Monthly Archives: September, 2015
AMERICA-THE WARNER BROS. YEARS 1971-1977.
AMERICA-THE WARNER BROS. YEARS 1971-1977. Somewhat confusingly, the America story began in London in 1971. That’s when high school students Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek, and Gerry Beckley first met. Their fathers were all members of the US Air Force, and at that time, were stationed in London. Far from home, and strangers in a foreign …
MILES DAVIS AT NEWPORT 1955-1975-THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOLUME 4.
MILES DAVIS AT NEWPORT 1955-1975-THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOLUME 4. It was in 1954, that Elaine Lorillard and her husband Louis founded the Newport Jazz Festival. Elaine’s love affair with jazz began in 1943. She was twenty-nine, single and was living in New York when she first heard jazz music. This was very different to her …
STOMU YAMASHTA-GO TOO.
STOMU YAMASHTA-GO TOO. By the late sixties, jazz was at a crossroads. It was no longer as popular as it had once been. Its popularly had plummeted. Comparisons were being drawn with blues music. Although there had been a brief resurgence in the blues popularity earlier in the sixties, many of its biggest names were …
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART-LICK MY DECALS OFF, BABY, THE SPOTLIGHT KID AND CLEAR SPOT.
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART-LICK MY DECALS OFF, BABY, THE SPOTLIGHT KID AND CLEAR SPOT. It was in 1964 that Don Van Vliet first dawned his Captain Beefheart persona. By then, Don was already twenty-three and had led an eventful life. He’d been called a child prodigy, attended art school, sold vacuum cleaners and for the last two …
FLORIAN FRICKE/POPOL VUH-KAILASH.
FLORIAN FRICKE/POPOL VUH-KAILASH. In music, the most overused word is legend. It’s a word thrown around like confetti at a Las Vegas wedding. Nowadays, every two-bit hip hopper, EDM star or Nu Soul singer is being referred to as a legend. That’s far removed from the truth. However, it’s nothing new. The overuse of the …
BOZ SCAGGS-A FOOL TO CARE.
BOZ SCAGGS-A FOOL TO CARE. 2015 has been the year of the comeback. Some of the biggest names of yesteryear have returned after a lengthy absence. The year started well with critically acclaimed comeback album from Bob Dylan. Then recently, Dave Gilmour, released his first solo album since Pink Floyd called it a day. However, …
AUDIENCE-FRIENDS, FRIENDS, FRIEND.
Audience- Friend’s, Friend’s, Friend. In October 1969, Audience were offered the opportunity to support Led Zeppelin at the Lyceum in London. For Audience, this was the opportunity of a lifetime as Led Zeppelin had just released their eponymous debut album on 12th of January 1969. It was well on its way to selling over ten …
EARTH AND FIRE-TO THE WORLD OF THE FUTURE.
EARTH AND FIRE-TO THE WORLD OF THE FUTURE. Alquin, Ekseption, Finch, Focus, Golden Earring and Trace all have something in common. Just like Earth and Fire, they were some of the most successful Dutch bands of the prog rock era. Their music is still popular today among connoisseurs of progressive rock. That’s why Earth and …
TEN YEARS AFTER-STONEDHENGE.
TEN YEARS AFTER-STONEDHENGE. In October 1967, Ten Years After released their eponymous debut album. The album failed to make an impression on either side of the Atlantic. It was a disappointing start to Ten Years After’s recording career. Especially considering how well things had been going for Ten Years After. Ever since they had changed …
GTR-GTR.
GTR-GTR. After his departure from Asia in 1985, guitarist Steve Howe was looking for a new project. Although Steve had nothing in the pipeline, he had an idea. It was a tantalising prospect. Brian Lane, Yes’ former manager, realised this as the pair sat down to talk. Steve Howe explained that his idea involved forming …
ROGER WATERS-AMUSED TO DEATH-VINYL EDITION.
ROGER WATERS-AMUSED TO DEATH-VINYL EDITION. Following the departure of Syd Barrett from Pink Floyd, bassist Roger Waters became the group’s creative force. This was the case from Pink Floyd’s third album, Ummagumma, which was released in 1969, right through to 1983s The Final Cut. After the release of The Final Cut, Roger Waters left Pink …
LOW DOWN-ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK.
LOW DOWN-ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK. Each week, there’s countless compilations released. It seems that just about every genre is covered. Whether it’s psychedelia, rock and reggae or disco, funk and soul, there’s nearly something for everyone. I say nearly, because recently, there’s been a dearth of jazz compilations. While there’s plethora of reissues of jazz …
THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE-FREEDOM: ATLANTA POP FESTIVAL.
THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE-FREEDOM: ATLANTA POP FESTIVAL. On the 4th of July 1970, Jimi Hendrix journeyed 100 miles south of Atlanta. His destination was the second Atlanta International Pop Festival. It was being billed as the second Woodstock, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience were about play a starring role. When The Jimi Hendrix Experience arrived …
JADE WARRIOR-FLOATING WORLD.
JADE WARRIOR-FLOATING WORLD. All too often, musical innovators don’t get the credit they deserve. That was the case with Jade Warrior. Their fourth studio album, Floating World was released in 1974, and pioneered both ambient and world music. Floating World was the most ambitious album of Jade Warrior’s career. However, Floating World which was recently …
AS THE TIRED TRAINS CROSS EUROPE-LUCID MOMENTS.
AS THE TIRED TRAINS CROSS EUROPE-LUCID MOMENTS. “Don’t believe the hype.” So sung Public Enemy in 1988. They could’ve been describing some of press releases that come the way of music critics. That’s not the case with the press release that accompanied the forthcoming album from As The Tired Trains Cross Europe. Their debut album …
MICHAEL CHAPMAN-THE MAN WHO HATED MORNINGS.
MICHAEL CHAPMAN-THE MAN WHO HATED MORNINGS. In 1977, Michael Chapman was about to release the eight album of his career, The Man Who Hated Mornings on Deram Records. That had been home to Michael since 1973, when he released his fifth album Millstone Grit. By then, Michael Chapman had released five albums in the four …
JIGMASTAS-GRASSROOTS THE PROLOGUE DELUXE EDITION.
JIGMASTAS-GRASSROOTS THE PROLOGUE DELUXE EDITION. By the time Jigmastas were formed in 1991, hip hop had come a long way from the genre was born in the Bronx in the late sixties. Its founding fathers were groups of African American and Latin American youths. This includes the Ghetto Brothers. They plugged the amplifiers for their …
LED ZEPPELIN-IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR-DELUXE VINYL EDITION.
LED ZEPPELIN-IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR-DELUXE VINYL EDITION. On 15th August 1979, Led Zeppelin released their eighth studio album In Through the Out Door. By then, they were one of the biggest selling bands in the world. Their first seven studio albums and their 1976 live album The Song Remains The Same, had sold eighty-three …
LOWE COUNTRY-THE SONGS OF NICK LOWE.
LOWE COUNTRY-THE SONGS OF NICK LOWE. Despite enjoying a career that’s lasted nearly fifty years, Nick Lowe’s music still hasn’t found the wider audience it deserves. His biggest hit came in 1978, when I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass reached number seven in Britain. A year later, in 1979, Cruel To Be Kind reached number …
RIM KWAKU OBENG-RIM ARRIVES.
RIM KWAKU OBENG-RIM ARRIVES. For collectors of Afro-funk and disco, many albums remain tantalisingly out of reach. This includes Ghanian drummer Rim Kwaku Obeng’s legionary lost debut album Rim Arrives. It was released in 1977, four years after a perilous time for Rim Kwaku Obeng. He found himself stranded in London, without money, documents or …
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