A Blogger's Crisis of Confidence ?

Recently I have been having a hunt around on the web looking at all the sites that not only talk about great albums but offer links to downloads for free.

Its made me look at my own blog with some concern; is talking about them enough ? What are the morals of posting actual albums ? What if these albums are ripped from vinyl and those records are no longer available ?

What do you think ?

Rock Revival's Classic Albums (1974): Van Morrisn's Veedon Fleece, the album Rolling Stone rejected

Veedon Fleece (1974) is Van's 8th album and probably his least appreciated. Clinton Heylin, Van's biographer, has said "Veedon Fleece is by far the most underplayed album in Morrison's canon."

It represents a spiritual homecoming to Ireland, after his divorce, a mystic record like Astral Weeks, a return to the stream of consiousness approach that he had last flirted with on St Dominic's Preview and a fundamentally pastoral album.

Rolling Stone dismissed it in quite an extraordinary way.

"Throughout, Morrison suffers from wobbly pitch, several abortive experiments (the falsetto on "Who Was That Masked Man") and a familiar tendency to mumble rather than enunciate. Too often he suggests a pinched vocal nerve drowning in porridge."

"This is pompous tripe. Van Morrison doesn't need it, and neither do we. How do you breathe soul into a phrase like "contemplatin' William Blake and the Eternals"?

"The charts, scored for strings and woodwinds rather than horns, try for a dreamy, pseudo-jazz feel: Instead of punching Morrison along, the band lays back and meanders. The end product is mood music for mature hippies."

This is, of course, ridiculous and proves again that they really cant hold water as creators of the rock cannon.

Listen to it; it's quite an experience

Who Loves The Incredible String Band ? Psychedelic Folk Pioneers

I am in the process of falling in love with The Incredible String Band ! Thanks to Peppermint Store I am listening to them for the first time ever and loving them.

The Incredible String Band were a scottish folk band who were in their hayday from 1965 to 1974. They were the band that broke the somewhat staid folk scene in Britain, opening the doors fully to the influence of psychedelia and world music.

They produced 11 albums during this period but their most significant was The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter (1968). Sitar, harpsichord, oud, multi-track recording, all blended with traditional folk in one of the most exotic and beautiful sounds of the era.

The Incredible String band had an enormous influence on the more popular stars of the time. The Beatles and The Stones saw them before they produced Sgt Pepper's and Their Stanic Majesty's Request. Robert Plant gives them responsibility for Led Zep's experiments with folk.

A must have in any collection !

Rock Revival's Time Capsule (1968): Donovan Teaches the Beatles In India

Many people think that the Beatles music was totally unique and of course this is totally unture.

Their brilliance lay in soaking up what was going on around them musically and presenting it in a popular format that everyone could enjoy, including Beat music (ie: the Beat-les), psychedelia (eg: Magic Mystery Tour) and country-rock (ie: Let It Be, strongly influenced by The Band)

One other influence was Donovan, one of the most important characters in British folk, although one of thousands of great psychedelic folk bands.

Donovan was mates with the Beatles and went with them on their famous trip to India to study Transcendental Meditation (Mike Love from the Beach Boys was there to)

Many of the songs off the White album were created while they were there.

One new thing about this album was the more sophisticated finger picking guitar sound (eg: Blackbird, Mother Nature's Son); this came from Donovan who taught John and Paul and on this trip. Prior to the acoustic guitar had mainly served to play rhythm

The Many Faces of Marc Bolan ! From Mod to Nutbush City Limits

Marc Bolan was a man of many moods, initially prancing about as a mod (he was even in a TV commercial as one), then a member of proto-punk band John's Children, then a quick visit to Paris where he claimed to have visited a wizard who taught him how to levitate, all before the age of 21.



The big question is which of his two more popular incarnations do you like the best ?

Tyrannosaurus Rex, a psychedelic-folk rock acoustic duo, with Steve Peregrin Took (named by Bolan who lived Tolkien) OR Trex, glam rock mega-band, responsible eventually for all the ills of Chinnichap ?

Tyrannosaurus Rex released three albums in folk mode, including the brilliant Prophets, Seers and Sages (1968), live from the forest with Bolan cast as some sort of musical elf



T. Rex was born in 1970, where he transmuted into the glitter wearing rock and roll star (it seems he noticed the glitter on his wife's dressing table prior to a photo session and just casually daubed some on his face).



This band lasted to 1973, in '74 he actually played guitar for Ike and Tina Turner, playing on the tragic Nutbush City Limits

Then 3 years in the US; fat, addicted to cocaine, releasing some pretty good eccentric solo albums; then dead before thirty,in a car crash just after touring with the Damned, of all people (he never learned to drive himself fearing premature death, poor bugger).

Who Loves Dando Shaft ? Lost Progressive Folk

Dando Shaft were an late 60's/early 70's British progressive folk band from Coventry, relying on their own unique brand of complex rhythmns woven with guitar, mandolin and violin, one of the best bands of the genre. Even though they never went electric they still gave off the same energy as Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and the better known prog folk bands of the time.

Lilting, complex, unusual, they certainly managed to squeeze into the term progressive

They released three albums and split in the mid 70's, two members went on to make it bigger in the band Whippersnapper. Polly Bolton, their great female vocalist would also do pretty well as a solo artist.There was a brief reunion in 1977

You can get some of their tracks pretty cheaply at their official website here

The Best Psychedelic Site on the Web ? It's Got to be Peppermint Store

I have to say a big thanx to Mad Hatter, creator of Peppermint Store and prolofic sharer of his enormous collection of out of print vinyl psychedelic folk and rock; he has single-handedly introduced me to so many bands, Incredible String Band, Dando Shaft, The Trees, Bread Love and Dreams, Vashti Bunyan, Subway and so many more.........

Go Here

Your a legend !

Rock Revival's Forgotten Classics (1968): Sweetwater

Sweetwater were a fantastic 60's psychedelic band

* They pioneered the fusion of psychedelic rock and classical music picked up by Jefferson Airplane.

* They were planned as the opening act at Woodstock but were trumped by Richie Havens.

* They toured with the Doors and Eric Burdon and the Animals, Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, Cream, the Grateful Dead, Big Brother & The Holding Co. w/ Janis Joplin, C S N & Y, the Who, Frank Zappa, Jefferson Airplane, Chicago, Chuck Berry, Spirit, the Allman Bros., E.L.P., Joe Cocker, War, Linda Rondstadt, Santana, Joan Baez

Their lead vocalist, Nancy Nevins, was hit by a drunken driver in 1969. She nearly died and was left with a severely damaged vocal cord. The band stayed together until 1971 but Nancy's prolonged recovery and other pressures forced them to stand down

Their first album is an absolute masterpiece of blissed out hippy psychedelic chamber music. It contains some of their best songs, Motherless Child, What's Wrong and In a Rainbow

Highly Recommended

Rock Revival's Forgotten Classics (1969): Blossom Toes "If Only For a Moment"

Blossom Toes are an English psychedelicband who lasted from '67 to '69.

'If Only For a Moment' was their second and last album. Their first 'We Are Ever So Clean' was a happy psychedelic album; this one was more of a downer (in a good way), sans orchestra with a few Captain Beefheart moments thrown in.

The first track "Peace Lovin Man' is pretty special, like Black Sabbath lead by Donovan, ominious in places with folk interludes. Just how I like it !

Guitarist Jim Cregan would go on to join Family and Cockney Rebel and Blossom Toes would be no more......

Rock Revival's Classic Trax (1973): Ballroom Blitz The Sweet

This has got to be one of the best rock songs ever, no joke,
brillient !!!!

"Ballroom Blitz" was written by Glam song-writing team Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman in 1973,going to straight tonumber 1 in Australia 2 in the UK

The song itself was written about the Grand Hall of the Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock, Scotland, after the band were forced off stage by a barrage of bottles.

Not only is it a great song but has been the victim of some equally great covers: Tia Carrere in Wayne's World ! The Damned ! Krokus ! Nina Hagen !

Who else would you want !

Enjoy !




Oh what the hell, here's Tia Carrere



here's Krokus, maybe better than the original ?



Nina Hagen anyone

Metallica's Death Magnetic Pre-Order

Get ready for the ninth studio album from heavy metal titans Metallica, who link up with producer Rick Rubin for the first time.

Epic guitar solos from Kirk Hammett, constant speed changes and multiple riffs per song make the follow-up to 2003's 'St. Anger' a throwback to the bands pre-1990s style.

James Hetfield's vocals and the pounding rhythms of Lars Ulrich are as powerful as ever, while Bass player Rob Trujillo appears on a studio recording with the band for the first time" Available as a 5LP set, a standard CD and a Limited Edition Deluxe Digipack.

Released September 12th.

Pre-order spincds

Inside the Crazy World of Kraftwerk ? Machine Messiahs

Here's another edition in this weeks focus on Krautrock.

Kraftwerk (translation: power plant) are probably the best known of the 'krautrock' bands, producing electronic music in the mid 1970's that was ten years ahead of it's time. The were the direct musical descendants of Karlheinz Stockhausen, although they also have a punk attitude inherited from Velvet Underground, The Stooges and The Ramones.

The band certainly worked hard to maintain their image as distant machine-like characters.

1. Their studio, aptlyly named Kling-Klang, was off-limits to any visitors. They claim that noone has ever seen it.

2. They were recluses who often used manequins or robots for press conferences

3. Contacting them was always notoriuosly difficult: Johnny Marr of The Smiths has recalled how he was told that the studio telephone did not have a ringer. Instead, callers were told to phone the studio precisely at a certain time and they would pick it up in synchrony with the caller.

4. Chris Martin (Coldplay) has also recalled how, when seeking to sample "Computer Love" he was told to write them a letter through the lawyers of the respective parties. Several weeks later he received an envelope containing a handwritten reply that simply said yes.

5. They turned down requests for collaboration by David Bowie, Elton John and Michael Jackson

While the band is still active today, their most popular albums are Autobahn (1974), Radio-Activity (1975), Trans-Europe Express (1977), The Man-Machine (1978), and Computer World (1981).

Kraftwerk have to be one of the most influential bands there has ever been: from New Wave to house music, hip-hop to drum and bass...........Kratwerk were the Machine Messiahs

Rock Revival's Top Best Rock Ballads

With all this talk of Krautrock and psychedelia on Rock Revival recently we need something to ease the pain a little, something to help us remember that rock doesnt have to be so serious.....

Here are our Top 25 Rock Ballads of All Time

1 Let It Be - Beatles
2 Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
3 Yesterday - The Beatles
4 Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
5 Wild Horses - Rolling Stones
6 The Long and Winding Road - Beatles
7 Crying - Roy Orbison
8 Tiny Dancer - Elton John
9 Angie - Rolling Stones
10 Nights in White Satin - Moody Blues
11 Candle In The Wind - Elton John
12 Desperado - Eagles
13 Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley
14 All I Have To Do Is Dream - Everly Brothers
15 Piano Man - Billy Joel
16 Love Hurts - Nazareth
17 Beth - KISS
18 Dust In The Wind - Kansas
19 Lady - Styx
20 You're The Inspiration - Chicago
21 Can't Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon
22 I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner
23 Keep On Lovin' You - REO Speedwagon
24 I Can't Tell You Why - Eagles
25 Tuesdays Gone - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Bob Dylan's Tell Tale Signs Release October, 7, 2008

Tell Tale Signs will be released October 7, 2008, the eighth installment of Bob Dylan's Bootleg Series.

The two-CD set contains unreleased studio recordings, demos, alternate takes, live tracks and rarities spanning 1989 to 2006.

A third 12-track disc is part of a limited-edition deluxe set in a hardcover slipcase with a book with photos of all of Dylan's singles. The 27-song version also will be issued in a limited-edition four-LP set.

"When Most of the Time came out on Oh Mercy, I thought it was such an achingly beautiful love song," says Steve Berkowitz, senior vice president of A&R at Columbia/Legacy. "Now it's here as a folk version and something that sounds like Dylan with Brian Eno and The Edge. To hear the way the songs and lyrics develop is fascinating. Dylan comes across as a folk singer, a blues musician and a jazz artist."

Dignity appears as a truncated piano demo and in twangy rockabilly form. Series of Dreams undergoes a rewrite. Twin renditions of the bluesy Marchin' to the City serve as blueprints for 'Til I Fell in Love With You.

There is also Red River Shore and Can't Escape From You, written for a film but never used. Miss the Mississippi was rescued from a long-shelved album with David Bromberg, and 32-20 Blues marks Dylan's only release of a Robert Johnson cover.

Among the rarities are the live The Girl on the Greenbriar Shore, eight-minute 'Cross the Green Mountain, The Lonesome River duet with Ralph Stanley and Ring Them Bells from Dylan's storied 1993 stint at the Supper Club in Manhattan. Those performances were filmed but never released.

"The songs and performances are of such strength and diversity, they will appeal to new fans and longtime fans," Berkowitz says, predicting the two-CD set will satisfy most appetites. "For some fans, there's never enough."

Disc One
Mississippi (Unreleased, Time Out Of Mind)
Most of the Time (Alternate version, Oh Mercy)
Dignity (Piano demo, Oh Mercy)
Someday Baby (Alternate version, Modern Times)
Red River Shore (Unreleased, Time Out Of Mind)
Tell Ol' Bill (Alternate version, North Country Soundtrack)
Born in Time (Unreleased, Oh Mercy)
Can't Wait (Alternate version, Time Out Of Mind)
Everything is Broken (Alternate version, Oh Mercy)
Dreamin' of You (Unreleased, Time Out Of Mind)
Huck's Tune (From Lucky You soundtrack)
Marchin' to the City (Unreleased, Time Out Of Mind)
High Water (For Charley Patton) (Live, Niagara, 2003)

Disc Two
Mississippi (Unreleased version #2, Time Out Of Mind)
32-20 Blues (Unreleased, World Gone Wrong)
Series of Dreams (Unreleased, Oh Mercy)
God Knows (Unreleased, Oh Mercy)
Can't Escape From You (Unreleased, December 2005)
Dignity (Unreleased, Oh Mercy)
Ring Them Bells (Live at the Supper Club, 1993)
Cocaine Blues (Live, Vienna, Virginia, 1997)
Ain't Talkin' (Alternate version, Modern Times)
The Girl On The Greenbriar Shore (Live, 1992)
Lonesome Day Blues (Live, Sunrise, Florida, 2002)
Miss the Mississippi (Unreleased, 1992)
The Lonesome River (With Ralph Stanley, from Clinch Mountain Country)
'Cross The Green Mountain (From Gods And Generals Soundtrack)

Disc Three (Ltd. Edition)
Duncan And Brady (Unreleased, 1992)
Cold Irons Bound (Live, Bonnaroo, June 2004)
Mississippi (Unreleased version #3, Time Out Of Mind)
Most Of The Time (Alternate version #2, Oh Mercy)
Ring Them Bells (Alternate version, Oh Mercy)
Things Have Changed (Live, Portland, Oregon, 2000)
Red River Shore (Unreleased version #2, Time Out Of Mind)
Born In Time (Unreleased version #2, Oh Mercy)
Tryin' To Get To Heaven (Live, London, England, 2000)
Marchin' To The City (Unreleased version #2, Time Out Of Mind)
Can't Wait (Alternate version #2, Time Out Of Mind)
Mary And The Soldier (Unreleased, World Gone Wrong)

Source USA Today

Best Krautrock Albums Ever ?

We are having abit of a krautock week here on Rock Revival. Racer from the Ripple Effect asked me to list the best krautrock albums ever and i feel hopelessly unqualified, given I am really exploring it for the first time.

Lets hand over to these guys:

Julian Cope
(that's right, THE Julian Cope's top 50 krautorck albums, now thats pretty serious)

factmagazine

progressiverockreviews

Books on Krautrock ? here's a list at perfectsoundforever plus a great critique of Julian Cope's views

Rock Revival's Forgotten Classics (1972) NEU

Here is another post on a classic Krautrock album, this time by Neu ! from 1972.

Neu! were actually an off-shoot of Kraftwerk, one of the most important Krautrock bands that ever was, in particular for their role in setting the stage for popular electronic music that was to come.

Neu! was no different, with this debut having a massive influence on the likes of Brian Eno, David Bowie and Thom Yorke from Radiohead.

The famous 'motorik' beat is clear on two tracks, a sound that is repetitive and forward moving, driving music (but certainly not like The Doobie Brothers)

Having said all this I noticed this comment on rateyourmusic:

'Besides "Hallogallo" and "Negativland" this album is worthless to me but I want to buy it so people will think I'm cool and possibly fuck me.' (here)

Make up your own mind !

Rock Revival's Forgotten Classics (1973) Faust IV

More Krautrock from Rock Revival with the fourth album from Faust, the first for Virgin of all things (and last for 20 years), a more approachable album that kept the avante garde spirit but held back a little on the craziness...and I only mean a little

For many who venture into the strange world of Faust I recommend starting ( and even staying here). Noise-rock maybe cool to think you like but it's really pretty boring in the end

The first track 'Krautrock' is emblematic, proto-industrial, a droning ambient fuzzy mantra, hypnotic, electronic, certainly well ahead of its time.

The remaining tracks are more poppy, like early Zappa maybe, althoug sometimes at risk of being abit aimless

This is an album that will sneak up on tou; not like Yes, after 2 listens, or even early Genesis (after 5) but will take some perseverance (75 maybe)

Having said that side 2 is much more approachable, you can even here abit of Trex if you listen hard enough.........again, only a little

Rock Revival's Forgotten Classics (1968): Amon Duul 2 Phallus Dei

Amon Duul 2's 1968 debut, Phallus Dei (God's Penis ?) is a wierd and rough classic from the product of the late 60's German collective Amon Duul (there was another band called Amon Duul, but they didnt care)

This was everything the late 60's should be, a dedication to experimentation, a wild abandon into psychedelia, breaking the boundaries of 'rock and roll', in their case the boundaries set by Robert Johnson and Elvis Presley, sitar, psych-folk, jazzy elements, Bowie-esque vocals and fuzz.

Hats off to Warren W Nelson from Amazon's comments, man, he certainly 'gets' it:

'Man, this band is great! With psychedelic urgency, this band literally exploded into formation like the cosmic forces that accumulate at the nebulous origins of the universe! After this album, psychedelia was no longer the paisley afterglow of changing colors and mystical enchantment; no indeed! it had become the firebrand windowpane of the transformed psych in which the listener's ears were restructured and dissolved in the thread of being. This is the conception of everything; before Can, Faust, Ash Ra Tempel, Gong, or Hawkwind, spacerock is more than just the designation of a genre, it had become time to decide if you were either on or off the bus!!

Rock Revival Mix Tape #15: Pastoral Rock

Definition of 'Pastoral' ?

• pastorale: a musical composition that evokes rural life
• bucolic: relating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle; "pastoral seminomadic people"; "pastoral land"; "a pastoral economy"
• a literary work idealizing the rural life (especially the life of shepherds)
• arcadian: (used with regard to idealized country life) idyllically rustic; "a country life of arcadian contentment"; "a pleasant bucolic scene"; "charming in its pastoral setting"; "rustic tranquility"

There is quite a tradition of this in rock, in British folk-rock, primarily, but also in the more relaxed prog of Wishbone Ash, Camel, Barclay James Harvest; great music to sit back and relax, have a read of Gerard Manley Hopkins and Keats, well.. if your into that sort of thing

1 Albatross Fleetwood Mac
2 Summertime in England Van Morrison
3 Leaf and Stream Wishbone Ash
4 Light Flight Pentangle
5 Scarborough Fair Simon and Garfunkel
6 Jersey Thursday Donovan
7 Autumn Strabs
8 Jack in the Green Jethro Tull
9 First Girl I loved Incredible String Band
10 The Hunter Clannad
11 On the Frontier Rennaisance
12 No One Knows Where the Time Goes Fairport Convention
13 Dogs Pink Floyd
14 Mocking Bird Barclay James Harvest

The 69 Eyes Box-Set "Goth 'n' Roll" Release on Halloween, New Album Due 2009

THE 69 EYES are the best thing that happened to Goth since Siouxsie and the Banshees, heavy, with a touch of eighties and a very spooky vocalist. This great Finnish band will release a box set called "Goth'n'Roll" in Finland on Halloween. The box set will contain three CDs and one DVD.

"Goth'N'Roll" draws on their work from 1998 to 2003, the period just before they became well known outside their home country.

"Blessed Be" and "Paris Kills", their seminal albums, are beautifully remastered with bonus tracks.The third CD is "Goth'N'Roll Archives" which includes demos and never-before-released material from 1998 to 2003.

The remastered DVD, "Helsinki Vampires" includes "Bat Habit", a documentary that has never been released. from the same period.

The band's new album is due in 2009.

Wooohooo ! Massive Amon Duul 2 Re-Issue Release Campaign Plus 40 Year Anniversary Tour 2008/2009

Experimental music pioneers Amon Duul 2, whose music defined the German progressive rock scene of the 1970's, are back in the news with the reissuing of the band's back catalog on SPV Records - many titles have been long out of print.

“All the important works of Amon Duul 2 are remastered and wherever there was spare room on the CDs, we added bonus tracks recorded in 2005, 2006 and 2007", says guitarist and original band member John Weinzierl.

Titles re-issued include 'Dance Of The Lemmings', 'Yeti', 'Carnival In Babylon', 'Wolf City', 'Vive Le Trance', 'Hi-Jack', 'Live In London', 'Made In Germany', and 'PyragonyX'. As a point of special interest to Amon Duul 2 fans in the USA, the band's landmark concept album Made In Gemany, touted as the first German Rock Opera, is now made available in its original complete form (the DBL LP was only released in the US as a single album with different cover art).

Formed in Munich in 1968, Amon Duul 2 rapidly excelled to the forefront of German avant garde music along side notable peers Can, Faust and Tangerine Dream. Amon Duul 2 quickly distinguished themselves from these other ensembles with their use of pop elements interspersed with eclectic songwriting and arrangements along with deft musicianship and the sweet voice of female vocalist Renate Knaup-Krotenschwanz.

The band's influences ranged from jazz and classical to Zappa and Syd's Pink Floyd, although the music has remained so original these past 30 years it's difficult to tell who the band's influences are! “That's because Germany culture-wise has no rhythm and blues influence," explains Renate. “We have classical music and traditional music, so we just experimented with what we had. To copy rhythm and blues or rock and roll would be silly because they are not our roots."

By 1979 and many critically acclaimed, pioneering LPs later, Amon Duul 2 went their separate ways, only to reunite in the 1990s, and most recently in the mid-2000s. The current line-up includes original members: Chris Karrer (guitar, violin, vocals), John Weinzierl (guitars, synth, vocals), Renate Knaup-Krotenschwanz (vocals), Danny Fichelscher (drums), Lother Meid (bass, vocals) and neo-Duul Jan Kahlert (percussion, vocals).

With the re-issuing of Amon Duul 2's back catalog, the band are preparing for a major tour scheduled for Autumn 2008 and Spring 2009, with the running title '40 Years since
1968/69'.

Other plans include “a DVD called Amon Duul 2 History and a new studio CD by the band. “Both will take a bit of time still," says John. “Maybe there's gonna be another DVD Live At The Buttermaker in Shrewsburry 2006 in the meantime." These new releases, along with rare solo CDs by Weinzierl's trio JHM along with an album he did with the late Robert Calvert of Hawkwind will be available on the band's official website.

SOURCE: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Here We Go Again ! New Album Release For Led Zeppelin ?

Jason Bonham has just announced on Detroit radio that he is resigning as drummer for Foreigner causing alot of stir about what he might do next ?

Apparently he said "I've been over to England a couple of times. I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do just do some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something."

"My time with Foreigner is coming to an end. This is the first time I've talked about it. I leave at the end of this month so, I mean, I'm looking forward to taking some time out to be with the family really. Since I moved to America I've been on the road, so my first priority is to go and watch my kids grow up, because they've grown up way to fast in the last four years."

Led Zeppelin X anyone

Rock Revival's Time Capsule (1963): Bob Dylan's Poetic Masterpiece, Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie

April 12, 1963, Dylan has outgrown the Village and plays in New York's Town Hall, his first major concert, in a venue graced by the likes of Marian Anderson, Glenn Gould, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Paul Robeson and Sergei Rachmaninoff

This is two weeks before the final session for "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.", his clarion call second album

He goes on, sings 'Hard Rain', 'John Brown' and many others and then blows everyone away with one of the most beautiful pieces of poetry he has ever written; Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie. Here it is in it's entirety....


There's this book comin' out, an' they asked me to write something about Woody...
Sort of like "What does Woody Guthrie mean to you?" in twenty-five words...
And I couldn't do it -- I wrote out five pages and... I have it here, it's...
Have it here by accident, actually... but I'd like to say this out loud...
So... if you can sort of roll along with this thing here, this is called
"Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie."

When your head gets twisted and your mind grows numb
When you think you're too old, too young, too smart or too dumb
When you're laggin' behind an' losin' your pace
In the slow-motion crawl or life's busy race
No matter whatcha doin' if you start givin' up
If the wine don't come to the top of your cup
If the wind got you sideways it's one hand holdin' on
And the other starts slippin' and the feelin' is gone
And your train engine fire needs a new spark to catch it
And the wood's easy findin' but you're lazy to fetch it
And your sidewalk starts curlin' and the street gets too long
And you start walkin' backwards though you know that it's wrong
And lonesome comes up as down goes the day
And tomorrow's mornin' seems so far away
And you feel the reins from your pony are slippin'
And your rope is a-slidin' 'cause your hands are a-drippin'
And your sun-decked desert and evergreen valleys
Turn to broken down slums and trash-can alleys
And your sky cries water and your drain pipe's a-pourin'
And the lightnin's a-flashin' and the thunder's a-crashin'
The windows are rattlin' and breakin' and the roof tops are shakin'
And your whole world's a-slammin' and bangin'
And your minutes of sun turn to hours of storm
An' to yourself you sometimes say
"I never knew it was gonna be this way
Why didn't they tell me the day I was born?"

And you start gettin' chills and you're jumpin' from sweat
And you're lookin' for somethin' you ain't quite found yet
And you're knee-deep in dark water with your hands in the air
And the whole world's watchin' with a window peek stare
And your good gal leaves and she's long gone a-flyin'
And your heart feels sick like fish when they're fryin'
And your jackhammer falls from your hands to your feet
But you need it badly an' it lays on the street
And your bell's bangin' loudly but you can't hear its beat
And you think your ears mighta been hurt
Your eyes've turned filthy from the sight-blindin' dirt
And you figured you failed in yesterday's rush
When you were faked out an' fooled while facin' a four flush
And all the time you were holdin' three queens
It's makin you mad, it's makin' you mean
Like in the middle of Life magazine
Bouncin' around a pinball machine
And there's something on your mind that you wanna be sayin'
That somebody someplace oughta be hearin'
But it's trapped on your tongue, sealed in your head
And it bothers you badly when your layin' in bed
And no matter how you try you just can't say it
And you're scared to your soul you just might forget it
And your eyes get swimmy from the tears in your head
An' your pillows of feathers turn to blankets of lead
And the lion's mouth opens and you're starin' at his teeth
And his jaws start closin' with you underneath
And you're flat on your belly with your hands tied behind
And you wish you'd never taken that last detour sign
You say to yourself just what am I doin'
On this road I'm walkin', on this trail I'm turnin'
On this curve I'm hangin'
On this pathway I'm strollin', this space I'm taking
And this air I'm inhaling?
Am I mixed up too much, am I mixed up too hard
Why am I walking, where am I running
What am I saying, what am I knowing
On this guitar I'm playing, on this banjo I'm frailing
On this mandolin I'm strumming, in the song I'm singing,
In the tune I'm humming, in the words that I'm thinking
In the words I'm writing
In this ocean of hours I'm all the time drinking
Who am I helping, what am I breaking
What am I giving, what am I taking?
But you try with your whole soul best
Never to think these thoughts and never to let
Them kind of thoughts gain ground
Or make your heart pound
But then again you know when they're around
Just waiting for a chance to slip and drop down
'Cause sometimes you hear 'em when the night time come creeping
And you fear they might catch you sleeping
And you jump from your bed, from the last chapter of dreamin'
And you can't remember for the best of your thinkin'
If that was you in the dream that was screaming
And you know that's somethin' special you're needin'
And you know there's no drug that'll do for the healing
And no liquor in the land to stop your brain from bleeding

You need somethin' special
You need somethin' special, all right
You need a fast flyin' train on a tornado track
To shoot you someplace and shoot you back
You need a cyclone wind on a stream engine howler
That's been banging and booming and blowing forever
That knows your troubles a hundred times over
You need a Greyhound bus that don't bar no race
That won't laugh at your looks
Your voice or your face
And by any number of bets in the book
Will be rolling long after the bubblegum craze
You need something to open up a new door
To show you something you seen before
But overlooked a hundred times or more
You need something to open your eyes
You need something to make it known
That it's you and no one else that owns
That spot that you're standing, that space that you're sitting
That the world ain't got you beat
That it ain't got you licked
It can't get you crazy no matter how many times you might get kicked
You need something special, all right
You need something special to give you hope
But hope's just a word
That maybe you said, maybe you heard
On some windy corner 'round a wide-angled curve

But that's what you need man, and you need it bad
And your trouble is you know it too good
'Cause you look an' you start gettin' the chills
'Cause you can't find it on a dollar bill
And it ain't on Macy's window sill
And it ain't on no rich kid's road map
And it ain't in no fat kid's fraternity house
And it ain't made in no Hollywood wheat germ
And it ain't on that dim-lit stage
With that half-wit comedian on it
Rantin' and ravin' and takin' your money
And you thinks it's funny
No, you can't find it neither in no night club, no yacht club
And it ain't in the seats of a supper club
And sure as hell you're bound to tell
No matter how hard you rub
You just ain't a-gonna find it on your ticket stub
No, it ain't in the rumors people're tellin' you
And it ain't in the pimple-lotion people are sellin' you
And it ain't in a cardboard-box house
Or down any movie star's blouse
And you can't find it on the golf course
And Uncle Remus can't tell you and neither can Santa Claus
And it ain't in the cream puff hairdo or cotton candy clothes
Ain't in the dime store dummies an' bubblegum goons
And it ain't in the marshmallow noises of the chocolate cake voices
That come knocking and tapping in Christmas wrapping
Sayin' ain't I pretty and ain't I cute, look at my skin,
Look at my skin shine, look at my skin glow,
Look at my skin laugh, look at my skin cry,
When you can't even sense if they got any insides
These people so pretty in their ribbons and bows
No, you'll not now or no other day
Find it on the doorsteps made of paper maché
And inside of the people made of molasses
That every other day buy a new pair of sunglasses
And it ain't in the fifty-star generals and flipped-out phonies
Who'd turn you in for a tenth of a penny
Who breathe and burp and bend and crack
And before you can count from one to ten
Do it all over again but this time behind your back, my friend,
The ones that wheel and deal and whirl and twirl
And play games with each other in their sand-box world
And you can't find it either in the no-talent fools
That run around gallant
And make all the rules for the ones that got talent
And it ain't in the ones that ain't got any talent but think they do
And think they're fooling you
The ones that jump on the wagon
Just for a while 'cause they know it's in style
To get their kicks, get out of it quick
And make all kinds of rnoney and chicks
And you yell to yourself and you throw down your hat
Saying, "Christ, do I gotta be like that?
Ain't there no one here that knows where I'm at
Ain't there no one here that knows how I feel
Good God Almighty, that stuff ain't real":

No, but that ain't your game, it ain't your race
You can't hear your name, you can't see your face
You gotta look some other place
And where do you look for this hope that you're seekin'
Where do you look for this lamp that's a-burnin'
Where do you look for this oil well gushin'
Where do you look for this candle that's glowin'
Where do you look for this hope that you know is there
And out there somewhere
And your feet can only walk down two kinds of roads
Your eyes can only look through two kinds of windows
Your nose can only smell two kinds of hallways
You can touch and twist
And turn two kinds of doorknobs
You can either go to the church of your choice
Or you go to Brooklyn State Hospital

You find God in the church of your choice
You find Woody Guthrie in Brooklyn State Hospital
And though it's only my opinion
I may be right or wrong
You'll find them both
In Grand Canyon
Sundown

Beyond Robert Johnson ? What If Karlheinz Stockhausen Was The King of the Blues ?

Many years ago I read Piero Scaruffi's The History of Rock and didnt know what the hell he was talking about. Why put Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica as the number 1 album of all time, who really cares about Brian Jonestown Massacre or German and Italian progressive rock of the 70's ? Who the hell is Amon Duul anyway ?

Well, now I am kind of getting it, still dont agree with him about Trout Mask Replica and many other things, but I think I can see where he is coming from, at least. Still love Deep Purple and the Beatles, even The Sweet, Piero, but know I kind of know what you mean....

Imagine Alice, falling down the hole, far from the land of the blues, Eric, Rory, Johnny Winter, Foghat, The Faces and Stones slowly beyond reach. Who do you see ? Yes, Captain Beefheart, certainly Velvet Underground, maybe even Eric Dolphy.....but then things get stranger.......here come the chimes of Can, Cluster, Popol Vuh; there is Robert Wyatt, the Boredoms, Shpongle, Atom Mothers Temple.....heading down to an adventure beyond rock.........

Who'll be there to meet you; Frank Zappa makes a good Rabbit, half blues half Varese and jingles, the Muffin Man

There you are, the land beyond the blues............

The Mad Hatter is easy (Syd), Eno and Fripp as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, the Chesire Cat (any ideas)........the Queen of Hearts, perhaps Piero himself, Kraftwerk as the deck of cards, God Speed You Black Emperor..............

Acid Mothers Temple - Starless and Bible Black Sabbath Released August 4, 2008

Starless and Bible Black Sabbath is Acid Mothers Temple's tribute to the greatest metal band ever !

Acid Mothers Temple, of course are the vrilliant Japanese psychedelic ensemble, a band influenced by many things, including krautrock and Stockhausen

While this album is certainly a tribute record it doesn’t consist of straight-up Sabath worship in the simple sense of covers. The band sounds as if they are simultaneously paying respect to other Sabbath-influenced projects such as Melvins or Zeni Geva, the later being the former home of Tabata, one of the Temple’s latest recruits.

With respect to its heaviness this release has similarities to “Electric Heavyland” our first release by Acid Mothers Temple, however this recording is richer, clearer and less harsh.

“Starless and Bible Black Sabbath” consists of two tracks, the first being an epic thirty four minute blowout titled “Lady from Hell”. The opening cut begins in a similar fashion to Black Sabbath’s eponymous opening track on their debut album, albeit much less dramatic. The piece evolves slowly until a third of the way through the track vocals, . vaguely reminiscent of those of a young Ozzy Osbourne, come into to the mix. This track, with its tremendous echo effect, sounds like the band is playing in a huge hockey arena. Also notable is the use of two drummers playing virtually the same thing much of the track, but with slightly different timing, once again adding to the feeling of massive depth and space to piece.

The second track relates more to the band’s obsession with Kraut rock, sounding like the more pop-oriented period of Hawkwind. This piece has more in common with the gentler sound found on the “Mantra of Love” release or the recent “IAO Chant” release, a tribute to Gong. The album’s packaging is a beautiful reworking of the original cover of Black Sabbath’s debut, only this version features Acid Mother’s Temple’s Kawabata Makoto in the cover photo instead of a women.

Tracks : 1 Starless and Bible Black Sabbath 34:20 / 2 Woman From A Hell 6:12
(Alien 8/Cargo)

Buy at spincds

Jimmy Page and Leona Lewis Rock Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremony

In case you missed it

Rock Lover's Guide to Jazz: The ECM Label "The Most Beautiful Sound Next To Silence"

Here's another episode in Rock Revival's Rock Lover's Guide to Jazz, this time about the ECM label

The ECM label (Edition of Contemporary Music) was founded in 1969 in Munich, Germany by Manfred Eicher. ECM's motto is "The Most Beautiful Sound Next To Silence", a phrase taken from a 1971 review of ECM releases in Coda, a Canadian music magazine.

This is an apt motto, given the label's focus on esthetics, on creating an atomosphere without the classic blues or swing elements of american jazz. If your looking for a parralel in rock, think Canterbury prog or Krautrock, genres that also abandoned the blues rots of rock, in favour of a more European focus on the avante garde

The heroes of ECM are Keith Jarrett (piano) and Jan Garbarek (sax). Other classic artists are vibraphone player Gary Burton; drummers Jon Christensen and Paul Motian; guitarists Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie, Ralph Towner and Terje Rypdal; bassists Eberhard Weber, Charlie Haden and Dave Holland; and the Art Ensemble of Chicago.

If ECM avoids swing it's roots lie intead in a host of alternatives; world music, classical, folk music (the ECM New Series actually is mostyl classical)

Interested ? Where should you start ?

1. Keith Jarrett The Koln Concert
2. Jan Garbarek Places
3. Oregon Winter Light
4. Ralph Towner Old Friends New Friends
5. Arvo Part Passio
6. David Darling Cycles
7. Stephen Micus Snow
8. Eberhard Weber Works
9. Anouar Brahem Thimar
10. Charles Lloyd Jumping the Creek

Here's Jan Garbarek

Who Loves Keith Jarrett ? Jazz Mystic

Here's another one of those Rock Revival posts that has nothing to do with rock but everything about great music.

Keith Jarrett was probably my first love, in terms of jazz; up to then the albums that had really stuck with me were probably Hendrix Band of Gypsies, Johnny Winter Captured Live, Tumbleweed Connection by Elton John, mostly rock, maybe Exodus by Bob Marley.

The first Jarrett album I ever heard was his most famous, The Koln Concert and it blew my head off; an empty stage, a piano, no planned music, just pure improvisation......more importantly music of such incredible beauty, probably the only thing that comes close is In the Garden by Van Morisson...............

It seems impossible to find footage of the actual Koln Concerts, here he is from another beautiful album, Standards 2 with his constant companions Jack DeJohnette and Gary Burton

Rock Revival's Classic Trax (1980): Nina Hagen African Reggae

Nina Hagen, late 70's and early 80's post-punk-goddess, opera trained vocalist extraordinaire, one time SCiFi TV show host, animal rights activist, doting mother, hare krishna, vegetarian, one-time girlfriend of Anthony Kiedis and author of one of the best avant garde punk albums ever (NunSexMonkRock)...........

African Reggae is her masterpiece, from the 1980 album, Unbehagen: it shows off the full-range-lunacy of her vocals, it's deliciously 80's, enjoy !

Club Penguin Does Led Zeppelin Immigrant Song

My kids love this program but i never thought I would see this !




......and the Police ?




...........and Metallica ?

Please Stand Up the Real Van Morrison: Take a Trip to the Vanlose Stairway

When the sad day comes that Van the Man heads on up to Avalon the news media will play Gloria and Brown-Eyed Girl and forget to play his true legacy, his capacity to give you church without religion, to take us Into the Mystic.....

Forget The Best of Volume 86 and take a Listen to the Lion, Astral Weeks, No Guru No Teacher No Method; few artists can do what he does; Celtic Soul.....

Check out the video below, despite the poor showing of his output over the past 15 years or so he still has the touch...

Rock Revival's Classic Trax (1980): Yes Tempus Fugit

In an unlikely combination, two members of Buggles ('Video Killed the Rodeo Star;) join Yes for their 1980 album, Drama, the only album without Jon Anderson.

You'd imagine they would come out with latter-day Genesis-style pop music but instead they delivered a surprisingly rich and complex album; approachable, yes, prog rock, definitely.

Pop-Yes would be saved for the 90215 album a year later, not their finest moment.

The highlight of this album is Tempus Fugit, brilliant !

Rock Revival's Classic Trax (2007): Immigrant Song Ann Wilson (Heart)

There are many cover version of this Led Zep classic, Great White, Demons and Wizards, Infectious Groves, but all of these are worse than the original. The only cover version that does the astounding feat of being better, at least in my mind, in by Ann Wilson, half of Heart, from her 2007 album Hope and Glory

It starts of slow, lulls you into a false sense of security and then kicks your ass !
Her vocals are brilliant, no wonder she was called the female Robert Plant

Enjoy

Rock Revival's Classic Trax (1972): Bridge Over Troubled Water Aretha Franklin

Aretha proves her status as one of the best famale vocalists ever by blowing Simon and Garfunkel out of the water in 1972 with a gospel version of 'Bridge Over the Troubled Water'

This track was taken from the album Aretha Live at Fillmore, an album that won her a Grammy for Best R & B Vocal Performance

If this doesnt move you nothing will ! Halleluyah !

Jeff Wagner Former 'Metal Maniacs' Editor Reveals His Top Ten Progressive Metal Allbums

Jeff Wagner author of the much anticipated book on the history of progressive metal (due in 2009) was interviewed recently by Noise Pollution

The interview is a great taster for the book; here he is revealing his top ten prog metal albums

"I’m going to compile my Top 25 recommended Prog-Metal albums for the book, but it’s not final yet. It won’t necessarily be personal favorites, and it’s not done yet, but I guess if someone wanted a quick lesson on great progressive metal, you couldn’t go wrong with these 10:"

1) Rush - Moving Pictures

2) Cynic – Focus

3) Dream Theater – Images and Words

4 ) Fates Warning – Awaken the Guardian

5) Queensryche – Rage for Order

6 ) Watchtower – Control and Resistance

7) Voivod – Nothingface

8) Psychotic Waltz – Into the Everflow

9) In The Woods – Omnio

10) Opeth - Watershed

Rock Revival's Classic Albums (1976) Johnny Winter Captured Live

I cant believe I havent featured this album before, one of the classics of my teens and one of the most explosive live albums ever.

Johnny was in his rock and roll phase, applying his furious slide to John Lennon's 'Rock and Roll People, 'Bony Maronie' and Dylan's 'Highway 61 Revisited'

He plays full-pelt for the whole album, except for a magical 12 minute 'Sweet Papa John', pure crude blues ('they call me Sweet Papa John, dripping honey right to your door)

For me Johnny will always be the king of the white-boy-blues: Eric Clapton, yeah o.k., brilliant even at times (eg: EC Was Here), Rory Gallagher, even better and better again live (Live in Europe, Irish Tour), but Johnny Winter played it hard and fast every time

Here's a taste

Rock Revival's Classic Trax (1979): 'I Can't Tell You Why' The Eagles

"I Can't Tell You Why" is a song from the The Long Run. It was a Top 10 hit in April of 1980, reaching #8. Yes it's eighties-ish, but it's classic Eagles, smooth, West-Coast. A relaxing masterpiece of country-rock.

The band would soon break up for 12 years or so (until Hell Froze Over) due to tensions between Frey and Felder.

This song proved that despite the pop leanings of 'Heartache Tonight' the band could still what they started out doing so well

Enjoy!

Black Tide: Young Kids Revive 80's Thrash and Hair Metal !

Here's a great album i just listened to, the recent winner of Kerrang!'s Best Newcomer Award, Black Tide

What sets them apart is both the quality of the music and their youth. The lead singer is only 15 years old and they have alrady opened for the likes of Lordi, Static-X, Lamb of God, Ozzy Osbourne, Avenged Sevenfold and All That Remains

Their debut album Light From Above, was released on March 18, 2008. Blabbermouth.net stating the album contains "Big, sometimes pop-based, melodies meets crunchy, guitar-driven metal that falls somewhere between thrash/traditional metal and the dirtier end of '80s glam/hair metal".

Dan Epstein of Revolver Magazine saying "Listening to the debut album from Miami's Black Tide is a little like stumbling across a cool late-80s metal record you'd completely forgotten about. A very promising debut".

Despite their youth they are certainly not ignorant of their roots: they have started performing Prowler an Iron Maiden cover on their current tour. The album also contains a cover of Metallica's first written song, "Hit the Lights".

Highly recommended

Metallica, Def Leppard, Rage Against the Machine All Win Gongs in Kerrang's 2008 Awards

Heavy metal magazine Kerrang! has just announced the winners of their 2008 Awards (isnt it abit early)

Def Leppard, Metallica and Rage Against the Machine all win gongs, plus Black Tide for Best International Newcomer (Black tide are a US latino metal outfit whose vocalist os only 15 years old)

Best International Newcomer
Voted for by the readers of Kerrang! Magazine and Kerrang.com
Winner – Black Tide

Best British Newcomer sponsored by Red Stripe (Official Beer Sponsor)
Voted for by the readers of Kerrang! Magazine, & Kerrang.com
Winner – Slaves To Gravity

Kerrang! Icon sponsored by Sailor Jerry (Official Spirit Sponsor)
Voted by a select K! Awards Judging Panel
Winner – Slipknot

Best Video
Voted for by the readers of Kerrang! Magazine and Kerrang.com
Winner – Coheed And Cambria - Feathers

Best Single
Voted for by the readers of Kerrang! Magazine and Kerrang.com
Winner – 30 Seconds To Mars – From Yesterday

Best Album Sponsored by Atticus Clothing
Voted for by the readers of Kerrang! Magazine and Kerrang.com
Winner – Avenged Sevenfold – Avenged Sevenfold

Best Live Band sponsored by Aloud.com
Voted for by the readers of Kerrang! Magazine and Kerrang.com
Winner – Machine Head

Classic Songwriter
Voted by a select K! Awards Judging Panel
Def Leppard

Best British Band sponsored by Roadrunner Records
Voted for by the readers of Kerrang! Magazine and Kerrang.com
Winner – Bullet For My Valentine

Best International Band
Voted for by the readers of Kerrang! Magazine and Kerrang.com
Winner – 30 Seconds To Mars

Hall Of Fame
Voted by a select K! Awards Judging Panel
Winner – Rage Against The Machine

Inspiration
Voted by a select K! Awards Judging Panel
Winner – Metallica

"We Wish You A Metal Christmas and a Headbanging New Year" Release October 2008

I know it's early but get ready for the heaviest Christmas album that has ever been released on planet earth

"We Wish You A Metal Christmas and a Headbanging New Year" features never before heard combinations of everybody who is anybody in metal, including Alice Cooper, Lemmy Kilmister, Ronnie James Dio, Dave Grohl, Billy Gibbons, Tony Iommi.

Check out the line-ups below; it makes you wish they had done a straight-up metal album rather than a Christmas one, but what the heck, these line-up's would sound good doing Abba covers ! Oh, yeah, thats been done already.....

It's all due to be released in the U.S. on October 14 via Amoury Records and Black Ion Music.

Tracks

01. We Wish You A Merry Xmas

Jeff Scott Soto (TALISMAN, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JOURNEY)
Bruce Kulick (KISS, UNION)
Bob Kulick
Chris Wyse (THE CULT)
Ray Luzier (KORN, DAVID LEE ROTH, ARMY OF ANYONE)

02. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Alice Cooper
John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON)
Billy Sheehan (DAVID LEE ROTH, TALAS, MR. BIG)
Vinny Appice (DIO, HEAVEN AND HELL, BLACK SABBATH)

03. Run Rudolph Run

Lemmy Kilmister (MOTÖRHEAD)
Billy F. Gibbons (ZZ TOP)
Dave Grohl (FOO FIGHTERS)

04. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN AND HELL, BLACK SABBATH)
Tony Iommi (HEAVEN AND HELL, BLACK SABBATH)
Rudy Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE, DIO)
Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO)

05. Little Drummer Boy

Doug Pinnick (KING's X)
George Lynch (DOKKEN)
Billy Sheehan (DAVID LEE ROTH, TALAS, MR. BIG)
Simon Phillips (THE WHO, TOTO)

06. Santa Claus Is Back In Town

Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH)
Steve Morse (DEEP PURPLE)
Juan Garcia (AGENT STEEL)
Marco Mendoza (WHITESNAKE, TED NUGENT)
Vinny Appice (DIO, HEAVEN AND HELL, BLACK SABBATH)

07. Silent Night

Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT)
Scott Ian (ANTHRAX)
Jon Donais (SHADOWS FALL)
Chris Wyse (THE CULT)
John Tempesta (ROB ZOMBIE, THE CULT)

08. Silver Bells

Geoff Tate (QUEENSRŸCHE)
Carlos Cavazo (QUIET RIOT, RATT)
James Lomenzo (MEGADETH, WHITE LION)
Ray Luzier (KORN, DAVID LEE ROTH, ARMY OF ANYONE)

09. Deck the Halls

Oni Logan (LYNCH MOB)
Craig Goldy (DIO)
Tony Franklin (THE FIRM)
John Tempesta (ROB ZOMBIE, THE CULT)

10. Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer

Stephen Pearcy (RATT)
Tracii Guns (L.A. GUNS, BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION)
Bob Kulick
Billy Sheehan (DAVID LEE ROTH, TALAS, MR. BIG)
Greg Bissonette (DAVID LEE ROTH)

11. Rockin' Around the Xmas Tree

Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE)
Bruce Kulick (KISS, UNION)
Bob Kulick
Rudy Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE, DIO)
Simon Wright AC/DC, DIO)

12. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

Tommy Shaw (STYX)
Steve Lukather (TOTO)
Marco Mendoza (WHITESNAKE, TED NUGENT)
Kenny Aronoff (TONY IOMMI, SMASHING PUMPKINS)

Rock Revival's Time Capsule (1973) Led Zeppelin Take the U.S. By Storm

It's 1973 and Led Zeppelin rule the world. In spring they release their fifth album, 'Houses of the Holy', blending in funk and reggae into their heady mix of folk and rock. It debuts at number 1 in the Uk and US providing the perfect platform for the biggest tour of the US ever seen

Throughout this tour Led Zeppelin broke box-office records, smashing any band that had come before them, particularly the first to invade from Britain, The Beatles.

The highlight was when 56,800 fans attended at at Tampa Stadium, Florida, breaking the record set by The Beatles at Shea Stadium

The reasons for their success as a live band lied in their experimentation. The band was famous for debuting new songs on stage, moulding them live based on audience reaction.

Dave Lewis and Simon Pallett, Led Zep experts, sum it up as follows:

“ Led Zeppelin live was an extraordinary animal. From the very beginning no two performances were alike. Such was the creative spark between the four that the basic structures of their songs were repeatedly reworked, extended and improvised on, making their studio counterparts almost unrecognisable.”

It's all recorded on the classic double live album and movie "The Song Remains the Same" (and on heaps of bootlegs, see above)

Gojira Preview 'Vacuity' From New Album 'The Way of All Flesh' Confirm U.S. Tour w/ In Flames

Gojira

Gojira are on of the best things happening in metal at the moment in my mind: Progressive Death metal, yes, satanism and creepy content, no.

In fact the French band concern themselves with spirituality and the environment but still kick arse when it comes signature changes at full pelt, cookie monster vocals and enough grunt to get your heart racing at any age (they also recently opened for Metallica in France)

The band is previewing their new album, The Way of All Flesh, due out October 14, posting "Vacuity" on their MySpace page today

"We are super excited to put up this new song, "Vacuity," from The Way of All Flesh," the band says. "We're also proud to announce – in addition to the European dates with In Flames – Gojira will come back to America with them too. It's good to be back! Get ready..."

Find it at www.myspace.com/gojira

Krautrock 101: The Free Art of Rock and Roll

Krautrock is essentially a British term, coined to describe the wave of 70's prog rock coming out of Germany, including such bands as Faust, Can, Amon Duul, Popol Vuh, Neu! and Ash Ra Tempel

Think moody prog rock, post-psychedelic jamming mixed with atonal classical a la Karlheinz Stockhausen and you pretty much have it.

There was still rock and roll as it's base, of course, but these artists distanced themselves from the blues origin of their American counterparts. Krautrock also had ambient charactersitics plus the 'motorik' 4/4 beat

In many ways Krautrock was the German version of the Canterbury prog movement in the Uk (eg: Soft Machine) and 'froguerock'which came much later in the 1990's

Krautrock has had a massive influence on contemporary music; the post-rock of Mogwai, Tortoise and even Radiohead can all be traced back to their ambient psychedelia

This may be some of the most exciting music you have never heard !

Rock Revival's Forgotten Classics (1973): Lightshine 'Feeling'

Here's another long lost classic hard psych/prog rock album, this time from German band Lightshine. The 'krautrock' band released only one album, despite being together for three years and playing over 200 concerts.

If you like your prog complete with primal screams, acid-folk, cosmic guitar, synth mixes, great harmonies and distorted guitars (think No Quarter by Led Zeppelin) this is the album for you. It's medievil, floating, psychedelic music, all at the same time.

As you can see from the tracklist, there are some epic songs: "King And Queen" has melancholic melodies and dreamy instrumentals with the sudden appearance of a pretty insane insane king. "Nightmare" is quite beautiful, with Ash Ra-like guitar style

All up this is a must have release for fans of early 70's psychedelia and prog

01. Sword in the Sky - 4:50
02. Lory - 5:31
03. Nightmare - 10:33
04. King and Queen - 13:44
05. Feeling - 7:37

Jacko is 50 years Old ! Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5 - 50 Best Songs (3 CD) Release September 1, 2008

We are having abit of a soul week here on Rock Revival, despite our love of rock, and you cant talk about it without mentioning Michael Jackson's time with Motown, certainly one of the mst talented child prodigies there has ever been in the genre.

Beleive ir not Jacko will be 50 on August 29 and a 3CD 50 track album will be released on Septemver 1 to celebrate.

It features all of the hits through the Motown years from the both the Jacksons with “ABC”, “I Want You Back”, “Never Can Say Goodbye” and Michael’s solo material including “You’ve Got A Friend”, “Ben”, “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “One Day In Your Life"

Tracklist

Disc 1 - Jackson 5
ABC
Never Can Say Goodbye
Ready Or Not (Here I Come)
Love Song
Forever Came Today
The Life Of The Party
Doctor My Eyes
All I Do Is Think Of You
I Am Love (Parts 1 & 2)
Darling Dear
Maybe Tomorrow
I Found That Girl
It's Too Late To Change The Time
Lookin' Through The Windows
Who's Loving You
Whatever You Got, I Want
I'll Be There

Disc 2 - Jackson 5
I Want You Back
Dancing Machine
Sugar Daddy
Little Bitty Pretty One
Hum Along And Dance
Corner Of The Sky
I'm So Happy
Get It Together
Goin' Back To Indiana
Skywriter
The Love You Save
Mama's Pearl
Touch
La La (Means I Love You)
It's Great To Be Here
Hallelujah Day
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Disc 3 - Michael Jackson
Farewell My Summer Love
You've Got A Friend
My Girl
One Day In Your Life
Just A Little Bit Of You
Got To Be There
We've Got A Good Thing Going
Rockin' Robin
Ben
I Wanna Be Where You Are
Girl You're So Together
We're Almost There
Wings Of My Love
Girl Don't Take Your Love From Me
Music And Me
Ain't No Sunshine

Preorder spincds

Rock Revival's Classic Albums (1971) T.Rex Electric Warrior

Electric Warrior is arguably the ultimate glamrock album, the sixth for T.Rex, released in 1971, ranked number 160 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time

T.Rex appealed to the mainstream but still managed to stay cool, a feat not really achieved by their followers, Mud, The Sweet, Gary Glitter.

The album went straight to number one in the Uk, propelled by 'Get it On", the biggest album of this year which is really saying something when you think what else was on offer; Pearl, All Things Must Pass, Tapestry, Sticky Fingers, Every Picture tells a Story, some of the greatest albums ever made

In 2003 Bolan looked back at the album "I think "Electric Warrior", for me, is the first album which is a statement of 1971 for us in England. I mean that's... If anyone ever wanted to know why we were big in the other part of the world, that album says it, for me."

Highly Recommended

Classic Rockers The Lizards Release New CD and DVD Simultaneously

8/18/08 - New York, NY - Neo-Classic Rock afficiandos The Lizards have released a new DVD and CD simultaneously, much to the elation of their devoted fanbase worldwide. Featuring drummer Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow/Black Sabbath/BOC) and vocalist/keyboardist Mike DiMeo (Riot/Masterplan), along with bassist Randy Pratt (who also plays harp with Cactus) and guitarist Patrick Klein, The Lizards have released 4 critically aclaimed albums and two live DVDs in the past 4 years. The band's 2006 release 'Against All Odds' has garnered rave reviews from the music press worldwide, catapulting The Lizards into legendary status!

"I consider it a crime not to check out these hot sounding reptiles!" - Metalliville, UK

The Lizards new live DVD entitled '4.2.11' (an inside nod to 'Spinal Tap'), features the band in top performance at various locations and is peppered throughout with new interviews. "The gig at B.B. King's was us opening for Cactus, the band I play harp in," explains band leader and bassist Randy Pratt. "The Farmingdale, NY gig, we were opening for Zebra. The German gig, we were on tour with UFO, and Sweden Rock was Sweden Rock. We were well seasoned and fired-up at these gigs. There are songs from all our CDs on the DVD, including some rarely played live." The performances featured on the new DVD were filmed with multiple cameras for maximum visual excitement.

"These hard rockin' Lizards have slithered their way to the top of the new 'original' classic rock heap. Like their alien counterparts they are simply out of this world!" - Nightwatcher's Rock Blog

In conjuction with the release of The Lizards live DVD comes a new studio CD comprised of classic rock covers called 'Archeology', in which the band rocks new life into each legendary song. "For The Lizards this album is a love letter to our youth," says Pratt. "Heavy as hell, with a sleazoning of blues, these are great songs by great bands" Songs include "Fire and Water" (Free), "Head First" (The Babys), 'I'm Mad" (John Lee Hooker), "Juke It" (Boomerang), "Thunder Box" (Humble Pie), "Tramp" (Stray Dog), "The Wizard" (Uriah Heep) and "One More Heartache" (Detective).

The Lizards '4.2.11' DVD and 'Archeology' CD are available from the bands official website as well as Amazon.com, CDBaby, and iTunes. The Lizards have also resumed work on their fifth studio CD of originals titled 'Reptilicus Maximus'. "You can see Rick Klemann's breathtaking new cover art on our website. So far we've got nine ambitious new opuses down. The CD will be out sometime in 2009."

Lounge 101: Cool To Be Corny

Ok, this is where I completely lose any credibility as a rock afficianado, the statement that while i have a copy of Leaf Hound's Growers of Mushroom I am also a closet lover of lounge music.....

Now that all the closed minded people have gone let me tell you all about my guilty secret.

What is lounge music ? It's a lose grouping of all that is corny

a. Starting with exotica from the 50's and 60's (think Martin Denny, cheap imitation bossa nova, salsa made into a palatable sound for post-war America)

b. Including swinging music like Bobby Darin or Burt Bacharach

c. Revived in the 90's by the likes of Pink Martini and Stereolab

d. Satirised by the great Richard Cheese and the Lounge Against the Machine (great Metallicca and Nirvana covers done in lounge style)

Why like this 'rubbish'?

Because kitsch is kool too, because you need a palat cleanser between Black Sabbath and Electric Wizard, because rock doesnt have enough of a sense of humor etc.

Ten Tracks to get you going

1. Black Coffee Julie London
2. Alfie Burt Bacharach
3. Last Tango in Paris Gotan Project
4. Black Orchid Martin Denny
5. Heart of Glass Nouvelle Vague
6. Felicidade Pink Martini
7. Magalenha: Sergio Mendes
8. The Shadow of Your Smile Lou Rawls
9. Its Not Unusual Tom Jones
10. Granada Xavier Cugat



Ok back to Steppenwolf

Ian Paice 'On the Drums' DVD Release October 6, 2008; A Must Have For All Aspiring Drummers

When you think about the best drummers in classic rock go can't go past Ian Paice, long time drummer of Deep Purple and a man who was actually influenced by jazz greats Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich.

If you dont beleive me just listen to You Fool Noone of the Burn album

Ian has also played in Whitesnake and the Gary Moore Band and been a guest on more albums than you can count, including Jon Lord's, Geoge Harrison's and Paul McCarteny's.

During their last world tour that - in response to many requests - Ian Paice came up with plans for a DVD to enable people to study his playing style and technique in detail, allowing fans and aspiring drummers to witness his technique up close, watch as he demonstrates riffs and answers questions. The end result is a unique DVD, 2 hours of specially filmed material including on and off stage footage, interviews, live and studio work

Ian Paice 'On the Drums' will be released October 6, 2008

Rock Revival's Forgotten Classics (1972): Night Sun 'Mournin'

Here's another great album from the proto-metal genre, one of many bands we have featured that help explain doom and stoner rock ala Kyuss

Night Sun were a German heavy progressive rock band who only released this one album, but it was a killer. Bruno Schaab's vocals sounded very similar to Ian Gillan's Child in Time or Robert Plant

While they sometimes sound like Deep Purple, however, they avoided some of Purple's more boring moments: their sudden shifts of rhythm structures, guitar-with-organ riffing style and some studio effects means this album is definitely not one to be missed.

For a listen and a lengthy review go to Mad Hatter Music

Soul Power: Rock Revival's Ultimate Soul Playlist

Ok we love rock but let's have a talk about soul, so much fantastic music thanks to the secularsation of gospel music in the 50's and thanks to pioneers, like Ray Charles ('I Got a Woman') and Solomon Burke ('Everybody Needs Somebody To Love')

From the beautiful crooning of Sam Cooke, to the raunch of Wilson Picket, the power of Aretha to the sexed-up schmaltz of the Isley Brothers, soul music is as rich and diverse as anything labelled as rock.

1. I'll Take You There: Staple Singers
2. Cupid Sam Cooke
3. Move On Up Curtis Mayfield
4. In Between the Sheets: Isley Brothers
5. Brigde Over Troubled Waters Aretha Franklin
6. Master Blaster Stevie Wonder
7. I'm Your Pusher Curtis Mayfield
8. Lets Get It On Marvin Gaye
9. Aint Nobody Chaka Kahn
10. Drift Away Otis Redding
11. Woman to Woman Shirley Brown
12. Dont Let Me Be Misunderstood John Legend
13. Rainy Night in Georgia Brook Benton
14. Wade in the Water Ramsey Lewis Trio
15. Keep On Pushin Mavis Staples
16. Edwin Starr War
17. Push and Pull Rufus Thomas
18. It's a Shame The Spinners
19. Overtime Man Don Covay
20. Let's Go Get Stoned Ray Charles

The Complete Motown Singles Volume 10:1970 Limited Edition Release (8000 Copies) September 1 2008

In 1970, Motown was experiencing sea changes. Diana Ross went solo while the Supremes went Top 10 without her. Jacksonmania was in full effect. Stevie Wonder began producing himself. Rare Earth had an unexpected hit and so did the Miracles, forcing Smokey Robinson to put on hold his departure from the group. Tammi Terrell died, finally succumbing to the effects of a brain tumor. Marvin Gaye was refusing to record or perform, but he produced another hit for the Originals. Los Angeles producer Frank Wilson had established himself in Detroit and set about creating a concept album for the Four Tops. In addition, Motown’s core staff had moved into the Motown Center building on Woodward Avenue. The company closed its Artist Development Department.

That year is encapsulated in the 6-disc set The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 10: 1970, the latest in the acclaimed series documenting every single released by Motown during its Detroit era.

Celebrate Diana Ross ascending the heights once again as her radical interpretation of "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” goes through the roof.

Hear the Four Tops cover “It’s All In The Game” and Marvin Gaye dig into “The End Of Our Road,” his only solo release in 1970.

Marvel at the hot streak of the Jackson 5, as they reel off “ABC,” “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There,” all No. 1.

Read how Gladys Knight lost a bet with Berry Gordy. And how Stevie Wonder, along with “Signed, Sealed Delivered I’m Yours,” had two more hits he didn’t sing.

Check out R. Dean Taylor, one of Motown’s finest backroom songwriters and producers, having an unlikely international smash with “Indiana Wants Me.”

Respect Norman Whitfield’s competitive fire as he turned up on the political funk with Edwin Starr’s “War” and the Temptations’ “Ball Of Confusion (That’s What The World Is Today).”

Carving out the narrative is an introduction by famed artist manager John Reid, who was then Tamla Motown’s label manager in the U.K. and was part of the team that made “The Tears Of A Clown” an unexpected No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic. Duke University’s Mark Anthony Neal provides the historical overview.

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