|
US |
Muddy Waters |
|
Early US Electric Blues artist. The 60s groups often used his
songs. They are often quoted as by McKinley Morganfield. He was a
guest in many a "jam session" where a band would come
together for a concert or a festival. You will find him mentioned in
both blues and folk contexts. |
|
US |
Love Albums.
Love
Da Capo
Forever Changes
Four Sail
Tracks to try.
Alone Again Or
Andmoreagain
She Comes in Colours
7 and 7 is No.Fourteen |
 |
The sleeve suggests there is something special about "Forever Changes".
It was released in 1967, not 87 as suggested by the CD sleeve. The
band uses acoustic and electric guitars, brass and strings very
effectively and both Arthur Lee and Bryan
Maclean wrote very
effective lyrics. A classic album indeed! My LP copy has an offset
print on the sleeve- really wierd! |
|
Love |
Forever
Changes is an album with many rhythmic and musical shifts. A
recent comment on Green Day's album referred to a "jump" on
one track. "The Good Humor Man He Sees everything Like This"
will really give you a start! I thought my album mistracked,
but it's deliberate! Most disconcerting!-- and it was 1967! Few bands
in 67 used brass as now, but the color it provides is really effective. |
|
FEB 2001
 |
Extended
and remastered reissue. In The NME today (Feb 14th. for
17th.) there is a review of the Reissued album. It's on Rhino records
and has outtakes and alternative mixes. Ted Kessler rates it a 10 and
says that it actually DOES "update a timeless classic
beautifully" The other albums "Da Capo" and
"Love" are also now remastered! |
|
UK |
The Jam |
 |
Going Underground is a well known track, not on this album
(1977) but on Paul Weller is still on the scene, though not producing
music in the same style. |
|
US |
The Ramones
 |
Reissued albums are now available! |
American band, the forerunners in the "punk" genre. Sadly
Joey Ramone has died (April15th. 2001) Also DeeDee as well! |
|
UK |
The Sex Pistols |
|
Anarchy in the UK! |
|
UK |
The Clash |
RIP Joe Strummer 1952-2002 More here shortly. |
London Calling, and Sandinista show a huge range of style, which
latterly was also followed up by Joe Strummer in recent years |
|
US |
Marvin Gaye |
|
What's Going On? Is a classic album, well worth a place in any
collection. It is still in the catalogue too. There are many albums,
some with extra female vocalists too.Soul or R&B in style. |
|
US |
Aretha Franklin |
|
Respect / I Say a Little Prayer, two songs from a very large
catalogue. She really greatly extended the blues tradition. Soul or R&B. |
|
UK |
Bauhaus (no they are NOT German!) |
Influenced by Zappa? or who? A rather extreme sound dating
back a good way too. Peter Murphy (no relation) was a very aggressive
vocalist then. Lots of guitar effects too and multi layering. A very
"visual" band too. There are two reissue sets and mid price
back catalogue. I have also come across an excellent compilation of Peter
Murphy tracks too. Wild Birds, 1985-1995 BBL
2019 CD |
 |
|
UK |
Soft Machine |
|
A Progressive act in many ways. |
|
US |
Miles Davis |
|
|
|
Dutch |
Focus
Photo Terence Ibbott |
 |
Jan Akkerman, Thjis Van Leer,Cyriel Havermans, Pierre Van der
Linden made up an exceptional band, with a wide range of musical
ability. "Hocus Pocus" is perhaps the best known
track (on the album "Moving Waves") which has a
22.35 epic "Eruption" on the second side. This album dates
from 1971, but could have been taped yesterday! Trevor Heaton
reminded me of Focus. |
|
The Band
|
Focus show how
well a varied approach can work, with a varied instrumentation (clear
use here of multi tracking in the Sound Techniques and Morgan studios
in London), and a very considerable rhythmic flexibility as well.
Flutes and guitar go well together! They were not afraid of long
tracks of near symphonic scale such as " Eruption", a basic
idea with five developments, also divided in turn, with individually
ascribed sections. presumably the CD reissue is indexed properly. (If
not it should be!) |
|
Queen |
|
Unlike the next two acts, Queen did not use synthesisers. They did,
however pioneer a near symphonic style at times as in the classic "Bohemian
Rhapsody", a track with a video which set a standard at the time. |
|
Gary Numan |
|
 |
This is a rarity release by the Trojan label. See the site
for track details. All Things Electric is on it. |
|
Almost a clinical appearance onstage as I recall, with synthesisers
used extensively. Band videos were distinctive. |
|
Depeche Mode |
|
Picked up on the synthesiser according to a contributor to the Void
after working with Gary Numan. Many tracks were
"Remixed" more than once, so there is a huge collector
list. Dance style "club" mixes in particular. |
|
UK |
Felt, Lawrence and Maurice Deebank |
One of the acts on the Cherry Red label. Mainly acoustic in
style. Much "chimimg" style guitar and complex, if quite
light percussion.
|
Felt CD |
Deebank CD |
|
Coldplay seem to have some of the mood of Maurice's solo
album, "Inner Thought Zone". Its actually marked on
their "Blue Room" EP. |
|
UK |
House of Love |
Guy Chadwick led this band which can be traced to an extent in
Verve and others. Shine On is a classic! |
See the group page elsewhere. I recommend the best of CD released in
1999. The others may be harder to find.Vinyl limited editions abound! |
|
UK |
Led Zeppelin |
See Yardbirds on p1 |
The "electric blues" soon became something
new."Progressive" was the term used , often abbreviated to
"Prog Rock". Stairway to Heaven" is a classic track. |
|
US |
The Pixies |
Grunge originators? This is debatable I guess, |
Frank Black has also made solo albums, the self titled 1993
one is outstanding. See also The Breeders. B sides compilation
released recently. |
|
Solo Album |
Frank Black |
Frank's album is one of those which impresses at first hearing. "Los
Angeles" is deceptive, with varied sections. (turn it up at
the start and the explosive drum stroke may blow your system! All the
tracks are well produced and very musical. "Hang on to Your Ego"
really stamps along! 15 tracks in all! Some tracks are very angry! "Czar"
for instance. |
|
|
Frank Black and the Catholics have just released an album
going back virtually to basics. It was produced in simple straight
"takes" as if live in effect. He has even (jokingly?)
suggested recording on wax cylinders! There was a trend in Hi Fi some
years back of recording by cutting direct from performance to lacquer
disc! This was clearly very demanding! |
|
US |
Nirvana |
Architects of Grunge style Rock based music. Having said that,
the albums are all different in style, causing much discussion even
today. The early live act was very powerful, yet several acoustic
sets have become treasured. Bootleg recordings abound! |
The death of Kurt Cobain may have led to an overrating of this
band, but the Foo Fighters show how they may have developed. A
band with a distinctive frontman always evolves radically on his
loss. For loads of info. check out this.
Fan site with tabs
and other material by Craig. |
