Review: Sheffield rock royalty Def Leppard build momentous hype for their upcoming tour alongside Journey with the release of their brand new single 'Just Like 73'. Written in collaboration with Rage Against The Machine axeman Tom Morello, the banger comes complete with an absurd music video of computer generated de-aged models of the band and a parachuting Morello making their way to Earl's Court to perform for a massive crowd of adoring fans. Elaborating on the experience, the guitar guru stated - "I had a blast rocking a solo on 'Just Like 73.' I played 'Rock of Ages' in my college cover band almost 40 years ago and here Def Leppard are still killing it in stadiums with a brand-new tune that's one of their best." Pressed on limited 7" wax with an alternative version on the flip, the Leppard evidently still have plenty of sugar in the petrol tank.
Review: From the grave, Prince is serving up a banger just in time for Christmas fun this year in the form of a one-sided 12" on Warner. It found him working with his trusty New Power Generation and features the 'damn near 10 min' mix of the song 'Gett Off' which is sure to fire up any dancefloor. It was originally a single - also served up as a one-sider - to promote Prince's new band with a cover that boldly declared that "Nothing can stop Prince and the New Power Generation" and was only issued on 1500 copies, so this is a great treat for fans to own all these years later.
Review: T Rex, and Mark Bolan, will forever be remembered as one of the all-time greatest British rock 'n' roll bands. Perhaps what's so remarkable is just how varied the outfit's output during their decade-long tenure as cult then chart-topping heroes, moving from the psychedelic folk movement into the heady world of glam rock as the 1960s drew to a close. Those who haven't explored their full back catalogue should do so as a matter of urgency. Tanx and Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow are two bonafide gems therein, both albums reflecting the broad influences that helped forge such a unique sound for the group. 'The Groover', and its B-side, 'Midnight', appeared on neither, released only as a standalone 1973 single, but have regularly been attached to special edition versions of those LPs. Now's the chance to own them in their original format.
Review: Marc Bolan's first single of 1972, 'Telegram Sam,' also marked the debut release on his T Rex Wax Co label. The song is a tribute to his manager, Tony Secunda, who played a crucial role in securing the label and substantial earnings for Bolan. Recorded in Copenhagen, 'Telegram Sam' is a taut rocker brimming with power and excitement, driven by one of Bolan's most insistent riffs. It served as the public's first taste of what would become T. Rex's next album, the masterful The Slider. The single topped the U.K. charts effortlessly. This reissue, released on a 7" picture disc featuring rare photos of Marc Bolan, captures the single's historic and musical significance, making it a valuable addition to the collections of glam aficionados everywhere.
Review: Demon Records continues its series of collectible 7" picture disc releases with T Rex's 1972 singles, showcasing photos from the Keith Morris archive. The standout track is the iconic 'Children Of The Revolution,' originally launched in September 1972. This song, one of Marc Bolan's most celebrated works, reached number 2 on the UK charts, where it remained for three weeks. 'Children Of The Revolution' has been reinterpreted by artists like Violent Femmes, The Scorpions, Kesha, and Bono for the film Moulin Rouge. Neither this track nor its B-sides, 'Jitterbug Love' and 'Sunken Rags,' were included on the Tanx album, released in March 1973. These new archive pictures add a tremendous collectability to this series.
Review: 'Warlock' is the latest release to be pushed via Bob Stanley's Measured Mile imprint, and pulls two floor-friendly but still retrospective gems from the storied De Wolfe music library, based in the UK and widely known as the progenitor and originator of what has now become known widely as library music. To demonstrate the gestation times common to this corner of the music industry, these two tracks have never been heard before, and yet were recorded in 1983! First comes Reg Tilsley with 'Warlock', a full yet light-winged flight through linns of flute, funk bass and notes inegales. Meanwhile, 'Flashpoint' by Roger Jackson is a space-age tittup of booming, long-tailed proportions; it's tempered by the nagging nip of a clavichord and the formidable frown of the lowest piano note.
Review: Jeff Beck's Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group Live captures an explosive blend of jazz-rock fusion, performed by virtuosos at the peak of their powers. Released in 1977, this live album is a hidden gem from Beck's extensive career, filled with electrifying improvisation and remarkable chemistry between the musicians. The album, now available as a reissue from Mobile Fidelity, offers audiophile quality for the first time, sourced from the original master tapes. The clarity, detail, and dynamic range are astonishing, with Beck's guitar and Hammer's synthesisers engaging in a sonic conversation that feels almost visual. The performances here, particularly on tracks like 'Freeway Jam' and 'Darkness/Earth in Search of the Sun' showcase the band's synergy, pushing the boundaries of live recording. Beck's collaboration with Hammer shines throughout, resulting in a unique listening experience that remains as thrilling now as it was during the 1976-77 tour. Fans of musical innovation and superb sound quality won't want to miss this reissue.
Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra, Op 34 (17:12)
Review: This recording of the Philadelphia Orchestra performing Sergei Prokofiev's 1936 story and orchestral score Peter and the Wolf was recorded in 1977 and was originally released in 1978. The role of the narrator on the recording was initially offered to both Peter Ustinov and Alec Guinness who both turned it down, before David Bowie agreed to take on the role, supposedly as a Christmas present to his son. On the B-side is another equally as charming piece of recent classical history, Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra as narrated by Hugh Downs.
Review: This brilliant 1980 debut release by the The English Beat set them on course to become one of the most influential groups to emerge from the British Two Tone Ska movement. This album is wall-to-wall bangers and showcases some of their very best tunes, with earworm melodies encasing punchy and irreverent lyrics. Opening cut, 'I Confess' is a case in point: "Just out of spite / I confess I've ruined three lives / Now don't sleep so tight." Musically, The English Beat had style, substance and the ability to baffle and challenge their heroes. Guitarist Dave Wakeling stumped guitar heroes with his "Dad-Odd" guitar tuning. It's said that Pete Townshend phoned Wakeling up and said: "I'm sitting here with David Gilmour and we're having a bit of trouble finding your tuning for 'Save It for Later'." A superb endorsement for The English Beat, who grew up inspired by The Who and Floyd.
Review: It's fairly bold to call your album The Legendary Sessions but few could argue that this album certainly does capture some legendary sessions. They are previously unreleased recordings that stem from the iconic Jimi Hendrix and Traffic becoming friends in 1967. They were both innovates, both technical, and both progressive with what they did and that bares out across this fascinating album. It was captured between 1968 and 1970 and is full of freeform jams with atonal structures and shifting tempos as well as great complementary interplay between Jimi and Chris Wood.
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