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August 28, 2003

LICKING THE FUDGE

If there's a band deliciously menacing, VANILLA FUDGE are the one. Having somehow become one of American symbols, they were presented with a banner award, an American flag that was flown over the Capital building in Washington DC, on August 17th, when Carmine Appice and his colleagues played with San Fernando Valley symphony orchestra. A glorious show had been recorded, and the CD/DVD package is imminent. Quite about time, really.

AIN'T NO CURES FOR THE BLUES

Blues, jazz and prog rock are just three of the genres embraced on "Elements", the debut album of Steve Howe's REMEDY, the YES' guitarist new band. A kind of family affair, the record, out on September 29th in Europe and October 7th in the U.S., features Steve's sons Dylan and Virgil on drums and keyboards respectively - both already played with their father on 1993's "The Grand Scheme Of Things" - the line-up is rounded off with Israeli flutist and sax blower Gilad Atzmon and Derrick Taylor on bass.

Says Steve:
"This album has really been a lot of fun; I can't imagine when any album has come together in this way with a kind of snowball effect where I would just lock into it for one week, go mad on it and do a zillion things, go off and do something else, move over to another project, and then come back to it many times in the space of my six months off from YES, from the beginning 'til mid-2003. So the music feels like it has just come out of my veins!"
Easy to believe.

1. Across The Cobblestone 2. Bee Strings 3. Westwinds 4. Where I Belong 5. Whiskey Hill 6. The Chariot Of Gold 7. Tremolando 8. Pacific Haze

9. Load Of My Mind 10. Hecla Lava 11. Smoke Silver 12. Inside Out Muse 13. Rising Sun 14. Sand Devil 15. The Longing 16. A Drop In The Ocean

August 21, 2003

LET 'EM ROLL

They're a stronghold and, thus, hard to take by storm, yet THE ROLLING STONES finally succumbed to the modern trends and are letting their fans a good portion of the band's glorious catalogue for download. For 79 cents per track only, there's a possibility to burn a personal collection of the combo's classics, but only those released after 1971, when THE STONES broke free from ABKCO and set The Rolling Stones Records. Still, later period brought forth many magnificent hits, like "Brown Sugar", so hundreds of them will be offered in a specially encrypted digital format to prevent illegal swapping.

With the band finishing their "Forty Licks Tour" and celebrating THE STONES' 40th anniversary, ABKCO isn't out of action either. The company has granted permission to listen to more than 300 hundred pre-1971 songs via an Internet jukebox and is releasing the first ever ROLLING STONES' remix. The maxi-single contains seven versions of 1968's smash "Sympathy For The Devil" - the original cut and radio and full-length ones twiddled by The Neptunes, Fat Boy Slim and Full Phatt. Hybrid SACD is packaged in an animated lenticular cover bearing a flamed version of the tongue logo and can be played as a standard CD and Super Audio CD stereo and 5.1 Surround. Well, pleased to meet them, and we do know their name...

SPINNING 'HEAD

For the band playing nothing more than simple but heavy - and heady! - rock 'n' roll, MOTORHEAD seem to be too great and monumental. Good Golly, guts and warts, Ian Kilmister’s bunch more than deserves all the accolades, if only for sheer abandon – and sheer volume. What Lemmy and his colleagues didn’t have until now was a proper anthology in a form of an impressive box set, as no other compilation can’t hold the madness of, phew, 29 years that passed since Ian got kicked off from HAWKWIND, just to shoot higher than them.

Now the ‘HEAD are served well – or, to be exact, will be on October 7th – with the release of "Stone Deaf Forever!", a 5CD-box spanning the band’s well-being from 1975 up to 2002. Issued with the ensemble’s approval, tracklisting compiled with input from the musicians and their fan club, the box has previously unreleased tracks (*) in there and a 60-page booklet. That’s what’s called Orgasmatron, you bet!

TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING

Let’s face it: THE WHO are no more – at least, that’s what the surviving two members say and the fans think. What they think as well is, Why not have more of those magical moments there were, while the British rock veterans did the windmill guitarring and mike-juggling? So last year, ‘official bootlegs’ thread started being woven with full Pete Townshend’s cooperation, and the soundboard recordings from 2002’s tour of North America still continue to pile up – there are 25 of them now, called ”Encore Series” and produced in strictly limited quantities.

Exclusively available from EelPie.com, the profits from the CDs go to young peoples' charities supported by the band. More so, the collectors can get a hold of all 25 double albums, housed either in the Limited Edition Road Case with a 60-page color book featuring tour photos and commentary, and a card autographed card by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, or in a 5.5''x7.5’’x5’’ Collector's Box, also with a book. So if you have “Lifehouse Chronicles", why not go further and spend some more hundreds of bloody bucks? Especially if you happened to be on one of these shows:

Oh, here’s much more interesting stuff coming from the very same windmill limbs: THE WHO leader Pete Townshend has another concert album of his out. ”Live BAM 1993”, recorded at the Brooklyn Academy of, it features the entire "Psychoderlict” performance and some of Pete’s many hits played that evening with a band and actors doing theatrical presentation.

Disk 1: 1. Intro 2. English Boy 3. Meher Baba M3 4. Let's Get Pretentious 5. Meher Baba M4 (signal box) 6. Early Morning Dreams 7. I Want That Thing 8. Intro: Outlive The Dinosaur 9. Outlive The Dinosaur 10. Gridlife 1 11. Flame (demo) 12. Now And Then	13. I Am Afraid 14. Gridlife 2 15. Don't Try To Make Me Real 16. Intro: Predictable 17. Predictable 18. Flame 19. Meher Baba M5 (Vivaldi) 20. Fake It 21. Intro: Now And Then (reprise) 22. Now And Then (reprise) 23. Baba O'Riley (demo) 24. English Boy (reprise)
Disk 2: 1. Pinball Wizard / See Me Feel Me / Listening To You 2. Let My Love Open The Door 3. Rough Boys 4. Behind Blue Eyes 5. The Kids Are Alright 6. Keep Me Turning 7. Eminence Front 8. A Little Is Enough 9. You Better You Bet 10. Face The Face 11. Won't Get Fooled Again / Let's See Action 12. Magic Bus

THE HERDSMAN'S PRESENT

It's almost impossible to recognize in this austere looking man that curly-wurly chap who led THE HERD, placed countrified licks with HUMBLE PIE and went to the rainbow's end with his concert recoding after severe damage in a car crash. But it's indeed him, Peter Frampton, who puts out his first studio album in nine years on August 25th. "Now" is both for old fans of Peter's talent and for the new ones hooked on his contributions to the "Almost Famous" soundtrack. Songs from the pen which wrote "Show Me The Way" and "Baby, I Love Your Way" can't be a letdown, and "My Guitar Gently Weeps" won't be for sure: George Harrison was Frampton's dear friend.

1. Verge Of A Thing 2. Flying Without Wings 3. Love Stands Alone 4. Not Forgotten 5. Hour Of Need 6. Mia Rose 7. I'm Back 8. I Need ground 9. While My Guitar Gently weeps 10. Greens 11. Above It All European bonus tracks: 12. Cleveland 13. No Going Back 14. How Long Is Forever

WILL YOU DO THE FANDANGO?

This May Jeff Scott Soto was the guest at the 2003 Queen Convention and, being the top-class singer - no, there's no doomed comparison to Freddie - he did an amazing job performing QUEEN numbers, some dozens of them. Not something to pass by, it's all on DVD now, available from www.jeffscottsoto.com. Gunpowder and gelatine, dynamite and a laser beam, guaranteed to blow your mind. Anytime.

1. Procession 2. Let Me Entertain You 3. Tie Your Mother Down 4. Another One Bites The Dust 5. I Want to Break Free 6. Keep Yourself Alive 7. Spread Your Wings 8. Dragon Attack 9. Medley: - Death On Two Legs - Princes Of The Universe - Tenement Funster - Flick Of The Wrist - Innuendo - Ogre Battle - I'm In Love With My Car 10. Fat Bottomed Girls 11. '39 12. Hammer To Fall 13. Don't Stop Me Now 14. You're My Best Friend 15. Save Me 16. I Want It All 17. Guitar Solo feat. Howie Simon 18. Stone Cold Crazy

19. Piano Medley: - Dear Friends - You Take My Breath Away - Love Of My Life - Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy - Jealousy - Nevermore - Lily Of The Valley - The Millionaire Waltz - Who Wants To Live Forever 20. Somebody To Love 21. Killer Queen 22. Play The Game 23. These Are The Days Of Our Lives 24. It's Late 25. Under Pressure 26. Radio Ga Ga 27. Drum Solo feat. Alex Papa 28. We Will Rock You 29. We Are The Champions encores: 31. Bohemian Rhapsody 32. The Show Must Go On 33. God Save The Queen

August 14, 2003

TRAVERS' COVER TRAVERSE

It's great when a seasoned musician sets about doing classic songs, because he knows his chops well enough to apply his own personality to a well-known song and make it quite his own too. Pat Travers fits the definition perfectly, and one can be convinced in this, giving a spin to the guitarist's new album, "P. T. Power Trio". The title's telling, as the Canadian's drumming foil on the record is no other than Aynsley Dunbar, and among the songs - all being covers - are those by mighty three-pieces like MOUNTAIN, Robin Trower's band, and THE ANIMALS' tune made famous by GRAND FUNK. Groovy.

1. Tramp (STRAY DOG) 2. White Room (CREAM) 3. Day Of The Eagle (Robin Trower) 4. Dreams Of Milk And Honey (MOUNTAIN) 5. Inside Looking Out (THE ANIMALS) 6. Free Man (POINT BLANK) 7. Young Man Blues (THE WHO) 8. Nasty Dogs And Funky Kings (ZZ TOP) 9. Fire And Water (FREE) 10. Highway 61 Revisited (Bob Dylan)

ESPRESSIVELY PLAYING

In the last couple of years, Patrick Moraz has been very elusive, and it's only now that his website is undergoing facelift to let all the fans know as to what's the Swiss pianist been up to. What's for certain is he was no slouch recently, because there's a new album of Patrick's coming out. A follow up to 2000's "Resonance", it's called "ESP" which stands for "Etudes, Sonatas, Preludes", and is exactly these - pure piano pieces in classical style. Those who remember Moraz's work on YES' "Relayer" may found his new cycle alluring.

1. Prelude in C# min 2. Prelude in C# (Little Diamond) 3. Prelude In C# 4. Sonata in C (1st Movement Allegro in C) 5. Sonata In C (2nd Movement Andante in G) 6. Sonata in C (3rd Movement Allegrettho in C-F-C) 7. Prelude in A min. (Andante inspired by "Keep the Children Alive") 8. Etude in Bb 9. Etude in F# (Waterfalls) 10. Etude - Fugue in A (starts in F#) 11. Etude in Bb (Dynamic Symmetry) 12. Etude in F# 13. Etude in F (Chords in 5ths) 14. Prelude in G and Bb 15. Prelude in Bm 16. Grand Sonata in Dm (1st movement Allegro)

A KINKY CHANGE

While THE KINKS' Ray Davies keeps a low profile and still digs his concept albums, his young sibling, Dave Davies has a new record out, "Transformation". Recorded live at the Alex Theater and mixed at Ray's Konk Studios, the show features new and previously unreleased material alongside the parent band's classics like "Death Of A Clown" and "You Really Got Me". A nice time-filler in the absense of new work from THE KINKS.

1. Transformation I 2. Who's Foolin' Who 3. Til The End Of The Day 4. I Need You 5. The Blues 6. See My Friends 7. Dead End Street 8. Rock You, Rock Me 9. Flowers In The Rain

10. Death Of A Clown 11. Picture Book 12. It Ain't Over 'Til It's Done! 13. Bug 14. Transformation II 15. Livin' On A Thin Line encores: 16. Father Christmas 17. You Really Got Me 18. Outro

LIVE AND KICKIN'

Ten years ago, in 1993, Paul McCartney embarked on his second world tour since the '70s. Sure, that was the event but, though the video had been shot during "The New World Tour" and the CD "Paul Is Live" released, it never made it to the DVD. Now it does. Entitled "Paul Is Live", the programme's a good addition to any collection - but the time seems not right for it to come out in the wake of Macca's acclaimed "Back In The U. S." DVD. Not the greatest stuff, yet worth checking out anyway.

1. Drive My Car 2. Let Me Roll It 3. Looking For Changes 4. Peace In The Neighborhood 5. All My Loving 6. Good Rockin' Tonight 7. We Can Work It Out 8. Hope Of Deliverance 9. Michelle 10. Biker Like An Icon

11. Here, There And Everywhere 12. Magical Mystery Tour 13. C'mon People 14. Lady Madonna 15. Paperback Writer 16. Penny Lane 17. Live And Let Die 18. Kansas City 19. Let It Be 20. Yesterday 21. Hey Jude

August 7, 2003

FAREWELL, THE SUN LIGHTER

Legendary producer Sam Phillips died on July 30th, aged 80. It's difficult to say what rock 'n' roll would have looked like now, if not for Sam, for it was him, the founder of Memphis' Sun Records, who saw the burning talent in a truck driver called Elvis Presley and signed him to launch a stellar career. But that was not the only time that Phillips' flair for magic proved the man great - a bit later he pushed on country performer Carl Perkins to give it a go with a new trend, and this new trend brought forth a slew of classics including "Blue Suede Shoes". Then, when Elvis moved to the pastures more financially ripe, in came the piano-bashing Jerry Lee Lewis, after him Roy Orbison and many more of those who helped shaped rock, all nurtured by the bear-like Sam. A place in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame is just a minimal admission of Phillips' merit. His was a glorious life, not vain. Rest in peace, the Sun lighter.

ALL THE WAY TO DUDES

They were a strange bunch of lads, yet somehow MOTT THE HOOPLE found their way to fame and still have enough fans eating out of the singer Ian Hunter's hand. Those'll be happy, then, to get a hold of the band's Island albums that are to be re-issued now through Angel Air. Each record is sprinkled with a couple of bonus cuts, and there's a compilation "Two Miles From Heaven" ready to make it to a CD for the first time, also augmented. The additional tracks are:

"Mott The Hoople"
- Ohio
- Find Your Way (backtrack demo)
"Mad Shadows"
- It Would Be A Pleasure
- How Long (Death May Be Your Santa Claus)
"Wildlife"
- It'll Be Me
- Long Red
"Brain Capers"
- Midnight Lady
- The Journey
"Two Miles From Heaven"
- The Debt
- Downtown

RHAPSODY IN PURPLE

All the band's recent activity didn't give DEEP PURPLE DVDs more fans' attention than two old videos that are about to enter the digital era.

The first, to be out in late 2003, is "Live In Denmark 1972" also knows as "Machine Head Live", a monochrome recording from Copenhagen previously available in either black-and-white or purple-and-white. It's been restored to get rid of occasional sound on vision problems and framed for a full widescreen image. The second one has a legendary status due to Ritchie Blackmore's pyrotechnic antics - "Live At The California Jam" from Ontario Motor Speedway underwent a major enhancement, with eight reels of alternate camera angles incorporated into the DVD, with cut-out "Lay Down Stay Down" reinstated where it should have been, with new interviews with band members and road crew, and additional footage. This will be issued as a special edition with a poster and reproduction ticket in early 2004. Get ready to shell out the dough, then.

Live In Denmark 1. Highway Star 2. Strange Kind Of Woman 3. Child In Time 4. The Mule 5. Lazy 6. Space Truckin' 7. Fireball 8. Lucille 9. Black Night

California Jam 1. Burn 2. Might Just Take Your Life 3. Lay Down, Stay Down 4. Mistreated 5. Smoke On The Water 6. You Fool No One 7. Space Truckin'

MOORE, NO LESS

Some things are being done fast even now: only a couple of months after this year festival, Gary Moore has the concert document, "Live At The Monsters Of Rock", out on September 1st. The reason for such velocity might well be the bootleg of the show which has been in circulation since the guitarist pleased his fans with incendiary versions of the songs he'd not being playing for a long while, like "Wishing Well" by FREE, THE YARDBIRDS' classic "Shapes Of Things" or his own contribution to the THIN LIZZY canon, "Don't Believe A Word". Appetite's whetted.

1. Shapes Of Things 2. Wishing Well 3. Rectify 4. Guitar Intro (End Of The World) 5. Stand Up 6. Just Can't Let You Go 7. Walking By Myself 8. Don't Believe A Word 9. Out In The Fields 10. Parisienne Walkways

RIDING THE DARK HORSE

Long overdue news come from the family of much-missed George Harrison.

In her web posting, Olivia, the musician's widow, wrote this November will see the release of the double-DVD set "The Concert For George", on which preserved is the show that took place on November 29th, 2002 at the Royal Albert Hall. The release is to be preceded by a worldwide limited theatrical release of the film. This version, with interviews and additional mini-features of the rehearsals etcetera, makes the second disc, while the first contains the concert recording in its entirety.

What's, perhaps, more important for the Quiet One aficionados, is the fact that the re-mastering of Harrison's Dark Horse catalogue - George started the work before he died - is almost finished, and all the albums, with a smattering of bonus material, will be out in early 2004, available both individually and in a special box set.

Dark Horse Records and Apple Corps. have more projects on the go - if only George was there to keep an eye on the process...

IS HE REAL?

Nobody knows what the David Bowie world is like, except for the chameleon man himself. Is he really revealing it all on his forthcoming album, "Reality"? Listen will show - maybe. The artwork doesn't say much. What does, is David's intentions to reprise the classic "Pin-Ups" cover, which apparently weren't fulfilled. Yet there's a link to that old LP that consists of covers: "Reality" has George Harrison's "Try Some, Buy Some" on it, while Bowie's own "Pablo Picasso" makes a nice addition to his early gem, "Andy Warhol".

1. New Killer Star 2. Pablo Picasso 3. Never Get Old 4. The Loneliest Guy 5. Looking For Water 6. She'll Drive The Big Car 7. Days 8. Fall Dog Bombs The Moon 9. Try Some, Buy Some 10. Reality 11. Bring Me The Disco King

IT'S AN OLD DAY NOW

With all their archival bonanza that keeps fans breathing heavily, JETHRO TULL weren't so much spot-on with DVD. Last year's "Living With The Past" comprised of the last tour's gigs was about all the band could offer. Thankfully, a 1994's video dedicated to the TULL's 25th anniversary is finally released in digital form. Interviews apart, there's a lot of magnificent performances on "A New Day Yesterday" which makes it a must.

1. Introduction/Living In The Past (live, 1993) 2. Nothing Is Easy (live, Isle Of Wight, 1970) 3. 25th Anniversary Reunion 4. Teacher (live, TV, 1970) 5. Witch's Promise (Top Of The Pops, 1970) 6. Story Of The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles 7. Minstrel In The Gallery (live, 1975) 8. Aqualung (BBC Sight & Sound, 1977) 9. Thick As A Brick (live, 1978) 10. Songs From The Wood (live, 1980) 11. Too Old To Rock'n'Roll (promo, 1980) 12. Kissing Willie (promo, 1989) 13. 25th Anniversary Tour Rehearsals/My God) 14. Rocks On The Road (promo video, 1991) 15. A New Day Yesterday (live, promo, 1993) 16. Teacher (live, TV, 1970) 17. Witch's Promise (Top Of Pops, 1970) 18. Story Of The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles (live, 1973) 19. Aqualung (BBC Sight & Sound, 1970) 20. Kissing Willie (promo, 1989) 21. Rocks On The Road (promo, 1991) 22. Living In The Past (live, 1993) 23. Witch's Promise (live, 1970) (bonus)