FOR CHRIS’ SAKE
This site’s visitors – those who don’t follow DME on Facebook – might be delighted to know about two forthcoming interviews. Recently, this scribe had a blast talking to a couple of legendary musicians, both going by a name of Chris: Chris Thompson of Manfred Mann‘s EARTH BAND fame, and Chris Squire of YES. Both have just put a new album out, Thompson released "Berlin Live" and Squire, together with Steve Hackett, as SQUACKETT, came up with "A Life Within A Day". There were many interesting details in the conversations. Stay tuned, then.
WALKING ON AIR
Many don’t know it but CURVED AIR don’t reside in the history yet – or again. Having resurrected a few years ago and delivered a new album, the band lost Darryl Way since our 2008s interview but singer Sonja Kristina and drummer Florian Pilkington-Miksa still steer their ensemble through the stormy waters of this day. The best proof of this would be their fresh recording “Live Atmosphere” laid down during their 2011 tour. Nothing new here but the sound, and the selection hides some interesting choices.
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1. Atmospheric Overture (intro) 2. Marie Antoinette 3. Propositions 4. Easy 5. Hide And Seek 6. Screw 7. Phantasmagoria 8. Melinda 9. Everdance 10. Back Street Luv 11. Stretch 12. It Happened Today 13. Atmospheric Overture (outro) bonus DVD: Atmospheric Overture & Armin – collage Live Atmosphere Tour 2011/12 – featurette |
OFF TO THE WITCH
The Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund is an organisation that fights the dragon which killed one of the great music warriors of all time, Ronnie James Dio. On October 31st, 2012, the Halloween night, they hold a gala at Hollywood’s “Avalon” where awards would be presented to those who contribute to this righteous case. Among those are Tony Iommi who’s bravely battling lymphoma right now and will be a recipient of a “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” prise and impresario Neil Warnock who’s to grab a “Man on the Silver Mountain” gong.
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
While his brother changes line-ups and delivers al around the world, John Hackett doesn’t stand still either. A flautist of highest caliber as well as a guitar player, a couple of years ago he joined forces with another Steve’s alumnus, keyboardist Nick Magnus, one more time for a short tour of Italy and their native Britain. That’s where a new CD, “Live 2010”, comes from, particularly from London and Leicester. It’s a soft collection of songs – save for three compositions by Hackett Sr. that feature guitarist Giorgio Gabriel. Not prog rock as many hope yet an excellent performance throughout.
| 1. Le Chat Noir 2. Freefall 3. Fantasy 4. Nippy Tune 5. Double Helix 6. Hammer In The Sand 7. Dreamtown 8. The Hallway And The Pram 9. Sophia’s Song 10. Twenty Summers 11. Jacuzzi / Overnight Sleeper bonus studio track: Hands Of The Priestess |
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JUMBO ‘CROSS THE WATER
Billy Sherwood isn’t the man who can dwell on one project at a time, be it with YES or any other business he’s involved with. Now, it’s THE PROG COLLECTIVE who play fusion-like instrumentals and feature many prominent musicians in the ranks, but there’s also “Songs Of The Century – An All-Star Tribute to Supertramp” which follows Sherwood’s similar takes on PINK FLOYD’s albums. The choice of a cover matter is surprising; the more interesting it would be to hear all these veterans doing pop-prog classics.
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1. Breakfast In America – John Wetton, Larry Fast 2. Take The Long Way Home – John Wesley 3. The Logical Song – Mickey Thomas, Steve Morse 4. Give A Little Bit – Richard Page, Peter Banks 5. It’s Raining Again – Colin Moulding, Geoff Downes 6. Crime Of The Century – Billy Sherwood, Rick Wakeman 7. Dreamer – Annie Haslam, David Sancious 8. Goodbye Stranger – Gary Green, Jordan Rudess 9. Rudy – Roye Albrighton, Steve Porcaro 10. Bloody Well Right – Joe Lynn Turner, Dave Kerzner 11. School – Rod Argent, Robby Krieger 12. Let the World Revolve – Chris Squire, Tony Kaye |
BOOM BOOM! OUT GO THE BLUES
When it comes to heavy blues a few can beat Pat Travers for an ability to feel and ignite. In this aspect, his new album, “Blues On Fire”, yields nothing new, and the same goes for material. Yet to listen to the veteran tackling the pre-war classics many know in other masters’ versions means to get deeper to the pieces origins. So forget all those Pages and Claptons: once Travers reads all the following, the competition will be out.
| 1. Black Dog Blues 2. Nobody’s Fault But Mine 3. Back Water Blues 4. Meat Shakin’ Woman 5. Easy Rider Blues 6. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out 7. Bulldozer Blues 8. You Can’t Get That Stuff No More 9. Dark Night Blues 10. Rock Island Blues 11. Jailhouse Blues 12. Death Letter |
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BREAKING THIS CROWN
There was a Beeb set from THE KINKS previously but a couple of discs can’t do justice to the band’s contribution to the company’s archives. Those who complained then have all the more reasons to be complaining now as the 5 CDs and a DVD that make new collection, “At The BBC”, are exhaustive to say the least and comprise some full shows alongside assorted rarities to kill the pirates who have been releasing much of what’s in there for many years. No more, then, but the wallets will cry.
CD 1:Saturday Club, The Playhouse Theatre, 1964 |
CD 2:Top Gear, Maida Vale Studios, 1967 |
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CD 3:John Peel Session, Kensington House, 1972 |
CD 4:Christmas Concert, Rainbow Theatre, 1977 |
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CD 5:Emma Freud session, Maida Vale Studios, 1994 |
DVD:The Beat Room, BBC Television Centre, 1964 |
The Old Grey Whistle Test, 1977 33. You Really Got Me / All Day And All Of The Night 34. Sleepwalker 35. Life Goes On 36. Stormy Sky 37. Celluloid Heroes 38. Muswell Hillbilles 39. Full Moon 40. Life On The Road 41. Juke Box Music Christmas Concert, Rainbow Theatre, 1977 42. Juke Box Music 43. Sleepwalker 44. Life On the Road 45. A Well Respected Man 46. Death Of A Clown 47. Sunny Afternoon 48. Waterloo Sunset 49. All Day And All Of The Night 50. Slum Kids 51. Celluloid Heroes 52. Get Back In The Line 53. The Hard Way 54. Lola 55. Alcohol 56. Skin And Bones / Dry Bones 57. Father Christmas 58. You Really Got Me The Alan Price Show, 1968 59. Interview: Dave and Ray Davies |
