Richard Sinclair Curates Fans’ Take On HATFIELD AND THE NORTH’s “The Rotters’ Club”

July 9, 2025

When followers pay homage to one of their artists that influenced them, the artists rarely contribute to such projects. Still, Richard Sinclair couldn’t remain indifferent when an idea arose of various musicians recreating “The Rotters’ Club”: HATFIELD AND THE NORTH‘s second album, releases in 1975 and revered by many since then. A jazzier offering than platters from fellow CARAVAN, this platter proved to have left a lasting impression and even inspired Jonathan Coe’s 2001 novel of the same title, so unsurprisingly there were those who longed to record the classic tunes – and did record, more than once, all the seven pieces from the original LP.

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Snips’ Solo Career Gets Packaged In Box Set

July 7, 2025

Maybe it’s because of the “don’t give a damn” pub-rocker air which Steven Parsons, also affectionately known as Snips, has always had about him, but this Yorkshire singer seemed to, undeservedly, not command the respect his stints with SHARKS and BAKER-GURVITZ ARMY were to warrant. Still, the choice of Snips as their frontman by such legends as Andy Fraser, Chris Spedding, Adrian and Paul Gurvitz and Ginger Baker must speak volumes of the man’s talents. That’s why the two platters the veteran released under his own name, should not be ignored – and that’s why the forthcoming three-CD box set “Work: The Solo Years 1978-1981” is more than welcome.

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Scottish Proto-Proggers CLOUDS’ Oeuvre Gets Anthologized

July 5, 2025

The first band to be signed to Chrysalis Records, Edinburgh trio CLOUDS didn’t last long but, after a residency at London’s Marquee club in 1967, left a lasting impression on British musicians, with THE NICE, YES and KING CRIMSON citing the Scots as influence. With no guitarist in the line-up, and organist Billy Ritchie at the fore, the ensemble didn’t manage to reproduce their concert sound in the studio and left people, who enjoyed their performance in Europe and the States and hoped to hear the same charge on record, frustrated. Over the years, though, the combo’s cult status has grown enough to evoke interest in the listeners, and the packaging of their legacy into a box set seems alluring.

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KING CRIMSON Offshoot BEAT Bring Forth Concert Offering

July 3, 2025

Endorsed by Robert Fripp, a supergroup called BEAT – comprising KING CRIMSON alumni Adrian Belew and Tony Levin as well as Steve Vai and Danny Carey and bent on performing music from the latter band’s ’80s-period – were one of 2024’s hottest tickets, so it was only a matter of time before the foursome released a concert recording. And that time is night now, with their forthcoming album – which will be issued on CD, vinyl and Blu-ray – offering the whopping 19 pieces.

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FOREIGNER Take A Deep Dive Into “4”

July 1, 2025

When it comes to anniversary editions of classic records, a lot of artists miss the actual years, although some get their labels to align reissues with calendars, yet FOREIGNER decided not to wait for 2026 to celebrate the 45th spin around the sun of the album that turned this international ensemble from a band who tried to marry progressive tendencies and commercial sound into an arena-packing group. The impatience is understandable: including such songs as “Juke Box Hero” and “Waiting For A Girl Like You” which would become huge hits and resonate over decades, 1981’s “4” will be the collective’s first release in a deluxe form.

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