So, this is the 2015 reunion show of the actual Alice Cooper (the band) that penned and recorded all those hits (a number of which are here), and classic albums like Love It To Death, Killer, School’s Out, Billion Dollar Babies and Muscle Of Love. The greatest American rock n’ roll band, ever! So, there was finally a reunion, minus original lead guitarist Glenn Buxton, who passed away in 1997. Filling in was Alice’s current solo band player Ryan Roxie, who does an excellent job. The sound on this release is amazing, considering it was in a shop in Dallas (Good Records), and not a theatre or something, so somewhat informal. The band was there to promote Dennis Dunaway’s bookSnakes! Guillotines! Electric Chairs! and played this 8-song set. With Michael Bruce (guitarist) taking vocals on the opener “Caught In A Dream”, you can tell by the audience reaction when Alice comes out to join the band for “Be My Lover” and the rest. It’s a killer performance, being done by those that created these songs and know how they should sound. Check out Dennis’ bass on “Is It My Body”, the way it should sound. The show ends with “School’s Out” (surprise!), with harmonica added by Chuck Garric (Alice’s present bass player), but the band returned to perform “Elected” for the encore.
Live from the Astroturf is full of energy, and the bandmembers sound like they’re having a great time, with between song banter, drum rolls, and laughs; Alice tells a few humorous tales as well. Added here is the soundcheck instrumental performance of “Desperado”. This release (on Ear Music) is a worldwide reissue of the Record Store Day album from 2018, but has been repackaged nicely, with a different cover, inserts, vinyl variants, and all CD and LPs numbered (I got the ‘glow in the dark’ green vinyl!). An amazing addition to the Alice Cooper collection! Looking forward to watching the included Blu-Ray disc of the documentary of the whole event, later. There’s also been 2 videos released from this album…
Press info:By 1974, the Alice Cooper group had risen to the upper echelon of rock stardom… and then, parted ways. In October 2015, over 40 years later, record store owner and superfan Chris Penn convinced the original line-up to reunite for a very special performance at his record store Good Records in Dallas, Texas. Alice Cooper (vocals), Michael Bruce (guitar), Dennis Dunaway (bass) and Neal Smith (drums) were joined on stage by Alice’s current guitarist Ryan Roxie (standing in for the late Glen Buxton). A packed audience, believing they had come to Good Records for Dennis Dunaway’s ‘Snakes! Guillotines! Electric Chairs!’ book signing, were surprised to bear witness to a full-blown happening. The historic reunion show including all-time classics such as “No More Mr. Nice Guy”, “I’m Eighteen” and “School’s Out” is now becoming available for the very first time worldwide. Luckily the event was documented. “Live From The Astroturf, Alice Cooper” (edited and directed by Steven Gaddis) toured the world to the acclaim of music fans and rock journalists alike. The documentary won multiple awards for it’s coverage of the historic event. Now all Alice Cooper fans and rock music lovers across the globe can enjoy this movie as it’s included as a video bonus to this live album. Pop the popcorn, blow up the balloons, dim the lights, and crank it up!
American Rocker is Joe Bouchard’s new album, and it tells a number of stories relating to Joe’s past with Blue Oyster Cult, in particular – ‘the golden age’ of the ’70s rock era (see video in links). The album’s cover features stands out with a ’70s-period portrait of Joe, created by American artist Alan Ayers, who is better known for book covers (see the link to his website below). The album’s typeface was created by artist Wallace McBride (aka Unlovely Frankenstein). who also designed those classic looking book covers that appear in the videos for American Rocker. JB: “I did the videos, but I edited a lot of his art into the videos. He also did the typeface for the album cover. He’s very creative. I love his nostalgic approach.” The latest video is for the song “Deadly Kisses”, one of my favorite tracks on the album. Check it out, and check out the links below!
Below, Alan Ayers tells us about his work on the cover for American Rocker, as well as his favorite BOC tunes, and what else he has been involved in.
How you got involved with American Rocker
I was thrilled when Joe contacted me and asked if I would do the cover art for American Rocker. I met Joe through Joan Levy Hepburn, who has been a dear friend for 30+ years.
As an experienced illustrator, and being of the same generation as Joe, he and Joan felt I would be able to recreate the wonderful energy of ‘70s art.
Your background, and artwork you’re also known for
I’ve been illustrating professionally since 1979. My early career was as an advertising illustrator, but I transitioned to publishing in 1987. My work now is primarily novel covers. Occasionally I will work on a non-fiction title. I recently completed the cover for Bill O’Reilly’s latest book, Killing the Legends. I’m still managing multiple deadlines and have no plans on retiring.
Familiar with Joe’s and BOC’s music, favorite songs
I have very fond memories of early Rock and have been a fan of BOC for many years. There are so many BOC classics, it’s hard to pick a favorite. Don’t Fear The Reaper and Burning For You are two of my absolute favorites. I am nuts for all the tracks on American Rocker, but if I had to pick a fav it would be Deadly Kisses.
How you created the American Rocker cover art
Although I was trained traditionally and created images in acrylic and oil for many years, I’ve been working digitally since 1995. I am very comfortable working with a tablet, and often forget I’m not “pushing paint around”. The American Rocker cover was “painted” digitally, combining reference photos provided by Joe. The trip back to the 1970s style was great fun! My main visual influences were the great Daniel Maffia, with a touch of Warhol’s playful style.
You were involved in a Rolling Stones’ cover
Yes, I did work on the Stones Bridges To Babylon insert — mostly on the interior desert scene with Gerard Howland. I did do the final adjustments on Kevin Murphy’s wonderful lion painting for the cover.
My more recent work is on Instagram — traditional illustrations, far different from the wonderful, crazy art of the 70s!
Scottish singer Mike Starrs recorded albums with Colosseum II and Lucifer’s Friend in the late ’70s, but prior to that, he had released a number of solo singles, as well as a solo album in 1974.
First ever CD release of Mike Starrs’ only solo album
Remastered by band member Gerry Morris and approved by Mike Starrs and original producer Tony Atkins.
Includes all four of his non-album singles as bonus tracks; a ‘catch-all’ of his 1970s solo releases.
Featuring 12 tracks Electric Garden was pure 70s pop, featuring plenty of ballads, strings, and songs that would’ve fit a number of AM radio playlists. Most of the songs were written by bass player Gerry Morris, at least half of those with Starrs. Morris had previously been a part of 60s band The Cymbaline, as well as prog band Lodestone – who’s lone 1971 album Time Flies, is also seeing a CD release next month. On Electric Garden, Starrs was also supported by the Rubettes’ John Richardson (drums) & Peter Arnesen (keyboards), as well as Mike Bailey (trumpet + string and brass arrangements), and guitarist Geoff Whitehorn! The latter would go on to Crawler, Bad Company and Procol Harum. Both Whitehorn and Gerry Morris also released his solo albums in ’74, with much of the same support crew (players, producer, engineers). All these albums were produced by Tony Atkins (Marquee Productions). Both Morris and Atkins have also been involved with this Cherry Red release of Electric Garden. I have the original LP version of Electric Garden, on the Telefunken label, and can only find another release for it on Pink Elephant (Netherlands), it is the latter that was used as the base for this CD reissue, as the 2 1974 issues had slightly different tracklistings and running orders. And though it was recorded and mixed in London Electric Garden never got a UK release in ’74! The album’s cover shot of Mike was one of (or The) first to be taken by famous ’70s photographer Barry Levine, who went on to credits with the likes of The Sweet, Kiss, The Runaways and more.
In a 2014 interview with Mike Starrs, he recalled – “In the ’70s I was living and working in London, Singing 6 nights a week in a Pub in Essex the Band was called Spinning Wheel our keyboard player for approximately 2yrs was Rick Wakeman – who as you know went on to become rather well known. A record producer heard the band and offered me a deal with The Marquee Studios which was behind the Famous Marquee Club. I recorded 1 album and a couple of singles.”
Electric Garden originally came with lengthy liner notes, and biography on Mike Starrs on the back cover, the CD reissue includes those, as well as new linernotes from Mike. Electric Garden also includes Mike Starrs’ version of “Da-Doo-Ron-Ron”, originally a hit for ’60s all-female American act The Crystals, (and was later a hit for Shaun Cassidy). It is listed as a ‘bonus’ track here, though it is the first track on my German vinyl pressing, it wasn’t included on the original Dutch LP. The Pink Elephant LP also featured one more track than the Telefunken version, including “Loving You” (Atkins/Morris) and “I’ll Take Good Care Of You” – originally written by American Jerry Ragovoy and became a hit for R & B singer Garnett Mimms in 1966. Highights on the album include the ballad “Beautiful Day” (Starrs/Morris), the upbeat “Electric Garden” (Morris), “Hold One” (penned, but apparently unused by Lodestone), as well an excellent cover of Lesley Duncan’s 1970 hit “Hold On”. The heavier rockin’ B-side “Witches Brew” (Morris) is a great addition, would’ve made a good album cut too. More recently Starrs has recorded with Crossover, and with Peter Hesslein; Gerry Morris went on to success as a songwriter and producer, working with American singer Amii Stewart (among others).
TRACKLISTING:
FEEL SO GOOD WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE ELECTRIC GARDEN THE WILL GOOD LIFE TO EVERYONE CONCERNED LOVING YOU BEAUTIFUL DAY LOOKING FOR LOVE I’LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU HOLD ON LOVE SONG *Bonus tracks WITCHES BREW LOST WITHOUT YOU DA-DOO-RON-RON BLUE AND WHITE
Guitarist Peter Hesslein of legendary German band Lucifer’s Friend has finished a new collection of instrumental tracks for his Night Drive 3 album, to be released on October 14.
Night Drive 3 features 16 tracks, and will be the last in this solo trilogy.
Following the reformation of Lucifer’s Friend in 2015, a live album and 2 new studio albums, Peter released his first solo album titled Night Drive in 2020 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Lucifer’s Friend, followed by Night Drive 2 in ’21. Sadly, Lucifer’s Friend singer John Lawton passed away on June 29 of last year, putting an end to the band, with a compilation titled The Last Stand being issued later in the year.
Night Drive 3 features singer Mike Starrs (who replaced Lawton in Lucifer’s Friend in the late ’70s), who ‘guests’ on the album’s last track. Starrs has recently recorded an album with the band Crossover. I am looking forward to hearing his voice on Night Drive 3, and ‘hope’ their may be more to come.
Track Listing:
1 This Way Home 2 Sunset Drive 3 At A Crossroads 4 Driving All Night 5 Going South 6 In The Fast Lane 7 Road of Dreams 8 On The Horizon 9 A Few More Hours 10 No Backseat Driver 11 A Warm Day’s Night 12 Faster Than a Slug 13 Exit Number 9 14 Sunrise Pit Stop 15 A Gnat In My Life 16 Chapters Of My Life
Newly expanded and 45th anniversary edition of the first Golden Earring Live album. Remastered from the original IBC Studios master tapes. Featuring 5 bonus tracks, including 3 previously unreleased recordings from the concert in Brugge in March 1977, Including a 30-page booklet with a new essay, memorabilia, and photos Founded in 1961 by George Kooymans and Rinus Gerritsen, Dutch rock band Golden Earring (or Golden Earrings, until 1969) started off as a beatband, experimented as a psychedelic quartet and finally became a heavy rock group. Their ninth album Moontan (1973) hit the international album charts and is the band’s most successful album in the United States, being the only Golden Earring album to be certified Gold by the RIAA, alongside the classic single “Radar Love”, that reached #10 on the Cash Box Top 100 and #13 in Billboard in the United States.
Live is the band’s first live (double) album released in 1977. With it’s long, spun-out versions of classic Golden Earring songs, this record is vastly different from other live registrations by the band. It’s also one of only three albums featuring guitarist Eelco Gelling as a band member, adding a new dimension to the band’s sound. Furthermore, this album emphasizes Golden Earring’s strong rhythm section on swinging songs like “Mad Love’s Comin’” and “Radar Love”. Live celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2022 and has been being remastered for the first time from the original IBC Studios master tapes. It includes three bonus tracks recorded during the concert in March 1977 in Brugge and the double A-sided single “Radar Love/Just Like Vince Taylor” which was issued to promote the album and features edit versions of the respectable album tracks. In addition, a DVD entitled Golden Earring Live features four tracks filmed at the IJsselhallen in Zwolle on 28th August 1977, which were broadcasted on Dutch television four weeks later. This footage has been restored and remastered from the original 16 mm film reels. The 2LP edition of Live (remastered & expanded) has been released by Music On Vinyl on 10th June 2022. This 2CD+DVD edition of Live is the second volume in a special series of remastered & expanded albums by Golden Earring, overseen by Red Bullet catalogue and band archivist Woute Bessels.
TRACKLISTING 2CD: Original album version remastered plus bonus tracks CD1-
Candy’s Going Bad 5.06 She Flies On Strange Wings 8.09 Mad Love’s Comin’ 9.49 Eight Miles High 10.06 Vanilla Queen 11.42 To The Hilt 6.40 Fightin’ Windmills 8.50 Con Man 9.20
CD 2
Radar Love 11.16 / Just Like Vince Taylor 6.24 BONUS TRACKS: Fightin’ Windmills (Brugge 1977) 7.50 / Eight Miles High (Brugge 1977) 9.13 / I Need Love (Brugge 1977) 6.45 / Radar Love (single version) 4.46 / Just Like Vince Taylor (single version) 4.00
DVD: Golden Earring Live
Mad Love’s Comin’ / Leather / Radar Love / Just Like Vince Taylor
Live (remastered & expanded) was released by Red Bullet Productions on 29th July 2022 and is available through all renowned worldwide music dealers and online shops
“DEUCE” SOPHOMORE ALBUM 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION BOX SET
SET FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 ALL FORMATS AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER HERE
4CD DELUXE BOX SET, 2CD, LIMITED EDITION 3LP, LIMITED EDITION 1LP COLOURED VINYL (D2C), DELUXE DIGITAL HD AND DELUXE DIGITAL STANDARD
Formats: 4CD / 2CD / 3LP / 1LP Colour (D2C) / Digital HD & SD Release Date: September 30, 2022 Label: UMC
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Rory Gallagher’s“Deuce” sophomore solo album from 1971, a deluxe CD boxset will be released by UMC on Friday September 30th. The album is available to pre-order fromhttps://RoryGallagher.lnk.to/Deuce_50.
The extensive celebratory release digs deep into the Rory Gallagher Archives and will include a new mix of the original album, twenty-eight previously unreleased alternate takes, a six-song 1972 BBC Radio ‘In Concert’, and seven Radio Bremen radio session tracks. The package will contain a 64-page hardback book with a foreword by Johnny Marr of The Smiths, unseen images by the late Mick Rock, essays, and memorabilia from the album recording. The 2CD and 3LP will be cut down versions from the deluxe box and there will be a special D2C 1LP of the “BBC In Concert – Live at The Paris Theatre, 13 January 1972.”
“There was one day when I was playing along with the Deuce album which was a complete turning point for me as a guitar player.”
Released in November 1971, just six months after his eponymous solo debut, Rory Gallagher’s second album, Deuce, was the summation of all that he’d promised in the wake of Taste’s collapse. Rory wanted to capture the feeling of a live performance, so he would look to record immediately after live concerts while keeping production to a minimum.
He chose Tangerine Studios, a small reggae studio, in Dalston in East London, due it’s history with legendary producer Joe Meek. With Gerry McAvoy on bass guitar and Wilgar Campbell on drums, the album was engineered by Robin Sylvester and produced by Rory. Deucefeatures many Rory highlights, from the blistering Crest Of A Wave to the Celtic-infused I’m Not Awake Yet.
When asked “How does it feel to be the best guitarist in the world,” Jimi replied: “I don’t know, why don’t you go and ask Rory Gallagher.”
– Jimi Hendrix
“There are a million guys who sound like Stevie Ray Vaughan, but I never heard anybody who could really pull off sounding like Rory Gallagher.”
– Slash
” As soon as I heard Cradle Rock, I was hooked. I thought, ‘This is what I want to be when I grow up.”
– Joe Bonamassa
“I really liked Rory, he was fine guitarist and singer and lovely man”
– Jimmy Page
“He was just a magician, he’s one of the very few people of that time who could make his guitar do anything it seemed. It just seemed to be magic. I remember looking at that battered Stratocaster and thinking how does that come out of there?”
– Brian May
“The man who changed my musical life was Rory Gallagher, I picked up a guitar because of him.”
– Johnny Marr
“A beautiful man and an amazing guitar player. He was a very sensitive man and a great musician.”
– The Edge
“An amazing player, very spirited … he had a particular sound using that Stratocaster and he really got it because of the brute force in the way that he played, he just had such a passion about it.”
– Joe Satriani
FORMATS / TRACK LIST
4 CD BOX SET
CD 1
Used to Be – 50th Anniversary Edition I’m Not Awake Yet – 50th Anniversary Edition Don’t Know Where I’m Going – 50th Anniversary Edition Maybe I Will – 50th Anniversary Edition Whole Lot of People – 50th Anniversary Edition In Your Town – 50th Anniversary Edition Should’ve Learnt My Lesson – 50th Anniversary Edition There’s a Light – 50th Anniversary Edition Out of My Mind – 50th Anniversary Edition Crest of a Wave – 50th Anniversary Edition
CD 2
Used to Be – Alternate Take 1 Used to Be –Alternate Take 2 I’m Not Awake Yet – Alternate Take 1 Don’t Know Where I’m Going – Alternate Take 1 Maybe I Will – Alternate Take 1 Maybe I Will – Alternate Take 2 Maybe I Will – Alternate Take 3 Maybe I Will – Alternate Take 4 Maybe I Will – Alternate Take 5 Whole Lot of People – Electric Alternate Take 1 Whole Lot of People – 6 String Acoustic Alternate Take 1 Whole Lot Of People – Deuce Album Session / Alternative Acoustic Take / 1971 * Whole Lot of People – 12 String Acoustic Alternate Take 1 In Your Town – Alternate Take 1 In Your Town – Alternate Take 2 In Your Town – Alternate Take 3
CD 3
In Your Town – Alternate Take 4 Should’ve Learnt My Lesson – Deuce Album Session / Alternative Acoustic Take / 1971* Should’ve Learnt My Lesson – Deuce Album Session Outtake / 1971* Should’ve Learnt My Lesson – Alternate Take 2 Should’ve Learnt My Lesson – Alternate Take 3 There’s A Light – Alternate Take 1 There’s A Light – Alternate Take 2 There’s A Light – Alternate Take 3 Out of My Mind – Alternate Take 1 Out of My Mind – Alternate Take 2 Out of My Mind – Alternate Take 3 Crest of a Wave – Alternate Take 1 Crest of a Wave – Alternate Take 2 Don’t Know Where I’m Going – Home Demo Maybe I Will – Home Demo Should’ve Learnt My Lesson – Home Demo
CD 4
Should’ve Learnt My Lesson – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 Crest of a Wave – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 I Could’ve Had Religion – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 For The Last Time – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 Messin’ With The Kid – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 Don’t Know Where I’mGoing – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 Pistol Slapper Blues – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 Used To Be – BBC In Concert – Live at The Paris Theatre, 13 January 1972 Should’ve Learnt My Lesson – BBC In Concert – Live at The Paris Theatre, 13 January 1972 Out Of My Mind – BBC In Concert – Live at The Paris Theatre, 13 January 1972 I Could’ve Had Religion – BBC In Concert – Live at The Paris Theatre, 13 January 1972 Crest Of A Wave – BBC In Concert – Live at The Paris Theatre, 13 January 1972 Messin’ With The Kid – BBC In Concert – Live at The Paris Theatre, 13 January 1972
2 CD
CD 1
Used to Be – 50th Anniversary Edition I’m Not Awake Yet – 50th Anniversary Edition Don’t Know Where I’m Going – 50th Anniversary Edition Maybe I Will – 50th Anniversary Edition Whole Lot of People – 50th Anniversary Edition In Your Town – 50th Anniversary Edition Should’ve Learnt My Lesson – 50th Anniversary Edition There’s a Light – 50th Anniversary Edition Out of My Mind – 50th Anniversary Edition Crest of a Wave – 50th Anniversary Edition
CD 2
Used to Be – Alternate Take 1 I’m Not Awake Yet – Alternate Take 1 Maybe I Will – Alternate Take 1 Whole Lot of People – 12 String Acoustic Alternate Take 1 In Your Town – Alternate Take 3 Should’ve Learnt My Lesson – Alternate Take 3 There’s A Light –Alternate Take 1 Out of My Mind – Alternate Take 3 Crest of a Wave – Alternate Take 2 Should’ve Learnt My Lesson – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 Crest of a Wave – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 I Could’ve Had Religion – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 For The Last Time – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 Messin’ With The Kid – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 Don’t Know Where I’m Going – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 Pistol Slapper Blues – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971
3 LP
SIDE A
Used to Be – 50th Anniversary Edition I’m Not Awake Yet – 50th Anniversary Edition Don’t Know Where I’m Going – 50th Anniversary Edition Maybe I Will – 50th Anniversary Edition Whole Lot of People – 50th Anniversary Edition
SIDE B
In Your Town – 50th Anniversary Edition Should’ve Learnt My Lesson – 50th Anniversary Edition There’s a Light – 50th Anniversary Edition Out of My Mind – 50th Anniversary Edition Crest of a Wave – 50th Anniversary Edition
SIDE C
Used to Be – Alternate Take 1 I’m Not Awake Yet – Alternate Take 1 Maybe I Will – Alternate Take 1 Whole Lot of People – 12 string acoustic Alternate Take 1
SIDE D
In Your Town – Alternate Take 3 Should’ve Learnt My Lesson – Alternate Take 3 There’s A Light – Alternate Take 1 Out of My Mind – Alternate Take 3
SIDE E
Crest of a Wave – Alternate Take 2 Crest of a Wave – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 Don’t Know Where I’m Going – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 I Could’ve Had Religion – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971
SIDE F
Should’ve Learnt My Lesson – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 For The Last Time – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 Messin’ With The Kid – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971 Pistol Slapper Blues – Radio Bremen 21/12/1971
1 LP COLOUR (D2C)
SIDE A
Used To Be – BBC In Concert – Live at The Paris Theatre, 13 January 1972 Should’ve Learnt My Lesson – BBC In Concert – Live at The Paris Theatre, 13 January 1972 Out Of My Mind – BBC In Concert – Live at The Paris Theatre, 13 January 1972
SIDE B
I Could’ve Had Religion – BBC In Concert – Live at The Paris Theatre, 13 January 1972 Crest Of A Wave – BBC In Concert – Live at The Paris Theatre, 13 January 1972 Messin’ With The Kid – BBC In Concert – Live at The Paris Theatre, 13 January 1972
This is an album I picked up in the early-mid ’80s on one of my trips around Toronto with my Uncle Jim, who lived in Rexdale. He knew where all the shops were, and on a few occasions we’d go up and down Yonge Street, and then off to various other shops within walking distance. So, at that time you could still pick up albums you weren’t familiar with for a dollar or 2, a small gamble but I picked up a lot of gems this way. I had the first Crazy World Of Arthur Brown LP (via my uncle, from a few years earlier), so I was a wee bit familiar with Arthur Brown, but judging by the cover and titles Dance With Arthur Brown would be something very different.
This was Brown’s first post-Kingdom Come album, and although it could still be deemed experimental, Dance With seems a bit more radio accessible for the time, as if Arthur was attempting to get in to the mainstream. It featured 11 tracks, a pair of covers, and a few that would’ve made interesting singles. In fact there were 3 singles. Now signed to Gull Records (part of the Motown group) may be a sign of Arthur’s new direction, with elements of soul, r & b, gospel, all can be found on this album. Gull also released the first few Judas Priest albums during this era. Dance With was preceded by a single in late ’74 – “Gypsies” bw/ “Dance”. The A-side was a non-LP track, penned by Naaman (anyone?). A shame this one is not on youtube, though Arthur Brown’s re-recording of it is, as he re-did the song for his 2007 album The Voice Of Love (as The Amazing World Of Arthur Brown). The single was produced by Brown, himself, but the album would be produced by the legendary Rodger Bain who was better known for the heavier bands he produced like Black Sabbath and Budgie. Dance With featured a number of players, notably guitarist Andy Dalby (from Kingdom Come), and keyboardist Pete Solley (ex Paladin, Snafu), as well as a few backing singers – Fuzzy, Stevie, and Mutt! Stevie was Stevie Lange who later appeared with a number of acts in the 70s , notably The Sweet, Graham Bonnet and Elton John, while Mutt (Lange) went on to produce tons of bands over the next few decades, notably AC/DC, Def Leppard, and Foreigner. Anyway,…. Dance With Arthur Brown came out in May of ’75, it received mixed reviews (of the few I could find), Although there’s no face-paint, costumes, or cosmic cover art, the cover is a bit humorous with 2 torn photos of Brown dancing with a female partner in formal wear (from a different era), while the back cover includes all the songwriting and performance credits, and a regular photo of Brown and lyrics to just 3 songs.
Gull released 2 further singles, in a few countries – “We’ve Got To Get Out Of This Place” b/w the non-LP track “Here I Am” in July of ’75, and then “Out Of Time” b/w “The Lord Will Find A Way” (penned by bass player Lee Robinson). The 2nd single seemed to only be issued in New Zealand and Australia. I actually like both of these covers, as the production seems lively, but find it odd that the album’s 2 covers were the only singles, as there were a few others that would’ve made excellent choices, such as “Helen With The Sun” and the title track (as a A side!). And I hear saxophone on “Out Of Time”, but don’t see it in the credits…(!?) The rest of the album includes a few styles, such as “Crazy” with it’s cabaret approach, “Soul Garden” with it’s reggae beat, and closing “Is There Nothing Beyond God?”, which – with it’s 1 line repeated throughout is kind of a chant put to some decent guitar, bass and drums.
Both Dance With Arthur Brown and it’s follow up Chisholm In My Bosom (which I don’t have.. yet) seem scarce (and pricey) on CD. Both were released together in 1995 on See For Miles Records (UK), in ’95, and since then only in Japan. A proper release of both of these albums – complete with bonus tracks, would be nice after so many years, and while Arthur Brown is getting long overdue press and praise with the release of the Eternal Messenger (An Anthology) CD box last year And his brilliant new album Long Long Road.
Flash were an early ’70s progressive rock band which featured original YES guitarist Peter Banks. In a few short years the band released 3 albums, all worth checking out. This live set is for collectors, as it gathers the band’s live recordings over their short lifespan touring the USA. Likely bootlegged over the years, these recordings have been cleaned up as best as possible and are an enjoyable look at the band. Flash had lots of potential, but for whatever reasons didn’t last too long. These shows make a great companion to the band’s studio albums (which featured some cool cover-art!). *Check out the press release below for more details & track listing.
Prog Legends FLASH Featuring Peter Banks “In The USA Live 1972-73” 3-CD Set Available Sept, 9, 2022
Available on Sept. 9th, restored live recordings from 1970ʼs classic prog rock group FLASH featuring ex-YES guitarist Peter Banks. Twenty-two tracks from seven shows across 3 discs; a majority of them previously unavailable. Best known thanks to their YES connections, the band nevertheless held their own across three Billboard charting albums, and the top 30 single hit “Small Beginnings.” Includes 32-page booklet with exclusive band interviews, unpublished photos and tour itinerary. A true time capsule back to the golden age of US rock concerts.
• Carefully restored and previously unreleased recordings • For fans of progressive rock, guitar heroes & YES • Previously unpublished photos & essay including detailed US tour history with exclusive band interviews and memorabilia
“Capturing the collective during seven of their American shows of 1972-1973, one of those preserved for posterity in its entirety, the digipack will allow the listener to savor most of the three LPs in rather different performances than those laid down in the studio and the uninitiated will have the opportunity to see how brilliant these musicians were. Colin and Ray worked for a while under the old name relatively recently, but it’s the old recordings their followers are after, so there’s something to look forward to.” – Dmitry Epstein https://dmme.net
Says Ray Bennett: “What ‘Think Like A Key Music’ set out to do here, on this multi-disc set, is to gather together whatever was left out there of live FLASH stuff regardless of quality and present it in the best possible way. Whatever improvements could be made to the audio were done. Quite a bit of it is rough sounding, but I found that even with the poor sound issues there was something coming across from the live experience. Some surprisingly good moments. A fair bit of this material was fan-recorded, probably on cassettes, some possibly from rough mixing board recordings; some is much better studio type quality, and some has been online for years on obscure websites, but in the worst possible form – awful sound, complete with extraneous noise and talking in the recordings. So all that has been cleaned up and the sound mastered as well as possible. Overall, I think this is a worthy project for the historical record at the very least. Other than the ‘In Public’ CD which is already available, this new set is it as far as we know. Pretty much all that there is of live FLASH performance.”
Legendary guitarist Steve Hackett is pleased to announce, ‘Genesis Revisited Live: Seconds Out & More’, the visual document of his 2021 UK tour celebrating the classic Genesis live album. Set for release on the 2nd September 2022 (with vinyl following on the 25th November), it sees Steve and his band perform ‘Seconds Out’ in full & in sequence, as well as a selection of solo material including tracks from his most recent studio album ‘Surrender of Silence’.
Steve comments: “I’m so happy to release my Seconds Out & More show… A spectacular night with a band on fire tearing into that magic music combining the true spirit of Genesis with a fresh virtuosic approach and an extraordinary sound under amazing lights. This show is a feast for both ears and eyes. The best of so many worlds!”
‘Genesis Revisited Live: Seconds Out & More’ will be available as Limited 2CD + Blu-ray & Limited 2CD + DVD, both including 5.1 surround sound, behind the scenes documentary & promo videos. Steve Hackett and his band comprise Roger King, Rob Townsend, Jonas Reingold, Nad Sylvan & Craig Blundell, and they were joined by Amanda Lehmann as special guest on the night.
Steve Hackett & his band have just completed a run of shows in New Zealand and Australia, and will continue their ‘Seconds Out & More’ tour in Japan, Europe and North America throughout the rest of year. In September and October 2022, they will present their ‘Foxtrot at Fifty’ 25-date tour in the UK. For the full list of dates and to buy tickets go to HackettSongs.com.
About Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett joined Genesis at the beginning of 1971 and gained an international reputation as the guitarist in the band’s classic line-up alongside Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins. Hackett’s intricate guitar work was a key element of Genesis’ albums from Nursery Cryme (1971) to Wind And Wuthering (1977) including the classic Selling England By The Pound.
After leaving Genesis at the end of 1977, Hackett’s solo career, which now spans more than 30 albums, has demonstrated his extraordinary versatility with both electric and acoustic guitar. Hackett is renowned as both an immensely talented and innovative rock musician and a virtuoso classical guitarist and composer and this was recognised in 2010 when he was inducted into the Rock Hall Of Fame. He has also worked alongside Steve Howe of YES in the supergroup GTR.
Hackett’s compositions take influences from many genres, including jazz, classical and blues. For his later studio works The Night Siren (2017) and At The Edge Of Light (2019) Hackett has explored the influences of world music. Recent tours have seen Hackett celebrate his time with Genesis including a spectacular 2018 tour in which he realised a long-held ambition to perform the works of Genesis live with his band and an orchestra.
The lockdown enforced by the 2020 global pandemic has proven to be a particularly creative period for Hackett. He began by releasing Selling England by the Pound & Spectral Mornings: Live at Hammersmith, a live recording of 2019’s hugely successful tour celebrating that Genesis classic together with the 40th anniversary of one of his most-loved solo albums. Lockdown also gave Hackett the opportunity to write and record two new studio albums, the UK Classical Chart hit Under A Mediterranean Sky and the forthcoming Surrender of Silence.
For GOLDEN EARRING fans, guitarist/writer Goerge Kooymans and American guitarist Frank Carillo released their 2nd album titled Mirage. It includes 10 tracks , notably Kooymans’ “Seasons”, which was originally written in 1968 for Dutch band Earth & Fire.
from press:
Twelve years after their debut album On Location, George Kooymans and Frank Carillo return to the front with their second album entitled Mirage. Recorded over a period of approximately three years in various studios and countries, Mirage offers ten tracks that illustrate the natural chemistry between the two guitarists, showcasing artistic excellence, as well as a wide array of musical influences.
,,Four countries, a fantastic cast of real characters, sometimes an ocean between us and more than a few laughs: That’s how Mirage came to life. We wrote a number of the songs in George’s kitchen while he cooked and I strummed guitar. Then he strummed and I got on the cutting board. We like to cook.” – George Kooymans & Frank Carillo
George and Frank are accompanied by a.o. Paul Orofino (banjo, guitar, Hammond Organ), Rinus Gerritsen (bass), Bobby Langenberg (drums), Ocki Klootwijk (bass), John Sonneveld (keyboards, programming) and George’s daughter Cassy on harmony vocals.
,,It wasn’t a conscious effort to make a CD. We just wanted to write and record because we loved doing what we do. After a while, we realized that we had enough material recorded to put out a new collection so here it is.” – George Kooymans & Frank Carillo
TRACKLISTING
1. Mirage 5.01 2. Where The Devil Won’t Go 2.43 3. Sweet Revenge 3.25 4. If I Go There 3.13 5. Den Of Thieves 4.03 6. Ticket To Heaven 3.21 7. I Wish You Were Still Here 4.50 8. Living Now 4.06 9. Crystal Cracking 4.40 10. Christmas in Gaza 2.27 11. Seasons (bonus track) 4.41
Mirage is released on 17th June 2022 by Red Bullet Productions and will be available through all renowned worldwide music dealers and online shops, plus digital channels (Spotify, Apple Music, a.o.). A vinyl version will follow later this year through Music On Vinyl.
*There is also Another release of Golden Earring’s classic Live album. I have the white vinyl of this, as well there is a red vinyl issue (released in 2019 & ’21 respectively). This edition issued on ‘blade bullet’ vinyl reportedly comes from the master tapes – “To celebrate its 45th anniversary, the album is being remastered for the very first time from the original master tapes.” I am curious how improved it will sound(?) A shame there’s no ‘bonus’ material .
Outsider Rock 