THOSE NOT ABOUT TO DIE
That’s going to be a minor event yet the one in a major key: nine years after their reunion and six years after “Bread And Circuses”, their first studio record since the ’70s, legendary prog-jazz-rockers COLOSSEUM are back. The classic line-up of Jon Hiseman, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Chris Farlowe, Clem Clempson, Mark Clarke and Dave Greenslade come up with a great new album called“Tomorrow’s Blues”, the mixing of which took quite a long time, but even rough mixes DME listened to at Dick’s place sounded terrific.
The album is out this week in Germany, while the band have already embarked on tour. The first concerts featured Barbara Thompson on saxes, but Heckstall-Smith, who was ill, will be joining his friends shortly. (Check for the interviews with Clem and Dick to appear here soon.)
| 1. Tomorrow’s Blues 2. Come Right Back 3. In the Heat of the Night 4. Hard Times Rising 5. Arena in the Sun 6. Thief in the Night 7. Take the Dark Times with the Sun 8. The Netman 9. Leisure Complex Blues 10. No Demons |
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PLANT-ING SEEDS
Some may say, it’s a cashing-in on success of LED ZEPPELIN’s recent DVD, but twenty one solo years are more than a good cause for Robert Plant to compile his golden nuggets into a neat package. Called, rather enigmatically yet phonetically great, “Sixty Six To Timbiktu”, the compilation, due out on November 4th, holds more treasures than anyone could ask for: while the first disc is comprised of the album tracks, one cut from THE HONEYDRIPPERS and one previously unissued, the second CD gathers Percy’s rarities – from the ’60s singles released under Plant’s own name and demos by THE BAND OF JOY, a group with John Bonham on drums, to the B-sides and tribute album appearances.
Says Robert,
“I have prided myself in constantly seeking and always changing – to continue the tradition that we were proud of in LED ZEPPELIN: that we should always move the music and constantly try to move the intention and the topic and the whole game. The most important thing is to satisfy your own lust for music and creation rather than everybody else’s need and expectation”.
Yet we’re gonna groove and be satisfied too.
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CD 1:1. Tie Dye On The Highway CD 2:1. You Better Run, Listen (single, 1966) |
GIVE ‘EM SOME TRUTH
Next year the Broadway will see the staging of the musical based on John Lennon‘s life. No, not “The Ballad Of John And Yoko” that the ex-Beatle planned before his tragic death in 1980 and wrote the songs like “She’s A Friend Of Dorothy” and “Sally And Billy” for, but one tentatively called “The Lennon Project”. The show will use about 30 of John’s songs with a full support from the late musician’s widow, Yoko Ono, who said in a statement, “What we present on stage should again give people insight, encouragement, inspiration and fun, so they can go on with their lives with some assurance and hope”. As to who’s to take the lead role, there would be twelve actors playing Lennon at various periods of his glorious life.
Meanwhile, a DVD “Lennon Legend” comprising videos to John’s hit singles is set for release on November 14th, the very same day that THE BEATLES’ “Let It Be… Naked” CD and “A Concert For George” DVD and CD are out. Some videos are completely new cuts featuring previously unseen footage; and there’s also the special features including the Old Grey Whistle Test performance of “Slippin’ & Slidin'” and “Imagine” filmed at the “Salute To Lew Grade” concert in 1975.
| 1. Imagine 2. Instant Karma! 3. Mother 4. Jealous Guy 5. Power To The People 6. Cold Turkey 7. Love 8. Mind Games 9. Whatever Gets You Thru The Night 10. #9 Dream |
11. Stand By Me 12. (Just Like) Starting Over 13. Woman 14. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) 15. Watching The Wheels 16. Nobody Told Me 17. Borrowed Time 18. Working Class Hero 19. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) 20. Give Peace A Chance |
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RIFFING ALL OVER
Despite the claims not to indulge in doing covers anymore, STATUS QUO decided to give it a last shot on November 17th with a freshly made collection entitled, quite eloquently, “Riffs”. There’s nothing more to say, as there would be nothing more from QUO, save for another slab of high energy boogie, though re-tooling the ELO song guarantees a lot of fun to fans of both bands, which can hardly be said of “Born To Be Wild”. Those eager to hear something original will rejoice listening to a couple of new tracks… and a new version of classic “Rockin All Over The World”. Initial pressings of the album is to include a bonus DVD with a smattering of QUO live performances.
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1. Caroline (new recording) 2. I Fought The Law (THE BOBBY FULLER FOUR) 3. Born To Be Wild (STEPPENWOLF) 4. Takin’ Care Of Business (BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE) 5. Wild One (Johnny O’Keefe) 6. On The Road Again (CANNED HEAT) 7. Tobacco Road (John D. Loudermilk) 8. Centerfold (J GEILS BAND) 9. All Day And All Of The Night (THE KINKS) 10. Don’t Bring Me Down (ELO) 11. Juniors Wailing (STEAMHAMMER) 12. Pump It Up (Elvis Costello) 13. Down The Dustpipe(new recording) 14. Whatever You Want (new recording) 15. Rockin’ All Over The World (CRR/new recording) Bonus DVD: 1. Caroline (One & Only) 2. Roll Over Lay Down (One & Only) 3. Whatever You Want (One & Only) 4. Forty-Five Hundred Times/Rain(Heitere Open Air, August 2003) 5. Solid Gold (Heitere Open Air, August 2003) 6. Paper Plane (Top Of The Pops) 7. All Stand Up (Top Of The Pops, unbroadcast) 8. Rockin All Over The World (Top Of The Pops) 9. Jam Side Down (promo video) |
CAN YOU HEAR, TOMMY?
THE WHO re-issue program came finally to the band’s benchmark album, “Tommy”. Originally recorded in 1969 and re-did later with a stellar cast, the rock opera appeared to never have sounded as its author Pete Townshend wanted. So here’s a chance to take to it in original form – in pristine quality on SACD / CD hybrid, remastered and a bit re-mixed by Townshend’s re-issuing cohort Jon Astley. As usual with THE WHO latest releases, there are two discs, the first featuring the album itself and the second gathering previously unreleased cuts:
| 1. I Was 2. Christmas (out-take 3) 3. Cousin Kevin Model Child 4. Young Man Blues (version 1) 5. Tommy Can You Hear Me? (alt. version) 6. Trying To Get Through 7. Sally Simpson (out-takes) 8. Miss Simpson 9. Welcome (take 2) |
10. Tommy’s Holiday Camp (band’s version) 11. We’re Not Gonna Take It (alt. version) 12. Dogs (Part 2) 13. It’s A Boy (demo) 14. Amazing Journey (demo) 15. Christmas (demo) 16. Do You Think It’s Alright? (demo) 17. Pinball Wizard (demo) |
