June 16, 2007

WATERS HAVE CHANGED

One of the great progressive rock bands that time, but not the faithful fans, forgot are BEGGARS OPERA whose musicians went on to arguably more lucrative yet less inventive stints with artists like 10CC or, in case of guitarist Ricky Gardiner, Iggy Pop. Now, three decades after they produced their fantastic mix of structured and quirky-jerky, the group are back, with a new album, “Close To My Heart”, out soon. Well, not the full band but Gardiner and his muse, Virginia Scott, and Tom Gardiner on drums. All details at the new site, and hopefully, Let It Rock will have something exclusive to report, too.

TAKE A CUP AND SIT DOWN

In in unexpected rush of creativity Yusuf Islam – who, the Cat Stevens’ fans thought, would never get back to secular music – follows his last year’s album, “An Other Cup”, with a DVD called “Yusuf’s Cafe Session – Live At The Porchester Hall”. To be released on June 25th, it features the veteran peforming songs both old and new for the BBC, and also has some neat bonuses: a documentary which follows the artist walking around central London talking of his life, two videos, EPK footage, 16-page booklet and a poster. The item looks a great companion to the “Magikat” DVD which saw Cat bowing out.

1. Wind East And West
2. Wind
3. Midday
4. Don’t Be Shy
5. Maybe There’s A World
6. In The End
7. Where Do The Children Play
8. Little Ones
9. I Think I See The Light
10. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
11. Heaven / Where True Love Goes
12. How Long / Peace Train Blues
13. Beloved
14. Father And Son
15. Wild World – Zulu version
16. Peace Train

EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED

With YES taking sabbatical who of the band’s members is more active than others if not Rick Wakeman? Not so long ago he appeared before an attentive audience at the famous Shepperton TV studio, and this concert is documented on “The Other Side Of Rick Wakeman”, a DVD set for release on June 25th in the UK, on June 29th on the continent, and on August 28th in the USA. The classic and less-known pieces are interspersed with many funny stories Wakeman is a master of telling, and it’s the first time ever that even the connoisseurs will hear the first-ever Rick’s composition he came up with aged only 5. An unmissable thingy.

1. See A Monkey On A Stick
2. A Glimpse Of Heaven
3. The Henry Suite
4. Life On Mars
5. Morning Has Broken
6. And You And I
7. Gone But Not Forgotten
8. Wondrous Stories
9. The Meeting
10. Spur Of The Moment
11. After The Ball
12. Birdman Of Alcatraz
13. Guinevere
14. Merlin The Magician
15. Help
16. Eleanor Rigby
bonus audio track
Children Of Chernobyl

As intimate as aforementioned show is going to be a new Wakeman record, “Retro Vol. 2”, also out on June 25th. Following in the wake of the last year’s “Retro”, it’s a bunch of melodies recorded using old equipment which sometimes is so hard to get in tune that the pieces had to be written especially for Rick to be able to play on these keyboards. An interesting concept…

1. Chasing The Devil
2. Expect The Unexpected
3. Beyond The Void
4. An Angel Spoke To Me
5. Soundtrack
6. Fairground Shuffle
7. Robert The Robot
8. Standing Room Only
9. Tigger The Bounce
10. Temple Of Life

CUTTING IT FINE

Still on the road, the original ASIA line-up of John Wetton, Geoff Downes, Carl Palmer and Steve Howe started visiting the studio to mark the 25th anniversary of their debut with a new album. Meanwhile, there’s a concert recording from the band’s March date in Japan: “Fantasia – Live In Tokyo” hits the stores on June 26th with a companion DVD out this autumn.

CD 1:

1. Time Again
2. Wildest Dreams
3. One Step Closer
4. Roundabout
5. Without You
6. Cutting It Fine
7. Guitar Solo
8. Fanfare For The Common Man
9. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes

CD 2:

1. Don’t Cry
2. Court Of The Crimson King
3. Here Comes The Feeling
4. Video Killed The Radio Star
5. The Heat Goes On/Drum Solo
6. Only Time Will Tell
7. Sole Survivor
8. Ride Easy
9. Heat Of The Moment

 

June 16, 2007

Category(s): News

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