ODDS AND SODS
With a lot of new floating around, let’s pick on the most interesting – save for the one of LED ZEPPELIN‘s “Celebration Day” DVD that caused a bit of intrigue with almost everyone knowing what the countdown to zero on the band’s Facebook page meant; the release received its own Wikipedia entry one day before the official announce. The question is why they left us waiting so long?
Elsewhere, the British Blues Awards took place in London where the British Blues Greats gongs have been handed to such genuine legends of the genre as FREE’s Andy Fraser, GROUNDHOGS’ Tony McPhee and STRAY’s Del Bronham. And there was another old horse in the “regular” stable: Paul Jones snatched the best harmonica player title. Congratulations to all!
As was recently reported, Nick Beggs is to embark on some adventurous South American journey, yet before his trek began, the bassist joined forced with omnipresent Steven Wilson and the two started recording with no other than Alan Parsons.
One of latest Wilson’s project has been the remastering and remixing JETHRO TULL’s “Thick As A Brick”, which was expected after 2011’s glorious reissue of that album’s predecessor, "Aqualung", and Ian Anderson coming up this year with its sequel. The lavish package will be made available in several formats on November 5th… on the Guy Fawkes Night.
A couple of years ago, guitar genius Gordon Giltrap released a joint album with Rick Wakeman, and perhaps he’d like to call on Rick for his upcoming “Ravens & Lullabies” tour. But as Wakeman Sr. is said to be busy recording with Jon Anderson and another YES alumnus, Trevor Rabin, Giltrap invited onboard the veteran’s son – and a great artist in his own right – Oliver Wakeman.
While classic ASIA get ready for the 30th anniversary reissue of their debut, the band’s off-spin ASIA feat. John Payne are knee-deep in their upcoming album“Americana”. As the lead-off single they plan a song called “Seasons Will Change” where the vocals are shared between Payne and former MSG belter Robin Mc Auley.
It’s been a long time waiting for a new FOCUS record but now the Dutch wizards, led by Thijs van Leer and his old sidekick Pierre van der Linden, signed a deal and finished work on “Focus X that’ll feature, quite teasingly, a Roger Dean artwork.
ANGEL OF MUSIC
Sarah Brightman‘s fans are kept on their toes with the news of the singer’s new site to be unveiled where, quite possibly, will be leads on her long overdue new work. One’s guess is whether it will be cosmic-tuned, as there’s rumors of the diva’s enrolments onto the space tourism program and her having received medical thumbs up to fly. Looks like Sarah’s “I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper” chart debut is proving prophetical.
THE MORALS THAT WE WORSHIP
The tribute album craze gains the spin by the day, and here’s another one, this time focusing on THE WHO. There’s an array of usual suspects, legends who switch from one such record to another without actually sharing the studio space, but now there’s some interesting additions to the line-up of “Who Are You”, including NEKTAR – who have their own tribute album in the pipeline and the awesome Terry Reid to turn “Pinball Wizard” into something truly special.
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1. Eminence Front – John Wetton, KK Downing, Derek Sherinian 2. Baba O’Riley – NEKTAR, Jerry Goodman 3. I Can See for Miles – Mark Lindsay, Wayne Kramer 4. Love Reign O’er Me – Joe Elliott, Rick Wakeman, Huw Lloyd-Langton, Carmine Appice 5. My Generation – Knox, Dave Davies, Rat Scabies 6. The Kids are Alright – THE RAVEONETTES 7. Won’t Get Fooled Again – SWEET 8. Anyway Anyhow Anywhere – Todd Rundgren, Carmine Appice 9. I Can’t Explain – Iggy Pop 10. Behind Blue Eyes – Pat Travers 11. Magic Bus – Peter Noone, Peter Banks, Ginger Baker 12. Who Are You – Gretchen Wilson, Randy Bachman 13. Pinball Wizard – Terry Reid, Mike Pinera, Brad Gillis 14. Squeeze Box – John Wesley, David Cross 15. Bargain – .38 SPECIAL, Ted Turner, Ian Paice 16. The Seeker – Joe Lynn Turner, Leslie West |
