Category Archives: Rock

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MUSICAL PIONEER EMILIO APARICIO.

The Life and Times Of Musical Pioneer Emilio Aparicio. Nowadays, the words pioneer and innovator tend to be overused, and musicians who create truly groundbreaking music seem to be sadly, few and far between. While there are some pioneering musicians whose music continues to push musical boundaries, there are no longer as many as there once …

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CULT CLASSIC: DON ELLIS-SHOCK TREATMENT.

Cult Classic: Don Ellis-Shock Treatment. Bandleader, composer and trumpeter Don Ellis’ life was changed forevermore in 1974, when he was diagnosed with an abnormal heart condition, and a year later, in 1975, suffered his first heart attack which very nearly cost him his life. Fortunately, Don Ellis recovered and in 1977 signed to Atlantic Records. …

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MARIANNE FAITHFUL: THE DECCA YEARS.

Marianne Faithful: The Decca Years. By March 1964, it was apparent that pop music wasn’t just a passing fad. The Beatles were a global phenomenon and the British Invasion of the American charts had just begun. Britain was a musical powerhouse ,that the world envied. Despite this, many labels weren’t resting on their laurels. Record …

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THE RISE OF THE DOORS.

The Rise Of The Doors. By 1972, The Doors  had decided to call the upon their career  after the tragic death of their charismatic frontman Jim Morrison, who had died on the 3rd July 1971. The Lizard King became the latest entrant into the twenty-seven club, where he joined Brian Jones, Janis Joplin, Alan Wilson and Jimi Hendrix. This …

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CAFE EXIL-NEW ADVENTURES IN EUROPEAN MUSIC 1972-1980.

Cafe Exil-New Adventures In European Music 1972-1980. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD. At the end of David Bowie’s Station To Station tour in July 1976, he journeyed to Château d’Hérouville to start recording a new album.This wasn’t the followup to his critically acclaimed tenth album Station To Station. Instead, it was his friend Iggy Pop’s …

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CULT CLASSIC: TIM MAIA 1970.

Cult Classic: Tim Maia 1970. For many musicians, choosing the title for an album can prove problematic. Especially, for a debut album. As a result, many of new artists and bands have released eponymous albums.This includes everyone from Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and The Allman Brothers Band to Art In America and Ash Ra Tempel. Then there’s Cluster, Dire …

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NEIL YOUNG AFTER THE GOLD RUSH (50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION).

Neil Young-After The Gold Rush (50th Anniversary Edition). Label: Warner. Format: CD. During the winter of 1970, Neil Young and his backing band Crazy Horse embarked upon a short winter tour that included a concert at Filmore East, New York, where the twenty-four year old Canadian folk rocker shared a bill with Steve Miller and …

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THE KINKS-LOLA VERSUS POWERMAN AND THE MONEYGOROUND AND PERCY (50th ABBIVERSARY EDITION).

The Kinks-Lola Versus The Powerman and The Moneygoround (50th Anniversary Edition). Label: Sanctuary. Format: CD. By 1970, The Kinks had been through the ringer and everything that could’ve gone wrong had gone wrong. They had lost of bassist Pete Quaife in 1969  after they released their sixth album The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation …

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AL STEWART-24 CARROTS (40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION).

Al Stewart-24 Carrots (40th Anniversary Edition). Label: Esoteric Recordings. Format: 3 CD Box Set. In May 1980, thirty-four year old Glasgow-born folk rocker Al Stewart entered Davlen Studios in Los Angeles to begin work on his ninth album 24 Carrots. It was the first album to feature his new band Shot In The Dark. They …

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HUNTSVILLE AND YUKA HONDA, NELS CLINE, DARIN GRAY, GLENN KOTCHE-BOW SHOULDER.

Huntsville and Yuka Honda, Nels Cline, Darin Gray, Glenn Kotche-Bow Shoulder. Label: Hubro Music. Format: CD. In the spring of 2006, Chicago alternative rock band Wilco and Huntsville  were booked to play at the Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville in Quebec, Canada. Wilco played first and their guitarist Nels Cline decided to watch …

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FORTY YEARS AGO JOHN MARTYN RELEASED GRACE AND DANGER.

Forty Years Ago John Martyn Released Grace and Danger. In November 1977, John Martyn released what’s was undoubtably one the finest albums of his career, One World. It was an atmospheric, experimental and genre-defying album where everything from folk, jazz, reggae and rock melted together during eight tracks. When it was released, it was to overwhelming critical acclaim, …

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THE BETA BAND: A CASE OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN?

The Beta Band: A Case Of What Might Have Been? The Beta Band was formed in Edinburgh in 1996, and a year later, in July 1997 released their Champion Versions EP, which was the first of a trio of innovative EP’s the folktronica pioneers released. In March 1998 The Beta Band released their sophomore EP The Patty Patty …

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50 YEARS AGO GEORGE HARRISON RELEASED ALL THINGS MUST PASS.

50 Years Ago George Harrison Released All Things Must Pass  On the ‘10th’ of  April 1970, Paul McCartney announced his departure from The Beatles. This signalled the end of The Beatles and start of his solo career which began a week later. When Paul McCartney  released his debut album McCartney,  The Beatles were in the process …

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COLIN CURTIS PRESENTS JAZZ DANCE FUSION VOLUME 2.

Colin Curtis Presents Jazz Dance Fusion Volume 2. Label: Z Records. Format: CD. During the late-seventies and early eighties, one of most popular DJs on the UK jazz-dance scene was Colin Curtis, who was born Colin Dimond, in Madeley, Staffordshire 1952. That was where the his lifelong love of music began when he started to …

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THE BATHERS-SUNPOWDER.

The Bathers-Sunpowder Label: Marina Records. Format: CD. With Chris Thompson at the helm, the The Bathers could’ve and should’ve, been one the biggest Scottish bands ever. Their music was articulate, beautiful, dramatic, ethereal, elegiac, emotive, languid, literate and melancholy. This is music for those that have loved, lost and survived to tell the tale. Sadly, …

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NICK LUSCOMBE PRESENTS TOKYO DREAMING.

Nick Luscombe Presents Tokyo Dreaming. Label: Wewantsounds. Format: CD. Release Date: 27th November 2020. Usually, the compilation market is buoyant with a myriad of exciting, eclectic and esoteric releases hitting the racks of record shops each week. Sadly, 2020 hasn’t been like most years and this has resulted in many record labels have scaled back …

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MICHAEL ROTHER-SOLO II AND DREAMING.

Michael Rother-Solo II and Dreaming. Label: Gronland Records. Format: CD. By the early seventies, the German music scene was thriving, and  was one of the most vibrant in Europe. Some of the most influential and innovative music was being recorded and released by German bands who were part of a new musical movement and were making Kosmische musik. Its roots …

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CULT CLASSIC: EROL BÜYÜRBURÇ-HOP DEDIK.

Cult Classic: Erol Büyükburç-Hop Dedik. By October 1976, Erol Büyükburç was one of the biggest names in Turkish music. He was a flamboyant showman who looked like, dressed like and conducted himself like a star. Erol Büyükburç wore lame suits and was greeted by a legion of loyal fans every time he took the stage. …

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CLASSIC ALBUM: JETHRO TULL-HEAVY HORSES.

Classic Album: Jethro Tull-Heavy Horses. By April 1978, Jethro Tull were still one of the most successful British bands of their generation, and were about to release their eleventh album of their career, Heavy Horses. It was the second album in a trilogy of folk rock albums and Jethro Tull hoped that it would build on the …

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