Tag Archives: British Rock

URIAH HEEP – new release compiles their 1973 – 74 period

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HNE (Cherry Red) is releasing a 5 CD box compiling URIAH HEEP’s studio and live recordings starting with the classic Live…January 1973 through to the live recordings from the Wonderworld tour. Not sure if there’s anything here that hasn’t been released before, but it seems likes an interesting collection. A busy period for Heep, featuring what most hail as the ‘classic line up’. Coming out November 28. *Track-listing below. Pre-order link at the end.

Following hot on the heels of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, British hard rock legends Uriah Heep released their debut album in June 1970. Featuring David Byron on lead vocals, Mick Box on lead guitar and Ken Hensley on keyboards, ‘Very ‘Eavy Very ‘Umble’ is quite rightly regarded as a major influence on the development of hard rock and heavy metal. 1970 was the centenary of Charles Dickens’ death, and having originally been called Spice, they switched to the more Dickensian Uriah Heep when Hensley joined their ranks after spells in The Gods and Toe Fat before recording their debut.

Like their hard rocking contemporaries of the 1970s, it was live on stage where Uriah Heep truly shone, and no self-respecting rock or metal band of the era could be without a classic double live album, and ‘Uriah Heep Live’ (CD1) is no exception. Recorded at Birmingham Town Hall in January 1973, and released three months later, it delivered their third gold record in a row in the States, it remains a testament to the classic line-up of Box/Hensley/Byron/Kerslake/Thain.

Back in the days when bands were expected to be prolific enough to release two new albums a year, Uriah Heep released their sixth studio album ‘Sweet Freedom’ (CD3) in 1973, by which time they had been joined by drummer Lee Kerslake (Ozzy Osbourne) and bassist Gary Thain, which many see as the most enduring line-up of the band. The album saw Ken Hensley develop as a songwriter, with the music a blend of proto heavy metal and progressive rock, consolidating their growing popularity at home as well as the all important US market. ‘Sweet Freedom’ was followed by ‘Wonderworld’ (CD4) in June 1974, with the hard rock attack of Mick Box’s guitar, alloyed to Ken Hensley’s keyboards and David Byron’s operatic vocal approach making the band a formative influence on bands such as Queen. With a significant dent in the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, ‘Wonderworld’ featured the single ‘Something Or Nothing’, but was the last studio album to feature bass guitarist Gary Thain.

It was the classic Box/Hensley/Byron/Kerslake/Thain line-up that would record ‘Live at Shepperton ’74′ (CD5) the same year. Issued in bootleg style artwork, the album wasn’t given an official release until 1986, and captures the band in a more intimate setting in front of a much smaller, invited audience. CD2 was originally released as part of a deluxe version of ‘Live 1973’ and features the band in 1974 with a US Radio show session, and with film mixes from the Shepperton show and on an extended ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Medley’.

Uriah Heep continued to tour and release new albums until the present day. In 2025 they launched their farewell tour, celebrating 55 years of music. The package includes liner notes based on new interviews with founder member, Mick Box.

DISC ONE

URIAH HEEP LIVE 1973

1  Sunrise

2  Sweet Lorraine

3  Traveller In Time

4  Easy Livin’

5 July Morning

6  Tears In My Eyes

7  Gypsy

8  Circle Of Hands

9  Look At Yourself

10  Magician’s Birthday

11  Love Machine Rock ‘N’ Roll Medley

12  Roll Over Beethoven

13  Blue Suede Shoes

14  Mean Woman Blues

15  Hound Dog

16  At The Hop

17  Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On

18  Blue Suede Shoes

DISC TWO

U.S. RADIO SHOW 1974

1  Something Or Nothing

2  I Won’t Mind

3  Look At Yourself

4  Gypsy

FILM MIXES USED FOR RADIO

5  Easy Livin’

6  So Tired

7  I Won’t Mind

8  Something Or Nothing

9  The Easy Road

10  Stealin’

11  Love Machine

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL MEDLEY ’74

12  Roll Over Beethoven

13  Blue Suede Shoes

14  Mean Woman Blues

15  Hound Dog

16  At The Hop

17  Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On

18  Blue Suede Shoes

DISC THREE

SWEET FREEDOM (1973)

1  Dreamer

2  Stealin’

3  One Day

4  Sweet Freedom

5  If I Had the Time

6  Seven Stars

7  Circus

8  Pilgrim

Bonus Tracks

9  Sunshine

10  Seven Stars (Extended Version)

11  Pilgrim – Extended Version (Previously Unreleased)

12  If I Had the Time (Demo)

13  Sweet Freedom (Alternative Live Version) 14 Stealin’ (Alternative Live Version)

DISC FOUR

WONDERWORLD (1974)

1  Wonderworld

2  Suicidal Man

3  The Shadows and The Wind

4  So Tired

5  The Easy Road

6  Something Or Nothing

7  I Won’t Mind

8  We Got We

9  Dreams

Bonus Tracks

10  What Can I Do

11  Love, Hate and Fear (Previously Unreleased Version)

12  Stone’s Throw (Previously Unreleased Version)

13  Dreams (Extended Version)

14  I Won’t Mind (Live Version)

15  So Tired (Live Version)

DISC FIVE

LIVE AT SHEPPERTON ’74

1  Easy Livin’

2  So Tired

3  I Won’t Mind

4  Sweet Freedom

5  Something Or Nothing

6 The Easy Road

7  Stealin’

8  Love Machine

9  Rock ‘N’ Roll Medley

10  Roll Over Beethoven

11  Blue Suede Shoes

12  Hound Dog

13  At The Hop

14  Blue Suede Shoes

Bonus Tracks

15  The Easy Road

16  Sleazy (Easy Livin’)

17  Easy Livin’

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/uriah-heep-the-shadow-and-the-wind-1973-1974-5cd-box-set

SWEET – Live at the Marquee reissue

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Metalville Records continue their reissues of SWEET albums with Live At The Marquee, which was recorded in February of 1986. This release does not include the 4 studio tracks from the original 1989 release, but includes 2 live songs not on the original either. *Check it out.

Live At The Marquee was recorded at London’s Marquee Club in February 1986, shortly before the legendary venue closed its doors for good. The SWEET lineup at the time consisted of original members Andy Scott (lead guitar) and Mick Tucker (drums) as well as Paul Mario Day (ex-Iron Maiden) as lead singer, bassist Mal McNulty (Slade), and Phil Lanzon (Uriah Heep) on keyboards. At this concert, the band presented a heavier sound without losing the energy and appeal of the classic hits and anthems.

Live At The Marquee is a rare gem in SWEET’s catalog and is now being re-released on CD and vinyl. 

MORE INFO:

www.thesweet.com 

www.metalville.de

www.facebook.com/metalville 

British band FM to release ‘Brotherhood’

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British band FM will their 15th studio album next month. They’ve released 2 singles/videos so far, both are excellent aor-type rockers. Check out the press info below, as well as the videos, and the links.

It’s no surprise that FM’s upcoming album ‘Brotherhood’ continues to showcase their signature blend of hook-laden AOR and blues-tinged hard rock that solidifies their status as masters of the genre.

‘Brotherhood’ showcases a band at the top of their game with highlights including an infectious anthem “Living on the Run,” anthemic rocker “Don’t Call It Love,” the punchy and powerful “Coming For You,” and the emotionally charged “Time Waits For No One,” all tracks that echo the spirit and melodic strength of FM’s early classics, while being unmistakably fresh and vibrant.

Opening track, “Do You Mean It,” brings a bluesy, soulful vibe that echoes the Doobie Brothers’ classic “Takin’ It To The Streets” sound, setting the tone for the album. ‘Brotherhood’ also features one of FM’s most powerful ballads to date, “Just Walk Away” – a beautifully emotional song that highlights the band’s mastery of melodic rock. Wrapping up the album is “The Enemy Within,” a track that introduces exciting new sonic ideas while retaining the powerful and melodic qualities FM fans love.

Supporting vocals from a female guest choir add warmth and dynamic depth to “Do You Mean It” and “Just Walk Away,” perfectly complementing Steve Overland’s consistently exceptional lead vocals.

Overland comments on the new album: “I am proud of the new album. It is one of our strongest song albums to date. It is another milestone, as it’s FM’s 15th album. It’s very well-paced and has great variation in song styles throughout. The album’s big ballad, ‘Just Walk Away,’ is one of our best. I hope our fans feel the same way as we do about ‘Brotherhood.'”

To promote ‘Brotherhood,’ FM will embark on a major UK headline tour in September 2025 with 14 confirmed shows, followed by European dates in early 2026. Visit FM’s official website for tickets.

To pre-order Brotherhood : https://ffm.to/fmbrotherhood

Track List:

1. Do You Mean It

2. Living On The Run

3. Coming For You

4. Raised On The Wrong Side

5. Love Comes To All

6. Just Walk Away

7. Don’t Call It Love

8. Time Waits For No One

9. Because Of You

10. Chasing Freedom

11. The Enemy Within

FM are:

Steve Overland – Vocals, guitar

Merv Goldsworthy – Bass

Pete Jupp – Drums

Jem Davis – Keyboards

Jim Kirkpatrick – Guitars

LINKS:

https://www.facebook.com/FMofficial

https://www.fmofficial.com/

fmofficial.com/fmofficial/index.html

ATOMIC ROOSTER return with new album

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Esoteric Antenna is proud to present Circle The Sun, the powerful new album from legendary British rock outfit Atomic Rooster — their first full collection of studio recordings in over 40 years.

Emerging from the shadows with ten brand new tracks, Circle The Sun marks a monumental return for a band whose influence helped shape the landscape of early 70s hard rock and progressive metal. Rich in atmosphere and attitude, the album draws on Atomic Rooster’s signature blend of thunderous guitar riffs, brooding Hammond organ, and complex rhythmic interplay — updated for a new era.

Led by the formidable lineup of Steve “Boltz” Bolton  (guitar/vocals) (a Rooster veteran from the Made in England era), Adrian Gautrey  (keyboards/vocals),  Shugg Millidge  (bass), and Paul Everett  (drums), the band brings renewed energy and purpose, honouring the spirit of Vincent Crane while forging forward into fresh sonic territory.

Highlights include the soaring urgency of “Fly or Die,” the swaggering title track “Circle the Sun,” and the bluesy, defiant “Rebel Devil.” Fans of the band’s proto-metal classic Death Walks Behind You will find much to love, while newcomers will be struck by the album’s dark, modern edge.

With live concerts across the UK and Europe planned to coincide with the release, Atomic Rooster’s resurgence is not just a return — it’s a rebirth.

To Pre-Order: https://www.cherryred.co.uk/atomic-rooster-circle-the-sun-cd-edition

Track Listing:

1. Fly or Die 2. Circle the Sun 3. Never 2 Lose 4. Follow Me 5. Rebel Devil 6. No More 7. Pillow 8. Last Night 9. First Impression 10. Blow That Mind

LINKS:

https://m.facebook.com/AtomicRooster16/

https://m.facebook.com/groups/920848814634353/

SWEET – ‘Sweetlife’ reissued

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Metalville Records is reissuing SWEET’s 2002 album Sweetlife. At the time SWEET consisted of guitarist Andy Scott, along with drummer Bruce Bisland (Widlfire, Statetrooper, Praying Mantis), keyboard player Steve Grant (Top Secret, The Animals), and bassist Jeff Brown (Widfire, Statetrooper, Cats In Space) – also handling lead vocals here.

As a fan of The Sweet’s 70s albums, I have a hard time getting in to much Sweet beyond Brian Connolly, and then more so after Steve Priest left the band (albeit the Live At The Marquee with Phil Lanzon and Paul Mario Day is a solid release). But Sweetlife has some very good tracks, notably “Everything”, “Never Say Forever”, “Everybody Wants To”, “You’re Crazy”, and the acoustic “Leap Of Faith”. The band tries real hard on this album to recapture the magic, especially with excellent backing vocals throughout this. A pretty good album overall. I am curious to see how far back Metalville will go with these Sweet reissues.

The album offers 11 outstanding AOR songs. Long out of print and sought after by many fans, the album is finally back in stores on CD and vinyl. 

LINKS:

www.thesweet.com 

www.metalville.de

www.facebook.com/metalville 

New DEEP PURPLE book: ‘Stealing Deep Purple’

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A new DEEP PURPLE book is available. Stealing Deep Purple tells the story of the short-lived bogus band from 1980, and fronted by original DP singer Rod Evans. Deep Purple 1980 (the ‘new’ Deep Purple, then) played shows throughout Canada, the US, and Mexico before being stopped. This period is a curious and often overlooked chapter in the band’s history, though not being Deep Purple. There’s been many articles and DP fan accounts written online in the past, but Scottish author Steve McLean has researched this thoroughly for this book (373 pages). Looking forward to this one. Deep Purple 1980 kinda capped off an era where many big bands saw their name hijacked by corrupt managers and used to make money using bogus line ups (see also Fleetwood Mac, Steppenwolf, Herman’s Hermits…)

Order Stealing Deep Purple HERE.

About the book:

This is the story of Rod Evans, the little known original singer of Deep Purple, who decided to reform the band for a continental tour in 1980. The problem was that this Deep Purple contained no other members of the original group and that Rod, who had been fired long before their 1970s heyday, had no real legal rights to use the name.

The tour was comprised of riots, cancelled shows, on-stage fights, arrests, terrible performances and a massive court case. The who episode has become stuff of legend, with no two accounts seemingly the sames. Evans effectively ‘stole’ Deep Purple….. And he would have gotten away with it too if it wasn’t for all the posters, ticket sales and press coverage.

Using over 200 newspaper, magazine, book and media sources plus brand new testimonies from the people who were there, Steve McLean attempts to piece together what actually happened in this real life Rock’n’Roll Swindle.

“They all had something down their spandex pants. We couldn’t tell if it was vegetable or plastic… Let’s just say it was pretty obvious those bulges weren’t real...Every time I watch that scene in Spinal Tap, I think of Deep Purple 1980.” Llory McDonald.

LINKS:

About

TEN WORDS OR FEWER INTERVIEW: Steve McLean, author of Stealing Deep Purple

https://www.thehighwaystar.com/news/2025/07/16/stealing-deep-purple/

DAVE COUSINS – Strawbs’ singer, songwriter

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Dave Cousins was the singer, main songwriter, and leader of British band THE STRAWBS. He passed away July 13, at the age of 85. The Strawbs were a unique band, starting as folk rock, then evolving and adding elements of progressive, and hard rock over time. From 1972-73 the band had 3 UK hit singles – “Lay Down”, “Part Of The Union” (#2) , and “Shine One Silver Sun”.

Back in 2008 I received a few Dave Cousins solo albums (CD), His latest album – The Boy In The Sailor Suit, and a reissue of his 1972 album Two Weeks Last Summer. At the time I wasn’t very familiar, but I knew “Hero And Heroine”. I went and saw him, while promoting these discs, when he played a ‘songs & stories’ solo show at Hugh’s Room in Toronto. It was an entertaining, intimate show. Afterwards, Dave came out and greeted people, signed albums, got in pictures. I recall seeing a few posters in the Hughs Room hallways that were from previous Strawbs (Acoustic Strawbs) shows, so reckon the band had quite a following in Toronto for many years. This tour was captured in the live album Duochrome.

After that, my buddy Ed and I walked a few blocks over to a used record shop, where I picked up a handful of Strawbs’ LPs. On another day, just prior to or after the show I interviewed Dave. A bit of this was used in a local music paper. For some time now I’ve been intending to dig out the tape, and fully transcribe it.

The Strawbs last album was 2023’s The Magic Of It All.

LINKS:

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jul/20/dave-cousins-obituary

https://www.strawbsweb.co.uk

https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/strawbs-founder-and-singer-dave-cousins-has-died-aged-80

DEEP PURPLE – release new single from ‘Rapture Of The Deep’ remix

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DEEP PURPLE RELEASE REMIXED SINGLE “CLEARLY QUITE ABSURD” — FEATURING PREVIOUSLY UNHEARD INSTRUMENTAL TAKE OF “MTV”

RAPTURE OF THE DEEP — 20TH ANNIVERSARY REMIX TO BE RELEASED AUGUST 29 — PRE-ORDER HERE

As part of the upcoming Rapture of the Deep — 20th Anniversary Remix, Deep Purple today release a new single: a newly mixed and remastered version of “Clearly Quite Absurd,” backed with a previously unreleased instrumental studio rehearsal take of “MTV.”

Roger Glover today recalls, “‘Clearly Quite Absurd’ is a very unusual Deep Purple song, which I like. We’ve always liked being unusual. We don
t follow traditions, really. We are just who we are at a specific time.”

The single’s B-side, “MTV (2005 Studio Jam),” is a previously unheard instrumental take from an early rehearsal session — with Don Airey, Steve Morse, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice running through a track that later appeared as a bonus on select editions of Rapture of the Deep.

The single is a preview of the Rapture of the Deep — 20th Anniversary Remix, out worldwide on August 29, which includes a brand new mix of the full album, revised artwork, and a bonus disc filled with rare studio rehearsals and instrumental jams.

The album will be available as 2CD Digipak, 3LP Vinyl (black, 180g), and the strictly limited 3LP Transparent Sky-Blue Vinyl.

Access the album here.

BADFINGER – release new video from Head First

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There is a brand new video from BADFINGER’s Head First, which was officially released (CD & vinyl) nearly 50 years after its recording.

“Keep Believing”, another classic Pete Ham cut, follow video releases for “Moonshine”, featuring Tom Evans & Bob Jackson sharing lead vocals, and the Mike Gibbins ballad “Back Again”.

One of the best (well, my favorite) and most surprising recent releases. Check it out if you haven’t!

https://badfingeruk.com

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