Review: On March 31, 1964, The Beatles recorded seven songs for the BBC's Saturday Club. Three of them were covers of American rock 'n' roll and country songs. The final segment aired on the BBC's General Overseas Service and earlier that day, the band filmed a live performance at the Scala Theatre in Kings Cross for their upcoming film, A Hard Day's Night. This EP includes 'The Hippy Hippy Shake', recorded for Saturday Club and originally broadcast on February 15, as well as the catchy 'Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby' and 'Long Tall Sally'. The band's tight musicianship can be heard throughout this record, which serves as a great example of The Beatles' dynamic early sound during their rise to global fame.
Review: For the first time on green vinyl, cinematic funk and r&b singer Boz Scaggs gives us the Lowdown. One of the breakthrough hits from his 1976 album Silk Degrees, Scaggs' stylised, night-flighty sound is put on full blast here. Co-written by Scaggs and keyboardist David Paich (Toto), the record's unburdened and frolicking feel acts to disguise its subject matter: Scaggs' intention is double-sided, with the lyrics warning the listener about an unreliable, buttery figure, whose romantic trickery warrants an urgent briefing (hence "lowdown"). A twist arrives at the point of the chorus, when we realise that said bullshit artist might just be Boz himself. Well, we can't quite believe it. Are all us romantics loving a lie, to some extent?
Review: "There's nothing 'jazz' about it, really," says Stefan Goldmann, Macro Records boss and remixer on this 12", "Just raw energy, something like the album Jimi Hendrix would have possibly recorded if he had lived another year." Goldmann first heard 'Marbles' - from the legendary jazz guitarist and trusted right hand man of Miles Davis - when he was a teenager and it's remained a personal favourite ever since. This gorgeous piece of vinyl connects the 1970 original, an almost proto-techno swampy stomp wreathed in psychedelic keys and interstellar solos, with Goldmann's own exceptional remix on the flip. It's quite a listen, as Goldmann homes in on the original's bassline and its parallels with Giorgio Moroder's trademark disco juddering a few years, turning it into an irresistible techno session complete with cascading electronic drums, Buddhist bells and, of course, a McLaughlin riff churning over and over. We love music that joins the dots between genres and this does it in effortless, ludicrously danceable style. 'Marbles'? You'll lose yours when you hear this.
Undercover Of The Night (unreleased instrumental) (4:52)
Miss You (unreleased instrumental) (4:49)
Review: Rolling Recordings from Antigua makes its debut here with a first release under the guise of Rock Star Heroes who offer up a couple of hard-to-find and previously unreleased funky disco influenced club bound instrumentals of out and out rock classics from one of the worlds best known stadium bands. These are perfectly designed for the club and collide rock, funk, disco and more into fresh forms. Opener 'Undercover Of The Night' popular with the likes of DJ Harvey and is a slice of raw, hard-hitting groove magic with organic percussion and live drums laden with funky guitar riffs and lively chord work that brings the whole thing to life. On the flip is an instrumental version of 'Miss You' which still has all the swagger of the iconic original with sultry harmonica luring you to the floor where the masterful drums and guitars will keep you moving.
Baba O' Riley (live - Qwartz extended remix) (6:54)
Baba O' Riley (Qwartz dub remix) (6:55)
Review: House lover and studio wizard Qwartz has been at it again, with 'it' being editing some classic rock tunes into club-ready sounds for DJs and dancers. This time he tackles 'Baba O' Riley' firstly with an extended mix that brings all new life into The Who's original. It has a prickly low end with eerie guitars and disco motifs making it a raw, heads-down sound. The dub remix brings a little extra low-end weight.
Review: In October 1977, Australian rock titans AC/DC were set to enjoy a night off in London following two successful shows at the Hammersmith Odeon, before they were tapped by The BBC at the last minute to replace The Sensational Alex Harvey Band who had cancelled their scheduled appearance on the Sight & Sound In Concert show at the Hippodrome in North London's Golders Green. While the likes of Queen, Jethro Tull, The Kinks and Roxy Music would perform at the 3,000-capacity venue over the years, no band or set has ever rocked the Hippodrome like Bon Scott and the boys did on this fateful evening. Ripping through a truncated, all bangers setlist of seven tracks in just 40 minutes, including 'Problem Child', 'Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be', 'Whole Lotta Rosie' and 'T.N.T.', while Angus Young would run rampant whilst shredding through the balcony section, this performance has gone down as one of most iconic from this early definitive era of the band.
Review: Alter Bridge's debut album made a bold statement when it first arrived in 2004, showcasing a dynamic shift from the members' previous project. With a heavier, more aggressive sound, the band set themselves apart through thick basslines, intricate melodies and fiery guitar work. Myles Kennedy's commanding voice elevates the album, blending seamlessly with the instrumental intensity. 'Metalingus', remains a defining moment, pairing pounding drums with razor-sharp riffs that build to an explosive energy. Its enduring appeal is evident in its inclusion across various media, cementing its place as a fan favorite. Tracks like 'Open Your Eyes' and 'Broken Wings' balance the album's raw power with heartfelt emotion, offering a glimpse of the band's versatility. This deluxe reissue breathes new life into the album, adding five live recordings that capture the electrifying energy of the band's performances. The live versions of 'One Day Remains' and 'Burn It Down' amplify the album's intensity on the last side of this release. These additions highlight Alter Bridge's ability to bring their studio craftsmanship to the stage, delivering performances that resonate deeply with fans.
Review: If you use the online network-cum-existential-need-to-know community Reddit, then it won't surprise you to learn there's a vast and almost unfathomably broad sub group dedicated to The Beatles. Within this, at least a handful of people have posed the question: "if the Beatles had done an MTV Unplugged concert in approx 1968 what stripped down classics might be in the resulting brilliant Unplugged Album?" Forgive the grammar - we took the speculative quandary verbatim from an internet that long-since descended into a linguistic void. Nevertheless, those stumped by this query will be delighted to know that such a record does exist for us to use as a touchstone. Albeit without the MTV bit. And what tracks made the cut? Well, 'Why My Guitar Gently Weeps', 'Revolution', 'Julia', 'Cry Baby Cry', and 'The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill', among others.
I Saw Her Standing There (8:45pm June 17th) (2:22)
You Can't Do That (2:35)
All My Loving (2:35)
She Loves You (2:35)
Till There Was You (2:35)
Roll Over Beethoven (2:35)
Can't Buy Me Love (2:35)
This Boy (2:35)
Twist & Shout (2:35)
Long Tall Sally (2:29)
Review: The Beatles were quite possibly at their peak already by the time 1964 came around, certainly in terms of the adoration of their fans and the wild energy they brought to live shows. This set from that year captures that in mono and despite it only being one record it is packed with more than 20 early tunes from the Liverpudlian outfit. Plenty you will know like 'She Loves You' and 'I Saw her Standing There' but many you may not. Either way it is a fine reminder of the greatness of this band back from their earliest era.
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