Seminal album gets the deluxe treatment
Phil Manzanera
Interesting article in the paper the other day about the riff from K- Scope and how it rose to fame….
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/phil-manzanera-on-jay-z-kanye-west-and-the-riff-that-changed-his-life-10128766.html
Sabbath say farewell
The end of the road with one last show
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/mar/24/black-sabbath-announces-farewell-concert
Hawkwind – This Is Your Captain Speaking
What does it sound like?:
All the Hawkwind you could ever need covering the years 1970-74. An 11 cd box comprising the studio albums Hawkwind, In Search of Space, Do Re Mi, and Hall of the Mountain Grill plus double live sets of Space Ritual, the band’s set from 72’s Greasy Truckers Party and 1999 Party recorded on the US tour of 74 but not released until 1997. The final cd, Of Time and Stars, is new for this collection and comprises numerous singles, edits, rarities, etc.
What does it all *mean*?
If you like what we can loosely define as ‘space rock’ then you will be in your element with this set, which is nicely presented in a clam shell box. Sometimes the live material can drag and be a bit much of a muchness, but all the classic material from that period is present and correct here.
Goes well with…
Meant for dipping into rather than hearing in one sitting! The best of the material, eg on Space Ritual, has stood the test of time well, bearing in mind it was recorded over forty years ago. Other pieces have not aged so well however, and some judicious » Continue Reading.
Politician
Election on the way so Bargepole asks what songs remind you of our politicians ?
Who’d have thought it
Songs that turn out to be written by someone completely unexpected – like this, composed by the late Andy Fraser
Speedvark
A new single appears……comments?
Rebus alert
New book to be published this autumn – named after this….
Look at my chopper
You couldn’t make it up……
A police officer suspended over claims he filmed people having sex in South Yorkshire from the force’s helicopter has been sacked.
Memories can’t wait
Bargepole asks, is there one special song that as soon as you hear the opening chords brings forth unbidden a flood of memories – what is that tune and just what are those memories……?
Birthday buddies
Twang’s post yesterday about David Gilmour’s birthday caused Bargepole to wonder who else shared our birthday – as well as Mr Gilmour, Bargepole shares with, among others, Michaelangelo, Elizabeth Barratt Browning, Frankie Howerd and John Noakes (get down Shep!)
Who are your birthday buddies?
Return of the Mac
tour dates just announced by McCartney
David Gilmour
new album and tour dates announced for September.
http://www.mojo4music.com/19245/david-gilmour-make-solo-return-september/
Art For Arts Sake
Bargepole asks a simple yet complicated question – what is your favourite piece of art, be it painting, sculpture, whatever – illustrations welcome.
This is your captain speaking
On January 28th 1970, Hawkwind (previously Hawkwind Zoo), managed by Doug Smith of Clearwater Productions, with line-up Dave Brock, Mick Slattery, Nik Turner, Terry Ollis, Dik Mik, and John A. Harrison signed to Liberty Records. Mick Slattery leaves soon after to be replaced by Huw Lloyd-Langton and the band record their first self-titled album at Trident Studios in London. From that point onwards, the period of 1970 – 1974 proved to be a busy time for Hawkwind.
The subsequent years see several line-up changes within the band, the rise to prominence of a certain Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, the ingenious ‘Space Ritual Tour’ and a peculiar ban from BBC recording sessions.
This new box set celebrates that period, including 5 studio albums, 2 live albums and a compilation disc of the band’s singles. Albums included are Hawkwind, Xin In Search Of Space, Greasy Truckers Party, Doremi Fasol Latido, The Space Ritual Alive, Hall Of The Mountain Grill, 1999 Party and Of Time & Stars – The Singles.
THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING… YOUR CAPTAIN IS DEAD will be released worldwide on March 23rd 2015 through Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company.
Album & Track List
Kindle book prices
Why does the price of a book, even newly published bestsellers, vary seemingly on an almost daily basis – is it just a case of supply and demand ?
Yestravaganza
YES: LIVE FROM SEVENTY-TWO
Two Live Collections Debut Newly Discovered Recordings From The Prog-Rock Pioneer’s Acclaimed 1972 World Tour
Double-Disc, Triple-LP, And 14-Disc Boxed Set Available May 18 From Rhino
Yes was firing on all cylinders in the fall of 1972. The prog-rock pioneers’ fifth studio album Close To The Edge was a smash success as audiences around the world packed arenas to see the legendary group perform. The band captured the magic of that tour on its first live album, Yessongs. Released in 1973, the triple-LP sold over a million copies and blew minds with Roger Dean’s iconic artwork.
The band recently discovered recordings of seven complete concerts from the weeks leading up to the shows heard on Yessongs. The latest audio technology was used to restore the reel-to-reel recordings and bring out incredible sonic detail, creating an open, immediate sound that drops listeners right into the front row.
Rhino has assembled three new releases featuring previously unreleased music included on these newly discovered tapes. HIGHLIGHTS FROM SEVENTY-TWO includes 90 minutes of live recordings selected from various shows. Available on two CDs or three LPs, the music flows like a typical setlist from the tour as it spotlights » Continue Reading.
Test match cricket
Four day test matches under consideration by the ECB – surely an idea that should left on the drawing board ?
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/838489.html
Queen Forever
What does it sound like?:
Yet another compilation, presumably put out as a way to flog the three ‘new’ songs on here. The best of these by far is ‘Let Me In Your Heart Again’, an outtake from The Works album, and decent enough if you like the commercial/poppier side of Queen. ‘There Must Be More To Life Than This’ is a duet with a very youthful sounding Michael Jackson, whose voice sounds very weak next to Mercury’s. The other two songs they recorded in 1981 remain in the vaults, presumably held back for another future release, but you can see why this was rejected for inclusion on both Hot Space and The Works before a solo version finally appeared on Fred’s Mr Bad Guy album. ‘Love Kills’ is simply a slowed down band version of the Giorgio Moroder hi – nrg track most will be familiar with.
What does it all *mean*?
Comes in both single and expanded two cd versions, and it’s good to hear some of the less familiar Queen songs like Lily of The Valley, Drowse and Nevermore alongside the usual selection of well known tracks such as You’re My Best Friend, Somebody To Love » Continue Reading.
Bad Company
A top band back in the day, but pretty much overlooked now – the first two albums, probably their best work, get the deluxe reissue treatment.
http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/bad-company-and-straight-shooter-2cd-and-2lp-deluxe-editions/
Reviews
It is really pleasing to see how the various reviews sections have taken off since the website was relaunched. (At the old place they tended to be updated quite infrequently) That is all – keep up the good work people!
Steve Howe – Anthology
What does it sound like?:
A two cd retrospective of his solo material. In contrast to his Homebrew series, this concentrates solely on finished pieces rather than demos. The best material comes from his early albums Beginnings and The Steve Howe Album, both of which feature sundry members of Yes. Indeed, fans of Yes and Asia will notice a few familiar themes scattered among these outings.
What does it all *mean*?
Although you can’t deny Howe’s undoubted technical ability, two cds worth can be a bit much of a muchness if listened to in one sitting – far better to dip in and out of this collection.
Goes well with…
There’s a nice orchestral take on Mood For A Day (taken from Symphonic Music of Yes), but could live without the two Dylan covers – I know he’s a huge fan, but his voice just isn’t up to it.
Might suit people who like…
Obviously fans of Yes and it’s various offshoots, or fans of instrumental guitar music in general, performed by a real virtuoso.
Lamentation
Author:C J Sansom
The sixth novel in the Matthew Shardlake series, set in Tudor England. The lawyer/sleuth has to recover a controversial confessional book written by Catherine Parr, stolen from a seemingly locked cabinet – only one page has been found, clutched in the hand of a murdered printer. Sansom brilliantly recreates the London of 1546, from the lavish gilded palaces to the poverty of the ramshackle huts around St Paul’s to the dungeons of the Tower.
Length of Read:Long
Might appeal to people who enjoyed…
Fans of meticulously researched historical fiction, who love to immerse themselves in a long complex story – if you liked the preceding tales in this series you’ll certainly enjoy this.
One thing you’ve learned
Hilary Mantel doesn’t have a monopoly on fiction based on the Tudor era.
Prog Rock FAQ
Author:Will Romano
Not so much a book as a series of individual articles that can be dipped into in isolation if required. Looks at the development of the prog scene from its early days up to the present, covering significant bands and albums. However, even the ‘in depth’ articles seems rather superficial, only scratching the surface and tending to leap off at tangents onto other subjects for no discernible reason. Quite a few interviews are thrown in, but these are mainly with peripheral figures rather than the main players.
Length of Read:Short
Might appeal to people who enjoyed…
Had quite high hopes for this book but they were unfulfilled in the main. It’s for hard core fans of the genre only really, and can’t particularly recommend it even for them.
One thing you’ve learned
Didn’t learn too much new to be honest other than perhaps prog is better understood by being listened to rather than by being written about.
Bruce Dickinson
is being treated for cancer
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31534635
worrying times….
