THE PLAYGROUNDS OF THE ONE CALLED GOD
With a good possibility of a new album coming in 2007, there’s something more’s brewing in the Ronnie James Dio camp.
One thing that’s certain and true is that Ronnie and no-less-golden-pipe-endowed Meat Loaf have lent their voices to Ronnie’s friend Tenacious D’s – Jack Black aka Tenacious В appeared in DIO video “Push” – song “Kickapoo”. The piece will appear in the “Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny” movie, out in November, and on the soundtrack album.
Less certain, although those close to the wishing well say it may well happen, is a possibility of the project called HEAVEN & HELL which will feature Ronnie Dio, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler and take it to the road next year. Yes, that’s going to be BLACK SABBATH Mk II only under diffetent name because the original line-up with Ozzy at the mike is still functional – at least, live. That’s about the only reason of using another moniker, and not because the Osbournes have a share of rights to the band’s name – they belong solely to Iommi. Ronnie re-built the bridges to SABS when he agreed to record a couple of new songs for the forthcoming box set which will comprise the Dio-era BLACK SABBATH albums.
THUMBS UP… OR DOWN
Very much in the latter day fashion, Peter Frampton‘s new album, “Fingerprints”, feature a line of guests. There are some of the singer’s peer, some of those who were flying high before he led THE HEARD to the pen of pop glory and some of those who shot to fame in the ’90s. Don’t expect the “Sgt. Pepper”-like extravaganza because Peter didn’t call BEE GEES to help out this time, but as most of the veteran’s solo effort’s it is good, though not oustanding if you don’t count a SOUNDGARDEN cover.
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1. Boot It Up – feat. Courtney Pine 2. Ida Y Vuelta (Out And Back) 3. Black Hole Sun – feat. Matt Cameron & Mike McCready (PEARL JAM) 4. Float – feat. Gordon Kennedy 5. My Cup Of Tea – feat. Hank Marvin and Brian Bennett (THE SHADOWS) 6. Shewango Way 7. Blooze – feat. Warren Haynes (THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND) 8. Cornerstones – feat. Charlie Watts & Bill Wyman (THE ROLLING STONES) 9. Grab A Chicken (Put It Back) 10. Double Nickels – feat. Paul Franklin 11. Smoky 12. Blowin’ Smoke – feat. Matt Cameron & Mike McCready 13. Oh, When… 14. Souvenirs De Nos Peres – feat. John Jorgenson |
BURRELL OF TEARS
There was a good myth about Boz Burrell: Robert Fripp wanted the singer to join KING CRIMSON so much that he taught Boz to play bass and made a fantastic player out of the vocalist. Maybe that’s true, maybe not, but the fact is that Raymond Burrell had a little bit of success even before Fripp needed his services. It was on Boz’s solo single that Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Paice and Jon Lord recorded together for the first time ever prior to forming a group they called DEEP PURPLE, so the footnote in rock history was guaranteed for Burrell. But, having sung on CRIMSO’s“Islands” and “Earthbound” he made a good name for himself to be called by The Godfather of British Blues, Alexis Korner, to play with the latter’s SNAPE and then proceed to Korner’s proteges, Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke, new ensemble, BAD COMPANY. In the line-up through the band’s classic years, Burrell was back for the 1999’s reunion but then left to pursue jazzy road in the distant recesses of the visible map.
Boz was playing at home on September 21st when, guitar in his hands, a tragedy struck. It was heart attack that robbed us of this heavy duty, big-hearted man. He was only 60…
SOMEONE CALLED IT BABYLON
It’s been a talk of the town for some time but now Elton John has finally released “The Captain And The Kid” an album that should have been a follow-up to 1975’s astonishing “Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy”. Good intentions, although an attempt to document El and his songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin’s impressions of their first visit to America feels stupid more than 30 years on. But the theme’s not the problem, it’s the music that’s solid yet nowhere near as marvellous as on that old masterpiece. Well, you can guess that by having a glance at the two albums’ covers. Then, if you’re a real fan, go for the deluxe edition of the new CD which has a bonus DVD with interviews attached.
| 1. Postcards From Richard Nixon 2. Just Like Noah’s Ark 3. Wouldn’t Have You Any Other Way (NYC) 4. Tinderbox 5. And The House Fell Down 6. Blues Never Fade Away 7. The Bridge 8. I Must Have Lost It On The Wind 9. Old 67 9. The Captain And The Kid |
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TURKEY’S ON THE LOOSE AGAIN
More than three decades on since they released two highly acclaimed albums WILD TURKEY are back with a new record! “You & Me In The Jungle” features alongside original members, bassist Glenn Cornick who formed band after leaving JETHRO TULL, Gary Pickford-Hopkins whose voice shone bright in Rick Wakeman’s ENGLISH ROCK ENSEMBLE, guitarist Mick Dyche who’s been playing with Maddy Prior and pianist Steve Gurl who graduated to BABE RUTH two new players with suchlike glorious CVs: Clive Bunker, the original TULL drummer, and former GENTLE GIANT percussionist John Weathers. They have a web presence now, where the new disc can be listened to and ordered.
NO REST FOR MERRY GENTLEMAN
Having traded the Christmas frozen waters with a single that was a bonus to 2004’s "Beyond The Sunset" collection, BLACKMORE’S NIGHT bring a full-blown Yuletide album on November 24th. Titled “Winter Carols”, it features both traditional and original pieces including those that have been out on the single:
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1. Hark The Herald Angels Sing / Come All Ye Faithful 2. I Saw Three Ships 3. Winter (Basse Dance) 4. Ding Dong Merrily On High 5. Ma-O-Tzur 6. Good King Wenceslas 7. Lord Of The Dance / Simple Gifts 8. We Three Kings 9. Wish You Were Here 10. Emmanuel 11. Christmas Eve 12. We Wish You A Merry Christmas |
The sound isn’t everything, still. While there’s an unauthorized Ritchie Blackmore biography, “Black Night” is out, the guitar supremo and his fiancee, Candice Night, have decided to tell their fans some good yarns in the book called “The Next Stage”, which will be available soon through the BLACKMORE’S NIGHT’s official website.
But the good old folks who cherish not only the current activities of the veteran but also his past feats won’t be left disappointed – there’s a couple of RAINBOW DVD releases in the pipeline, both previously issued on VHS and now remastered.
The first is “Live At Budokan, Tokyo, 1984” documenting Ritchie’s band’s last tour on the verge of DEEP PURPLE’s reunion.
| 1. Spotlight Kid 2. Miss Mistreated 3. I Surrender 4. Can’t Happen Here 5. Catch The Rainbow 6. Power / Keyboard Solo 7. Street Of Dreams 8. Fool For The Night 9. Difficult To Cure 10. Guitar Improvisation |
11. Drum Solo / Blues 12. Stranded 13. Death Alley Driver 14. Fire Dance 15. Maybe Next Time 16. All Night Long 17. Lazy 18. Since You’ve Been Gone 19. Smoke On The Water |
The second DVD brings together two programmes, “Live Between The Eyes” from 1982 and the videos collection, “Final Cut”.
| Live Between The Eyes 1. Over The Rainbow 2. Spotlight Kid 3. Miss Mistreated 4. Can`t Happen Here 5. Tearin’ Out My Heart 6. All Night Long 7. Stone Cold 8. Power 9. Blues 10. Difficult To Cure 11. Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll 12. Kill The King 13. Maybe Next Time 14. Smoke On The Water |
Final Cut 1. Spotlight Kid 2. Death Alley Driver 3. I Surrender 4. All Night Long 5. Can’t Happen Here 6. Difficult To Cure 7. Can’t Let You Go 8. Power 9. Since You Been Gone 10. Stone Cold 11. Street Of Dreams |
After these, the only RAINBOW video still to be officially released is their Rockpalast concert from 1995.
CROSS THE LINE
While on tour as part of the resurrected ASIA, John Wetton and Geoff Downes don’t forget about their other project, ICON. The end of this month will see a release of their live album, “Never In A Million Years” but November will bring something new, a new studio CD, “Rubicon”. Recorded with longtime Wetton’s accompanists, drummer Steve Christey and guitarist John Mitchell, it also features ELO’s Hugh McDowell who played on the ICON debut album as well as Anneke van Giersbergen from the doom metal giants THE GATHERING and who sings with John on two cuts and 15-years old violin prodigy Katie Jacoby.
| 1. The Die Is Cast 2. Finger On The Trigger 3. Reflections (Of My Life) 4. To Catch A Thief 5. Tears Of Joy 6. Shannon 7. The Hanging Tree 8. The Glory Of Winning 9. Whirlpool 10. Rubicon |
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