All posts by KJ

The return of ASIA, with new album next year

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What grew from the John Wetton memorial concert in 2023 to last year’s North American tour, now sees Geoff Downes’ new line-up of ASIA signing to Frontiers, with a new album expected next year. I saw the band last year, and really liked it. New singer/bass player Harry Whitley is a great choice to front the band, he has a voice not far off from John Wetton’s, and he is young, enthusiastic, and sincere in performing the band’s classics; so a new album (despite no Carl Palmer or Steve Howe) sounds fine by me! Check out the press info and links below. Hopefully someone recorded one of last year’s shows for live release (but, who knows!?)

Scruffy Bear Media

Frontiers Music Srl proudly announces the signing of legendary English rock supergroup ASIA, for an exciting new chapter in their celebrated history.

2024 was the Year of the Dragon – and with it came a powerful rebirth: a new ASIA lineup featuring founding member, keyboardist Geoffrey Downes, acclaimed drummer Virgil Donati, virtuoso guitarist John Mitchell, and stunning vocal newcomer and bassist Harry Whitley. This new chapter promises to reignite the band’s iconic spirit, stepping into a promising new creative era.

Founder member, songwriter, producer, and keyboardist Geoff Downes expressed his excitement for the signing:

“ASIA is thrilled to have recently signed a new deal with Frontiers Music Srl. Having been loyally supported by the label throughout the ASIA reunion period from 2005-2015, we are now entering an exciting new chapter in the band’s 45-year history with a sequence of live albums, DVDs & a brand new studio album scheduled for a 2026 release. It’s very much a homecoming for the band, and so we are greatly looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership with them in the future. Watch this space!”

Mario de Riso, A&R and Business Affairs VP of Frontiers, commented:

“So proud and excited for the label to be able to bring back this iconic band. There was certainly unfinished business to deal with and, thanks to this fabulous new line-up, new music from ASIA can now come to fruition. It will be a blast!”

In the Summer of 2023, Geoff Downes spearheaded a memorial concert to remember and celebrate the life of his late, much-loved friend and ASIA co-founder member, the great John Wetton. At the concert, he invited rock ‘n roll veteran John Mitchell, who had played with both Wetton and Downes in Icon and in Wetton’s own band, to join him on stage, taking on lead guitar duties. The duo was joined by newcomer Harry Whitley, whom Downes had discovered and whose vocal talents so closely resembled those of Wetton’s, it was nothing short of spine-tingling. 

In 1982, John Wetton, Geoff Downes, Carl Palmer, and Steve Howe became the founding fathers of supergroup ASIA, responsible for a string of multi-million-selling albums and chart-topping hits across the globe. ASIA’s self-titled 1982 debut album was the biggest-selling album in the world that year. The band dominated the airwaves and for many, “Heat Of The Moment,” “Only Time Will Tell,” and “Sole Survivor,” amongst others, were the soundtrack to their youth.

Another multi-million seller, “Alpha” followed in 1983, and in 1986 “Astra” completed the trio of MTV era hits. Greg Lake briefly joined the band for a Japanese tour, where ASIA’s show from the fabled Budokan was the first intercontinental simulcast.

In 2006, the founding members reformed ASIA and released several new albums before John Wetton’s untimely passing in 2017. Since John’s passing, Geoff and Carl have toured with Sam Coulson, Billy Sherwood, Ron Bumblefoot Thal, and Steve Howe guesting.

Busy touring the globe, Carl Palmer is now immersed in a project very dear to his heart, the ‘Return Of Emerson Lake & Palmer’, while the legendary Steve Howe remains at the helm of progressive rock legends, Yes. So, Geoff made the decision to take a fresh, new-looking ASIA back out on the road, recruiting Mitchell and Whitley as new members and bringing in the drumming excellence of the incomparable Virgil Donati, who had played with Wetton in the UK.

ASIA has entertained and delighted a multitude of audiences over the last forty years. Some of the world’s greatest musicians have taken up the ASIA baton during that time. However, Geoff Downes believes that the time is right to bring a fresh, new-looking ASIA out into the light.

The Year of the Dragon foretells good fortune, abundance, and prosperity. The Dragon blessed 1982, the year ASIA was first unleashed into the world, and now the journey has come full circle. Time for the dragon to take flight once more.

LINKS:

Home

https://www.facebook.com/asiatheband/

https://www.instagram.com/asiatheband/?hl=en

https://www.harrywhitley.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/frontiersmusicsrl

https://johnmitchellq.com

http://www.virgildonati.com

PROCOL HARUM – Remembering GARY BROOKER: The Concert on CD/DVD

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• DELUXE 2CD / MULTI REGION BLU RAY VIDEO AND DVD VIDEO DISC CLAMSHELL BOXED SET RELEASE OF THE CONCERT STAGED AT G-LIVE IN GUILDFORD ON 4 DECEMBER 2023 TO REMEMBER THE ACCLAIMED FRONT MAN OF PROCOL HARUM.

• FEATURING ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW, ROGER TAYLOR, MIKE RUTHERFORD & PAUL CARRACK, JOHN ILLSLEY (DIRE STRAITS), MIKE SANCHEZ AND MEMBERS OF PROCOL HARUM AND MORE.

On 4 December 2023, many illustrious names from the world of rock music gathered together to perform a concert to remember the legendary Gary Brooker, acclaimed front man of Procol Harum and solo artist. Gary sadly passed away in February 2022 and left an incredible musical legacy. His many musical friends and admirers came together to stage this concert to celebrate Gary’s wonderful music and life and also to feature some of the music which he enjoyed.

A stellar gathering of musicians including Roger Taylor (Queen), Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike & the Mechanics), Paul Carrack (Mike & the Mechanics, Ace), Andy Fairweather Low, John Illsley (Dire Straits), Mike Sanchez, Gary’s band mates from Procol Harum and many more, staged a fantastic sold-out concert at G-Live in Guildford which raised funds for two charities close to Gary’s heart, The Royal Marsden and Cure Parkinson’s.

This clamshell boxed set features the entire concert on CD and also multi-region video Blu- Ray and DVD and is a marvelous document of this memorable evening, with some funds from the release also going to The Royal Marsden and Cure Parkinson’s charities.

*For track-listing and ordering – https://www.cherryred.co.uk/various-artists-remembering-gary-brooker-the-concert-2cd-blu-ray-dvd-box-set

CARL DIXON – Peaced Together, 6CD box set

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“More than three years in the making, the 6CD box set will arrive in fans hands by October 24. You can pre-order NOW, with the full digital delivery due next month.”

PRE ORDER HERE

‘Peaced Together’ is a 6CD box set in a ‘fat-pack’ jewel case, limited to strictly 500 units worldwide and priced at $99 (including worldwide shipping).

Since 2022, Carl Dixon and MRC CEO Andrew McNeice have been swapping files, sourcing audio, digitizing tapes, reels and DATs and then starting over again with new improved files. JK Northrup has been involved all along the way, adding his thoughts and overseeing the remastering of every track.

Carl Dixon states: “PEACED TOGETHER is in part the realization for me of every artist’s dream; that people care about your work and want to share it with the world. It is, I hope, part of its charm that this project is based largely on music that has never gone through the stages of refinement, polishing and presentation to the world in big-bucks album releases.
This collection consists of my unreleased musical works save one or two exceptions. It spans many years and veers across different styles and genres, some more fashionable now than others, but I’m pleased that I can hear elements of my true self throughout. Some of these works were rerecorded for inclusion in album projects but most remained known only to me and to those who helped make them.
I am delighted to now have these many “hidden gems” released out into the wide world by Andrew McNeice and MelodicRock Classics. I hope they bring a measure of joy to all who choose to spend time listening. Rock on wit’ ya bad selves!” ~ CD. 2025

Carl Dixon is of course the world renowned Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter, who has been fronting CONEY HATCH since 1981 as well as releasing 6 solo albums and writing with a whole host of chart topping artists along the way.

The 6CD set will be broken up into the following categories:
Disc 1 – Anthems Volume 1
Disc 2 – Anthems Volume 2
Disc 3 – More Rock & Some Roll
Disc 4 – The Softer Side
Disc 5 – A Little Centre of Left
Disc 6 – Tracks That Can’t Be Left Behind

These songs come from a variety of sources and eras, but it’s best left to Carl to expand on his earlier comment:

“The one hundred-plus tracks on ‘Peaced Together’ are evidence of a life spent in song writing whenever and however it could be done. From my earliest studio demos with my high school chums, to the most recent DAW creations from my home studio, it’s all expressing something that I thought needed to be said. We all write, sing and play our personalities through our art.
Here lies AOR Rock in various stages of development, sure, but there’s so much more in addition.
Some of the AOR stalwarts who appear on Peaced Together as co-writers and performers include Stan Meissner, Marc Ribler, Van Stephenson, Brett Walker, Taylor Rhodes, Kevin Savigar, Marc Ferrari, Steve Shelski, Jack Conrad and Steve Plunkett and that’s just Disc 1!
Harry Hess turns up in two songs we recorded during the run-up to the debut Harem Scarem album; that’s his unmistakable voice you hear on Too Much Paradise.
Songwriters are generally an affable, collaborative bunch and I learned much from all of my partners over the years. Special mention must go to Van Stephenson who was very kind and instructive in his gentle way when I was a greenhorn turning up in Nashville for the first time. Four of these songs are my collaborations with him.
Uniquely, eight tracks included here are collaborations with my father Ron Dixon, based on his poems and writings. Something of him endures through the music.
A VERY wide range of styles and approaches is heard on ‘Peaced Together’. Nashville, New York, L.A., San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Toronto and smaller communities; I travelled far and wide to meet great people and make these songs.
There’s lots of rock as you might expect with my history but also pop, blues, country and funk. Sometimes they were just for fun, sometimes it was like trying on a stylish hat to see if it looked good on me. I’m proud of all of these tracks, else I would not have put them out on display like this.
It’s crazy to me that we haven’t emptied the cupboards to make this collection.”

All pre-orders will receive the complete audio package well in advance of the physical delivery, and is the only way to guarantee a copy of this amazing set of songs in a one-off pressing.
It’s hoped most regular MRC retailers will carry copies of the set, but pre-order here to be guaranteed and get the full advance audio delivered soon.

The full track listing is as follows:

DISC 1
01. Buried Alive 3:18
02. Walk Through The Fire (Demo) 3:50
03. Cloud Of Love 5:16
04. Good Time To Be Bad 3:35
05. Don’t You See 3:20
06. I Believe In Angels 3:59
07. Love Strikes (Demo) 4.00
08. Edge Of A Heartbreak 3:41
09. Hold Your Fire 3:06
10. Kid Blue 3:21
11. Leap Of Faith 4:20
12. Love’s Gonna Take Some Time 3:18
13. Hot Streak Gone Cold (Demo) 3:35
14. She’s A Touch Like You 4:05
15. If Love Could See Me Now 3:44
16. Until The Dawn 4:13
17. Hard To Leave 4:03
18. All I Want 3:56
19. Fight For Your Love (vocal Jimmy Lawrence) 3:50

DISC 2
01. Fuel For The Fire 3:52
02. Against The Night (Demo) 3:51
03. Fools Paradise 3:03
04. Goodbye To A Good Thing 3:36
05. From Here On 4:51
06. Come My Way 3:39
07. Might Have Been 2:59
08. Here Comes Trouble 3:42
09. Taste Of Love (Demo) 4:33
10. Up To No Good 4:03
11. Animal Attraction 3:46
12. Bad To The Bone (vocal Andrew Elt) 4:12
13. Bad Seed 3:33
14. No Middle Ground 4:42
15. Shadow (Demo) 4:05
16. Magic Happens 3:54
17. Treacherous Emotions (Demo) 3:49
18. To The Love 4:13
19. I’m Rattled 2:39

DISC 3
01. A Fool in Love 3:30
02. Giving Up The Ghost 4:25
03. Too Much Paradise (vocal Harry Hess) 4:05
04. Across the Great Divide (Demo) 5:51
05. Knee Highs 5:38
06. To Fall In Love 3:18
07. Old Testament Rock 3:11
08. Don’t Walk Away Dreaming 4:35
09. Trust Me 4:09
10. Hot Florida Sunshine 4:55
11. Busted (Demo) 3:48
12. Illumination 3:49
13. Around and Around 3:22
14. Little Dancing Queen 3:58
15. I Know How to Treat a Lady (vocal Jimmy Lawrence) 3:42
16. Little Dreamer 3:58
17. Only a Fool 3:50

DISC 4
01. Can I Love You 3:34
02. Younger Generation 5:09
03. Where Do I Begin 4:06
04. Dreams Gone 2:25
05. Easy Words 3:59
06. Don’t Disappoint Me 2:58
07. Don’t Turn Out The Light 3:39
08. Song From The Island 3:04
09. Goodbye Eyes 4:59
10. Might Still Be in Love 3:15
11. Just Because 3.42
12. How’s Your World Spinning 3:55
13. Tell Her I Called 3:24
14. Green Diamond 3:00
15. Until The Dawn 3:57
16. Same Moon Shining 2:56
17. Thought It Would Be Fun (Demo) 3.49

DISC 5
01. Can’t Lose (What You Never Had) 4:17
02. Just a Few More Hours 3:08
03. Waiting In The Wings 3:27
04. Jacob & The Pig 3:39
05. That’s Right 3:11
06. Seven Day World 3:23
07. Angel On Main Street 2:50
08. Get Whatcha Wanna 3:24
09. Missing You 3:56
10. I Want You 3:53
11. Showtime 3:33
12. Stand Together (Female Vocal Jessica Benoit) 4:26
13. It Is What It Is 4:01
14. Was Your Heart Broken 4:03
15. Strange Way To Live 4:05
16. Keep Your Control 4:04
17. Behind the Open Door (Demo) 5:44

DISC 6
01. Together Takes Us Any Place 2:46
02. Make Up Your Mind 3:05
03. So Much Love 4:01
04. When I Remember 4:19
05. By My Side 3:17
06. Look For Me In Dreamland 2.53
07. It’s A Wonder 2:26
08. Just A Girl I Used To Know 3:35
09. She Breaks Your Heart 3.16
10. Strayed And Stolen 3.28
11. The Gizmo In My Head 2:24
12. Take It Out In Rock ‘n Roll 2:09
13. The Big 3-OH 3:14
14. Prisoner (with Jessica Palmer & Jessica Benoit) 3:31
15. Walk in Clouds 2:34
16. I’d Never Have Fallen 3:39
17. Theme from Tornado Hunters 0:45
18. Hendrix Tornado 0:53
19. The Blood Rises (Demo) 4:26

Carl here: – Some of these songs were written when I was this young!

The BOLTON IRON MAIDEN limited edition LP

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The BOLTON IRON MAIDEN released 2 CDs years back, comprising of their studio & live tracks made back in the early-mid 70s, back before another band used the name and went on to become one of the biggest bands in Heavy Metal. BIM, then just known as ‘Iron Maiden’, were the 2nd British band to use the name at the time (before Steve Harris came along). Now from the band’s recordings comes a very limited vinyl release of their music, just 7 tracks, with a new cover (to the CDs). Check it out. And check out my previous features on the band, including an interview with Paul TJ O’Neill!

*Available on black vinyl (+ special edition) and colored vinyl.

Details:

Active between 1970 and 1976, the Bolton Iron Maiden (originally known as Birth and then Iron Maiden) was a psychedelic hard-rock band formed in Bolton by Ian Boulton-Smith (Beak) on lead guitar, Derek George Austin on bass and Paul TJ O’Neill on drums / vocals.

Influenced by contemporaries like Led Zeppelin, Cream, Free, Groundhogs or Andromeda, their music blended blues, hard rock, and progressive elements.

They soon built a strong reputation supporting acts such as UFO, Bedlam (with Cozy Powell), Caravan, Thin Lizzy…

In 1976, the band disbanded following the death of guitarist Ian Boulton-Smith from cancer.

In 2005, Paul O’Neill revived interest in BIM by releasing two albums, “Maiden Flight” and “Boulton Rides Again”, which compiled studio and live recordings. The proceeds from these albums were donated to Cancer Research and Macmillan Cancer Support. With the blessing of the more famous Iron Maiden and their manager Rod Smallwood, the band adopted the name “The Bolton Iron Maiden” to avoid confusion.

For the first time on vinyl, “Maiden Flight” collects their previously unreleased studio recordings from 1972 plus raw as live tracks circa 1975.

Insert with detailed liner notes and rare photos / memorabilia. Download card with extra (live) bonus tracks.

LINKS:

Home

https://theboltonironmaiden.bandcamp.com/album/maiden-flight

Maiden Flight

FOREIGNER – Head Games (1979)

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The band formed and lead by British guitarist, songwriter & producer Mick Jones was something of a ‘supergroup’, and who’s massive success started with their 1978 debut album, Jones had previously recorded 3 albums with SPOOKY TOOTH, as well as played with Leslie West. Ian McDonald had been in KING CRIMSON, (drummer) Dennis Elliott had recorded a number of albums with British band IF, and relatively unknown singer Lou Gramm had recorded 2 albums with Rochester based BLACK SHEEP.. Prior to the 3rd album, bass player Ed Gagliardi was replaced with Pete Wills, who’d played with Peter Frampton, among others.

While Foreigner and Double Vision had elements of prog on them, and were very 70s sounding (in retrospect), Head Games took on a bit of a fresh modern AOR / hard rock approach. It’s like a big step forward into the ’80s, with the production. The first hit single off this album was the hard-rockin’ lead off track “Dirty White Boy”, while the hit (single) title track lead side 2. But beyond these 2 stand-outs, Head Games featured a number of classics such as “Love On The Telephone”, “The Modern Day” (sang by Mick Jones), the ballad “Blinded By Science”, and the classic closing cut “Rev On The Red Line” (the best song here, IMO). The record went to #5 in Canada and the US.

Head Games was produced by Roy Thomas Baker, Mick Jones, and Ian McDonald, with Jones writing (or cowriting with Gramm) almost every song and being credited for ‘musical direction’ .

Head Games is my most played album of the band’s catalogue, and although Foreigner 4 was their massive hit (#1) album, I thought it all downhill after this, as the band dropped 2 members (becoming ‘4’), and going in a more pop and ballad direction. 4 I liked, though I don’t need to hear “Juke Box Hero” or “Waiting For A Girl Like You” ever again, Agent Provocateur I just never got into.

J2P and P2J Ver 1

DEEP PURPLE – Rapture Of The Deep, 20th anniversary edition- remixed

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Originally released in October of 2005, DEEP PURPLE’s Rapture Of The Deep was the 4th of the Steve Morse era, and my favorite (up until then) after Purpendicular. It included favorites like “Wrong Man”, “Money Talks”, “Don’t Let Go”, and the ballad “Clearly Quite Absurd”. So (see press info below), Rapture Of The Deep has been remixed, with added tracks, and colorful new artwork!

Deep Purple‘s Rapture of the Deep turns 20 – and it’s celebrated with a complete remix and remaster, striking new artwork, plus a bonus CD/LP featuring never-before-released recordings.

It’s no secret that Rapture of the Deep isn’t the first album that comes to mind when listing Deep Purple’s classics – and while it was met with interest at the time, it gradually faded from view. Despite solid sales, the album arrived during a period when there was little spotlight on the world of classic rock, and over the years, Rapture of the Deep developed into an overlooked chapter in Deep Purple’s rich discography.

It’s equally true that this record, and the story behind it, marked a turning point — the quiet beginning of a run that would eventually lead to four consecutive No. 1 albums (2013, 2017, 2020, 2024) and the kind of success few bands experience even once, let alone decades into their career.

New insights by Kerrang! founder and Classic Rock magazine writer Geoff Barton pull back the curtain on a time when Deep Purple were navigating an uncertain era in the music industry that saw the downfall of many once-great artist careers — and unravel the strange chemistry that gave birth to Deep Purple’s 18th studio album.

As bassist Roger Glover reflects, “We were going through a bit of a hard time when we started the songwriting and production of Rapture of the Deep and, strangely enough, we didn’t have a record company at that point. Let’s face it, we were a bit lost (…).”

But from that uncertain moment emerged an album bursting with sharp songwriting, masterful playing, and pure Deep Purple grit.

Now, newly mixed with the supervision of Glover, analogue-mastered at renowned Chameleon Studios in Hamburg, and presented with bold new artwork, Rapture of the Deep finally shines with clarity and color. “It’s a new album now to me,” says Roger Glover. Fans will hear it blooming for the first time.

This new edition also includes a bonus CD/LP featuring previously unreleased instrumental takes and studio rehearsals recorded during the songwriting process — providing a rare, unfiltered insight into the band’s creative work in the studio. Captured on multi-track in 2005 and mixed for the first time in 2025, it’s one of those rare instances where recordings resurface decades later from archives long thought lost.

Among the highlights is the track “Closing Note,” a never-before-heard piece by former guitarist Steve Morse — recorded during the album sessions and now officially released for the first time.

These tracks are available exclusively on all three physical formats — CD Digipak, 3LP Vinyl (black, 180g), and the strictly Limited 3LP Transparent Sky-Blue Vinyl.

With Deep Purple riding high on the success of their latest No. 1 record =1, the time is right to (re)discover the album that set the path for Deep Purple in the 21st century.

Order HERE

Photo Credit: Bruce Payne
Deep Purple in 2005 — Ian Gillan, Ian Paice, Don Airey, Roger Glover, Steve Morse.

RAPTURE OF THE DEEP 20TH ANNIVERSARY REMIX TRAC KLISTING:
CD + LP:
“Money Talks”
“Things I Never Said”*
“Rapture of the Deep”
“Clearly Quite Absurd”
“MTV”*
“Back to Back”
“Wrong Man”
“Girls Like That”
“Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye”
“Don’t Let Go”
“Junkyard Blues”
“Before Time Again”

*Not on original studio album

BONUS LP+CD
2005 Studio Jams & Rehearsals:
“MTV”
“Money Talks”
“Back to Back”
“Before Time Began”
“Closing Note”**
**Unreleased instrumental track by Steve Morse

FORMATS:
*2CD Digipak
*3LP (black, 180g, Gatefold)
*Ltd. 3LP (Transparent Sky-Blue, Gatefold)
*Digital

LINKS:

https://linktr.ee/DeepPurple

http://www.earmusic.com

NIGHT RANGER – Tim Durling issues ‘Sing Me Away: The Night Ranger Album Review ‘

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Canadian author Tim Durling’s latest book covers the albums of NIGHT RANGER. This almost makes me want to go back and fill in the gaps in my NR collection (which is just half of the band’s 13 records discussed here). Night Ranger emerged in 1982, and were a bit unique (IMO) – not quite ‘metal and not overly AOR, but they strung together a lengthy cool list of hits including rockers and power ballads during the ’80s like “Four In The Morning”, “Sentimental Street”, “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me”, and “Sister Christian”. Brad Gillis, of course, was loaned out to Ozzy Osbourne and played on Ozzy’s best ‘live’ album, while Jack Blades went on to numerous other band and writing projects including Damn Yankees, Shaw/Blades, Alice Cooper…

Anyway, looking forward to reading this (and Phil Aston’s forward). Now available on Amazon!

SWEET – Sweet Fanny Adams Revisited to be reissued

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Sweet Fanny Adams began a string of classic SWEET albums in 1973, which saw the band changing from a pop band that relied on outside written songs to a band that was determined to be a serious heavy rock band. The run of albums from this one and including Desolation Boulevard, Give Us A Wink, and Off The Record were a 4 album run of classic hard-rock, bordering on metal at times, and there are very few (very!) bands of the era that had a strong as a run of albums as Sweet did (and throw in the lighter Level Headed, and you’d still be challenged to find a better band!). This ‘revisited’ album was taken from live shows in 2012, and originally released in 2013 (a year after this version of Sweet released New York Connection), so it only features Andy Scott from the band’s classic line up. The band sounds good, as this features such classics as “Sweet FA”, “Set Me Free”, “Heartbreak Today”, as well as a few songs not on the original album (but singles around the time) – “Ballroom Blitz”, “The Six Teens”, and “Fox On The Run”. Not quite the full (original) track-listing, as Sweet Fanny Adams never got a North American release back then, and half of it would be used to compile the US/Canada release of Desolation Boulevard (so this was also previously released as in the US as Desolation Boulevard Revisited). I’d be lying if I didn’t say I have a definite bias towards towards those albums with Brian Connolly, but Pete Lincoln and Tony O’Hora deliver these songs just fine by me, making this well worth checking out! *For more info check out the press info, track-listing, and links below….

The extremely rare SWEET album Sweet Fanny Adams Revisited, which has been out of print for some time and is highly coveted by fans, will be re-released on CD by METALVILLE on August 8th. A vinyl version of the album will also be released for the first time.

Between 2010 and 2012, many SWEET shows were recorded in various countries, and Sweet Fanny Adams Revisited (recorded at a concert in 2012) delivers the very essence of these extraordinary performances.

The success of the original 1973 album Sweet Fanny Adams was the catalyst that propelled SWEET to worldwide superstar status.

As a live performance almost 40 years after the release of the original album, Sweet Fanny Adams Revisited offers the finest SWEET hard rock. The band around Andy Scott presents itself in top form and impressively transports the special magic of the highly commercial power songs back to the stage.

LINEUP:
Pete Lincoln – bass / lead vocals
Andy Scott – guitars / lead vocal on track 6
Bruce Bisland – drums / vocals
Tony O’Hora – keyboards / guitar / lead vocal on tracks 5 & 9

MORE INFO:

www.thesweet.com 

www.metalville.de

www.facebook.com/metalville 

GLENN HUGHES announces new album ‘Chosen’, w/ single & tour

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GLENN HUGHES Returns With New Album ‘Chosen’, Out September 5th, 2025 via Frontiers Music Srl

Rock legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee GLENN HUGHES returns to announce his new studio album ‘Chosen,’ set for release on September 5th, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl. To celebrate the announcement, GLENN shares the title track, along with an accompanying music video, available to view below.

In addition, this year will also see GLENN HUGHES busy touring across Europe and South America, with “The Chosen Years” tour starting in Zoetermeer, Netherlands, on September 2nd, and ending on November 29th in Bogota, Colombia. For the full list of dates, please see below.

Commenting on the new album, GLENN states: “Songwriting is deeply personal to me, and l generally write and record when I have something to say. It’s been nine years since I recorded my last solo album, ‘Resonate.’ There have been recordings and collaborations with other artists since 2016.

“When writing ‘Chosen,’ I went back to my life drawing board, writing about the human condition, love, hope, faith, and acceptance. I write about how I feel on the inside and not externally. My life is lived from within, in the present moment. It’s an album of soul food, and I’ve never been so grateful, right here, on planet earth. Music is the healer!”

Vocalist, bassist, and songwriter GLENN HUGHES is a true original. No other rock musician has so distinctively blended the finest elements of hard rock, soul, and funk. His astonishing voice is his calling card, he’s known as a singer’s singer. Stevie Wonder once called HUGHES his favorite white vocalist.
After a nine-year hiatus as a solo artist, GLENN HUGHES returns with ‘Chosen,’ a brand-new solo album that finds him at his most hard-rocking. Explosive and dynamic, ‘Chosen’ showcases HUGHES at his absolute best, both in songwriting and production. A truly captivating return!

Pre-Order ‘Chosen’ HERE

*For dates & ticket info on The Chosen Years tour – https://www.glennhughes.com/tour.html

pic: Leo Baron

Track List:

1. Voice In My Head

2. My Alibi

3. Chosen

4. Heal

5. In The Golden

6. The Lost Parade

7. Hot Damn Thing

8. Black Cat Moan

9. Come And Go

10. Into The Fade

GLENN HUGHES band:

Glenn Hughes – Vocals

Soren Andersen – Guitar

Ash Sheehan – Drums

Bob Fridzema – Keys

LINKS:

https://www.facebook.com/glennhughesonline

https://www.instagram.com/glennhughesonline/

www.glennhughes.com

https://frontiers-us.shop/

LOVE STEALER – a look at the covers, Phil Wainman

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This pop/rock gem was originally penned by songwriters Phil Wainman and Richard Myhill, and first recorded by British glam band HELLO. The song was soon picked up and recorded by a number of other varied acts, particularly in just a few year span. A single for many, though I don’t see that it was a huge hit for anyone after Hello.

“Hello was the first, they were rehearsing it within days of us writing it.”, recalls Wainman. “Richard Myhill and I wrote together over a couple of years, he was great fun to work with.”

Asked about his biggest hit as a writer, Wainman replies – “Probably “Give A Little Love”, Bay City Rollers, number one in the UK. I would not call myself a prolific writer there are so many real writers… I’m more of a producer that writes and can fix other people’s songs, that’s what I enjoyed most.”

Phil had produced a lot of early Sweet recordings, but by the time “Love Stealer” came about, Sweet had largely moved on to recording their own material. – “I never thought of offering it to Sweet as they started to write their own songs.” Richard Myhill had a career as a singer as well, releasing a few solo albums, as well as work on various soundtracks.

Richard Myhill (demo)

I found this on Youtube, according to Phil Wainman – “That sounds like the demo Richard Myhill sung, not me! That’s an EMI label, it was never released like that.”

Hello – 1976

Back in the days of of British Glan scene, HELLO released a few albums, and a number of singles, including their version of Russ Ballard’s “New York Groove”.

Cliff Richard – 1983

the last track on Cliff Richard’s Silver album. Not bad at all! Kinda loud and heavy (musically), and very 80s.

Ian Lloyd – 1979

From Ian Lloyd’s (Stories) 1979 solo LP Goose Bumps A very likeable poppy version. Goose Bumps featured songs by a number of writers (Rod Argent, Russ Ballard, Bryan Adams & Jim Vallance, Ric Ocasek…), as well as an impressive list of players and guests. Also, this version was a single.

Brownsville Station – 1978

Perhaps my favorite version of this song, American band Brownsville Station recorded it for their 1978 album Air Special, their last. The band had recorded another Wainman song on their previous album (self-titled, red album) – “Lady (Put The Light On Me)”. Both Brownsville covers were issued as singles.

Ray Burgess Band – 1978

Australian musician Ray Burgess, from the lone Ray Burgess Band album, Final Mix. A lighter, but very good version of this song..

Uriah Heep – 1980

Somewhat of a controversial choice for Heep (being as it was recorded not long after their Conquest album). Although it’s not a bad version, it was an odd move at the time. Singer John Sloman was not happy about recording it, and it would be the last recording to feature keyboardist Ken Hensley, who left soon after.

Richard T Bear – 1979

American singer (pianist, writer, producer) who released a few albums in the late 70s and 80s. This is from his 2nd album Bear, which included a number of name players such as Bob Kulick, Ian Thomas, Mark Clarke. Co-produced by Jack Richardson. A bit of rock, pop, funk, blues….

The Scooters – 1981

From The Scooters 2nd LP Blue Eyes, produced by Phil Wainman. This was also released as a single. The Scooters, a power-pop band, based in England included American Larry Lee, who went on to play and produce several acts, notably the late Joey Molland (Badfinger, the 80s) Mr Big (produce), and Roger Daltrey.

BoysVoice – 1990

German hard-rock/metal band that released 3 albums. This is from their self-titled debut album; also released as a single.