Steve Hackett has issued a new single/video from his upcoming Live album – Foxtrot at Fifty + Hackett Highlights: Live in Brighton, which comes out September 15. “A Tower Struck Down” was originally recorded for Hackett’s first solo album Voyage of the Acolyte, in 1975.
Well, another Heep list… My list of their best album opening cuts, ranked 1-11. These picks aren’t all necessarily from my favorite Heep albums, but those opening songs that are best representative of the album they’re from, and made the most impact to grab your attention. Feel free to disagree and put your own picks in the comments!
1 – Gypsy
The first song on Uriah Heep‘s first album, with that riff and Hammond organ. “Gypsy” is one of Heep’s most memorable tunes and set the tone for some of what was to come in the early days. Still a live favorite. This started it all!
2 – Sunrise
From The Magician’s Birthday. I love the gentle build up before the band and vocals come in, like a huge alarm. Imagine listening to the intro to this for the first time and not knowing what to expect!? It’s a ballad with a heavy dose of Heepy sound making this so intense.
3 – Too Scared To Run
After so many changes the band returned in ’82 with a new line-up, and an album – Abominog. This song kicked off the album and ’80s comeback. Penned by new singer Peter Goalby it’s one of the biggest and most memorable riffs in the Heep catalogue. This song really screams that the band is back. A fan favorite, and one from this era that still gets performed live. Such a ‘metal’ sounding riff, I can’t believe more modern metal bands haven’t covered this one!
4 – One Way Or Another
Opening 1976’s High And Mighty, which would be the last with David Byron, but surprisingly it’s sang by John Wetton (who also left after this album). It’s got a great opening riff and organ, sounding fresh and energetic. Just a great song. A shame it wasn’t given a global single release and promoted.
5 – Against The Odds
After a string of so-so albums and a bit of a break, Heep returned in 1995 with Sea of Light , which is lead by this killer tune. Another huge riff from Mick Box, and dynamite solos… one of the best tracks from the Bernie Shaw era. Fair to say I usually pick the lead-off track as my favorite on a number of Heep albums.
6 – Speed Of Sound
From 2014’s Outsider (hmm, cool name for a website!). Starting with Hammond organ, and as the organ comes up in volume the guitar and drums kick in before Phil Lanzon’s organ riff takes over. An uplifting tune a shame it didn’t get more attention. Followed nicely by the single “One Minute”.
7 – The Wizard
This acoustic based favorite was a very different start to the band’s classic Demons and Wizards album, a unique way to start an album back then (see also Golden Earring’s “Silver Ships”). The song is pure fantasy Heep from the start, and kicks off their biggest period.
8 – No Return
The lone album with John Sloman, and I love the start of this song and album right away. One of 2 songs penned (but not credited to) the new singer. I like the quiet built up intro, and although it’s not crushingly heavy, this is a very good song, my favorite from Conquest. Would have made a better first single as well, IMO.
9 – Bird Of Prey
From Salisbury (everywhere but North America where the album opened with “High Priestess”). Another trademark Heep classic with that powerful opening and high harmonies. This one kept up the weight and energy of “Gyspy”.
10 – Between Two Worlds
And my favorite track from Heep’s post-’90s era. Love the spooky keyboard intro , and the band coming in to a rockin’ and catchy classic Heep tune. Much like “Against The Odds”, it’s heavy on the guitar and hammond organ, with fantastic solos from Mick Box (love the lengthy outro after the last lyrics), and one of Bernie Shaw’s best vocals on a song with some cool story to it. I really liked Sonic Origami, but nothing else on the album comes close to this killer track.
11 – The Hanging Tree
And here I am at #11… A great start to the band’s first of 3 with John Lawton singing. A memorable little keyboard intro before the drums and rest of the band kick in. Not sure how Heep fans heard this at the time, but as a later Heep fan, I think Lawton did an excellent job at selling the new-look Heep right off the bat with his voice on Firefly. Ken Hensley would re-write and re-record this for his last album as “Right Here, Right Now”. It is worth noting that in Canada and the USA this song kicked off side 2, and the album started with “Been Away Too Long”. The Fallen Angel album also featured different opening cuts from various territories.
Norwegian metal band ROZARIO (name from singer David Rozario) have issued the anthem “Heavy Metal Rider”. It’s the 2nd single & video from their debut album – To The Gods We Swear, coming out on October 20. So far – 2 great singles; killer riffs, big guitar and big choruses.. check these guys out. Looking forward to the album. Produced & mixed by Trond Holter. *Check out the video below with bio and lyrics in the description, and the links below.
Legendary and influential British singer and performer Arthur Brown will have his classic 1975 album Dance reissued in October. The remastered 2-CD package will feature 1 disc consisting of a rare 1975 BBC Radio One concert. The live show features 6 songs from the Dance album. The package will feature all original artwork reproduced, as well as added notes.
Finland’s Erja Lyytinen has released a new single from her upcoming live album – Diamonds On The Road-Live 2023. The track is a awesome version of the Hendrix classic “Crosstown Traffic”. To check it out > STREAM SINGLE , or check out the new video!
DIAMONDS ON THE ROAD – LIVE 2023 TO BE RELEASED 6TH OCTOBER 2023
Legendary and multi-Platinum rockers FOGHAT will be releasing their long-awaited 17th studio album, ‘Sonic Mojo’—their first in seven years—later this year on the band’s label, Foghat Records, which is distributed by Select-O-Hits (part of the Sun Records family).
The album’s first single, “Drivin’ On” (co-written by the late Kim Simmonds from Savoy Brown), is now available for pre-saves at Foghat.lnk.to/DrivinOnNE
In addition to three brand new songs written by band–founding member/drummer Roger Earl, guitarist/engineer/co-producer Bryan Bassett, singer/bassist Rodney O’Quinn, singer/guitarist Scott Holt—three other songs were co-written by Kim Simmonds, the man who gave Roger his first break back in 1967 as a member of Savoy Brown. Sadly, shortly after writing these songs, Kim passed away.
The upcoming release sees FOGHAT tip their hat to great artists that came before them, with songs on the album written by Willie Dixon, B.B. King, and Chuck Berry, as well as giving plenty of winks and nods from the current lineup.
Formed in 1971 when Lonesome Dave Peverett and Roger Earl left the British blues-rock band, Savoy Brown, FOGHAT has earned eight Gold records, one Platinum record and one double-Platinum record. They continue to release new music every few years, and they’ve never stopped touring and recording although there have been several ups and downs and changes over the years. They sadly lost Lonesome Dave Peverett in 2000, Rod Price in 2005, and Craig MacGregor in 2018, but Roger Earl keeps banging and kicking to keep FOGHAT’s musical legacy going. It’s about the Music!
California artist Spencer Caligiuri has created the artwork for Wings Of Steel’s debut EP as well as their fist full album Gates Of Twilight, released earlier this year. Both covers are fantastic and give the band a theme and cool logo from cover to cover. In this episode of Story Behind The Album Cover, Spencer Caligiuri details his art & early days, as well as a few of his favorite album covers, And his creating and work on the Wings Of Steel covers. WOS are fairly new hard-rock / metal band from LA, who will play big ’80s influenced rock, for fans of Whitesnake, Dokken, Michael Schenker Group, Great White, and numerous others. Check them out! For more on Spencer Caligiuri’s work, check out the links at the end, You can find a review and interview on Wings Of Steel elsewhere at this site.
What is your art background, and have you done any other album covers or artwork for bands?
Going back into the past, I’ve been an artist of some sort for as long as I can remember. I started by drawing of course. Doodling animals as a child, trying to copy exactly as they looked, encouraged by my mom, aunts and grandmother. My grandma was a landscape oil painter. I think seeing her paintings hanging around the house was something that made painting feel within reach, and not just something produced by the great masters. I continued this for all of childhood through highschool. I studied portrait and figure drawing late high school at a local art school before doing a brief, unsuccessful attempt at the Art Institute of CA for graphic/animation. This was stunted by my overwhelming urge to choose partying and drugs over getting serious about my future. But I got back on my feet, albeit taking me multiple years of falling on my face, and got very into writing and oil painting in 2009. I gravitated toward anything with water, and the weirder and more psychedelic the better. Painting was all I cared about until l found tattooing which is a long story in itself. But that is my life now. For the last 10 years I tattoo 5 days a week so most of my extracurricular artistic passions have taken a back seat.
I’ve done a few album covers. Buffalo Trance is an incredibly talented 3 piece progressive rock band from Ventura, CA. I grew up with these guys and they’ve been killing their respective instruments since we were in early high school. The other cover is a 36” X 36” physical oil painting I did for a San Diego reggae band called Burning Wave.
How did you get connected/involved with Wings Of Steel?
I started working with WOS through an email they sent me inquiring my help bringing their EP cover to life. I was instantly intrigued. these dudes knew exactly what they wanted and as soon as they sent me their demo I was fucking blown away. We instantly set up a meeting at the tattoo shop and we’re off and running. I really couldn’t believe two young musicians in their mid/early 20’s were writing music like this. The first track I heard was their self titled track “wings of steel.” As soon as I heard Parker’s guitar sound I knew I was in. if that wasn’t enough, Leo’s vocals and lyrics hit and I was instantly a fan, determined to be part of what they were channeling.
Can you tell me about the design for their new album — what inspired it, did anyone in the band offer ideas, etc..
Their new album “Gates of Twilight” was definitely riffing on the concept of the EP. the two stallions which would seem to be a recurring fixture of their image and representation of Leo and Parker. The dark and light, for sure present in their opposing dark and light hair. At least this is my interpretation. Leo and Parker both knew exactly what they wanted to see in this and were super clear on their thought process for it. I tried to bring what I had from the EP into this, yet incorporating the Gates of Twilight, represented by a towering staircase flanked by columns, and silhouetted by the heavens. I thought the standard wrought iron gate has been done so many times and might get lost in the background noise. There’s Some darker tones in this album as well, reflected in many of Leo’s lyrics and song titles, hence the apocalyptic landscape of collapse, fire, and decay. But still punctuated by the contrast of the ever-prevailing light. A true heaven and hell landscape and motif that will never die.
Did you hear the Wings Of Steel music beforehand, and did that have a part in the cover design?
When I started the concept for their EP they sent me their demo which I blasted constantly while drawing for that one. The same went for the full length. this time even more fueled after seeing them deliver such a powerful live performance. Their first ever as Wings of Steel. It absolutely drove my hand to bring the same fever, melodies and aggression their music does.
Can you tell me a few of your own favorite albums and album covers? bands and album artists you liked? (maybe a short list of each)
Oh boy, this is a tough one. A tough question for anyone who loves music especially with so much easily at our fingertips now.
Let’s start with Tool. One of the first bands that helped me discover music in my formative years of the mid/early 90’s. Still all of them making my list of favorite albums and covers to this day.
Both of these albums have a completely interactive covers or jewel cases. Aenima was like a hologram when you moved it the eyeballs would waver in and out.
The Lateralus cover was composed of like 6 clear pages that you could scroll through to see the individual layers, that when it was fully closed you could see the full image here.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard: Nonagon Infinity, All them Witches: Baker’s Dozen
Any other album covers or projects you’re currently working on and links you’d like to share?
I am a full time Tattooer and oil painter. You can find Me on Instagram at @artofspencer @artofspencerfinearts and artofspencer.com
A new Dokken album coming, will be the band’s first in over 10 years. The first single is out, and it sounds good. Don Dokken has gone though a number of health issues, and there’s been many comments about his voice over the last several years, but he sounds fine on “Fugitive”. The guy’s not in his 20s or 30s, but still has that recognizable voice here. Longtime bandmate Jon Levin does an outstanding job on this one. A memorable chorus, big solo, looking forward to hearing the rest of the album. Dokken and Levin are joined by longtime drummer BJ Zampa, and bassist Chris McCarvill (both ex House of Lords). Heaven Comes Down will be available on blue vinyl, CD, and cassette HERE. *For more info check out the new video for “Fugitive” , and read the bio/press info in the details.
Track Listing:
Fugitive
Gypsy
Is It Me Or You?
Just Like A Rose
I’ll Never Give Up
Saving Grace
Over The Mountain
I Remember
Lost In You
Santa Fe
Don Dokken – Vocals / Jon Levin- Guitar/ Chris McCarvill- bass/ BJ Zampa- drums. +Bill Palmer: acoustic guitar on ‘Santa Fe’. Mark Boals: special guest (background vocals).
Dokken Upcoming Dates:
Saturday 19 August – Shoshone Bannock Casino Hotel – Chubbuck, ID
Wednesday 20 September – The Big E – West Springfield, MA
Saturday 14 October – RCU Theatre – Eau Claire, WI
Saturday 21 October – The Piazza – Aurora, IL
Saturday 11 November – Piere’s – Fort Wayne IN,
Friday 17 November – Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, NV
Saturday 18 November -Whisky A Go Go – West Hollywood, CA
Before there was the LA metal scene, before there was the likes of Motley Crue, Quiet Riot, and even Van Halen – there was Yesterday & Today. Originally from Oakland, Dave Meniketti (guitar/vocals), Joey Alves (guitar), Phil Kennemore (bass), and Leonard Haze (drums). The band released 2 albums as Yesterday & Today in 1976 & ’78 (on London Records), before signing to A & M and releasing 5 studio albums and 1 live set from 1981 to ’85. The band released 2 more albums by 1990, and by then Haze had been replaced by Jimmy DeGrasso and Stef Burns had replaced Alves. With changes in the music scene and no record deal the band played farewell shows and released Yesterday & Today Live in 1991, on MetalBlade.
Originally released with 13 tracks, Live has been expanded to 15 tracks, with a set that features (almost) every album up until then. Absent was the band’s 1985 hit “Summertime Girls”, but as far as a live recording and document of a legendary band that should’ve been something bigger – Live is a ‘must hear’ classic hard-rock/metal set. Classics like “Mean Streak”, “Midnight In Tokyo”, “Beautiful Dreamer”, “Don’t Stop Runnin”, and “Forever” sound great here, and if you don’t know this band, this is a good place to start (as well as the 4-CD Earthquake: The A&MYears) This reissue also comes in various colored vinyl editions, as well as a 2-CD set. Dave Meniketti still carries on with Y & T. *For more on Y & T check out the press info and the links below!
Yesterday and Today Live features 15 songs and more than 84 minutes of live Y&T recorded in 1990, with never-before-seen photos and two bonus tracks, ‘Earthshaker” and “Rescue Me.” “Earthshaker” was originally on the first Yesterday and Today (self-titled) album in 1976, and “Earthshaker” was also the title of Y&T’s 1981 third studio album; “Rescue Me” appears on the “Earthshaker” album. Both bonus tracks appear on all versions/variants of Yesterday and Today Live.
The iconic songs on Yesterday and Today Live (initially released in 1991) were written by the classic lineup of Dave Meniketti, drummer Leonard Haze, bassist Phil Kennemore, and guitarist Joseph Alves.
Singer/songwriter and guitarist Dave Meniketti says of the album: “Very happy to have this vinyl re-release of Yesterday and Today Live come together. This was recorded at a time when the band had decided to disband–however temporary that was–and these tracks were taken from what we considered were to be the last shows Y&T would perform. Because of our state of mind at the time, songs like “Hard Times” were especially poignant. Even though the changing music industry had us in turmoil, the band was at the top of our game and these tracks give a good window into that time of our lives. I believe this is truly one of our finest Y&T live recordings.”
Yesterday and Today Live (Expanded Edition) Tracklisting: 01. Mean Streak 02. Hurricane 03. Don’t Stop Runnin’ 04. Struck Down 05. Winds of Change 06. Black Tiger 07. Midnight in Tokyo 08. Beautiful Dreamer 09. Hard Times 10. I’ll Cry 11. I Believe in You 12. Squeeze 13. Forever 14. Earth Shaker (Bonus Track) 15. Rescue Me (Bonus Track)
Recorded in 2018, Postcard From Germany was kept in the can for a few years, and is being released this week. It follows the recording & release of Live At The El Mocambo (2020/21). Postcard From Germany was recorded at the HEAT Festival, in Ludwigsburg, consisting of 13 songs. BUT, a few interesting things that make this a ‘must have’ for Coney fans. First, the set-list does differ from the El Mocambo show, with an emphasis on the band’s 3rd album Friction. That album was a big hit over there, so this set includes 5 cuts from it. The show sounds energetic, and the Friction tunes (with Dave Ketchum on drums, who wasn’t on that album), as well as with then-new guitarist Sean Kelly, and minus the keyboards(!) they rock a bit more (IMO). The band’s other albums are all represented, though there’s the glaring omission of “Hey Operator” – which was not performed that night (for whatever reason, really!?). The band gets a nice intro in German (their first time in Germany), and seem to have enjoyed themselves. But this album has the added bonus of including 2 new studio tracks, the first Coney Hatch tunes to feature Sean Kelly, and finished around the time of the El Mocambo show in 2020. “It’s About A Girl” has already been released as a (digital) single and video, a fun pop-rocker from Carl Dixon, with a catchy chorus; a song that could’ve been a major hit … in another time. The other new track features Andy Curran on vocals, “Heaven’s On The Other Side” is a heavier rock tune, the intro reminds me of “Boys Club” (from CH Four), lots of cool guitar throughout this; old school Coney fans will dig this one!
Outsider Rock 