Grapefruit [Release date: 24.04.20]

Deep catalogue but worth the wait is this welcome reissue of an unjustly-neglected little diamond dogged by ill fortune.

Signing to emergent imprint Neon back in 1971 probably seemed a good plan given it was run by the A&R brains behind hugely successful progressive label Vertigo, Olav Wyper.

Yet despite some fine fare from the likes of Indian Summer and Spring, the little label was closed the following year, culled by owner RCA on the likely basis it wasn’t generating the cash mountain expected. The consequently slim output of 11 titles is therefore highly collectible – and doggedly obscure.

Sheffield band Shape of the Rain, comprising the brothers Riley and pals Wood and Waggett, had been on the road for three years before landing the Neon deal yet it was actually doomed from the start given Neon’s leanings, as despite claims to the contrary it was not a progressive band.

Grapefruit trumpets this value-packed 3CD reissue of the terribly-titled ‘Riley Riley Wood & Waggett ‘on its cover sticker as a ‘psych/folk/progressive pop gem’ but it’s closer to the power pop of Badfinger by way of Welsh country rockers Help Yourself with flecks of the Fab Four.

Harmonised, hook-laden, jangling power pop replete swathed in pedal steel guitar is delivered with exacting proficiency, the quality of writing on offer consistently high throughout.  It’s a lovely album.

And it’s not hard for this release to be the definitive take on the original given the 1971 set comes with ample bonus material, the package bolstered by a disc of yet more recordings (loosely aggregated into an unreleased second album) and a further CD of live material, taking us to the group’s last gasps in 1973. A bumper booklet tells a sorry tale.

The live material is patchy and demos and earlier recordings from the late 60s creak a bit here and there, but the potency of Riley’s catchy, commercial songs is undiminished.  ****

Review by Peter Muir

---

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

---

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

---

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)

---

---

Popular (last 10 days)

---