THE TIMES THEY ARE NOT CHANGIN’
History’s repeating. Two years ago some retail networks were irked when THE ROLLING STONES inked a deal with Best Buy for an exclusive distribution of the band’s “Four Flicks” DVD set and removed the ensemble’s products from their shelves. Not that THE STONES suffered too much from that, especially when the set became available everywhere, but now it’s Bob Dylan‘s turn to suffer. HMV Canada has pulled old Zimmy’s CDs from their public stock in response to his Bobness’ decision to sell his “Live At The Gaslight, 1962” album exclusively in Starbucks coffee shops. Not that the decision is too clever; if Starbucks-only Elton John’s Christmas album, our later in the year, is quite aimed at the shops clientele, it’s unlikely there’s many pre-fame Dylan’s fans among them lot.
As for the album itself, it takes a lot to laugh and a train to cry it hasn’t been released before: with only two classic tracks on, it’s a unique document of an era long gone:
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1. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall 2. Rocks And Gravel 3. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right 4. The Cuckoo 5. Moonshiner 6. Handsome Molly 7. Cocaine 8. John Brown 9. Barbara Allen 10. West Texas |
KINDNESS IN THE HARD CROWD
While it was hard to believe CREAM would ever re-unite, now the mighty trinity go to the US to stomp the Madison Square Garden stage on October 24th, 25th and 26th. But before that, on October 4th, issued will be their live album and a DVD, recorded five month earlier. Called simply “Royal Albert Hall: London May 2-3-5-6, 2005”, the sets represent the acclaimed Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker’s show in its entirety – as suggested by bootlegs that emerged way back in May. A surefire blast!
| 1. I’m So Glad 2. Spoonful 3. Outside Woman Blues 4. Pressed Rat & Warthog 5. Sleepy Time Time 6. N.S.U. 7. Badge 8. Politician 9. Sweet Wine 10. Rollin’ & Tumblin’ |
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11. Stormy Monday 12. Deserted Cities Of The Heart 13. Born Under A Bad Sign 14. We’re Going Wrong 15. Crossroads 16. Sitting On Top Of The World 17. White Room 18. Toad 19. Sunshine Of Your Love |
ANOTHER LAST STRAW
Nobody knows – but Andy Latimer, of course – what the CAMEL‘s future is. Yet while the band’s prospects hang in limbo, October 10th will see the release of a new DVD,“Camel Footage II”. The first part that appeared last year was greeted rapturously, so its successor’s success is guaranteed – not least because the second instalment of the group’s video backlog has more Hippodrome cuts on it. What about the third chapter in a year’s time, Andy?
| 1. Aristillus (intro) 2. Arubaluba (Guildford Civic Hall, 1973) 3. White Rider (Hammersmith Odeon, 1976) 4. Another Night (Hammersmith Odeon, 1976) 5. Rhayader (The Hippodrome, 1977) 6. Rhayader Goes To Town (The Hippodrome 1977) 7. Skylines (The Hippodrome, 1977) 8. Highways Of The Sun (The Hippodrome, 1977) 9. Never Let Go (The Hippodrome, 1977) 10. Lies (The Old Grey Whistle Test, 1981) 11. Drafted (Hammersmith Odeon, 1984) 12, Slow Yourself Down (acoustic, Troubadour, LA, 2000) 13. Eyes Of Ireland (acoustic, Troubadour, LA, 2000) 14. Fox Hill (The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, 2003) 15. The Last Farewell (outro) |
LET’S PUT THE X IN
If KISS kept their collective profile low recently, whilst dabbling with their solo projects, it doesn’t mean the masked commanders have abandoned their faithful army. There’s a good project in the works: the “Rock The Nation Live!” DVD was supposed to be comprised of two discs initially, but now it looms larger to include two more. Those to be included are said to feature a 1972 concert by the band called WICKED LESTER that went to become KISS, and a concert from 1973 – but there’s a real confusion as the tentative shows don’t correspond with the actual tour log. We’ll wait and see, and there’s no release date yet anyway. But the recent footage interspersed with documentaries will spread across the DVDs this way:
Disc 1:1. Intro |
Disc 2:1. War Machine |
SHOUT IT OUT
“Back Where I Belong”, the album that Tony Martin released back in 1992 was a marvellous record. Since then, a lot of water went under the bridge. The singer returned to front BLACK SABBATH, then was ousted for their original warbler to return, then lent his vocals to Dario Mollo’s THE CAGE project, yet now he’s back to his own devices, and the devices – in the form of the “Scream” album, due out in November – are good. Not only because Tony recorded it in, of all places. Headless Cross, that’s in Worcestershire, but also there’s drum tracks on “Raising Hell” laid down by sorely missed Cozy Powell. SABS’ keyboard meister Geoff Nicholls contributed to it as well.
| 1. Raising Hell 2. Bitter Sweet 3. Faith In Madness 4. I’m Gonna Live Forever 5. Scream 6. Surely Love Is Dead 7. The Kids Of Today Don’t Understand The Blues 8. Wherever You Go 9. Field Of Lies |
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