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The Producers (Trevor Horn / Lol Creme) 5-CD Set: A Detailed Review of the ‘Made in Basing Street’ Album

25 06 2024

The Producers were formed in 2006. They include record producers Trevor Horn (The Buggles, Yes, ABC, Seal), Steve Lipson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Propaganda), songwriter/producer Chris Braide (Downes Braide Association) and musicians Lol Creme (10cc, Godley & Creme)) and Ash Soan (Del Amitri / Squeeze).

This new 5-CD set was compiled in conjunction with the band and includes the original album (Made in Basing Street) as well as an alternate version, re-mixes, out-takes and instrumentals all overseen by Steve Lipson.

The extensive booklet features a new interview with the band by Record Collectors Daryl Easlea who details the process of the making of the album.

The original album, released in 2012, still sounds amazing, and is included on disc three in this collection. The 2023 mix is a sympathetic re-imagining. Freeway is more than two minutes longer, with a different drum intro and a lighter mix.

Your Life is also longer in its 2023 incarnation, with a lovely, spacey intro, and a more organic arrangement that lets the song really flow.

The new versions do not detract from the songs if you are already familiar with the album. Man on the Moon has a warm new mix. Every Single Night In Jamaica is a reminder that I am desperate for a Trevor Horn album (either solo or from The Buggles) that features Horn on lead vocals throughout.

Stay Elaine has replaced Ryan Molloy’s lead vocal with a Chris Braide take, which gives the album more continuity. Barking Up The Right Tree remains a highlight of the album, featuring a wonderful contribution from the always wonderful Lol Creme.

The Producers - Barking Up The Right Tree

Garden of Flowers is another longer take, and a less “bombastic” mix, closer in spirit to Trevor’s work with The Buggles. A heart-breaking lyric and vocal from Horn ensures that this became my favourite track on the album back on it’s original release, and the 2023 mix is now my favourite version of the song.

Watching You Out There is similar in arrangement to the original, whilst album closer You and I is a slightly longer version, with a brighter, more punchy mix and with further processing added to the lead vocal line.

The copious amount of extra material includes a selection of unreleased songs and some extended versions and alt-takes. Looking For Love (2023 Mix) is another fine Trevor Horn vocal, and could easily have fitted on the main album.

There’s Only So Much You Can Do is a mostly instrumental piece, apart from Braides’s vocals on the chorus. Extended versions of Freeway and Your Life are welcome additions to disc two, but the two alt-mixes of Garden Of Flowers offer the most value, with an almost Born To Run era Springsteen sounding arrangement driving the alternative edit.

The version of Two Tribes that ends disc two is a live instrumental version. Disc three contains the original album mix of Made In Basing Street from 2012.

Disc four adds further unreleased cuts from the long album sessions. Broadway is a funky little instrumental piece, with some fine interplay between Horn and Soan, and a go-go / Slave To The Rhythm like percussion track. Come In Elektra is a song about Amelia Earhart.

Give Us A Clue is a laid-back Chris Braide vocal piece, with a lazy summer groove. Home has a Beatles / John Lennon inspired arrangement, and the simplicity and space is a real change for the usual material from the band. As you would expect, the production is sumptuous.

Music From Bel Air is another Trevor Horn vocal. It is lovely to hear his vocals set against a very acoustic backing, away from his usual heavily electronic backdrop. The nostalgic lyrics are a delight.

Summer Rain is a surprising omission from the released album. Breezy guitars and a leisurely beat give the track a unique charm. The Path Of Sydney Arthur is a leftover from the original concept album idea that fed into the early sessions, and would have likely been the opening piece to this discarded alternative album sequence. This is definitely one for fans of the more electronic, synth-heavy side of Horn’s oeuvre. It’s a simple but effective piece.

Disc four has a set of fully realised and produced songs that give a tantalising glimpse into an alternative Producers album, that sadly we will never hear as this release appears to be the final word in the Producers story.

Fans of Trevor Horn / Lol Creme and Chris Braide will find plenty to love with this deep dive, expanded re-issue of Made In Basing Street.

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CHRIS BRAIDE – vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, producer.
LOL CREME – guitars, marimba, bass, vocals, backing vocals, keyboards, percussion, producer.
TREVOR HORN – bass, backing vocals, vocals, acoustic guitar, vocoder, marimba, producer.
STEPHEN LIPSON – guitars, mandolin, percussion, programming, backing vocals

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE

MADE IN BASING STREET
2023 mix

Freeway
Waiting For The Right Time
Your Life
Man On The Moon
Every Single Night In Jamaica
Stay Elaine
Barking Up The Right Tree
Garden Of Flowers
Watching You Out There
You And I

DISC TWO

Looking For Love (2023 Mix)
There’s Only So Much You Can Do (2023 Mix)
Freeway (Extended)
Your Life (Extended)
Garden Of Flowers (Alternative Edit)
Garden Of Flowers (Radio Edit With Guitars)
Two Tribes

DISC THREE

MADE IN BASING STREET

Original album mix

Freeway
Waiting For The Right Time
Your Life
Man On The Moon
Every Single Night In Jamaica
Stay Elaine
Barking Up The Right Tree
Garden Of Flowers
Watching You Out There
You And I

DISC FOUR

EXTRAS

Broadway
Come In Elektra
You And I (Dada Mix)
Give Us A Clue
Home
Music For Bel Air
Summer Rain
The Path Of Sydney Arthur
Your Life (End Intro Idea)

DISC FIVE

MADE IN BASING STREET

Instrumental – 2023 backing track

Freeway
Waiting For The Right Time
Your Life
Man On The Moon
Stay Elaine
Barking Up The Right Tree
Garden Of Flowers
Watching You Out There
You And I
Looking For Love

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Buy Producers double vinyl version on Amazon

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Tags: Classic Rock, music, pop, re-issue, rock, Vinyl
Categories : Music, Music Review

Airbag – The Century of the Self Album: Prog Band’s New Release

4 06 2024

The Century of the Self is the long awaited new album from Norway’s best-selling prog band, Airbag, and is released by Karisma Records on 14 June 2024.

Airbag kick off their sixth studio album with Dysphoria, with widely panned guitar and sweeping synth waves. A slow-paced piece, containing lyrics touching on the world we find ourselves in, with conspiracies, trolling and a culture of cancellation.

The instrumentation builds as the song progresses. A specific feature I have noticed on this Airtbag album is the prominence of the bass, from Kristian Hultgren and Bjørn Riis. It adds real power to the songs, and underpins the anthemic guitar lines from Riis.

Tyrants and Kings ups the tempo, and adds acoustic guitars to the mix for the first time. A mature arrangement, with simplicity and space, enabling keyboard or guitar lines to cut through with clarity. Henrik Bergan Fossum adds an at times post-punk chill to his drum patterns on this track. This is Airbag at its most refined.

Awakening strips the arrangement back to delay-treated vocals and acoustic guitar, and then the bass, drums and synths kick in like a deep punch to the gut. A slight U2 lyrical reference feels appropriate, with a song that is close to a slow-burning classic rock template, topped off with some Airbag sparkles.

The middle section of Awakening gives the musicians the chance to stretch out and shine. As always with Airbag, the performances are sympathetic and never show-boating.

Erase is a bass-driven groove, that begs to be played at volume. Psychedelic, heavily processed guitar and wild drums propel the albums heaviest track towards the 14 minute closer, Tear It Down.

Tear It Down introduces itself with a shuffling drum beat, softly twinkling Rhodes piano, and sustained guitar, leading to the angry and frustrated chorus of “Tear it down, tear it all.”

A delicious Rhodes riff then takes over at around the 7 minute / half-way mark, signalling the next section in the ever-evolving Tear It Down. Deep bass and soaring guitar lines from Kristian Hultgren and Ole Michael Bjørndal, do battle with spacey synth from guest Simen Valldal Johannessen. Fans of early Porcupine Tree are going to love this epic song. A great way to end the album, Tear It Down is the track I often find myself returning to again and again.

The Century of the Self feels like the most complete Airbag album to date, with the band spending so much time on the arrangements. It would be easy to just keep piling in with the heavy moments, but there is a real taste of light and shade on display here. Tear it down, tear it all.

Airbag are:
Asle Tostrup – vocals, keyboards and programming
Henrik Bergan Fossum – drums
Bjørn Riis – guitars, bass, keyboards and backing vocals

Featuring: Kristian Hultgren – bass on Dysphoria & Tear it Down
Ole Michael Bjørndal – guitar on Dysphoria, Tyrants and Kings & Tear it Down
Simen Valldal Johannessen – keyboards on Tear it Down

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Buy The Century of the Self coloured vinyl from Amazon.

Buy The Century of the Self CD / vinyl / coloured vinyl from Burning Shed.

Tracklist:
Dysphoria (10:39)
Tyrants and Kings (6:48)
Awakening (6:42)
Erase (7:53)
Tear It Down (14:59)

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Tags: Alternative, Progressive Rock, rock, Vinyl
Categories : Music Review

News: David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust Album Receives Dolby Atmos Mix on Blu-Ray Audio

16 05 2024

The first physical Dolby Atmos release from David Bowie has been announced by Parlophone, with a release date of 6 September 2024.

Dolby Atmos allows producers and musicians to place each sound exactly where they want it to go, for a more realistic and immersive audio experience. Atmos mixes transport you into a spatial sound experience, separating vocals and individual instruments with a greater clarity than ever before, so you hear more and feel more from the music you love.

The Blu-Ray audio disc of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars features four hi-resolution versions of this classic early Bowie album:

2024 Dolby Atmos mix
2024 Stereo Mix (96 khz / 24-bit pcm)
original 1972 Stereo Mix – 2012 remaster (192 khz / 24-bit pcm)
original 1972 Stereo Mix – 2012 remaster (48 khz / 24-bit pcm).

The Atmos version of the album was mixed by Emre Ramazanoglu and Ken Scott at RAK Studios, London.

Hopefully if this release does well, the labels might start looking at other classic Bowie albums in Dolby Atmos.

Track List

Five Years
Soul Love
Moonage Daydream
Starman
It Ain’t Easy
Lady Stardust
Star
Hang On to Yourself
Ziggy Stardust
Suffragette City
Rock & Roll Suicide

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Also available Rock n Roll Star! (5CD & Blu-ray Book Set), which contains a deep dive that explores David Bowie’s journey from February 1971 through the creation of the Ziggy Stardust character.

Please note that the Ziggy Stardust Atmos mix is exclusive to the Dolby Atmos blu-ray and streaming services.

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Tags: 70s, David Bowie, re-issue, rock
Categories : News

Regan & Bricheno – APPARITIONS track-by-track album review

6 05 2024

The Regan & Bricheno bandcamp page sets the scene for this album:

“With Julianne Regan as a green-eyed Elizabeth Taylor to Tim Bricheno’s temperant Richard Burton, All About Eve rides again – in spirit if not in name.”

This is a great scene setter, as APPARITIONS is clearly not just a continuation of the All About Eve songbook, but an expansion of Julianne and Tim’s songwriting and arrangement skills. It would have probably been very easy to rehash past glories, and tread a safe path, but any fears of this being the case are smashed to pieces within a couple of songs.

The album opens with the only “old” track, RAINDROPS, which was released on the now out-of-print 2006 Keepsakes All About Eve compilation, and at the time was one of the first tracks to feature Tim Bricheno playing on an All About Eve song since 1989.

RAINDROPS deserves to be heard again away from the compilation, and is a lovely pop song, underpinned by jagged guitar lines.

Out with the old and in with the new. PALE BLUE EARTH feels like it is referencing Bowie at several points in the lyrics, and again with the affectionate musical nod to Heroes towards the end of the track. The playful, widescreen production is what I hoped to hear, after soaking up the sneak previews we were treated to prior to the albums release on the duos social channels.

PALE BLUE EARTH is the first song on the album to draw its inspiration from the past – with late 50s / 60s space race references indicating the endless possibilities of the future. The experimentation in performance and production is a clear step-up from Julianne’s and Tim’s past collaborations.

SÉANCE widens the musical palette further, with a psychedelic, trippy soundscape, and Twin Peaks referencing keyboard lines. Before the drum machine kicks in, I get hints of early John Foxx in the use of space and minimalism.

“Is there anyone there?
Silk echoes, electric, on paper thin air
A soft phosphorescence, a liminal presence,
The scrape of a chair”

There is a real maturity in the arrangement on SÉANCE, with the track twisting and changing pace, but it never feels forced or un-natural. Throughout the whole album, the guitar is a natural part of the equation, used sparingly so when it appears, it cuts through to maximum effect.

With LUXURY OF REFLECTION, nostalgia seeps through every single note of this beautiful track. Falling snow (referenced in several songs), wistful strings, bells and an icy, Goldfrapp Felt Mountain melody are key ingredients that will surely tug at your emotions.

The memories are warm and sepia-tinged, apart from the quite sharp line towards the end.

“Of all the songs I’ve written for you
Here’s the one you’ll never hear”

RADIUM already seems to be an early fan favourite from reading the comments on social media. An unconventional love song spraying its deep longing amongst the mushroom clouds, sadly RADIUM was released a little too late to be included in the soundtrack to Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City, as it would have been a perfect fit.

AMERICA is perfectly placed in the running order next to RADIUM. Both are similarly paced and are both paeans to the culture and idealism of the ghost of America. Amongst the beautiful, delicate arrangements on AMERICA comes a discordant guitar line that jars and jolts you, before quickly giving way to mellotrons and atmospheric, spacey guitars.

The love and endless exploration that has gone into the production on this song makes it a pure joy to listen to. Real hairs on the back of your neck stuff, as instruments pan back and forth across the rich soundscape.

At the time of writing, this is my personal favourite from the album.

“And I’d have liked to have found
Wild blueberries after the first frost
And I’d have dressed warmly
Brought my camera along”

ROSES ROUND THE DOOR, with guitars set to stun, has all the ingredients of a classic All About Eve song of old. Sad songs say so much and boy, is this a sad song. A key takeaway from ROSES… is to always tell the ones you love how you feel about them. Before it’s too late…

“Won’t you promise me that you won’t make the same mistakes
And that you honestly
Won’t forget to tell your darling you adore them
And get to smell the roses round the door”

DEAR LONELY HEART is a song that appeals to my inner goth and my dark, twisted heart, grabbing the All About Eve template to simply rip it up and start again. Featuring some of Mr Bricheno’s finest guitar lines, and a chorus to die for from Julianne, it is an instant classic.

Just as the song hits its peak, it’s over, leaving you wondering if the scars were ever healed? A heart-breaker.

“Someday a girl will come who doesn’t love guitars”

HONEY’S OCEAN is built from sparse acoustic guitar, mellotron and an 80s drumbeat that gives way to a sumptuous chorus, and Ray Bradbury referencing sci-fi lyrics.

The ghost of David Bowie haunts several tracks on APPARITIONS, and his influence on Julianne and Tim feels strong on HONEY’S OCEAN. As throughout the whole album, the production and the arrangement is as much of a star as the two artists themselves.

WHAT TO WEAR TO A FUNERAL closes APPARITIONS. Any song that mentions the sublime Wichita Lineman is instantly a friend of mine.

The reference to funeral playlists in WHAT TO WEAR TO A FUNERAL reminds me that I need to write my own funeral playlist down. I was discussing mine recently with my better half, and mentioned that Follow You, Follow Me was one of my requests for when I shuffle off my mortal coil. On discussing at a later date, I was presented with “you wanted a Genesis song, I can’t remember which one”, so I’ll probably get something horrific like Jesus He Knows Me. A haunting, I must go.

Sorry, I digress. Back to WHAT TO WEAR TO A FUNERAL, it rounds off a perfect album. So much attention has gone into the sequencing of the album, with 5 or 6 second gaps between tracks, giving you the time to recover and reflect before the journey continues.

Julianne has one of the most unique and recognisable voices in pop. Add to this her production, bass / keyboard / programming and arranging skills that work so well alongside her rekindled musical partnership with Tim, it helps the duo deliver a perfectly crafted album, that is lyrically strong and builds on their significant past history, whilst laying strong foundations for an exciting future.

APPARITIONS is available to purchase now as a download via Bandcamp, with a physical release to follow, hopefully later this year.

Buy APPARITIONS on Bandcamp

Tracklisting

RAINDROPS
PALE BLUE EARTH
SÉANCE
LUXURY OF REFLECTION
RADIUM
AMERICA
ROSES ROUND THE DOOR
DEAR LONELY HEART
HONEY’S OCEAN
WHAT TO WEAR TO A FUNERAL

Recorded by Tim Bricheno and Julianne Regan at Shabbey Road Studios, London, and Little Box Studios, Somerset.

Singing by Julianne Regan.
Electric and acoustic guitars by Tim Bricheno.
Bass guitar by Tim Bricheno & Julianne Regan.
Keyboards and programming by Julianne Regan & Tim Bricheno.
Co-produced by Julianne Regan & Tim Bricheno.
Mixed and mastered by Tim Bricheno.

Artwork:
Lana Bricheno – Cover art photo collage
Julianne Regan – Design and lyric booklet artwork

Additional contributions:

Toby Bricheno:
Co-mixing on Roses Round The Door and Pale Blue Earth
Co-arrangement of strings on Luxury of Reflection
Kevan Gallagher:
Acoustic Guitar tone on Honey’s Ocean
Tony Kiley:
Drums on Roses Round the Door and Dear Lonely Heart

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Tags: 80s, Alternative, music, pop, reviews, rock
Categories : Music Review

News: NOW Yearbook Extra 1979

16 09 2022

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NOW Yearbook Extra 1979 is a 3 CD (sadly no vinyl for these “extra” releases”) compilation, highlighting an additional 67 tracks from the charts of 1979, and acting as a companion piece to the recently released NOW Yearbook 1979 (orange vinyl / CD).

As I constantly mention (on this blog, to my cats and to anyone who will listen), 1979 is my favourite year for music, so if I was in charge of compiling these collections they would be 10 CD sets at least. The main collection and now this “extra” companion compilation, collect some of the essential singles from the year, along with some less obvious (and sometimes skippable) tracks to highlight the diversity of the charts in 1979.

The three CDs contain some absolute classics – Kid by The Pretenders, Roxy Music’s Angel Eyes, Reasons to Be Cheerful (Pt. 3) by Ian Dury and The Blockheads, Sparks The Number One Song in Heaven, Lost in Music from Sister Sledge and that’s just disc one.

The first 12 songs on disc two would make a great new wave compilation in their own right. Featuring a run of amazing singles from The Jam, The Stranglers, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Clash and the Skids finest single in my eyes, Working for the Yankee Dollar, plus one of my favourite singles from 1979, Milk and Alcohol by Dr. Feelgood.

Life in Tokyo by Japan and Electricity from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark hint at the electronic wave that was starting to crash into the charts, heralding the eventual new romantic movement that followed over the next few years.

Disc 3 has a few easy listening and novelty hits, but is otherwise filled to the brim with wonderful tracks such as Blondie’s Sunday Girl, Billy Joel’s Honesty (meaning The Boys Hughie Campbell will buy this compilation), plus Get It Right Next Time from Gerry Rafferty, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan by Marianne Faithfull, Toto’s Hold the Line, BA Robertson’s Knocked It Off and one of the last great Thin Lizzy singles Waiting for an Alibi.

So if you can’t afford (or invent) a time-machine, this wonderful compilation is the next best thing and it will transport you back to one of the great years for pop singles. Strap yourself in.

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Buy NOW Yearbook Extra 1979 3 CD set from Amazon

Disc: 1

Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
Message in a Bottle – The Police
Union City Blue – Blondie
Kid – The Pretenders
Last Train to London – Electric Light Orchestra
Angel Eyes – Roxy Music
Them Heavy People – Kate Bush
Up the Junction – Squeeze
Diamond Smiles – The Boomtown Rats
Reasons to Be Cheerful (Pt. 3) – Ian Dury and The Blockheads
The Number One Song in Heaven – Sparks
The Runner – The Three Degrees
Dim All the Lights – Donna Summer
Lost in Music – Sister Sledge
My Feet Keep Dancing – Chic
Is It Love You’re After – Rose Royce
Gotta Go Home – Boney M.
Let’s Fly Away – Voyage
The Prince – Madness
Duke of Earl – Darts
Blue Peter – Mike Oldfield
Daytrip to Bangor (Didn’t We Have a Lovely Time) – Fiddler’s Dram

Disc: 2

The Sound of the Suburbs – The Members
Babylon’s Burning – The Ruts
Strange Town – The Jam
English Civil War – The Clash
Duchess – The Stranglers
Playground Twist – Siouxsie and the Banshees
Death Disco – Public Image Ltd
Working for the Yankee Dollar – Skids
Jimmy Jimmy – The Undertones
C’mon Everybody – Sex Pistols
Milk and Alcohol – Dr. Feelgood
Banana Splits – The Dickies
Time for Action – Secret Affair
Back of My Hand – Jags
The Loneliest Man in the World – The Tourists
Life in Tokyo – Japan
Electricity – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Take That to the Bank – Shalamar
This Is It – Dan Hartman
H.A.P.P.Y. Radio – Edwin Starr
It’s a Disco Night (Rock Don’t Stop) – The Isley Brothers
My Forbidden Lover – Chic
The Boss – Diana Ross
Take Me Home – Cher

Disc: 3

Sunday Girl – Blondie
Painter Man – Boney M.
My Simple Heart – The Three Degrees
Sail On – The Commodores
After the Love Has Gone – Earth, Wind & Fire
Just the Way You Are – Barry White
Honesty – Billy Joel
The Ballad of Lucy Jordan – Marianne Faithfull
Get It Right Next Time – Gerry Rafferty
Hold the Line – Toto
Whatever You Want – Status Quo
Waiting for an Alibi – Thin Lizzy
Car 67 – Driver 67
Knocked It Off – BA Robertson
Luton Airport – Cats U.K.
Some Girls – Racey
Get It – Darts
Who Were You With in the Moonlight – Dollar
Mirrors – Sally Oldfield
One Day at a Time – Lena Martell
Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney

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Buy NOW Yearbook Extra 1979 3 CD set from Amazon

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Tags: 1979, 70s, Compilation, Disco, New Wave, News, pop, rock, Vinyl
Categories : News

News: David Bowie – TOY:BOX (previously unreleased Toy album Box-Set)

29 09 2021

TOY:BOX is a special edition of the unreleased David Bowie TOY album available as a 3CD boxset, and is due to be released on 7th January 2022. The sleeve artwork was designed by Bowie featuring a photo of him as a baby with a contemporary face. The package also contains a 16-page full-colour book featuring previously unseen photographs.

TOY was recorded following his Glastonbury 2000 performance. Bowie entered the studio with his band to record new interpretations of songs he had first recorded in the period 1964-1971.

Also included in TOY:BOX is a second CD of alternative mixes and versions including proposed B-Sides (versions of David’s debut single ‘Liza Jane’ and 1967’s ‘In The Heat Of The Morning’), later mixes by Tony Visconti and the ‘Tibet Version’ of ‘Silly Boy Blue’ recorded at The Looking Glass Studio time at the of the 2001 Tibet House show in New York featuring Philip Glass on piano and Moby on guitar.

The third CD features ‘Unplugged & Somewhat Slightly Electric’ mixes of thirteen TOY tracks.

Pre-order the Toy (Toy:Box) CD box-set

CD1

TOY

I Dig Everything
You’ve Got A Habit Of Leaving
The London Boys
Karma Man
Conversation Piece
Shadow Man
Let Me Sleep Beside You
Hole In The Ground
Baby Loves That Way
Can’t Help Thinking About Me
Silly Boy Blue
Toy (Your Turn To Drive)

Produced by David Bowie & Mark Plati
Engineered by Pete Keppler
Mixed by Mark Plati Assisted by Hector Castillo, Steve Mazur, and Todd Parker
Recorded at Sear Sound, The Looking Glass & Alice’s Restaurant in New York City, Summer 2000

CD 2

TOY- Alternatives & Extras

Liza Jane
You’ve Got A Habit of Leaving (alternative mix) *
Baby Loves That Way (alternative mix) *
Can’t Help Thinking About Me (alternative mix)
I Dig Everything (alternative mix)
The London Boys (alternative version)
Silly Boy Blue (Tibet version)
Let Me Sleep Beside You (alternative mix) *
In The Heat Of The Morning
Conversation Piece (alternative mix) *
Hole In The Ground (alternative mix)
Shadow Man (alternative mix) *
Toy (Your Turn To Drive) (alternative mix) *

Produced by David Bowie & Mark Plati except ‘The London Boys’ additional production by Tony Visconti
‘Silly Boy Blue’ (Tibet version) Produced by David Bowie & Tony Visconti
Engineered by Pete Keppler at Sear Sound, assisted by Todd Parker
Engineered by Mark Plati at Alice’s Restaurant
Recorded at Sear Sound, The Looking Glass & Alice’s Restaurant in New York City, Summer 2000
Except ‘Silly Boy Blue’ (Tibet version) recorded at The Looking Glass, 2001
Mixed by Tony Visconti, assisted by Darren S. Moore at the Manhattan Center, early 2001
Except ‘Liza Jane’ & ‘In The Heat Of The Morning’ mixed by Mark Plati, assisted by Hector Castillo at The Looking Glass.
*Previously released

CD 3

TOY – Unplugged & Somewhat Slightly Electric

In The Heat Of The Morning (Unplugged & somewhat slightly electric mix)
I Dig Everything (Unplugged & somewhat slightly electric mix)
You’ve Got A Habit of Leaving (Unplugged & somewhat slightly electric mix)
The London Boys (Unplugged & somewhat slightly electric mix)
Karma Man (Unplugged & somewhat slightly electric mix)
Conversation Piece (Unplugged & somewhat slightly electric mix)
Shadow Man (Unplugged & somewhat slightly electric mix)
Let Me Sleep Beside You (Unplugged & somewhat slightly electric mix)
Hole In The Ground (Unplugged & somewhat slightly electric mix)
Baby Loves That Way (Unplugged & somewhat slightly electric mix)
Can’t Help Thinking About Me (Unplugged & somewhat slightly electric mix)
Silly Boy Blue (Unplugged & somewhat slightly electric mix)
Toy (Your Turn To Drive) (Unplugged & somewhat slightly electric mix)

Produced by David Bowie & Mark Plati
Engineered by Pete Keppler
Mixed by Mark Plati, assisted by Hector Castillo, Steve Mazur & Todd Parker
Recorded at Sear Sound, The Looking Glass & Alice’s Restaurant in New York City, Summer 2000
All songs written by David Bowie except ‘Liza Jane’ written by Leslie Conn.

TOY MUSICIANS:

David Bowie: lead & backing vocals, Korg Triton
Sterling Campbell: drums, claps
Gail Ann Dorsey: bass, clarinet, backing vocals
Mike Garson: piano, organ, synth, Fender Rhodes
Emm Gryner: backing vocals, clarinet
Holly Palmer: backing vocals, percussion
Mark Plati: acoustic & electric guitars, bass, Mellotron, backing vocals
Earl Slick: acoustic & electric guitars

Augmented by the following musicians on certain recordings:

Tony Visconti: bass, string arrangements
Lisa Germano: violin, accordion, mandolin, recorder, backing vocals
Gerry Leonard: electric guitar
Cuong Vu: trumpet
Strings – The Scorchio Quartet
Moby – electric guitar
Philip Glass – piano

Pre-order the Toy (Toy:Box) CD box-set

Find out about the David Bowie – Brilliant Adventure (1992-2001) CD & Vinyl box-sets

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Tags: 90s, David Bowie, News, rock
Categories : Music Review, News

News: David Bowie – Brilliant Adventure (1992-2001) CD & vinyl box-sets

29 09 2021

The 5th David Bowie box-set, Brilliant Adventure (1992-2001), has been announced. Released on 26th November 2021 Brilliant Adventure (1992-2001) is an eleven CD box, eighteen-piece vinyl set and standard digital download box set. The collection is named after the Koto led instrumental penultimate track from the ‘hours…’ album. The box sets include newly remastered versions, with input from the original producers and collaborators.

The box-set brings together remastered versions of the following albums:

Black Tie White Noise / The Buddha Of Suburbia / 1.Outside / Earthling / ‘hours…’ / BBC Radio Theatre, London, June 27, 2000 / the previously unreleased Toy / Re:Call 5 (non-album singles, edits, single versions, b-sides and soundtrack music).

Also available in early January is a separate, expanded version of the Toy album.

Buy the Brilliant Adventure (1992 – 2001) vinyl box-set

Buy the Brilliant Adventure (1992 – 2001) CD box-set

Brilliant Adventure (1992 – 2001) CD Box-Set contents:

Brilliant Adventure (1992 – 2001) CD box-set pre-order

128 Page hardback book
Black Tie White Noise (remastered) (1CD)
The Buddha Of Suburbia (remastered) (1CD)
1.Outside (remastered) (1CD)
Earthling (remastered) (1CD)
‘hours…’ (remastered) (1CD)
BBC Radio Theatre, London, June 27th, 2000 (remastered and expanded 20 track version) (2CD)*
Toy (previously unreleased) (1CD)
Re:Call 5 (non-album singles, edits, single versions, b-sides and soundtrack music) (remastered) (3CD)*

*Exclusive to BRILLIANT ADVENTURE CD box

CD Tracklistings

BLACK TIE WHITE NOISE

The Wedding
You’ve Been Around
I Feel Free
Black Tie White Noise (featuring Al B. Sure!)
Jump They Say
Nite Flights
Pallas Athena
Miracle Goodnight
Don’t Let Me Down & Down
Looking for Lester
I Know It’s Gonna Happen Someday
The Wedding Song

THE BUDDHA OF SUBURBIA

Buddha of Suburbia
Sex and the Church
South Horizon
The Mysteries
Bleed Like a Craze, Dad
Strangers When We Meet
Dead Against It
Untitled No. 1
Ian Fish, U.K. Heir
Buddha of Suburbia (featuring Lenny Kravitz on guitar)

1.OUTSIDE

Leon Takes Us Outside
Outside
The Hearts Filthy Lesson
A Small Plot of Land
Baby Grace (A Horrid Cassette)” (segue)
Hallo Spaceboy
The Motel
I Have Not Been to Oxford Town
No Control
Algeria Touchshriek (segue)
The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (as Beauty)
Ramona A. Stone/I Am with Name (segue)
Wishful Beginnings
We Prick You
Nathan Adler (segue)
I’m Deranged
Thru’ These Architects Eyes
Nathan Adler (segue)
Strangers When We Meet

EARTHLING

Little Wonder
Looking for Satellites
Battle for Britain (The Letter)
Seven Years in Tibet
Dead Man Walking
Telling Lies
The Last Thing You Should Do
I’m Afraid of Americans
Law (Earthlings on Fire)

‘hours…’

Thursday’s Child
Something in the Air
Survive
If I’m Dreaming My Life
Seven
What’s Really Happening?
The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell
New Angels of Promise
Brilliant Adventure
The Dreamers

BBC RADIO THEATRE, LONDON, JUNE 27, 2000 2xCD

CD1

Wild Is the Wind
Ashes to Ashes
Seven
This Is Not America
Absolute Beginners
Always Crashing in the Same Car
Survive
The London Boys
I Dig Everything
Little Wonder

CD2

The Man Who Sold the World
Fame
Stay
Hallo Spaceboy
Cracked Actor
I’m Afraid of Americans
All the Young Dudes
Starman
“Heroes”
Let’s Dance

TOY

RE:CALL 5 3xCD

CD1

Real Cool World (Sounds From The Cool World Soundtrack Version)
Jump They Say (7” version)
Lucy Can’t Dance
Black Tie White Noise (feat Al B. Sure!) (Radio Edit)
Don’t Let Me Down & Down (Indonesian Vocal Version)
Buddha Of Suburbia (Single Version) (featuring Lenny Kravitz on guitar)
The Hearts Filthy Lesson (Radio Edit)
Nothing To Be Desired
Strangers When We Meet (edit)
Get Real
The Man Who Sold The World (Live Eno Mix)
I’m Afraid Of Americans (Showgirls Soundtrack Version)
Hallo Spaceboy (Remix)
I Am With Name (Alternative Version)
A Small Plot Of Land (Long Basquiat Soundtrack Version)

CD2

Little Wonder (Edit)
A Fleeting Moment (aka Severn Years In Tibet – Mandarin Version)
Dead Man Walking (Edit)
Seven Years In Tibet (Edit)
Planet Of Dreams – David Bowie and Gail Ann Dorsey
I’m Afraid Of Americans (V1 – Edit)
I Can’t Read (The Ice Storm Long Version)
A Foggy Day In London Town – David Bowie and Angelo Badalamenti
Fun (BowieNet Mix)
The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell (Stigmata Soundtrack Version)
Thursday’s Child (Radio Edit)
We All Go Through
No One Calls

CD3

We Shall Go To Town
1917
The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell (Edit)
Thursday’s Child (Omikron: The Nomad Soul Version)
New Angels Of Promise (Omikron: The Nomad Soul Version)
The Dreamers (Omikron: The Nomad Soul Version)
Seven (Demo)
Survive (Marius De Vries mix)
Something In The Air (American Psycho Remix)
Seven (Marius De Vries Mix)
Pictures Of Lily

Brilliant Adventure (1992 – 2001) Vinyl Box-Set contents:

Brilliant Adventure (1992 – 2001) vinyl box-set per-order

84 Page hardback book

Black Tie White Noise (remastered) (2LP)
The Buddha Of Suburbia (a very limited release on vinyl previously, remastered) (2LP)
1.Outside (remastered) (2LP)
Earthling (remastered) (3 sided – 2LP)
‘hours…’ (remastered) (1LP)
BBC Radio Theatre, London, June 27, 2000 (remastered and expanded 20 track version, previously unreleased on vinyl) (3LP)*
Toy (previously unreleased) (3 sided – 2LP)
Re:Call 5 (non-album singles, edits, single versions, b-sides and soundtrack music) (remastered) (4LP)

*Exclusive to BRILLIANT ADVENTURE LP box

LP Tracklistings

BLACK TIE WHITE NOISE 2xLP

Side 1

The Wedding
You’ve Been Around
I Feel Free

Side 2

Black Tie White Noise (featuring Al B. Sure!)
Jump They Say
Nite Flights

Side 3

Pallas Athena
Miracle Goodnight
Don’t Let Me Down & Down

Side 4

Looking for Lester
I Know It’s Gonna Happen Someday
The Wedding Song

THE BUDDHA OF SUBURBIA 2xLP

Side 1

Buddha of Suburbia
Sex and the Church
South Horizon

Side 2

The Mysteries
Bleed Like a Craze, Dad

Side 3

Strangers When We Meet
Dead Against It
Untitled No. 1

Side 4

Ian Fish, U.K. Heir
Buddha of Suburbia (featuring Lenny Kravitz on guitar)

1.OUTSIDE 2xLP

Side 1

Leon Takes Us Outside
Outside
The Hearts Filthy Lesson
A Small Plot of Land

Side 2

Baby Grace (A Horrid Cassette)” (segue)
Hallo Spaceboy
The Motel
I Have Not Been to Oxford Town

Side 3

No Control
Algeria Touchshriek (segue)
The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (as Beauty)
Ramona A. Stone/I Am with Name (segue)
Wishful Beginnings

Side 4

We Prick You
Nathan Adler (segue)
I’m Deranged
Thru’ These Architects Eyes
Nathan Adler (segue)
Strangers When We Meet

EARTHLING 2xLP

Side 1

Little Wonder
Looking for Satellites
Battle for Britain (The Letter)

Side 2

Seven Years in Tibet
Dead Man Walking
Telling Lies

Side 3

The Last Thing You Should Do
I’m Afraid of Americans
Law (Earthlings on Fire)

Side 4 – etching

‘hours…’

Side 1

Thursday’s Child
Something in the Air
Survive
If I’m Dreaming My Life

Side 2

Seven
What’s Really Happening?
The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell
New Angels of Promise
Brilliant Adventure
The Dreamers

BBC RADIO THEATRE, LONDON, JUNE 27, 2000 3xLP

Side 1

Wild Is the Wind
Ashes to Ashes
Seven

Side 2

This Is Not America
Absolute Beginners
Always Crashing in the Same Car

Side 3

Survive
The London Boys
I Dig Everything
Little Wonder

Side 4

The Man Who Sold the World
Fame
Stay

Side 5

Hallo Spaceboy
Cracked Actor
I’m Afraid of Americans
All the Young Dudes

Side 6

Starman
“Heroes”
Let’s Dance

TOY 2 x LP

Side 1

I Dig Everything
You’ve Got A Habit Of Leaving
The London Boys
Karma Man

Side 2

Conversation Piece
Shadow Man
Let Me Sleep Beside You
Hole In The Ground

Side 3

Baby Loves That Way
Can’t Help Thinking About Me
Silly Boy Blue
Toy (Your Turn To Drive)

Side 4 – Etching

RE:CALL 5 4xLP

Side 1

Real Cool World (Sounds From The Cool World Soundtrack Version)
Jump They Say (7” version)
Lucy Can’t Dance
Black Tie White Noise (Radio Edit) (featuring Al B. Sure!)

Side 2

Don’t Let Me Down & Down (Indonesian Vocal Version)
Buddha Of Suburbia (Single Version) (featuring Lenny Kravitz on guitar)
The Hearts Filthy Lesson (Radio Edit)
Nothing To Be Desired
Strangers When We Meet (edit)

Get Real

Side 3

The Man Who Sold The World (Live Eno Mix)
I’m Afraid Of Americans (Showgirls Soundtrack Version)
Hallo Spaceboy (Remix)
I Am With Name (Alternative Version)
A Small Plot Of Land (Long Basquiat Soundtrack Version)

Side 4

Little Wonder (Edit)
A Fleeting Moment (aka Severn Years In Tibet – Mandarin Version)
Dead Man Walking (Edit)
Seven Years In Tibet (Edit)
Planet Of Dreams – David Bowie and Gail Ann Dorsey

Side 5

I’m Afraid Of Americans (V1 – Edit)
I Can’t Read (The Ice Storm Long Version)
A Foggy Day In London Town – David Bowie and Angelo Badalamenti
Fun (Bowienet Mix)
The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell (Stigmata Soundtrack Version)

Side 6

Thursday’s Child (Radio Edit)
We All Go Through
No One Calls
We Shall Go To Town

1917

Side 7

The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell (Edit)
Thursday’s Child (Omikron: The Nomad Soul Version)
New Angels Of Promise (Omikron: The Nomad Soul Version)
The Dreamers (Omikron: The Nomad Soul Version)
Seven (Demo)

Side 8

Survive (Marius De Vries mix)
Something In The Air (American Psycho Remix)
Seven (Marius De Vries Mix)
Pictures Of Lily

Buy the Brilliant Adventure (1992 – 2001) vinyl box-set

Buy the Brilliant Adventure (1992 – 2001) CD box-set

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Tags: David Bowie, News, re-issue, rock, Vinyl
Categories : News

The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (vinyl, CD & Blu-ray)

23 09 2021

The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts from Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were performed at the September 1979 MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy) benefit concerts held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. A recording from these shows is being released on CD, vinyl and blu-ray in November 2021.

The 2 CD set features 13 songs performed over two nights, that are newly remixed and remastered, along with a blu-ray of the 13 song concert performance film, newly edited from original film footage, restored and remixed in HD. This package includes a 24-page book with rare photos and memorabilia, an essay, vintage ticket envelope, ticket reproduction and sticker.

The vinyl version is a 2 LP set featuring 13 songs performed over the two nights, that are newly remixed and remastered. The gatefold package includes a 24-page book with rare photos and memorabilia, an essay and a 33” x 19” poster.

Available now:

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band – The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts – Double vinyl

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band – The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts – 2 CD / Bluray

Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: Bruce Springsteen, Live, rock, Vinyl
Categories : News

Be-Bop Deluxe Modern Music deluxe box-set review

7 11 2019

Esoteric Recordings are releasing a re-mastered five-disc deluxe box-set limited edition (comprising 4 CDs and a DVD) of Modern Music, the 1976 album by Be-Bop Deluxe.

This expanded reissue has been newly re-mastered from the original master tapes and features an additional 55 bonus tracks including new 5.1 surround sound & stereo mixes from the original multi-track tapes by award winning engineer Stephen W. Tayler, out-takes from the album sessions, a BBC Radio “In Concert” performance from October 1976, along with a bonus CD of a previously unreleased “official bootleg” of a performance at The Riviera Theater in Chicago in 1976 recorded for FM Radio on Be Bop Deluxe’s first US tour.

The set also includes visual material taken from a session for BBC TV’s “Old Grey Whistle Test” show broadcast in November 1976.

The DVD material (including the 5.1 mixes) is not reviewed here, as review copies were not provided.

Modern Music was the first album to be produced by John Leckie (XTC, Simple Minds, The Stone Roses) who continued to work with Bill Nelson on Red Noise, The Love That Whirls and Getting The Holy Ghost Across.

Modern Music was released just prior to the arrival of punk and new wave, a sound and attitude that would inform Nelson’s releases for the next few albums. The music on this album is a mixture of classic and progressive rock, with wonderful harmonies, nods to early David Bowie (particularly the Ziggy Stardust era) and a covers a variety of genres.

Twilight Capers is a delight – revelling in the genre-switching that was prevalent in this period – moving from ballad, via jazz-rock to reggae – all in the one track! The Doors like end section, with its powerful production touches hits the sweet spot every time.

The light and breezy Kiss Of Light reminds me of the City Boy debut album (a wonderful classic rock band that seems to have been written out of history) that was also released in 1976. Modern Music was written on the road, and seems to be Bill Nelson’s reflections on America at the time.

Nelson writes in the box-set booklet:

“…many of the songs on Modern Music were written in hotel rooms whilst touring America and some of them directly relate to the growing disillusion I was feeling with life on the road.”

The Gold At The End Of My Rainbow is a charming song, written by Nelson at a sound-check, lamenting his faraway love.

The Modern Music suite is the highlight for many fans of this or any Be-Bop Deluxe album. You can hear a snippet of the late John Peel in the suite’s intro to the title track, which radiates West-Coast sunshine.

Down On Terminal Street is overflowing with wonderful lyrical imagery, and I love the way the church-bells chime amongst the heavy guitars and synths in the songs intro and end section.

“The street cafe was closed to all but ghosts
Who glide the alleys searching for their lair”

Make The Music Magic returns to the more commercial sound of the early songs, but in a stripped back acoustic setting.

Disc two of this box-set is a new stereo mix of the album. The mix feels much wider, and individual instruments are noticeably clearer. As are the vocals – you can hear the reverb on Nelson’s vocals on Down On Terminal Street with such clarity, its like hearing the album for the first time. I defy you to not crank up the volume on this new mix.

This disc also includes the stunning 8 minutes long Shine (New Stereo Mix), which reminds me a little of Bowie’s Stay from Station To Station.

Disc three is a BBC Radio One “In Concert” taken from the band’s headlining show from 2 October 1976 London’s Hammersmith Odeon. The highlights of this disc for me are the live takes of Ships In The Night and the 12 minute plus Modern Music. It’s a good quality recording, given its age.

Disc four is a recording from the Riviera Theater in Chicago on 21 March 1976, where Be-Bop Deluxe opened for Thin Lizzy. The band’s set was mixed and broadcast live by the local radio station WXRT-FM. The concert included in the band’s set Bill’s Blues, which was never developed further on record. Sadly this “official” bootleg is for completists only, as at times its not as good quality as the sound of disc 3, and you can see why Bill’s Blues was left unreleased – it’s just a standard blues jam. There is audible distortion / clipping and hiss, so not a disc I will be returning to.

Nevertheless, this is a lovingly curated box-set, topped off with an entertaining 68 page book, that gives context to the band and the individual tracks, along with many previously unpublished images. If you are a fan of Bill Nelson’s work in Be-Bop Deluxe, or are a fan of 70s rock, there is much to enjoy in this box-set.

Pre-order Be-Bop Deluxe Modern Music 4 cd / 1 DVD box-set on Amazon

Disc One: Cd
Modern Music
The Original Stereo Mix:

Orphans Of Babylon
Twilight Capers
Kiss Of Light
The Bird Charmers Destiny
The Gold At The End Of My Rainbow
Bring Back The Spark
Modern Music
Dancing In The Moonlight (All Alone)
Honeymoon On Mars
Lost In The Neon World
Dance Of The Uncle Sam Humanoids
Modern Music (Reprise)
Forbidden Lovers
Down On Terminal Street
Make The Music Magic
Bonus Track
Shine (B-Side Of Single)

Disc Two: Cd
Modern Music
The New Stereo Mix:

Orphans Of Babylon (New Stereo Mix)
Twilight Capers (New Stereo Mix)
Kiss Of Light (New Stereo Mix)
The Bird Charmers Destiny (New Stereo Mix)
The Gold At The End Of My Rainbow (New Stereo Mix)
Bring Back The Spark (New Stereo Mix)
Modern Music (New Stereo Mix)
Dancing In The Moonlight (All Alone) (New Stereo Mix)
Honeymoon On Mars (New Stereo Mix)
Lost In The Neon World (New Stereo Mix)
Dance Of The Uncle Sam Humanoids (New Stereo Mix)
Modern Music (Reprise) (New Stereo Mix)
Forbidden Lovers (New Stereo Mix)
Down On Terminal Street (New Stereo Mix)
Make The Music Magic (New Stereo Mix)
Bonus Tracks
Shine (New Stereo Mix)
Forbidden Lovers (First Version)
The Bird Charmer’s Destiny (First Version)

Disc Three: Cd
BBC Radio One “In Concert”
Recorded 2nd October 1976 At Hammersmith Odeon, London

Maid In Heaven
Bring Back The Spark
Kiss Of Light
Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape
Fair Exchange
Ships In The Night
Twilight Capers
Modern Music
I. Modern Music
Ii. Dancing In The Moonlight (All Alone)
Iii. Honeymoon On Mars
Iv. Lost In The Neon World
V. Dance Of The Uncle Sam Humanoids
Vi. Modern Music (Reprise)
Blazing Apostles

Disc Four: Cd
Live At The Riviera Theatre, Chicago 21st March 1976 –
The Official Bootleg

Fair Exchange
Stage Whispers
Life In The Air Age
Sister Seagull
Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape
Maid In Heaven
Ships In The Night
Bill’s Blues
Blazing Apostles

Disc Five: Dvd
Modern Music–
The 5.1 Surround Sound Mix / New Stereo Mix (96 Khz / 24-Bit) / Original Stereo Mix (96 Khz / 24-Bit)

Orphans Of Babylon (5.1 Mix)
Twilight Capers (5.1 Mix)
Kiss Of Light (5.1 Mix)
The Bird Charmers Destiny (5.1 Mix)
The Gold At The End Of My Rainbow (5.1 Mix)
Bring Back The Spark (5.1 Mix)
Modern Music (5.1 Mix)
Dancing In The Moonlight (All Alone) (5.1 Mix)
Honeymoon On Mars (5.1 Mix)
Lost In The Neon World (5.1 Mix)
Dance Of The Uncle Sam Humanoids (5.1 Mix)
Modern Music (Reprise) (5.1 Mix)
Forbidden Lovers (5.1 Mix)
Down On Terminal Street (5.1 Mix)
Make The Music Magic (5.1 Mix)
Bonus Tracks
Shine (5.1 Mix)
Forbidden Lovers (First Version) (5.1 Mix)
The Bird Charmer’s Destiny (First Version) (5.1 Mix)
Visual Content
Forbidden Lovers (BBC Old Grey Whistle Test 1976)
Down On Terminal Street (BBC Old Grey Whistle Test 1976)

Pre-order Be-Bop Deluxe Modern Music 4 cd / 1 DVD box-set on Amazon

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Tags: 1976, 70s, re-issue, rock
Categories : Music Review

Climax Blues Band – The Albums 1973 – 1976 boxset review

3 07 2019

Esoteric Recordings are releasing a 4CD clamshell boxed set by the Climax Blues Band, titled The Albums 1973 – 1976. This release is the second collection of Climax Blues Band albums and features their work issued between 1973 and 1976, consisting of the albums FM Live, Sense of Direction, Stamp Album and Gold Plated.

The first disc contains FM Live, a recording of a concert that was broadcast on WNEW-FM in New York in 1973. FM Live gave the band their first major US success. The album highlights the more blues orientated sound of their late 60s / early 70s output.

The original UK release was a single album – this version is the USA double vinyl running order. Highlights on this live album include the wonderful harmonies on I Am Constant and the high-octane, Bo Diddley influenced Shake Your Love.

Disc two in the set is where it gets more interesting for me, with the 1974 studio album Sense of Direction. At this point the band are heading off in a more rock and jazz fusion direction and providing the sounds that would blast out of classic rock / FM radio stations for the next few years.

Amerita / Sense Of Direction opens the album, with a 6 minute track that owes more to the sound of artists such as America or Chicago than to the Climax Blues Band’s Chicago blues origins.

Reaching Out is one of my favourite tracks on this collection, with the song served up on a lovely early 70s groove, with some great guitar lines from Peter Haycock. At this point in their career, the band were really stretching out and hearing this music now instantly transports you back in time to those heady seventies times.

Bonus tracks on this disc consist of the single version of Sense of Direction and a rawer, less polished version of Shopping Bag People.

The third disc is the Stamp Album from 1975, where the band headed further towards a more mainstream sound. From the Rhodes piano and sax driven Using The Power, to the pop-reggae of Mr. Goodtime, the band were now inhabiting the same musical universe as contemporaries such as the Average White Band and the mid-70s work of Robert Palmer.

The smooth harmonies of I Am Constant and the Doobie Brothers style funk of Running Out Of Time are another two early album highlights. The addition of new member Richard Jones opened up the bands pallet at this point, with an added emphasis on keyboards that is really noticeable on the fusion of Rusty Nail / The Devil Knows. The album closes with the expansive arrangement of Cobra, a short instrumental.

The final disc is the bands most successful album, Gold Plated from 1976. Notable for giving the Climax Blues Band their biggest hit, Couldn’t Get It Right, which peaked at No10 in the UK and No3 in the US, the shift to a more pop-friendly sound continued.

The dual guitar and clavinet of Together and Free finds the band setting out their stall early on. Couldn’t Get It Right remains the bands signature tune to this day, and has appeared in film (and game) soundtracks.

Bonus tracks for this album include an extended version of Chasing Change and a rare (and very short) Climax Blues Band ballad, Shadow Man, which reminds me a little of mid-period 10cc.

The Albums 1973 – 1976 is a good introduction to the music of the Climax Blues Band, which will be of interest to lovers of early to mid-70s rock music. This collection houses each disc in replica album sleeve wallets and also includes a new poster.