Classic Compilation: ABBA – ABBA Gold : Greatest Hits
There’s seemingly always been a certain amount of sniffiness around compilations, as if they are somehow unrepresentative of the musical act they allegedly represent. This is particularly the case across the Atlantic, where they are often dismissed as, at best, being poor value for money, or at worst, being a cynical attempt to rip off …
Not Forgotten: Ween – The Mollusk
How much you enjoy Ween can often depend on how much you appreciate their regular explorations of bad taste. If you’re easily offended, then chances are, Ween generally aren’t for you. That said, an album like The Mollusk does reveal that there’s more to Ween than just being They Might Be Giants with frequent lapses …
Not Forgotten: Golden Earring – Moontan
With their roots going back as far as the early 60s, many still overlook Golden Earring when considering the most enduring European rock acts. Initially a four piece beat combo, by the early 70s they were an accomplished psych-prog act, complete with a drummer who would mark the climax of every gig by launching himself …
Not Forgotten: Marillion – Clutching at Straws
Marillion are one of those acts whose days of commercial success are far behind them, yet whose fanbase remains so rabidly loyal, that whatever they release will be met with no small amount of enthusiasm. They are also a band of contradictions. As a prog rock act in the mid 80s, they found their greatest …
News: Def Leppard announce Hysteria – 30th anniversary reissues
Hysteria, the commercial zenith of stadium straddling rockers Def Leppard, sees the 30th anniversary of its release in August this year, and to celebrate Bludgeon Riffola/UMC/Mercury are going all out on a plethora of re-release formats for it. In addition to a standard single disc reissue there will be a 3-CD Deluxe, a double version …
Not Forgotten: Deep Purple – Burn
Having established themselves as one of the premium hard rock bands of the early 70s, by 1973, it was seemingly simply too much effort for Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan and scalloped-fret worrier Ritchie Blackmore to co-exist in the same band. Gillan walking away / being pushed gave Blackmore an opening to try and convince …
Not Forgotten: Neil Innes – Taking Off
When the rare conversations regarding the merits of the Bonzo Dog Band are had, a fair portion of that time is spent discussing the work of Viv Stanshall, he of the instantly recognisable voice, weird lyrics, variable solo career and someone generally held to be a cult hero. While Stanshall and his creative career certainly …
Classic Album: Considering the status of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band 50 years later.
50 years ago popular music reached its absolute apex when Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the most perfect musical statement in the history of the eardrum was released. It instantly made every album released prior to May 1967 sound utterly juvenile, and every album released after it has been a shockingly poor attempt to …
Not Forgotten: Ian Hunter – Welcome to the Club
While Mick Ronson will always be most closely associated with David Bowie, thanks to his status as Chief Spider and that iconic Top of the Pops performance of “Starman”, he arguably had a more equitable collaborative relationship with former Mott the Hoople frontman Ian Hunter. It’s sometimes forgotten that Ronno did serve as Mott’s guitarist …
Not Forgotten: Little Feat – Sailin’ Shoes
Little Feat are a band that I have been patient with. Perhaps it’s because the first album I heard by them, the fantastic live offering Waiting for Columbus made such a favourable impression on me, that I’ve been a little disappointed that the studio albums of theirs that I have explored have not had the …