRO’
Being such a prolific songwriter, it’s most amazing that Ray Davies hasn’t release a proper, fully-fledged solo album. In order to correct a situation and having alerted the public with “Thanksgiving Day” and “The Tourist” EPs, Captain Kink brings forth “Other People’s Lives” on February 7th. Quite an achievement! What other people really long for, though, is the KINKS’ reunion that both Ray and Dave, now almost back to form after the stroke, have no objections to.
| 1. Things Are Gonna Change (The Morning After) 2. After the Fall 3. Next Door Neighbour 4. All She Wrote 5. Creatures Of Little Faith 6. Run Away from Time 7. The Tourist 8. Is There Life After Breakfast? 9. The Getaway (Lonesome Train) 10. Other People’s Lives 11. Stand Up Comic 12. Over My Head 13. Thanksgiving Day |
