Photos of Ringo Starr Liverpool 8 Launch House of Blues Hollywood

Ringo Starr launched his new album Liverpool 8 on January 25 at the House of Blues in Hollywood, with ex-Eurythmics Dave Stewart. See prior post reviewing the album. Here are some photos, thanx to Chris Walter

copyright © Chris Walter/Photofeatures http://www.photofeatures.com/

Heartland Rock 101: Blue-Collar Blues

What do Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Bob Seger, John Cougar Mellencamp all have in common. They are identified in rock terminology as Heartland Rock.

Heartland Rock is fundamentally American music, focussed, to some degree, on blue-collar concerns, as opposed to the high brow reach of Prog or the superficiality of New Wave.

Many of it’s proponents are from the mid-west (John Mellencamp was originally into Glam but moved back to Indiana), providing a parrallel to the countrified sound of Southern Rock. While the themes of Southern rock were often booze and women Heartland Rock concerned itself with personal isolation and exclusion from the American Dream (think ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’:Bruce Springsteen, ‘Against the Wind’: Bob Seger, ‘Small Town; John Mellencamp).

It can be difficult to pinpoint the many influences on the development of Heartland Rock: Creedence Clearwater Revival were definitely significant, as was the blue-collar tradition of Woodie Guthrie and Leadbelly. At it’s heart, though, it was straight-up rock and roll blended with a keen awareness of american country, folk and rhythmn and blues.

There are many lesser known artists who deserve mention:

The brilliant John Hiatt, who’se songs have been covered by Dr Feelgood, Bonny Raitt, Iggy Pop

Steve Earl, whose songs, while strongly country, could fit into any Springsteen album (‘Guitar Town’ or ‘Copperhead Road”)

John Cafferty, unfairly derides as a Springsteen wannabe

Los Lobos, who cover many genres but have redefined Americana based on their hispanic roots

Here is Rock Revival’s Top 10 Heartland tracks

1. I Ain’t Ever Satisfied: Steve Earle
2. Thunder Road: Bruce Springsteen
3. Have a Little Faith In Me: John Hiatt
4. Night Moves: Bob Seger
5. White Line Fever: Joe Ely
6. My Girl: John Hiatt and Loudon Wainwright
7. Pink Houses: John Cougar Mellencamp
8. Free Falling: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
9. The River: Bruce Springsteen
10. C.I.T.Y: John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band

Image: Courtesy Columbia

Rock Revival Catches Up with Alan Morse of Spock's Beard

For those who don't know, Spock's Beard are a fantastic contemporary an LA prog rock band who started in 1992 and have nine studio albums to their name, including atheir latest self-titled album released in 2006. Alan Morse is their guitarist who has recorded with many artists, including Chad and Jeremy and Spencer Davis. Rock Revival caught up with him recently, about Spock's Beard and his solo album Four O'Clock and Hysteria

You have often been compared more with Floyd, or Genesis as opposed to current trends in prog metal, who do you identify with as your influences?

Well, both of those are definitely in the mix, as well as Gentle Giant, Yes, some guys you probably never heard of called The Beatles or something. We also dig some more current, heavier stuff, like Audioslave, System Of A Down, Tool, etc. I'm a big Green Day fan myself, but I don't hear a lot of that in SB!

How do you see the state of progressive rock today ?

I don't really follow "The Scene" that much, so I don't really know what's going on. I tend to focus on what we're doing and making the best records we can. There are some good bands out there, but from what I hear most of it is more metal than prog in my opinion.

Tell us about your solo album, Four Oclock and Hysteria, your known as a multi-instrumentalist, was this mainly a guitar album or did you employ theremin, bouzouki, etc ?

Four O'clock is definitely a guitar album, that was the intent. There were a couple of wackier tunes where I played the accordion and saw, but they didn't make it on the CD. Maybe the next one? I'm really proud of that record, I like listening to it, it's the record I always wanted to make.

My 9 year old daughter is a great fan of the song Waste Away, she has asked me to ask you, what is it about?

Well, I didn't write it, but as near as I can tell it's about people not taking full advantage of their lives, squandering the opportunity that life is. Not "seizing the day" as they say. Sounds pretty heavy, huh? It's about choices in life, we always have the choice to make the most of what we have. So let's Rock!

Image: Courtesy Inside Out U.S.

What Happenned to Good Band Names ?

What ever happened to excellent rock band names like Motorhead, Badfinger, Blue Oyster Cult or Uriah Heep.

I can even accept pretty gross names like punk band Butthole Surfers, the Stool Softners, Throbbing Gristle, Phlegm Fatale,

but these......................................

Limp Biscuit
My Friend the Chocolate Cake
Hoobastank
Tripping Daisy
Flogging Molly
Nickelback
'Til Tuesday
God is My Co-Piliot
Better Than Ezra
Pray for the Soul of Betty
Breaking Benjamin
Dashboard Confessional
Soul Coughing

Can you add to the list ?

Image: Courtesy Au Go-Go's

Is Rock Dead ? Z02 Prove It's Not With Second Album Ain't It Beautiful

It’s always exciting to hear a new band that can hold it’s head high along side the hard rock of 1970’s, one such band that I have only heard recently is Z02 from Brooklyn. The vocalist and bassist, David Z, was previously with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the popular Symphonic metal band famous, among other things, for it’s christmas songs. This band, however, is pure rock and roll, a modernised version of Led Zep or Aerosmith (before they went soft), a softer version of Black Label Society.

They have released two albums so far, Tuesdays and Thursdays and Ain’t It Beautiful, and have opened for Kiss (woohoo!) and Poison (booho!).

Here are some reviews from the press:

“If you think for a second that hard-hitting, cutting-edge rock and roll is dead, then you haven’t heard ZO2! Ain’t It Beautiful is just what the doctor ordered, delivering track after track of masterfully crafted rock perfection…” Christopher Gotzen-Berg – “Inside Connection”

“Rock ’n’ roll the way it used to be: ballsy, soulful and ass-shakingly good” Hustler Magazine

“The Brooklyn based rock band really knows a thing or two about how to put on a rock performance… ZO2 made the entire [ABC] building shake and rattle with their raw hard rock tunes. It was an undeniable fact that ZO2's energy was electric and kept everyone going all night long.” The Scribe

“…one cracking record.”
“The fact that these guys can obviously play and write songs gives them a winning formula.” Classic Rock Magazine

Anyway, forget what Classic Rock Magazine think, if Hustler likes it it’s alright by me.

Thanx to Neil Sussman: Riker Hill Records NYC

Snoop Dogg Wants to Rock

Shizzle my Nizzle ! Rap Star Snoop Dogg recently told mtv.com that he had had enough of hip-hop and wanting to turn to rock and roll for inspiration. Apparently he finds his hip-hop colleagues boring (well, no comment required..) and wants to collaborate with Bono or Mick Jagger.

When asked to comment further he said.....

"I'm on some rock s**t man, Snoop Dogg, man!" (?)

I'm sure he'll be getting his phone call from Sir Mick very soon.

His other brainwave is open a chain of grocery stores called "Snoopermarkets". He's already set up the "Snooperbowl', a baseball league for kids, "Chronic Candy" that tastes like marijuana and Snoop Doggs (hotdogs)......

Image: Courtesy Doggystyle/Geffen

Psychedelic Soup: Who Loves Vanilla Fudge ?

Man, they had some great band names in the psychedelic 60's, Chocolate Watchband, Electric Prunes, Strwaberry Alarm Clock, Blue Magos, Bubble Puppies, but have you heard the Psychadelic wonder of Vanilla Fudge

Vanilla Fudge were a US band whose peak was from 1976-1970, basically making their fame making covers of what songs would sound like if you were on acid.

Check Eleanor Rigby and Ticket to Ride by the Beatles, the Supremes You Keep Me Hangin On, Donovan's Season of the Witch (one of the best psychedelic songs of all time), Walk on Bye, She's Not There (The Zombies) and more....

Each is slowed down to the level of a Black Sabbath lovers Stoner Rock Anthem, swims in Hammond organ and very serious vocals, with nothing under 9 minutes long.... Psychedelic heaven !

They had a pretty wild start to, being discovered by L.A. crime boss Philip Basille. They also reformed in 2007 releasing an appropriately named album, Out Through the In Door.

Don't take acid, it's bad for you, have a hit of Vanilla Fudge...........

Image: Courtesy Atco Records

Two New Songs by Lou Reed Inspired by Documentary Nanking

April 2007 marked the release of an unusual album for Lou Reed’s, a meditation album, Hudson River Wind Meditations. This electronic suite of music was created apparently to enhance the practice of tai chi, yoga and bodywork. (oh dear !).

Now he has recorded two songs inspired by a movie entitled Nanking, a documentary about the Japanese invasion of Nanking, China during World War II which includes appearances by Woody Harrelson, Mariel Hemingway and more.

Check it all out below (thanx to sneakattackmedia for permission)

Grateful Dead Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings May 2008

Who has released the most live albums ever, no it's not Dave Matthews Band, it's one of the best live acts of all time, The Grateful Dead, the band who graduated from Acid Tests, to live at Fillmore to a cult following of Deadheads accross the United States.

From 1993 to 2005 an incredible 35 live albums were released under the Heading Dick's Picks, created by tape archivist Dick Latvala. These are available in CD form or downloadable onto your computer (making possible a radio station in the US completely dedicated to the band)

In May 2008 a 9-cd set will be released called Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings.

This captures the Dead in their hometown of San Francisco at one of the most fertile points in their career, they had perfected the art of the jam, could play country, and could tip you off the edge of the world into space with the notorious "Dark Star". These albums are of excellent remastered quality, check dead.net for more details on ordering.

Image: Courtesy Warner Bros

Van Morrison Astral Weeks: 40th Anniversary

2008 marks the 40th Anniversary of Astral Weeks, the seminal album by Van Morrison, an album placing on Mojo's and Rolling Stones top albums lists and one that, incredibly, went gold in 2001 !

This was a massive departure for Van, who'se work with Them and popular solo releases with Bang records only hinted at the maturity of his later work. This album was adventurous to say the least, with songs presented in stream of consiousness form, with Van and his session musicians "venturing down the slipstream" and playing whatever they felt like with none of the traditional studio lead sheets.

Lester Bangs, famous rock critic said:

"It sounded like the man who made Astral Weeks was in terrible pain, pain most of Van Morrison's previous works had only suggested; but like the later albums by The Velvet Underground, there was a redemptive element in the blackness, ultimate compassion for the suffering of others, and a swath of pure beauty and mystical awe that cut right through the heart of the work." (1979)

This was to be the first of many spiritual highlights for Van, think 'Listen to the Lion" off St Dominic's Preview, 'In the Garden' off No Teacher No Guru No Method, 'Rave on John Donne' off Inarticualte Speech of the Heart or the much underrated album The Common One ("Summertime in England" is phenomenal)

Astral Weeks, however, was his first venture into this domain, safe to say it had never been done before in music and put the attempts by Psychadelic rock musicians to duplicate the LSD experience to shame. It was also his most complete, unified album, one that made you feel like what church should and never has been.

They are celebrating this anniversary in Belfast, of course, with a recent concert, Astral Weeks Revisited, played by contemporary Irish Artists.

Image: Courtesy Warner Bros

Good Bands Gone Bad: Rock Revival's Top 5

Well there's "Good Loving Gone Bad" by Bad Company and " Good Girls Gone Bad" by Kiss, but what about Good Bands Gone Bad, bands who started off as mind-blowing and then slowly graduated to complete rubbish. Well the list is endless, of course: Santana can play Soul Sacrifice at Woodstock and forty years later come out with Supernatural, Eric Clapton can come out with Have You Ever Loved a Woman on EC was here and then release Unplugged album, to say nothing about Elton John. Here's some more, please add your own

1. Chicago Transit Authority: Chicago are well known as the kings of insipid soft-rock but have you heard their first album in 1969 when they were known as Chicago Transit Authority. Soulful bluesrock and funk like Eric Burdon's War or early Blood, Sweat and Tears (another candidate), their song "I'm a Man' sounds like Cream with horns, incredible !

2. America: Ok, we all like Ventura Highway but.....Tin Man ?.......I Need You? Their first album, America (1971), which they actually initially wanted to make as a Sgt Peppers style concept album, is an acoustic masterpiece, not for Sandman or Horse with No Name but for two songs: Riverside and Three Roses, the best tracks they ever did.

3. Rod Stewart: I am putting him in the list because of the sheer magnitude of the comparison between when he was great and how he is now. Listen to "A Nod is as Good as a Wink to a Blind Horse' with the Faces from 1971 and compare it with 'Do you Think I'm Sexy' or his dreadful crooners albums and you'll see.

4. Status Quo: Whatever You Want is great when you hear it the first time, but never again. Check out their Psychadelic era stuff, before they swapped their Swinging 60's gear for white t- shirts and faded jeans, Black Veils of Melancholy or Pictures of Matchstick Men are classics

5. Joe Cocker: Joe Cocker was one of the best vocalists of the late 60's, particularly for his Beatles covers (see prior post), the 1970 album Mad Dogs and Englishmen also covered Leonard Cohen, The Stones, Dylan, Leon Russell, Isacc Hayes and Otis Redding, in many cases providing better versions than the originals. After his arrests in Australia in 1972 and drug and alchohol problem he dissapeared for ten years only to return with You Can Keep Yoour Hat On and Up Where We Belong as a pale imitation of his former self.

Image: Courtesy Warner Bros.

Book Review " Is Rock Dead" ? Kevin Dettmar

If you have any familiarity with the history of rock it will be pretty clear that it's history is formed by one type of rock being killed of by another, in an endless cycle of mutual influence. Psychadelic rock lead to the death of folk, gave birth to Prog, which was killed off by Punk which was taken over by New Wave, ect.

Kevin Dettmar's book deals with this phenomenon it an incredibly interesting way. The central idea is that baby boomers, who hang on to their golden era of 60's and early 70's rock (thats us) are mistaken. He calls them Rock Curmudgeons or Boomer Triumphalists, people who, when they claim rock is dead, are actually saying that their own taste in music died when they bought their last album in 1975.

"These critics pretend to be upset about the death of rock, but in fact I would argue they are involved in trying to kill off rock; they would rather see it dead because then it's theirs forever"

"A lot of those people now are writing about the death of rock; it's a sort of mid-life crisis – an inability to deal with their own ceasing to be at the cultural center of what is going on"

Kevin Dettmar is a Professor at Southern Illinois University and provides quite a challenge to us as lovers of 60's and 70's rock.

Let's hear your opinion on this ?

Image: Courtesy Routledge

The Definition of the Blues

What is the Blues ?

Furry Lewis, country blues guitarist and songwriter, the man who Joni Mitchell refers to in 'Furry Sings the Blues", old-time Memphis blues musician of the 1920's, provides the best definition of the blues I have ever heard............

"You know, old folks say, it's along lane don't have no end and a bad wind don't never change. But one day, when Hoover was President, I was driving my cart down Beale Street, and I seen a rat, sitting on top of a garbage can, eating an onion, crying"

Image: Courtesy Lucky Seven

Rock Revival's Top Twenty Beatles Covers

Found a new site today, The Compleat Beatles Covers, compiled by Karim Latib http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/~ratib/ which has every cover ever recorded, including a mind-boggling 10,768 covers of Yesterday. There is some horrendous stuff in there, here's some from 'A'

Acker Bilk Norwegian Wood

Andy Williams Something

Arthur Fielder and Boston Pops Hey Jude.

Alice Donut (?) Helter Skelter

Here is Rock Revival's list of the top 20 Beatles covers of all time (don't worry I didnt scroll through the whole site)

1. With a Little Help From My Friends: Joe Cocker (Woodstock)

2. Hey Jude Wilson Pickett (w. Duane Allman)

3. Here Comes the Sun Richie Havens

4. Day Tripper JimiHendrix

5. We Can Work It Out Stevie Wonder

6. Tomorrow Never Knows Phil Collins

7. Dear Prudence Siouxsie and the Banshees

8. In My Life Johnny Cash

9. Maybe I'm Amazed Joe Cocker

10. Help Roy Orbison

11. Got to Get You Into My Life Earth, Wind and Fire

12. Taxman (Start) The Jam

13. Day Tripper Vanilla Fudge

14. She's Leaving Home Billy Bragg

15. The Long and Winding Road Aretha Franklin

16. Happiness is a Warm Gun The Breeders

17. Come Together Zakk Wylde

18. Let it Be Ray Charles

19. Blackbird Jaco Pastorius

20. Let it Be Carol Woods/Timothy Mitchum

Image: Courtesy Apple

Rory Gallagher News 2008

Rory Gallagher is arguably one of the best white blues guitarists who has ever lived, rawer than Eric Clapton, a man who turned down offers by the Rolling Stones and Canned Heat, preferring to perfect his own gritty style of electric blues, untarnished by pop considerations.

He died in 1995, here's what some of the greats have said about him

“One of the things that was crucial for me I got from Rory Gallagher, which was the idea of, like, being a guitar player for life and living it." Johnny Marr (The Smiths)

"Rory's death really upset me. I heard about it just before we went on stage, and it put a damper on the evening. I can't say I knew him that well, but I remember meeting him in our offices once, and we spent an hour talking. He was such a nice guy and a great player." Jimmy Page

"So these couple of kids come up, who's me and my mate, and say 'How do you get your sound Mr. Gallagher?' and he sits and tells us. So I owe Rory Gallagher my sound." Brian May (Queen)


This year a full bronze statue will be erected in Ballyshannon, Donegal, Ireland; his home town. The town will also host the seventh annual 4-day Rory Gallagher Festival in May: All full line up is due this year, including Pat McManus and the High Voltage Band and Eamon McCormack, both of whom Rory recorded with before his death in 1995.

If you want to hear Rory at his best, get the albums Live in Europe (his biggest selling) and Irish Tour 74 (his best). In terms of studio albums I recommend Top Priority, especially the brilliant Bad Penny.



Image: Courtesy Buddha Records

Who Loves Brian Auger ?

Maybe I should’nt admit this but up until two weeks ago I had never heard of Brian Auger, despite 30 years of listening to rock and to jazz.

He’s a pianist and hammond organ player who has done session work and tours with Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Eric Burdon, Rod Stewart, ect.

He is also a highly regarded musician in his own right, starting with his group Steampacket, with none other than the legend Long John Baldry and Rod Stewart.

In 1970 he turned to jazz-rock fusion with Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express, two members of this band would go on to form the Average White Band, which was reformed for a tour in 2006.

So far I have listened to Oblivion Express’s Second Wind from 1972, pretty incredibel if you like your rock mixed in with funk and jazz (abit of a theme on rock revival of late). The highlight is “Freedom Jazz Dance” covered by lots, including Eric Burdon’s War and the Beastie Boys, incredible.

Image: Courtesy Msi Music

Best Rock Sampling Hip-Hop Tracks

Here's a test to see how precious you are about your'e love of rock; Rock Revival's pick for the best hip-hop track which samples classic rock. Let's not get too serious, there's room for rappers to love our music too !

1. He Got Game: Public Enemy (For What It's Worth, Buffalo Springfield)

2. 99 Problems: Jay-Z (Voodoo Chile: Jimi Hendrix)

3. The Gray Album: DJ Danger Mouse (The White Album: The Beatles)

4. Drop it Like It's Hot: Snoop Dogg (Voodoo Chile: Jimi Hendrix)

5. Puff Daddy: Come with Me (Led Zeppelin: Kashmir)

6. This Means WarL BUsta Rhymnes (Iron Man: Black Sabbath)

7. Lets Go: Trick Daddy (Crazy Train: Ozzy Osbourne)

8. Thief's Theme: Nas (Ina-gadda-gadda-da-vidda: Iron Butterfly)

9. Sing For The Moment: Eminem (Dream on: Aerosmith)

10. I Can Feel It: DMX (In the Air Tonite: Phil Collins)




Image: Courtesy Touchstone Pictures

Tom Petty to Join Steve Winwood for US Summer Tour 2008

Everybody who loves rock has to love Tom Petty, author of classics like “Refugee’, ‘Don’t do me like that’ and ‘The waiting’; He’s been recording with The Heartbreakers for 30 years, has joined the Travelling Wilburies and released a solo album, Highway Companion in 2006.
He actually also reformed hi pre-Heartbreakers, Mudcrutch in 2007 and they are set to release a new album this year.

Tom is a great advocate of artistic freedom in rock, railing against the corporatisation of rock and the demise of independent radio stations (we are still alive, Tom !).

Tom Petty and Heartbreakers are set to join Steve Winwood (Blind Faith, Traffic) for a Summer Tour in the US this year, starting in May and finishing in August. This will be abit of a surprise for his fans, given that his 2006 tour was billed as his last.

Image: Courtesy Shelter Records

Van Morrison Keeps it Simple on New March Release

I think we can all accept by now that Van Morrison will never come up with another Astral Weeks, hit the high notes of ‘Summertime in England’ or the beauty of ‘Caravan’ live on ‘It’s Too Late to Stop Now’. One of the problems with Van is that his 70’s and 80’s output was so formidable that all it can be hard to appreciate his recent work. If you’re completely addicted to these early albums his new stuff can actually leave you cold.

In this sense Van has been the victim of his own brilliance; his newer albums may not have the earnest spiritual focus of his youth but, for a decade, he has been producing mature reflections on skiffle, jazz, soul and country.

Van Morrison's next album 'Keep It Simple' will be no different. It is his 33rd studio album and first consisting of all original songs since What's Wrong with This Picture (2003). This album, due for release in March will contain 11 songs, all bare stripped down affairs

Image: Courtesy Warner Bros

Legal Troubles Over Massive Haul of Hendrix Bootlegs

Fuego Entertainment claims to have 200 live bootleg perfomances, representing the greatest haul of unheard Hendrix recordings of all time. This haul amounts to ELEVEN double albums that it has planned to release for public consumption. Experience Hendrix, which owns and manages Hendrix material has taken legal action, insisting that Fuego desists from releasing them due to their inferior quality. Experience Hendrix has already blocked their release by their prior owners Purple Haze Records. Fuego is the same company that recently claimed to have unreleased Beatles recordings from Hamburg (1962) (see post on this blog).

Image: Courtesy MCA

Who Loves Tower of Power ?

Given that the last post referred to Eric Burdon's long residency with the funk-influenced War, I thought I'd introduce you to one of the best ever funk bands OF ALL TIME, Tower of Power.

In 1970 the ten piece band, heavy on horns and high on James Brown, signed a recording contract with the great Bill Graham. Bill was, of course, a seminal promoter in San Francisco, the man behind the greatest rock venue of all time, The Fillmore and a man who was critical in the rise of the Grateful Dead and other San Francisco Psychadelic bands.

Tower of Power, however, had nothing to do with psychadelia. When you first hear them you realise that hip-hop is not funky (there's a statement), that Michael Jackson is a pale imitation (no pun intended) and that this is what funk would sound like if ten James Brown's played the horn.

The band did fairly well in the Billboard charts in the first half of the seventies but their real strength was in live performance.

Since then the band is more of a open group, with 60 musicians coming and going in three decades and 18 albums released. Listen to their recent album , The Oakland Zone (2003) and you will see that they have lost none of their power packed sound. The band has also been critical as a backing unit for others, including LIttle Feat, Santana, Heart, John Lee Hooker, Phish, Jefferson Airplane, Toto and Aerosmith.

Top tracks

Don't change horses in the middle of the stream

Soul with a Capital S

Squib Cakes

Your still a young man

What is hip

Image: Courtesy Or. Music

Eric Burdon and War Reissues

When Eric Burdon and the Animals broke up in 1969 Eric was 'tired of the rock thing' and turned to the Californian Jam Band War. The band was so sheltered when Eric first met them that they had never heard of the Animals. The music that emerged was quite a departure from "We got to get out of this place' and 'House of the rising sun', combining rock with funk, jazz, and rhythmn and blues. In 1970 New Musical Express called War 'the best live band I ever saw" (they say that to all the girls now). War of course, were not alone in this blend of funk and rock, Electric Flag, Blood Sweat and Tears and early Chicago were doing the same.

Get ready then, for an absolute avalanche of Eric Burdon and War Reissues from the 1970's, come Febuary 11.

The Best of Eric Burdon and War

The Black Man''s Burdon

Eric Burdon Declares War

Love is All Around

Galaxy

Platinum Jazz

Youngblood

All Day Music

Deliver the Wrod

The World is a Ghetto

These albums contain 1970's political rock and funk like you've never heard it, with one of the best singers of that generation, Eric Burdon.

For more detailed info go to spincds.com

Image: Courtesy MGM Records

Exclusive Interview with Alan Morse, Spock's Beard Coming to Rock Revival Soon

Rock Revival has just secured an exclusive interview with Alan Morse from Spock's Beard, we'll ask him about his solo album, his influences, his multi-intrumental talents and his views on the state of Prog to day:

Coming VERY son to RockRevival. (rockrevivaltriple.blogspot.com)

Transmissions: New Live Releases From Frank Zappa, Bob Dylan, Uriah Heep

Storming Music is releasing Transmissions, a series of live cd and dvd's, in hardback book style packaging, including 72 paged colour booklets with track by track analysis. These are known as Grey releases, they are not published by the bands original record companys, are not bootlegs and are available freely in record shops and other venues.

There are actually two Dylan releases, Transmissions ,released a month ago and Re-Transmissions due on March 3. Each has rare TV and Concert performances from his very early days and the present.

The Frank Zappa collection is taken from late 1970 appearances on Saturday Night Live and includes I'm the Slime, Dancin Fool, The Purple Lagoon. The Uraih Heep collection is taken from a 2001 London Concert featuring all their best know hits, including Easy Livin, Free 'n' Easy etc.

It's a rare occasion that we get so much new material placed on the market at once. Have a feast !

The Doors Live in Pittsburgh 1970 New Release

A new Door's CD will be available in March, 2008, called Live in Pittsburgh 1970. This captured the great band on their final tour and compliments the recent Live in Boston release.

There is a fantastic 22 minute version of ' When the Music is Over', a cover of the classic Robert Johnson song 'Crossroad Blues' and a prolonged version of 'Light My Fire' . Their is also space for some dialogue to help you capture the feel of the concernt, more edifying for Jim than his now famously sad attempt to get the audince to take The End seriously on the 1991 In Concert release.

More Doors releases are also due this year, including a box set (vinyl), also in March, covered in fake lizard skin and The Future Starts Here, a remastered greatest hits selection with omitted parts of songs included.

You can buy these album at rhino.com or in retail outlets in 5 or 6 weeks.

Source: Modern Guitars Magazine

Image: Courtesy Elektra

Elton John: The Legendary Covers Album Just Released

Well, it's very fair to say that Elton John's early albums were masterpieces compared with his output in the 80's and beyond. Tumbleweed Connection, for example, is an astounding example of country rock, Madman Accross the Water contains the brilliant 'Levon','Tiny Dancer' and 'Indian Sunset' and his first self-titled album shows what a serious and talented musician he really was. This new release is therefore of great interest, focussing on covers he recorded before he hit the big time, for grocery shops, Woolworths, Oxfam, etc, as a sometimes unacknowledged session musician.

There are Beatles covers, Creedence, Cat Stevens, The Hollies and more. Suffice to say, the best response to this album is that it is great fun and a neccessity if you want to complete your collection. If you don't yet have his first four or five albums, stick to those..............

Image: Courtesy Big Eye Music

Rock Revival's Top 20 Songs of All Time (at the moment)

Rolling Stone Magazine does it, New Musical Express do it, Mojo does it so why can't humble rock revival do it as well, I am talking about the art of the rock list, the chief amongst which is the controversial top songs of all time..................Here's ours, feel free to disagree

1. Stay with me: The Faces
2. Funk # 49 The James Gang
3. Hot and Nasty Humble Pie
4. Free Ride Edgar Winter
5. Machine Gun Jimi Hendrix
6 Summertime Blues Blue Cheer
7. Tutti Frutti Little Richard
8. Immigrant Song Led Zeppelin
9. Children of the Sea Black Sabbath
10. Dark Star Grateful Dead
11. Feelin Alright Joe Cocker
12. Bad Penny Rory Gallagher
13. Always Somewhere Scorpions
14. Lazy Sunday The Small Faces
15. Black LIcourice Grand Funk Railroad
16. Bad Motor Scoter MOntrose
17. Caravan (Live) Van Morrison
18. Black Cloud Trapeze
19. Dreams Fleetwood Mac
20. Fire Arthur Brown

What are your favourites ?

Image: Courtesy Sanctuary UK

Popular Progressive 101

In the 1970's Yes, Rush and Pink Floyd may have ruled our record collections and, at times, the album charts, but they were still not sing-a-long favourites. It's tough to think of Emerson, Lake and Palmer at Number 1 or 18.44 of Yes's Closer to Edge.

Classic progressive rock bands took effort, you had to listen to the albums a number of times before you 'got it', soaking up the complexity until you could enter the world that they had created. Prog rock also came under alot of critisism as pretentious or overblown, something that, in the late 70's would eventually contribute to the rise of punk and disco.

It was possible, however, to maintain what was excellent about prog and mix it with popular music to great effect. Keep the classical influence, the concept album, the use of synthesisers, the sophistication, take away the long solos and the 25 minute tracks and add pop song melodies and chorus's and you get Popular Prog (otherwise known as Crossover Prog).

Here are some of the greatest bands in this genre:

1. Alan Parsons Project

Made brilliant concept albums from 1975-1987, including I Robot (based on Asimov), Pyramid (based on Ancient Egypt) and the recently remastered Eve (based on Women).

Track: Games People Play (1981)

2. Supertramp

Massive stars in the U.S. Their biggest selling was Breakfast in America (18,000,000)

Track: Take the Long Way Home

3. Electric Light Orchestra

Essentially a vehicle for Jeff Lynne, they holds the record for having the most Billboard Top 40 hits of any band in U.S. chart history, without ever having No. 1 single. In 1977 Jeff wrote the entire double album, Out of the Blue in three and a half weeks; there were 4 million pre-orders.

Track (brilliant track): Mr Blue Sky

4. Manfred Mann's Earth Band

A long way from MM early band (Do Wah Diddy), their most popular album was THe Roaring Silence, with the hit, Blinded by The Light, written, believe it or not by Bruce Springsteen

5. Marrillion

Starting a bit later than the rest, 1979, they have often been compared to Late Genesis. They are still going, releasing an album last year called 'Somewhere Else', with one due this year with a working title of M15

Track: 'Kayleigh'

6. Kansas

'Carry On Wayward Son' and 'Dust in the Wind' are still played on classic rock radio and are certified Gold singles, they've produced an amazing 21 albums and were a massive arena-rock spectacle

Tell me what I've missed and i'll add it to the post

Image: Courtesy Jet, United Artists, Columbia

Oh God ! More Led Zeppelin Tribute Bands

You have to believe me, these are all Led Zeppelin Tribute Bands plying their wares on the net;

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G (were they THAT good !)

Led by Zeppelin

Led Zepplica

Rusty Led

Whole Lotta Led

ZoSo

Led Zepagain

Stairway to Zeppelin

Led Zep Too

Led-Hed

Hammer of the Godz

The Led

Stairway Denied

Book No Quarter

Custard Pies (what ?)

Led Ashtray

Rubber Plants (got to be the best name)

Bled Zeppelin

Wings of Thor

there heaps more............................

Image: Courtesy Atlantic

Second Place Winner Rock Revival's Rock Website of the Decade:rocksbackpages.com

It's kind of hard to place this at second, only just, because it is an online library of pretty much everything thats been writen on rock, EVER.

It's an incredible online resource set up by Barry Hoskyns on 2000, containing 12,000 articles from Creem, Rolling Stone, Melody Maker, NME, Crawdaddy, Mojo, Billboard, Kerrang, etc

You can browse by journalist, by artists, by magazine, putting your hands most of what you would need as an avid fan or professional writer/presenter. There;s also heaps of audio interviews which are a fascinating gate into the history of rock............

It works on a subcription rate of only $A60 per year so is probably cheaper than all the magazines you would buy in this time..........check it out !

Rock Revival's Rock Website of the Decade Goes To: Piero Scarrufi's scaruffi.com

Well, we bloggers put alot of hard work into our blog's but who are our mentors, who does the best rock website in the world ever (given there were'nt many before ten years ago). The answer for me in scaruffi.com, developed by Piero Scaruffi, one time cognitive scientist, visiting academic at MIT and Stanford, most famous as a rock historian. The sheer scope of his site really does beggar belief; it covers the history of art, jazz, poetry, literature, politics but most formidably the History of Rock ! He has also written a book The History of Rock (2003).

The sheer scope and focus of this history is beyond belief, not just because of his encyclopeidic knowledge, but rather despite it, he has written a history like no other. He pulls no punches in what he sees as good and bad, is beholden to noone, has explored every nook and cranny of the last 50 years and comes up with a history that few of us may know about. A history that has NOTHING to do with the charts and everything to do with the absolute grass roots of rock and with rock in all nations, not just the god old US of A.

Consider this, here are his top ten albums of all time

1

Captain Beefheart:
Trout Mask Replica
Straight, 1969
Reprise, 1990

2
Robert Wyatt: Rock Bottom
Virgin, 1974
Thirsty Ear, 1998

3
Faust: Faust I
Virgin, 1971
Polygram, 2001

4
Velvet Underground:
& Nico
Verve, 1967
Polygram, 1996

5
Doors: The Doors
Elektra, 1967
idem, 1988

6
Popol Vuh: Hosianna Mantra
Pilz, 1973
High Tide, 1994

7
Pere Ubu:
Modern Dance Blank, 1978
Geffen, 1998

8
Royal Trux: Twin Infinitives
Drag City, 1990
idem, 1994

9
John Fahey: Fare Forward Voyagers
Takoma, 1973
Shanachie, 1992

10
Nico: Desert Shore

Different, yes, controversial, yes, hate Captain Beefheart, YES !!!, interesting, absolutely!!

If you are closed minded and think the history of rock that you know is the truth, forget it. If you are interested in what might be left after you take away the influence of record company hype and marketing, this is the site for you. Keep your own personal critical faculties about you and you'll get your PhD. in Rock.

Highly reccommended..................................

Image: Courtesy Reprise Straight

John Fogerty Sydney Concert March 26 2008

Jack Black thinks Ronnie James Dio is God, Clapton thinks it's Buddy Guy and lots of people think it's Clapton. For many of us, one of the archangels, at least, has to be John Fogerty. He is the man who wrote Proud Mary, Born on the Bayou, Rockin' All Over The World, Bad Moon Rising and the best of them all, the great protest song, Fortunate Son. He is also a master musican playing (wait for it) guitar and slide guitar, harmonica, piano, bass, clarinet, vibraphone, violin, sax, dobro and more..................

His new album Revival signals the end of his legal woes and an emotional return to identification with Creedence. It is also musical brilliance, at times providing a more rock sound than CCR (check out 'Longshot") and going number 14 in the US Billbard charts and no. 11 on the Rolling Stones list of best albums of 2007.

John Fogerty will be in Australia soon to play at the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival in beautiful Byron Bay, with Buddy Guy, Don McClean, Mavis Staples, John Musselwhite and many more but is playin one Sydney Gig at the Entertainment Centre

ticketmaster.com.au

Image: Fantasy Records

Cody Mathersons New Album Set to Single Handedly Revive West Coast Country Rock

The only album this year to outstrip Long Road to Eden, in terms of sales and critical acclaim will inevitably be this new release from one time prog rocker, Cody Matherson. It's hard to imagine that this one time member of the Strawbs, a critical but underated precursor to prog, would turn his formidable song-writing and vocal talents to country-rock.

" I have always been a great fan of Stephen Stills" says Cody,

" I was very sorry to hear about his recent illness, and have dedicated two tracks on the new album to him".

Cody is about to embark on a US tour in Spring, he is well known for he reinterpretations of classic country rock songs, including his version of Tim McGraw's version of Elton John's Tiny Dancer and his version of the Dixie Chick's version of Fleetwood Mac's Landslide.

Check him out, not to be missed

Image: Courtesy Parodyville

Bon Jovi Laid Back in Australia

Bon Jovi are in Australia for the first time in over a decade and their new country-tinged album, Lost Highway is not the only thing that has matured with age. Jon Bon Jovi discussed his other pursuits with The Age newspaper, including the charity he has set up to help families sufferring due to US bad loans.

It also seems that Jon is not planning to follow the path of other celebrities like 'the Governator' or Reagan, he is actually a staunch Democrat who is planning to support the party in the upcoming elections, but claims jokingly that he wouldnt get paid enough if he went into it as a full time job.

If your planning to see Bon Jovi while they are hear, don't worry there will be no Bono style rantings on stage and yes, they will play Wanted Dead or Alive and Livin on a Prayer !

Source: The Age

Image: Courtesy Mercury Nashville

Living on The Edge: Rock Revival's Ten Most Rock and Roll Jazz Musicians

Now, this might seem a wierd topic for a rock site, but what happens when you peer over the boundary between rock and jazz and look for people who are like minded with Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath: Do they exsist in the Jazz world, can we find the same attitude, talent, wildness, and musicianship that we love in our rock. I think you'll be surprised..

1. Miles Davis: OK his 50's and early 60's stuff is pure Jazz but wait until the late 60's. listen to the live album Bitches Brew and you hear what Hendrix would sound like if he played the trumpet, what Lou Reed might have produced if he could'nt sing (oh he could'nt), how Cream sounded during their long instrumental breaks........

2. John Coltrane: You know that feeling you get when a guitar solo suddenly takes off into the stratosphere, think the very first guitar scream on Stevie Ray Vaughn's The Sky is Crying, half way through Buddy Guy's Blues at My Baby's House, the solos on Gov't Mules Endless Parade; well that's the same sound made by John Coltrane: check out Afro Blue, near the end of Greensleeves, the excact same magic that makes us love rock and roll.

3. Jean-Luc Ponty: If Eric Clapton is the electric version of Robert Johnson, Jean-Luc is the electric version of Stephan Grappelli, one of the greatest Jazz violinists ever. Jean-Luc POnty is one of the few purveyors of the Electric Violin, played with Frank Zappa and early Elton John, goes absoultely mental on his own, See albums Aurora or Imaginary Voyage and they are pure prog rock in Jazz clothing.

4. Medeski, Martin and Wood: Popular with jazz fans but also the Jam Band fraternity: ie, the natural successors of The Grateful Dead, along with Phish, Goverment Mule, Rusted Root, Dave Matthews. MM & W play a mean Hey Joe, starts VERY slow but builds up over 15 minutes to the best Hendrix cover I have ever heard, but it's Jazz.......

5. Pat Metheny: Is this Jazz or is this rock.... who cares, it's mastery of the electric guitar like no other, the sounds he gets out of it were revolutionary in the 70's but not all that well known to rock fans

6. Mahavishnu Orchestra: Well they really are hard to put in a genre, part rock part jazz, John McGlaughlin et al. kicked arse but when it came to psychadelic music, making a heavy mark on the development of Prog (the great Jan Hammer also played with them for a while, see the Jeff Beck Group and Jan Hammer Live 1972, brilliant)

7. Roland Kirk: Well the music is a bit different but the stage prescence IS rock, blind, playing three horn instruments at once, one of the great wildmen of Jazz in the volatile 60's

8. Art Blakey: Put quite simply, if you love Mike Portnoy of Dream Theatre you'll love Art Blakey, he is the unqualified master of the hard hitting Jazz drumworld, famous with his band THe Messengers in the 50's and 60's, keep an open mind and you'll be blown away

9. Sun Ra: Who can we compare this late 60's madman to: all I can think of is Captain Beefheart, Zappa is way to tame for Sun Ra

10. Jeff Beck: Well, you might not be aware but when you listen to Blue Wind, Led Boots, She's a Woman from his mid-70's period it's jazz-fusion: no , not Earl Klugh or the crap American's call smooth jazz ( I'd rather listen to ads), but proper jazz-rock fusion.

Have a listen to some of these tracks and you'll see that Jazz can be Rock and vise versa, they are labels that only works sometimes...................

Image: Courtesy Columbia

New Beatles Recordings Found ?

The New Musical Express, a British Magazine that had something to do with the success of the Beatles way back when, reports that an independent Miami-based record Company is in possession of never-before-heard Beatles tracks. We all know the story of the Beatles German success before conquering Liverpool and then the world. It seems tapes of the band's concert at Hamburg's Star Club (1962) have emerged, among the first with Ringo Starr.

A fifteen track CD is planned, with early covers, including those by Hank Williams and Maurice Williams and some of their own early published songs, including 'I saw her standing there'.

While we are on the subject I must recommend the great book, Can't Buy Me Love by Jonathan Gould, published late last year, just read it and while we know most of the stories it is very strong on providing the social and political background that explains some of the phenomenon that was the Beatles, why the girls screamed so much, why England was ready for Beatlemania, and how St Peppers was a critical product of it's time. He also takes great oains to explicate each album and each song, so it's a great reference book as well if you like to know about what your listening to.

Image: Courtesy Apple

Lez Zeppelin, Fred Zeppelin, Dread Zeppelin: Your Guide to Led Zep's Strangest Cover Bands

Led Zep are arguably the most popular hard rock band in the world right now but what about all the wierd and wonderful cover bands they have spawned: what's going to happen to them now that their mentors are probably actually going to tour, do a new album, do a Pepsi ad and go on "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here"

What about Dread Zeppelin, US band who do all their covers in reggae with Tortelvis, Elvis impersanotor extraordinaire as lead singer and ED Zeppelin, Drummer. Check out their 1995 album, No Quarter Pounder or 2001 Double LIve The Song Remains Insane

What about Lez Zeppelin, New York based all female outfit, recently releasing their first album, produced by Eddy Kramer, who actually produced real Led Zep albums. Or Fred Zeppelin, from the UK: Robert Plant has been to see them on numerous occasions and Jason Bonham has actually played with them.

Get Your Led Out ? No chance of them teaming up with Lez Zeppelin ? They are the US band who try and re-create Led Zep as perfect as possible and so should be known as the most boring of this crowd.

All of these special people may now be looking for work soon ! What about forming a new band: Puns and Roses, Lez Deppard, Sad Company ?

Image: Courtesy IRS

Power Metal 101: Vikings on Speed

This is a bit of deviation for Rock Revival, given it's a more contemporary than the genres considered so far. Think what would happen if the Vikings had discovered progressive rock and stormed the beaches with electric guitars rather than axes, if the enemy was Death Metal, with it's cookie monster voices and chaos and defeat came depending on how fast you could play. Then you would have Power Metal.

Speed metal symphonies, clean crisp vocals, themes that would make Rick Wakeman proud and a fondness for worse accents than Klaus Meine on Scorpions Acoustica.

One Power Metal band, Manowar, takes itself EXTREMELY seriously, succeeding with Guiness Book of Records as the loudest band ever recorded live; when they tried they did'nt bother having an audlience.

Others, like Sonata Artica from Finland have flashes of brilliance, like their cover of Still Loving You (also Scorpions).

Blind Guardian are probably the most amusing, covering The Beach Boys Barbara Anne in Power Metal stylie (what ?) and doing a wonderful job of souped up medieval fare.

This genre is most popular in South America, Japan, Scandinavia and Quebec (?), but is has grown in popularity with the rise of Dragonforce.

Now before any of the older readers get all precious, this music is the natural successor of Rainbow, King Crimson and Rush....

The idea of it can be tough for me, but the other day I checked my recently played tracks on my ipod and found tracks identified as Power Metal were as common as those in my early-1960's list; so what do I know, it's metal without the devil and prog that finally has it's tongue firmly in it's cheek.

Image: Courtesy Nuclear Blast

Hot and Nasty: Who Loves Black Oak Arkansas ?

Man, I love Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers but take it or leave it, the ultimate Southern Rock band for me has to be Black Oak Arkansas; the Southern boogie majesty of Back Door Man, the raunchy Wild Man From The Mountains, Ramblin Gamblin Man, the faux history of Diggin For Gold: they all conjur up an image of the mythological South, a place where Jim "Dandy" Magnum, mysoginist or not, is someone that we all want to be (at least on weekends). It's also someone David Lee Roth actually wanted to be; Jim Dandy being David's James Brown to Mick Jagger. Maybe I don't want to be him after all.

I recently had a look on their my space page, they are still together and touring, looking abit worst for wear, I have to say (but who is'nt). There are also rumours that they have a new album due out in 2008, that I am trying very hard to substantiate. If you have heard anything and can quote a source, let me know a.s.a.p. I am not saying, however, that we should neccesarily celebrate this fact if they have; there is something a bit sad about reunions, especially when their heyday was more than 30 years ago and based heavily on their virility and work with the ladies. Still, we can only dream.......................

Image: Courtesy ATCO

The Rolling Stones Leave EMI ?

With Paul McCarteny and Radiohead leaving EMI are the Rolling Stones set to follow suit ? Guy Hands must be sweating, the CEO of the company spending 3.2 Billion last year on the company. Paul McCarteny has said the label became 'really very boring', Thom York says Mr Hands was like a 'confused bull in a china shop".

The Stones have signed with Universal Music for the soundtrack to Shine a LIght (Martin Scorsese), based on a live recording of a 2006 concert. With their 5 year EMI contract expiring in May 2008, they are said to be exploring their options

Kylie, Robbie Williams and Colplay are also all said to be considering the same.

Mr Hands is said to be culling 2000 staff from EMI andlots of bands (although he had'nt planned on it being these ones). His biggest mistake may have been his decision to cancel the 'flowers and fruit' budget', I think we all know what that means. No wonder they are all leaving.................

Source: Belfast Telegraph

Bob Dylan Murder Mystery ? Blood on the Tracks

Tom Grasty's new novel takes the Dylan obsession one step further, a murder mystery based on the death of Bob Dorian, investigated by Jack Frost, with all the suspects being characters in Dylan's songs. Tom seems to be a one man publicity machine, even making it to the humble Rock Revival to spruik the book. If your a Dylan fan it should be fun.....

Remake of Wishbone Ash Argus Out Feb 2008

According to wishboneash.co.uk a remake of Wishbone Ash's classic 1972 album Argus will be released in Febuary this year. Geoff Downes (The Buggles, Yes, Asia) has contributed Hammond Organ & John Wetton (Family, King Crimson, Wishbone Ash, UK, Uriah Heep has added vocals,) to the track 'Throw Down Your Sword'.

This album is considered a landmark in progressive rock and one that inspired the likes of Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden to use the twin guitar sound.

'Blowin' Free' , 'Time Was' , 'Leaf and Stream': It's a risk but let's see what they do with these classic songs.

Image: Courtesy MCA

The Best of Bob Dylan Theme Time Radio Hour

I dont know if everyone knows this, but Bob Dylan has been presenting his own radio show, Theme Time Radio Hour (TTRH), on the Deep Tracks channel of XM Satellite Radio for over two years now (also on BBC 2 radio in the UK)

It mainly features music that influenced Dylan from the 30's to the 50's, including blues, rockabilly, soul, gospel, swing and folk. Each show is centred around a theme, eg: weather, drinking, baseball, coffee, etc. It's obscure but an incredible insight, not only into Dylan, but into the American music that serves as the roots of rock.

A new double CD is available thats an absolutely fantastic listen if you are into the history of music or just listening to great songs

Disc: 1
1. Keep On The Sunny Side – The Carter Family
2. (Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean – Ruth Brown
3. Ain’t Got No Money To Pay For This Drink – George Zimmerman and the Thrills
4. The Ball Game – Sister Wynona Carr
5. Java Jive – The Ink Spots
6. Send Me To The ‘Lectric Chair – Bessie Smith
7. Papa’s On The Housetop – Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell
8. Married Woman – Big Joe Turner
9. Alimony Blues – Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson & His Orchestra
10. Ice Cream Man – John Brim

Disc: 2
1. I Put A Spell On You – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
2. When You Dance – The Turbans
3. When It’s Sleepy Time Down South – Louis Armstrong
4. Matzoh Balls – Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogie Boys
5. Let Me Play With Your Poodle – Tampa Red & Big Maceo
6. Tennessee – Carl Perkins
7. Blue Moon Of Kentucky – Bill Monroe
8. Five Long Years – Eddie Boyd
9. Christmas Is A-Comin’ – Lead Belly
10. Zindy Lou – The Chimes

Image: CourtesyChrome Dreams

Glam Rock 101: Futuristic Drag

Here is another installation in Rock Revival's 101 series, giving you an introduction to different genres in rock.

Glam rock, once also known as Glitter Rock, emerged in the early 1970's, a post-hippie phenomenon and antidote to all the earnest seriousness of that era. The dream was over, the stars were dead and out of the smoke of Altamont, comes what: teenage transvestite revolution, science fiction escapism, high heeled fellatio, excactly what the Doctor ordered !

The man who bridged the transition from hippies to glitter kids was probably one time model, Marc Bolan, the first to wear feather boas, glitter and top hats and write songs that noone was meant to take seriously. The second was his friend David Bowie. Ziggy Stardust was born straight after the Apollo moon landings (1969-1972) and used his gay shock tactics to great effect.

Not everyone was as talented or inspired as Bowie; this is the era that spawned the Sweet (Ballroom Blitz), Slade, Mud, Gary Glitter (I was in his fan club at aged 10 but did'nt know his secrets) and the Bay City Rollers.

The great cult favorite, Mott the Hoople were also present, with All The Young Dudes provided by Bowie, as were Roxy Music who'se Brian Ferry became the epitome of jaded style and European cool.

It was another 20 years until we saw Glam again. David and Brian were probably sorry too as Ratt, Twisted Sister, Poison and Cindarella hit the airwaves.

Here are ten songs to get you started.

1. Marc Bolan and TRex: Ride a White Swan

2. David Bowie: Starman

3. Alvin Stardust: My Coo-ca-choo

4. The Sweet: Fox on the Run

5. Skyhooks: Living in the 70's

6. Mud: Tiger Feet

7. Roxy Music: Do the Strand

8. Gary Glitter: Rock & Roll (Hey)

9. Bay City Rollers: Shang-a-lang

10. Elton John: PInball Wizard

Image: Courtesy RCA Rykodisc Virgin

Coheed and Cambria @ Sydney's Soundwave 2008

If your over thirty there arent many bands that would inspire you to attend this festival to be held Feb 24 in Sydney. Offspring ? Please.... Plain White T's ?

The only band worth hearing will be the American Prog Rock band Coheed and Cambria, Claudio Sanchez (vocalist) says he is jealous of his father's era of music, Thin Lizzy, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Queen, but he can be proud of producing music that is more equal to the likes of early Genesis and Yes with a bit of emo mentality thrown in.

In true Prog style (or perhaps even going more overboard than Rick Wakeman) all four of their albums have been based on the science fiction tale, the Amory Wars, penned by Sanchez. This is something else in the days of the throwaway pop song and the itunes death of the concept album. If you love your 70's prog rock tune in to Coheed and Cambria, you will not be dissapointed.

Their latest album came out in October 2007, aptly titled Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, No World For Tomorrow

Image: Courtesy Columbia Equal Vision

www.ticketmaster.com.au

Perplexio's 20 'Guilty Pleasures': It's Catching ON

Here are 20 more 'Guilty Pleasures' by one of Rockrevival's readers, Perplexio. Excellent work, maybe it will become a craze.............................lets have more, nobody wants pretentious rock fans who say they only like Liquid Tension Experiment and Velvet Underground (which we still love of course) , but honesty is healthy guys !

1) Milli Vanilli - Girl You Know It's True (lip synced or not it was a catchy song)

2) The Archies - Jingle Jangle (so what if it's by a "fake band" based off a cheesy comic book, the song is infectiously catchy)

3) Air Supply - Making Love Out of Nothing At All (their music is largely cavity inducing, but this song is anthemic)

4) Jim Steinman (his songs have been performed by Air Supply, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, and heck even Barbra Streisand. All of his songs are rather bombastic and over-the-top and I love just about every one of them)

5) Queen - Fat Bottomed Girls (Queen really isn't a "guilty" pleasure, but Fat Bottomed Girls is a far cry from Bohemian Rhapsody or Under Pressure)

6) Chicago Hot Streets - Chicago is one of the top-selling American bands, liking them isn't really a guilty pleasure. But this album with some serious disco influences from the late 70s is certainly not the pinnacle of the band's creative energies... But I still can't get enough of songs like Alive Again and No Tell Lover.

7) Dream Theater When Dream and Day Unite - Their debut album with former lead singer Charlie Domenici. Many find Domenici to be a bit "unlistenable" but I quite enjoy his vocals.

8) Syd Barrett - Syd's material tempered by his bandmates in Pink Floyd was strange enough. Without the rest of Pink Floyd to tame his eccentricities you get songs like Birdie Hop that are truly bizarre.

9) Def Leppard - I've continued listening to these guys long after many others have stopped. And I don't just mean their classics, I listen to their new stuff too.

10) Survivor - Eye of the Tiger, Burning Heart, The Search Is Over... I can't get enough of these blokes.

11) REO Speedwagon - do I really have to explain?

12) Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride - A one hit wonder and I'm still listening 25 years later.

13) Joey Scarbury - Believe It Or Not a TV theme song that was far more popular than the show it was the theme to (The Greatest American Hero), over 25 years later and I still dig it.

14) Toto - I don't really feel guilty about loving this band, they're solid musicians and play some great music. They just are generally forgotten here in their home country.

15) John Farnham-era Little River Band - While I prefer John Farnham solo over his time with LRB and I prefer LRB with Glenn Shorrock over LRB with John Farnham I do still enjoy this brief anomaly in LRB's history.

16) Fergie Frederiksen - This guy is almost a musical footnote and not much else. He was the lead singer for a band called LeRoux for 1 album, replacing their original lead singer-- Jeff Pollard... only to leave LeRoux to join Toto for one album. He has a tweeter-frying stratospheric tenor voice and tremendous range.

17) Peter Cetera - Chicago's former frontman. Most of what he sings is saccharine love drivel but man his voice... His voice is so distinct and really sets him apart from other singers. I'm not crazy about what he chooses to sing but I still love the way he sings it!

18) Michael Jackson - Thriller (Michael is bat guano crazy, but in his day he sure knew how to craft one killer pop album... there's not a bad song on this album!)

19) Saturday Night Fever soundtrack - I was still in diapers when this movie and soundtrack came out but with 5 older siblings it's indelibly stamped in my memory

20) England Dan & John Ford Coley - These guys really made some great cheezy schmaltz in the tradition of bands like Firefall but there was/is something quite catchy about songs like Nights Are Forever Without You and I'd Really Love To See You Tonight that I can't help but like.

Who Loves Ozric Tentacles ?

Ozric Tentacles have recorded an unbelievable 25 albums in the past 25 years but are relatively unheard of, despite their groundbreaking Psychedelic music. They hail from Somerset, England, and have sold a million or so albums, by hook and by crook, but have never had music industry support.

The amazing thing about Ozric Tentacles is that they bridge the gap, a long one, between 60's psychadelia and the psychadelic techno/rave scene, yes thats right, eastern themes, unusual time signatures, guitars, flutes, esoteric song titles (eg: Chewier, Clockdrops, Spirals in Hyperspace) PLUS the thumping baselines loved by people who are too young to know who the Move, Vanilla Fudge or the Blue Magoos are.......

I completely love it when bands come along that bridge these gaps: think Prodigy (Firestarter) bridging UK Punk and Techno, DJ Dangermouse's illegal grey album (he mixed Jay-Z's Black Album with The Beatles White Album, with all beats taken taken from the Beatles), the great Mash-Up of Jay-z and Voodoo Chile by Hendrix.

Their last album was The Floor's To Far Away (2006). Take a risk, try something new !

Image: Courtesy Magna Carta

Move over Wolfmother: Cog due to Release 'Sharing Space'

There arent many Australian prog rock bands, but I have just heard one, for the first time, an excellent band who have been together ten years, the very impressive Cog (one member is the son of the greatest ever Aussie blues guitarist, Kevin Borich). They have relied on EP's and touring for many of these years but in 2003 released their first full album, 'The New Normal', with the assistance of Sylivia Massy, who has produced Tool and System of A Down. Their new album, 'Sharing Space' is due for release in April of this year, check out the track "What If", pure brilliance. Move over Wolfmother, here they come !

Image: Courtesy Difrnt Music

Rock Revivial's Top 20 'Guilty Pleasures'

Ok, Rock Revival has formally challenged 2 great rock sites, Rock of Ages and Layla's Classic Rock Faves (see blogroll below) to come out of the closet with their list of their favourite 'guilty pleasures'. Music that they LOVE but is embarrassing to admit. Here's mine..............

1. Sailing: Christopher Cross (that one hurts to admit)

2. What the World Needs Now: Burt Bacharach (brilliant song writer)

3. Frank Sinatra, whole album In the Wee Small Hours (there is definitely no shame in liking
Frank)

4. Just Remember I love You: Firefall (an automatic route back to certain memories)

5. Jolene: Dolly Paron (me and the White Stripes can't be wrong)

6. I Started a Joke: The Bee Gees (plus New York Mining Disaster)

7. Anything by the Dixie Chicks (please come back to the site if yor a first time visitor! also
listen to their version of Landslide)

8. Bless the Broken Road: Rascal Flatts (most of their music is rubbish but for some reason i
cant stop liking this one)

9. Tim McGraw (but i stress, only for his version of Tiny Dancer)

10. Tiger Feet: Mud (we were all 8 years old once)

11. Any doo wop music from the 50's (me and the kids have a ball going to schol in the car)

12. Autumn in New York: Dawn Upshaw (schmaltzy jazz)

13. The Lion Sleeps Tonite: Harry Belafonte (see 8)

14. Mas Que Nada: Sergio Mendes (your crazy if you dont like this)

15. Joy: Teddy Pendegrass (ouch! who'se idea was this !)

16. oh god i can't bring myself to do it, Close to You: The Carpenters

17. Dont Stop Til You Get Enough: Michael Jackson

18. Jessie's Girl: Rick Springfield (oh dear, 2 to go)

19. Everything by Supertramp (maybe that's the easiest to admit)

20. American Pie: Don McClean (the lyrics trace the history of rock from Buddy Holly's death
to Altamont)

Ok I did it, it's painful but quite cleansing, over to you Barbara and Bill

Also Readers please leave your own list too, it's good for you !

The Undertones, Fathers of Pop-Punk Release New Album

In 1975, the Undertones, inspired by the Buzzcocks, the Ramones and the Sex Pistols, formed in Northern Ireland. Blend this with the Kinks and other British Invasion Bands, add some glam and Feargal Sharkey's trademark quavery vocal and you had the first punk pop band (without all the fake yank stuff 25 years later). 'Teenage kicks', 'Jimmy Jimmy' and 'Here comes the Summer' are quintissentially British. Brilliant short grabs at suburban teenage life aka Sham 69 and Mike Skinner and the Streets.

They have (incredibly) just released a new album: 14 songs in 33 minutes, everything garage rock should be. The only dissapointment is that Paul McLoone has replaced Feargal Sharkey, a voice that was part of the soundtrack of your life if you were under twnety in the 80's in the UK. He has now risen up the ranks of the music industry in the UK and so was unavailable. If you havent heard of the Undertones it's probably best to get their first album 'The Undertones' or second, 'Hypnotised', if you have this is an album worth getting to complete your collection.

Image: Cooking Vinyl

Donovan Live in L.A. (DVD) New Release Jan 22

Please don't scoff, while Donovan may never have lived up to his promotion as the British answer to Dylan, he did have moments of absolute brilliance during the days of Flower Power. It is hard to find a better psychadelic folk song than 'Season of the Witch', 'Catch the Wind' and 'Universal Soldier' are also must have inclusions on anyones 60's playlist. (Also check out Vanilla Fudge's version of Season of the Witch). Well, Donovan is still going, at the ripe old age of 62 and is clearly still a hippy. Last October, for example, he announced plans to open the Invincible Donovan University focussing on transcendental meditation in the UK.

In 2006 he released In Concert: The Complete Anaheim 1967 Show. Now he has released Live in LA from a concert he did last January at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

The best thing about this DVD is that he playes all of his best music, but presents them in new and re-interpreted ways. This works pretty well as it also has for Joni Mitchell (check out her 2007 version of Big Yellow Taxi). Mike Love (Beach Boys) also makes a cameo appearance. Here's the playlist.

1) There Is A Mountain
2) Catch The Wind
3) Colours
4) Try For The Sun
5) Happiness Runs
6) Universal Soldier
7) Jenifer Juniper
8) Dream
9) Sunshine Superman
10) Young Girl Blues
11) Season Of The Witch
12) Hurdy Gurdy Man
13) Mellow Yellow



Source: fullvuedrive-in.com
Image: Courtesy MVD