News
December 18, 2003
ROCKIN' ON INTO THE NIGHT
For many, that's going to be a dream come true, as over the years the recordings which form URIAH HEEP's new 2 DVD set called "Classic Heep - Live From The Byron Era" have gained almost a legendary status. Some of these were in strict circulation among the collectors, but on January 30th, 2004 Classic Rock Productions release it officially - again on a strictly limited basis of just 3,000 copies. The tapes are digitally restored, though their dubious sound quality lead to the question as to how mono recordings could be re-mastered for 5.1 Surround.
Among the highlights are the film screened before the 1976's concerts, one of David Byron's last as a HEEP member, and videos by ROUGH DIAMOND, a group he and Clem Clempson formed when the singer had been sacked. Also included in the lavish package is a specially written 48-page book by the band's current executive producer Bob Carruthers featuring previously unseen photographs, new interviews and excerpts from Dave Ling's "Wizards And Demons" book. A punchline is: this may become a gem of any collection - hopefully, the tracklisting that still can change won't be shorter than this:
Disc 1 - Uriah Heep Live:
1. Return To Fantasy (1975) |
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Disc 2 - Collectors Rarities:
1. High And Mighty Intro (1976) |
December 11, 2003
DRINK TO THE SOUND OF THE SONG PARADE
That's still not confirmed but looks quite like truth: to tie-in with the World AIDS day, EMI have made QUEEN whole back catalogue available for download from online retail sources. Some of the money should go to the charity that deal with the very same disease which killed Freddie Mercury. The albums, listed below, can be purchased either in full or as single tracks to make a neat compilation:
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Queen |
Flash Gordon |
Live Magic |
THE ROCKIN' HORSE
Not long before his untimely death, George Harrison broke the news on the plans to issue his remastered catalogue, continuing the work started with "All Things Must Pass" and "Wonderwall Music". Then the tragedy made George's last ever album, "Brainwashed", the priority release, but now the time has come to move on, and on February 23rd, 2004 - two days before Harrison would have turned 61 - all the artist's records that were out on his label, Dark Horse, will see the light of day again. Each studio album comes augmented with bonus tracks, although there could be much much more of those, yet something's spared for the upcoming Harrison anthology for which the street date hasn't been set yet. "Live In Japan", to be released as a double SACD, bears no additional material on it, but "Somewhere In England" features the original artwork that George wanted on there.
Serious fans must not hurry to buy the CDs still, because alll these and a bonus DVD are out March 15th, packaged as a box-set, called simply "The Dark Horse Catalogue". Meanwhile, three other albums - "Living In The Material World", "Dark Horse" and "Extra Texture" - remain in limbo.
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"Thirty Three & 1/3" |
JUST NOT HERE
Late February - early March will bring something very special to Rick Wakeman's fans all around the world. The keyboard wizard has concocted many concept in his life, with "King Arthur" he even staged a performance on ice, but none of those turned into a movie proper - until now: "Out There" is a DVD companion to this year's album of the same title, the first album in many years Rick recorded with THE NEW ENGLISH ROCK ENSEMBLE. Continuing Wakeman's quest for the origins of music, it picks up where 1976's "No Earthly Connection" left off and features the artist and the band on and off-stage, and featured tracks include: Out There, The Mission, To Be With You, Universe Of Sound, Music Of Love and The Cathedral Of Sound.
A KIND OF MAGIC
"Magic Night (The Magician's Birthday 2003)" is a title of yet another URIAH HEEP live recording made at the band's annual gathering which took place at London's Astoria Theatre on November 8th, 2003 and featured special guests John Lawton and MOSTLY AUTUMN's Heather Finlay. Now the limited edition DVD/CD set with a 24-page booklet is ready to be shipped to those quick enough to order it from Classic Rock Productions. The set's amazing and the musicians are seen on blistering form. Hopefully, the next HEEP release will be their new album.
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1. Cry Freedom |
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10. Free Me |
FLOOD OUT OF LAKE
Last month, it was mentioned here that Greg Lake has dived into his archive to dig out a lot of gems from the various projects he was involved with. So there are three CDs out for grabs. The first, "From The Underground 2", features many faces of Greg:
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1. Black Moon (ELP live) |
The other two albums come from the short period when Carl Palmer's place in the ELP trinity was taken by another heavyweight, Cozy Powell. "The Sprocket Sessions" is a full band studio rehearsal committed to tape in London in 1986:
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1. The Score |
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"Live In Concert" is exactly what the title suggests - a 1986's recording from the trio's one and only tour, made in Florida:
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1. The Score |
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